American Express Gold Card Review (2026): Is It Worth the $325 Annual Fee?
The American Express Gold Card is one of the most talked-about cards in the points and miles space.
On paper, it looks simple: high points on dining and groceries, a mid-tier annual fee, and a handful of monthly credits. But in practice, whether this card is worth it depends entirely on how you spend money and how you use points.
This is not a luxury travel card in the traditional sense. There’s no lounge access, no elite hotel status, and no premium travel portal perks. Instead, the Amex Gold shines as a workhorse card. It’s one that quietly generates a massive amount of points from everyday spending that most families already have.
If you eat out, buy groceries, order food delivery, or take Uber rides, this card can become the backbone of your Membership Rewards strategy.
If you’re looking for premium travel perks and lounges, that’s where the Amex Platinum comes in.
Disclosure: This post may contain referral links. If you apply through my link, I may earn a referral bonus at no cost to you.
Welcome Offer: Why Year One Is Almost Always Worth It
The Amex Gold typically comes with a strong welcome bonus after meeting a minimum spending requirement within the first few months.
Because Amex uses variable, targeted offers, the exact bonus you see may differ from what someone else sees. Historically, though, welcome offers on this card have often been worth hundreds, and sometimes well over a thousand dollars in travel value when points are transferred strategically.
This is why, from a pure math perspective, the Amex Gold almost always makes sense in year one, even if you don’t perfectly maximize every credit.
Apply for the Amex Gold to see your personalized welcome offer before accepting.
Annual Fee: The Real Cost vs the Sticker Price
Annual fee: $325
At first glance, $325 feels steep for a card without lounges or hotel status. But the real question isn’t the annual fee, it’s the net cost after credits you’ll actually use.
This is where many people get tripped up.
I don’t count credits unless they replace spending I was already going to do anyway. I don’t force spending just to “use a credit,” and I don’t keep cards once that math stops working.
The Amex Gold’s credits are tied to food and transportation, which makes them more realistic for many households.
Statement Credits: Only Valuable If They Fit Your Life
The Amex Gold includes several recurring credits. Here’s how they break down — and how to think about them realistically.
Dining Credit (Up to $120 per year)
You can earn up to $10 per month in dining credits at select partners like Grubhub, Cheesecake Factory, Five Guys, Goldbelly, and others.
If you already use food delivery or eat at these places, this is close to cash.
If not, this is where people start forcing behavior.
Uber Cash (Up to $120 per year)
You receive $10 per month in Uber Cash, usable for Uber rides or Uber Eats in the U.S. once your card is added to your Uber account.
For families who:
order food occasionally
use Uber while traveling
or rely on rideshares in cities
this is often one of the easiest credits to use organically.
Dunkin’ Credit (Up to $84 per year)
Up to $7 per month at U.S. Dunkin’ locations.
This one is very lifestyle-dependent. If you’re already a Dunkin’ household, great. If not, it may not count toward your personal math.
Resy Credit (Up to $100 per year)
Up to $50 semi-annually at participating U.S. Resy restaurants.
This credit can be valuable for date nights or special meals, but it does require intentional use.
Bottom line:
There are a large number of Resy restaurants in the country, so you likely will not have difficulty using this credit.
Link to a post or section explaining your philosophy on “how I calculate annual fees” or a broader Are Annual Fees Worth It? article/video.
Hotel Collection Credit (Up to $100 per year)
The Amex Gold also includes a $100 Hotel Collection credit when you book a two-night minimum stay through Amex Travel.
This credit can be applied toward eligible on-property charges, such as dining or spa expenses (specific benefits vary by property).
If you want to see the full framework I use to evaluate credits and annual fees, including why I’m comfortable paying over several thousand dollars in annual fees, I walk through it in detail here:
Earning Structure: Where the Amex Gold Dominates
This is the real reason people keep the Amex Gold long-term.
4X points at restaurants worldwide
4X points at U.S. supermarkets (up to the annual cap)
3X points on flights booked directly with airlines or Amex Travel
2X points on prepaid hotels booked through Amex Travel
1X point on everything else
For most families, food is one of the biggest monthly expenses. Earning 4X transferable points on groceries and dining is incredibly powerful, especially when paired with strong airline transfer partners.
This card is not meant to replace every card in your wallet. It’s meant to dominate specific categories.
Read more: What Are Your Credit Card Points Really Worth?
Redeeming Membership Rewards: Where the Value Comes From
Amex Membership Rewards points are most valuable when transferred to airline partners rather than redeemed for cash back.
Used strategically, these points can unlock:
domestic economy flights
international economy tickets for families
premium cabin redemptions when availability aligns
This is where the Amex Gold pairs beautifully with cards like the Amex Platinum.
Read More: How to Redeem Points and Miles for Maximum Value and 5 Amazing Trips You Can Book With Points
What the Amex Gold Is NOT
It’s important to be clear about what this card doesn’t offer:
No airport lounge access
No hotel elite status
No premium travel protections compared to top-tier cards
This is not a one-card solution. It’s a points-earning engine.
For travel protections and lounges, you’ll want to pair this with a premium travel card like the Amex Platinum or the Chase Sapphire Reserve.
Who the Amex Gold Is Best For
The Amex Gold is a great fit if you:
Spend heavily on groceries and dining
Want to earn transferable points without a $700+ annual fee
Will naturally use Uber or dining credits
Plan to pair it with a premium travel card with better travel benefits
It may not be ideal if you:
Rarely eat out or order food
Prefer simple cash back
Don’t want to track monthly credits
Click here to apply for the Amex Gold and view your personalized welcome offer.
Verdict: Should You Get the Amex Gold?
The Amex Gold is one of the strongest everyday earning cards available — when used intentionally.
It’s not flashy. It doesn’t come with lounges or hotel upgrades. But it quietly generates an enormous amount of points from spending you’re already doing, which makes it incredibly powerful inside a well-built points system.
For many families, this is the card that funds trips, even if another card gets the Instagram glory.
If you’re considering the Amex Gold, you can check your personalized welcome offer here.
Next Steps
If you’re deciding whether the Amex Gold fits into your overall points strategy, these resources may help:
👉 Best Credit Card Offers – See current welcome bonuses and limited-time offers
👉 Are Annual Fees Worth It? – How I decide which cards to keep (and which to cancel)
👉 Beginner’s Guide to Points & Miles – Start here if you’re new to travel rewards
👉 Family Travel with Points – Real strategies for booking trips with kids