When you must (or shouldn’t) use the Amex Gold Card

It is no secret that we’re enormous followers of the American Categorical® Gold Card at TPG.

Whereas the cardboard was refreshed in late July 2024, it is nonetheless in a Goldilocks candy spot between premium and newbie playing cards, with robust earnings at eating places and at U.S. grocery store purchases and over $400 in annual worth that may assist offset its $325 annual charge (see charges and costs). Enrollment is required, and phrases apply.

On this information, we’ll spotlight methods that may assist you to earn hundreds of bonus factors every year by figuring out when you must — and should not — use the Amex Gold Card.

Overview of the Amex Gold

The Amex Gold is the proper “in-between” card, particularly because it presents some critical advantages and incomes potential for its $325 annual charge.

With this card, you will earn a formidable 4 factors per greenback spent at U.S. supermarkets (on as much as $25,000 in spending per calendar yr, then 1 level per greenback) and eating places (on as much as $50,000 in spending per calendar yr, then 1 level per greenback), in addition to 3 factors per greenback on flights booked instantly with an airline or via amextravel.com.

And past this incomes potential, this card comes with some critical advantages. You will stand up to $424 in annual worth via Uber Money and assertion credit for eating, U.S Dunkin’ places, Resy in addition to journey perks like baggage insurance coverage* and as much as $100 in lodge credit for stays at The Resort Assortment properties (minimal two-night keep required). Enrollment is required for choose advantages, and phrases apply. An Amex Card have to be chosen because the cost technique in your Uber or Uber Eats transaction to redeem the Amex Uber Money profit within the US.

New Amex Gold cardmembers can earn a welcome bonus of 60,000 factors after spending $6,000 within the first six months of card membership.

In keeping with TPG’s March 2025 valuations, this welcome supply is value as much as $1,200.

By utilizing the CardMatch device, it’s possible you’ll get a extra useful welcome supply for the Amex Gold (supply topic to alter at any time). Since American Categorical solely permits cardmembers to earn one welcome supply per lifetime, it is necessary to get the very best supply you possibly can.

*Eligibility and profit stage varies by card. Phrases, circumstances and limitations apply. Go to americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for particulars. Insurance policies are underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance coverage Firm, an AIG Firm.

When do you have to use the Amex Gold?

For eating

The Amex Gold is not the one card to supply a bonus class on eating at eating places, however it may simply be one of the useful.

Cardmembers earn 4 Membership Rewards factors per greenback spent on eating at eating places, as much as $50,000 per calendar yr (1 level per greenback thereafter). In keeping with TPG’s March 2025 valuations, this equates to an 8% return on spending.

For that purpose, it tops our listing of the greatest playing cards for eating out at eating places.

To get essentially the most out of your Amex Gold for this class, it’s essential to maximize its eating assertion credit.

Cardmembers can earn as much as $10 per thirty days (as much as $120 per calendar yr) in assertion credit when paying with the Amex Gold on the following eating companions:

• Grubhub
• The Cheesecake Manufacturing unit
• Goldbelly
• Wine.com
• 5 Guys

Moreover, cardmembers can obtain as much as $120 per calendar yr in Uber Money (as much as $10 every month) to make use of on Uber rides or Uber Eats orders after they pay with an Amex, so you should definitely hyperlink your Amex Gold or any Amex card to your Uber account as a cost technique.

The Amex Gold additionally presents as much as $100 in assertion credit per calendar yr for purchases made at U.S. eating places affiliated with Resy. These assertion credit are break up into bi-annual, up-to-$50 credit. Merely use your Amex Gold to pay at collaborating Resy eating places; no reservation is required.

Lastly, an annual Dunkin’ Donuts credit score of as much as $84 per calendar yr is allotted in as much as $7 month-to-month increments. Simply use your Amex Gold to pay at U.S. Dunkin’ Donuts.

Associated: 5 under-the-radar methods to maximise the Amex Gold’s eating credit

For groceries

Meals is the secret with the Amex Gold. Except for eating at eating places worldwide, the cardboard earns 4 factors per greenback spent at U.S. supermarkets on as much as $25,000 in purchases per calendar yr (1 level per greenback thereafter).

Subsequently, you must undoubtedly use the cardboard in your subsequent grocery store run, because it tops our listing of the greatest playing cards for groceries.

Associated: 7 of the very best playing cards to pair with the Amex Gold

For flights

Whereas not as robust as a few of our different favourite journey playing cards, the Amex Gold is a good card to make use of for flights if you do not have a extra premium journey card in your pockets. Its 3-point-per-dollar incomes price on flights booked instantly via the airline or on Amex Journey is substantial.

Simply needless to say in the event you have been to make use of The Platinum Card® from American Categorical as a substitute, you could possibly earn 5 Membership Rewards factors per greenback on flights booked via Amex Journey or instantly with airways, on as much as $500,000 of such purchases per calendar yr (1 level per greenback thereafter).

That stated, the Amex Gold prices over $300 much less per yr versus the Amex Platinum (see Amex Platinum charges and costs), so I do not advocate opening the Amex Platinum only for the additional two factors per greenback on flights.

Associated: Does it make sense to carry an Amex Platinum and Amex Gold card?

When should not you employ the Amex Gold?

For on a regular basis spending

The Amex Gold earns a mere 1 level per greenback on spending exterior its particular bonus classes. Different playing cards issued by Amex and different banks can supply higher incomes charges.

As an example, The Blue Enterprise® Plus Credit score Card from American Categorical is perhaps a greater choice when you’ve got a enterprise. It has no annual charge (see charges and costs) and earns 2 factors per greenback on the primary $50,000 spent in purchases every year (then 1 level per greenback).

Alternatively, a card such because the Citi Double Money® Card (see charges and costs) earns 1% again while you make a purchase order and one other 1% while you pay your assertion. This implies you possibly can successfully earn 2% again.

For those who even have the Citi Strata Premier℠ Card, (see charges and costs) you possibly can mix your factors into absolutely transferable ThankYou factors. Based mostly on TPG’s March 2025 valuation of Citi ThankYou factors at 1.8 cents every, this implies you possibly can earn an efficient 3.6% return while you purchase and pay along with your Citi Double Money Card.

Associated: Why the Citi Double Money will all the time have a spot in my pockets

For non-flight journey, equivalent to inns or rental vehicles

Whereas the Amex Gold earns 3 factors per greenback on flights booked instantly with an airline or via amextravel.com, you do not earn such a bonus on different journey bills, and it does not supply the identical journey protections as another playing cards on the market.

On condition that, utilizing an alternate card in your non-flight bookings makes extra sense.

One of the vital fashionable journey rewards playing cards in the marketplace is the Chase Sapphire Most popular® Card, with a $95 annual charge. On the journey entrance, these are the present incomes charges:

• 5 factors per greenback on journey booked via Chase Journey℠
• 2 factors per greenback on different journey

As well as, you will additionally obtain the next non-travel bonuses:

• 3 factors per greenback on eating
• 3 factors per greenback on choose streaming providers
• 3 factors per greenback on on-line groceries (excludes Goal, Walmart and wholesale golf equipment)

Backside line

The Amex Gold is among the many most rewarding playing cards in the marketplace. However to actually maximize the Amex Gold’s earnings, you will should be selective about the place you are utilizing it.

Between the Uber Money and eating, U.S Dunkin’ places, and Resy assertion credit, the cardboard’s annual charge is absolutely lined, and also you internet constructive worth. Add in its bonus classes and you will be maximizing earnings like a professional very quickly.

To study extra, try our full assessment of the Amex Gold.

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Apply right here: American Categorical® Gold Card

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Associated: This is perhaps the very best Amex card combo: Amex Gold and Amex Enterprise Platinum

For charges and costs of the Amex Gold Card, please click on right here.
For charges and costs of the Amex Platinum, click on right here.
For charges and costs of the Blue Enterprise Plus Amex Card, click on right here.