American Express Gold Card Review

Key facts

The credits, and how much work they take

The Gold carries several credits. Most arrive in small monthly or semi-annual amounts, so the real value depends on whether they fit habits you already have.

• Up to $120 a year in Uber Cash ($10 a month)
• Up to $120 a year in dining credits ($10 a month at Grubhub, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, Buffalo Wild Wings and Wonder). Goldbelly and Wine.com were dropped on June 30, 2026.
• Up to $100 a year at Resy restaurants ($50 each half-year)
• Up to $84 a year at Dunkin' ($7 a month)
• Up to a $100 property credit on 2-night minimum stays booked through The Hotel Collection
• New in 2026: complimentary Hertz Five Star status

If you used every one of the first four in full, that's $424 a year — more than the fee. If you'd use only the Uber and Resy credits, you're at $220 and need the 4x earning to close the gap.

What changed in the April 2026 refresh

Amex announced the refresh on April 30, 2026 and kept the fee at $325. Prepaid hotels via AmexTravel moved to 5x, new dining partners joined the monthly credit, and cardholders got Hertz Five Star status. A limited-time Uber One credit of up to $96 runs only through Oct 30, 2026, so it's nearly over. The Points Guy also reported that the minimum spend for the welcome offer rose to $8,000 in six months; check the current offer on Amex's site.

How it compares

The Sapphire Preferred is cheaper and has stronger travel protections; the Gold earns more on food. Many people hold the Gold alongside a card that earns well on everything else.

Drawbacks

• No lounges and no Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit, which most $300+ travel cards include.
• Rental car coverage is secondary, so it pays after your own auto insurance. Bankrate lists trip delay and baggage delay coverage, but we couldn't confirm the amounts.
• Coupon-book credits. Miss a month and that credit is gone.
• Pay Over Time APR. Amex doesn't publish the range on review sites, so check your terms. It's best to pay in full.

What the earning looks like in practice

Say you spend $500 a month at restaurants and $400 a month at U.S. supermarkets. That's $10,800 a year at 4x, or 43,200 Membership Rewards points, well under both annual caps. The Points Guy estimates Amex points at about 2.0 cents each when transferred to partners, which puts that haul at roughly $864 in travel value. Redeemed at lower-value options, it would be worth noticeably less.

Add credits you'd actually use, subtract the $325 fee, and you have a realistic picture. If your food spending is well below this example, the math gets thin quickly.

Who should get it

Get the Gold if you spend several hundred dollars a month at restaurants and supermarkets and already use Uber, Resy or Dunkin'. Its Membership Rewards points transfer to airlines such as Delta, British Airways and Air France-KLM, which is where most of the value lies — see how to get more from travel rewards.

Skip it if you mainly want travel perks; compare our top travel cards instead. If you'd just prefer cash at restaurants, our dining cash back picks cost less. Amex generally gives a welcome offer only once per card, and holding the Platinum can block the Gold bonus — details in our sign-up bonus guide. Card terms change often, so check the issuer's site before you apply.

Frequently Asked Questions