American Express · Amex
American Express Gold
Households spending $500+/mo on dining and groceries
$325 annual fee up to $424/yr in credits if you use them
Why people consider it
- 4x on Dining.
- 4x on Grocery.
- Points transfer to 8 airline and hotel partners.
Elevated welcome offer
Above the recent 60,000 points offer (about $900)
Current: 100,000 points
Recent typical offer: 60,000 points
Current offer is 67% higher than recent typical offers.
Welcome offer: 100,000 points≈ $1,500 at our typical valuation
Requirement: Spend $8,000 in 6 months
Tell us what you normally spend and we’ll check it against this requirement. Find a card →
Current offer shown; issuer determines eligibility.
Details: Up to 100,000 bonus points after $8,000 spend in 6 months — above the standard offer of about 60,000; Amex welcome offers vary by applicant. Verified live 2026-08-06; no published end date — monitor for reversion.
Recommended credit score: 700+
Advertising disclosure: we may earn a commission if you apply through this link. This does not affect your ranking. Full disclosure
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Is this card worth it?
Ongoing value
$1,117/year
for the sample household ($4,800/month) · points at typical value
First-year value
$2,617 first year
Includes: +$1,500 welcome offer (100,000 points at our typical value)
$1,500 is one-time. $1,117/year is ongoing.
To earn the bonus: spend $8,000 in 6 months.
Offer verified: Nov 4, 2026
Worth considering if you already want this type of card.
- Full annual fee:
- $325, charged in full — credits count only if you use them
- Major trade-offs:
- High annual fee Amex not accepted everywhere
- Against a no-fee alternative:
- We'd choose the $0-fee option. Citi Double Cash nets as much as Amex Gold on this spending, with no fee to earn back. (The sample household; run your own numbers.)
Detailed research
Full reward table and category caps
Restaurants worldwide
Cap: $50,000/yr
US supermarkets
Cap: $25,000/yr
Prepaid hotels via Amex Travel
Flights direct/Amex Travel
Point value: ~1.5¢ each
Optional benefits and credits
Credits — if you use them
Add card to Uber app → Uber Cash auto-loads monthly
Use at Grubhub, Seamless, Buffalo Wild Wings, Wonder, The Cheesecake Factory, Five Guys (enrollment required)
Up to $50 Jan–Jun and $50 Jul–Dec at U.S. Resy restaurants (enrollment required)
Up to $7 in monthly statement credits on U.S. Dunkin' purchases — enrollment required
Redemption and transfer information
Points transfer to 8 airline and hotel partners — often where the highest redemption values live.
Approval and bonus eligibility caveats
Recommended credit score: 700+ — the issuer decides every application.
Issuer verification source
Rates and fees may vary.See current rates, fees, and terms on American Express's site
Detailed methodology
Net annual value = rewards on a spending profile at typical point value − the full annual fee; credits count only if you tell us you use them; a welcome offer counts once, in year one, only where the profile meets its requirement. Same math as Find a Card. Methodology v2026.09.4.
Editorial review and disclosures
Pros
- + 4x on dining and groceries
- + Monthly Uber and dining credits
- + Great transfer partners
- + No foreign transaction fees
Cons
- - High annual fee
- - Amex not accepted everywhere
- - Credits require effort to use
Written by Tim · Data verified against issuer terms · Last checked Nov 4, 2026 · Methodology v2026.09.4
Card information is collected independently and has not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. See our disclosure for details.