American Express Gold Card

Best for Groceries & Dining

American Express® Gold Card

Annual fee: $325 — Terms Apply. See rates and fees.

Current welcome offer

Apply and find out your welcome offer. As high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases in the first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.

Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.

My Take

The American Express® Gold Card has become one of my personal favorites — and the dining credits are a big reason why. Every month I get a little reminder to treat myself, whether that's a Grubhub order on a busy Tuesday or a night out at a Resy restaurant. When you actually use those credits, the math works out beautifully.

That said, this card isn't for everyone. The $325 annual fee can feel steep, and if you're not someone who's going to make a point to use the monthly credits, the value disappears fast. The key is building the benefits into your routine — set up the Uber Cash, enroll in the dining credit, and put this card on autopilot for groceries and restaurants.

For the right person though, this card is a points-earning machine. Four times points at restaurants worldwide (up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1x thereafter) and 4x points at U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 per calendar year, then 1x thereafter) is exceptional, and those points transfer to a long list of valuable airline and hotel partners. For families who spend heavily on food — whether that's groceries or dining out — the American Express® Gold Card can generate an enormous amount of points on spending you're already doing.

Note: To receive the Uber Cash benefit you must have downloaded the latest version of the Uber App and your eligible American Express® Gold Card must be a method of payment on your Uber account. The Amex benefit may only be used in the United States.
Bottom line: if you'll use the credits, this card more than pays for itself. If you won't, there are better options for you.

How to Earn Rewards

5xMembership Rewards® points per dollar on prepaid hotels booked through AmexTravel.com
4xMembership Rewards® points per dollar at restaurants worldwide (up to $50,000/per calendar year, then 1x thereafter)
4xMembership Rewards® points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000/per calendar year, then 1x thereafter)
3xMembership Rewards® points per dollar on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com
1xMembership Rewards® points per dollar on all other eligible purchases

Benefits

  • Up to $120 annual dining statement credit ($10/month at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Five Guys, Buffalo Wild Wings, and Wonder). Note: Goldbelly and Wine.com are ending June 30, 2026. Enrollment required.
  • Up to $120 annual Uber Cash statement credit ($10/month for U.S. Uber Eats or rides). Enrollment required.
  • Up to $100 annual Resy statement credit (up to $50 semi-annually at U.S. Resy restaurants). Enrollment required.
  • Up to $84 annual Dunkin' statement credit ($7/month at U.S. Dunkin' locations). Enrollment required.
  • Up to $100 hotel statement credit on stays of 2+ consecutive nights through The Hotel Collection via Amex Travel.
  • Complimentary Hertz Five Star status in the Hertz Gold+ car rental loyalty program. Enrollment required.
  • No foreign transaction fees. See rates and fees.
  • Purchase protection
  • Extended warranty
  • Baggage insurance plan
  • Car rental loss and damage insurance
  • Points transfer to airline and hotel partners

Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.

Is This Card Right For You?

✓ Best for

Families who spend heavily on groceries and dining

Anyone who will consistently use monthly credits

Points collectors looking for strong transfer partners

People who want to earn fast on everyday spending

✗ Not ideal for

Anyone who won't use the monthly credits consistently

Those looking to avoid high annual fees

Anyone who would carry a balance month to month

People who prefer simple cash back over points

Is This Card Worth It For You?

Enter how much of each benefit you'll realistically use to see your personal value.

Total annual value$0
Annual fee-$325
Your net value-$325

Offer History

The American Express® Gold Card now displays welcome offers as "as high as" a certain amount rather than a fixed number. You won't know your exact offer until you apply — but your credit score won't be impacted until you accept the card.

Public offers have historically started around 60,000 points. We have seen offers as high as 90,000 to 100,000 points in 2024-2025 through targeted and referral links. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for the maximum offer amount.

My advice: if you see a strong offer when you apply, that's your moment. The points on this card transfer to valuable partners and can be worth significantly more than their face value when redeemed strategically.

Vacation Pointers is part of an affiliate sales network and receives compensation for sending traffic to partner sites, such as MileValue.com and Bankrate.com. This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. This site does not include all financial companies or all available financial offers. Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.

Also, this page may contain affiliate links. That means if you click and buy, I may receive a small commission (at zero cost to you). Please see my full disclosure policy for details.

The content on this page is accurate as of the posting date; however, some of the offers mentioned may have expired.

Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.

Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.

Advertiser Disclosure

Vacation Pointers is part of an affiliate sales network and receives compensation for sending traffic to partner sites, such as MileValue.com and Bankrate.com. This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. This site does not include all financial companies or all available financial offers. Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.