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If you're looking for a card that generously rewards food and travel purchases, the American Express® Gold Card is one of the best. It’s been one of our longtime favorites, and now is an excellent time to apply.
New applicants could be targeted for a welcome offer as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases in the first 6 months (apply and find out your offer, welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer). You'll see your specific offer when you apply, but this bonus is just the icing on the cake of an already ultra-rewarding card.
(Terms apply)
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you're approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount - all with no credit score impact. If you're approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You'll know upfront exactly how much you'll pay.
- Updated! $120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment required.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
- New! As an American Express® Gold Card Member, you can enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status. Enjoy benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
- Take advantage of a $100 credit towards eligible charges* at over 1,300 upscale hotels worldwide when you book The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App **. *Eligible charges vary by property. **The Hotel Collection requires a two-night minimum stay.
- Book your travel through the Amex Travel App with added peace of mind - backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
- 4X Membership Rewards® points at restaurants worldwide, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S. (on up to $50,000 per year in purchases, then 1X)
- 4X Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per year in purchases, then 1X)
- 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotels booked on amextravel.com
- 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com
- 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through amextravel.com
- 2X Membership Rewards® points on cruises booked and paid through amextravel.com
- 1X on other eligible purchases
Amex Gold Welcome Offers: as High as 100,000 Points
As if it doesn't offer enough already in valuable terms of benefits and elite earning rates, the Amex Gold also comes with a welcome offer that can give your Membership Rewards balance a big boost.
If you're a new applicant for this card, you may be eligible for a welcome bonus as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases in the first 6 months (apply and find out your offer, welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer).
Here’s how the process works if you apply for the Amex Gold and you're approved:
- Find out your offer amount
- Accept the card with your offer
- Spend $8,000 in your first 6 months of Card Membership
- Receive your Amex Membership Rewards points
Welcome offers vary, and you may not be eligible for an offer. But if you're approved and don't like the offer you receive, you're under no obligation to accept the card.
The Amex application process is a little different from what you might have experienced with other card issuers. Once you submit your application, you'll be able to see if you're approved and learn your exact welcome offer — with no impact on your credit score. If you decide to accept the offer, your credit score may be impacted, but not before then.
What are Amex Membership Rewards points worth?
Because these offers are labeled “as high as,” the exact welcome bonus you receive may vary. To give you a sense of what it could be worth, AwardWallet users typically get around 2¢ per point when redeeming Amex Membership Rewards.
The bulk of this value comes from transferring points to Amex’s travel partners. Some partners offer more value than others, but it’s still easy to turn a welcome bonus from the Amex Gold into award flights, hotel stays, or a mix of the two.
Related: Best Ways to Redeem Amex Membership Rewards Points
Why Get the Amex Gold Card?
There’s not just one reason we think the Amex Gold is worth carrying. There are lots! But in short, it’s a card that generously rewards everyday spending and comes with several statement credits that help offset the annual fee.
Here’s everything Card Members can take advantage of:
- Earn 4X points at restaurants worldwide (on up to $50,000 per year, then 1X), 4X at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per year, then 1X), 3X points on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com, 5X points on prepaid hotels booked on AmexTravel.com, and 2X points on prepaid car rentals or cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
- Uber credit: Add your Card to your Uber account to receive $10 in Uber Cash each month ($120 annually). Valid on U.S. rides and Uber Eats orders.
- Dunkin' credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits (up to $84 annually) after you enroll and pay with your Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations.
- Resy credit: Get up to $100 in annual statement credits after you pay with your Card at U.S. Resy restaurants or for other eligible Resy purchases. That’s split into up to $50 in credits every six months. Enrollment required.
- Dining credit: Earn up to $10 in monthly statement credits (up to $120 annually) when you use your Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Buffalo Wild Wings, Wonder, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- The Hotel Collection credit: Book a two-night minimum stay at properties in The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com and receive a $100 credit toward eligible charges. Eligible charges vary by property.
- No foreign transaction fees - Rates & Fees.
- Enrollment is required for select Amex benefits.
As you can probably tell, this card is built for those who love to dine out or stock up on groceries to cook at home. And while the annual fee of $325 (Rates & Fees) might seem steep at first, the combination of statement credits and lucrative rewards on eligible purchases can more than offset it.
Related: Our Full Review of the Amex Gold Card
Amex Gold Application Rules and Restrictions
Before submitting an application, it’s important to understand the broader American Express application rules as well as applicable “family” language — especially when it comes to eligibility for a welcome offer on the Card.
According to the card's application page:
“You may not be eligible to receive a welcome offer if you have or have had this Card, the Premier Rewards Gold Card, the Platinum Card®, the Platinum Card® from American Express Exclusively for Charles Schwab, the Platinum Card® from American Express Exclusively for Morgan Stanley or previous versions of these Cards. You also may not be eligible to receive a welcome offer based on various factors, such as your history with credit card balance transfers, your history as an American Express Card Member, the number of credit cards that you have opened and closed and other factors. If you are not eligible for a welcome offer, we will notify you prior to processing your application so you have the option to withdraw your application.”
To make navigating this a little easier for you, Amex has a pop-up tool that lets you know upfront if you're ineligible for a welcome offer. That means you can choose whether or not to proceed with the application after confirming your eligibility.
There are also a few other things to keep in mind:
- Amex typically limits each person to five traditional credit cards with set spending limits at a time.
- You can also have up to 10 cards with no preset spending limit (like the Amex Gold).
- In most cases, you won’t be approved for more than two cards within a 90-day period.
No Preset Spending Limit means the amount you can spend adapts based on factors such as your purchase, payment, and credit history.
Related: Understanding Rewards Credit Card Application Rules and Restrictions
Bottom Line
The Amex Gold is one of our favorite cards. It can easily earn a spot at the top of your wallet whether you're dining at restaurants worldwide, shopping at U.S. supermarkets, or booking flights directly with airlines or through the Amex Travel portal. Between its strong earning rates, massive welcome offer, and valuable statement credits, this card is a must-have.
(Terms apply)
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you're approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount - all with no credit score impact. If you're approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You'll know upfront exactly how much you'll pay.
- Updated! $120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment required.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
- New! As an American Express® Gold Card Member, you can enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status. Enjoy benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
- Take advantage of a $100 credit towards eligible charges* at over 1,300 upscale hotels worldwide when you book The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App **. *Eligible charges vary by property. **The Hotel Collection requires a two-night minimum stay.
- Book your travel through the Amex Travel App with added peace of mind - backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
- 4X Membership Rewards® points at restaurants worldwide, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S. (on up to $50,000 per year in purchases, then 1X)
- 4X Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per year in purchases, then 1X)
- 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotels booked on amextravel.com
- 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com
- 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through amextravel.com
- 2X Membership Rewards® points on cruises booked and paid through amextravel.com
- 1X on other eligible purchases
For rates and fees of the cards mentioned in this post, please visit the following links: American Express® Gold Card (Rates & Fees)
