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American Express · gold

American Express Gold Card

4.7 / 5

Membership Rewards · Personal card

Still the strongest food-spend card in the market. The $325 fee nets down fast if the monthly credits fit your habits, and the 2026 refresh added real hotel earning.

See current offer

At a glance

Welcome bonus: 100,000 points; Spend $8,000 in 6 months
Annual fee: $325; Year-one and ongoing
Purchase APR: See terms; No intro APR
FX fee: None

Editorial

Our take

Still the strongest food-spend card in the market. The $325 fee nets down fast if the monthly credits fit your habits, and the 2026 refresh added real hotel earning.

Verdict

Pros & cons

Pros

4x on restaurants and US supermarkets
Transferable Membership Rewards
5x on prepaid Amex Travel hotel bookings
No foreign transaction fee

Cons

No trip cancellation coverage
Credits require monthly attention to capture
Travel protections are thin next to Chase rivals

Earnings

Earn rates

Category	Rate	Notes
Prepaid hotels via issuer portal	5x points	Prepaid hotels booked through Amex Travel. Added in the 2026 refresh.
Restaurants	4x points	Worldwide, up to $50K in purchases per year, then 1x.·cap $50,000
US supermarkets	4x points	Up to $25K per year, then 1x.·cap $25,000
Flights direct or via Amex Travel	3x points	Flights booked directly with airlines or through Amex Travel.
Prepaid car rentals & cruises (Amex Travel)	2x points	Prepaid car rentals and cruises booked through Amex Travel.
All other purchases	1x points

Benefits

Key benefits

4x where most people actually spend

Restaurants worldwide and US supermarkets are the two biggest everyday categories for most households.

$524 in annual lifestyle credits

$120 dining, $120 Uber Cash, $100 Resy, $84 Dunkin, and $100 Hotel Collection credits (2+ night stays), in monthly, semi-annual, or per-stay installments.

5x on prepaid Amex Travel hotels, 2x on prepaid car rentals and cruises

Both added in the 2026 Amex Travel refresh.

Hertz Five Star Status

Complimentary elite car rental status, no spend required.

Fit

Who this is best for

Households with heavy dining and supermarket spend
Membership Rewards collectors
Travelers who pair it with a flight-earning card

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

What is the Amex Gold welcome bonus?

Earn as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $8,000 on eligible purchases in the first 6 months. Offers are personalized and vary by applicant.

Does the Amex Gold charge an annual fee?

Yes. The annual fee is $325 every year.

Does the Amex Gold have a foreign transaction fee?

No. The Amex Gold charges no foreign transaction fee, so it works well for international purchases.

What APR does the Amex Gold charge?

The purchase APR is See terms variable.

Who is the Amex Gold best for?

Households with heavy dining and supermarket spend. Membership Rewards collectors. Travelers who pair it with a flight-earning card.

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