American Express® Gold Card review: Great value at restaurants and grocery stores
Editors’ take: The excellent restaurant and grocery rewards set the card apart. Just keep in mind that the dining credits come with restrictions.
Image: hands-thumbs-upGreat for restaurants and groceries
Image: cashAnnual fee: $325
The average credit score for members who have matched with this card or similar cards is 709
The average credit limit for members who have matched with this card or similar cards is $14,690
Explore more about this card:
Here’s the average credit limit of members who matched their American Express® Gold Card or similar cards.
% of members by credit limit range
The average credit limit for members who have matched with this card or similar cards is $14,690, with $5,000 being the most common. The American Express® Gold Card does not have a traditional credit limit and was compared to similar premium cards.
Here’s the average credit score of members who matched their American Express® Gold Card or similar cards.
% of members by credit score range
The average credit score for members who have matched with this card or similar cards is 709, with 810 being the most common. Note this is just one of the deciding factors when it comes to getting approved.
This content is curated by Intuit Credit Karma’s Editorial team using data from members who were approved for this card or similar cards, or who self-matched this card or similar cards. Intuit Credit Karma receives compensation from third-party advertisers, but that doesn’t affect our editors’ opinions. Our third-party advertisers don’t review, approve or endorse this content. Information about financial products not offered on Credit Karma is collected independently. Our content is accurate to the best of our knowledge when posted.
Member stats
Updated daily
Image: low-utilization26.6%
Average credit utilization (or what percent of the card’s credit limit is being used) of members who matched with this card or similar cards.
The American Express® Gold Card does not have a traditional credit limit; utilization for this card is not calculated the same as cards with credit limits.
Image: meetup42 years
Average age of members who matched this card or similar cards.
Image: cash-give-1$104,843
Average annual income of members who matched this card or similar cards. Note: Income may be estimated for some members by Credit Karma and may differ from members’ actual incomes.
Pros and cons
Image: yesGreat dining rewards rates and perks
Image: yesSolid transfer partners
Image: yesNo foreign transaction fees
Image: ConBig annual fee
Image: ConTravel perks difficult to qualify for
Image: ConFee for transferring points to frequent flyer programs
American Express® Gold Card review
Updated February 13, 2025
This date may not reflect recent changes in individual terms.
Written by: Tim Devaney
Is the American Express® Gold Card worth it?
The American Express® Gold Card is a good option for travelers who want to maximize rewards on food purchases.
Whether you’re dining out or shopping for groceries, you’ll earn plenty of American Express Membership Rewards® points. Although the card has a sizeable $325 annual fee, using the restaurant and delivery credits can help offset it.
The American Express® Gold Card can also give you peace of mind while traveling with several travel protection perks, but you won’t get airport lounge access with this card.
American Express® Gold Card at a glance
- Welcome bonus: 60,000 points after spending $6,000 on purchases during the first 6 months of card membership
- Editors’ estimated welcome bonus value: Up to $1,272
- Standout benefit: Monthly Uber cash credits
- Standout rewards rate: 4 points per $1 spent at restaurants worldwide (up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1 point per $1) and U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1 point per $1)
- Foreign transaction fee: None
American Express® Gold Card best perks and features
Rewards are easy to come by for big spenders
The American Express® Gold Card offers a solid welcome bonus.
You’ll earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after spending $6,000 on purchases during the first 6 months of card membership.
On top of that, you’ll receive:
- 4 points for every $1 spent at restaurants worldwide (on the first $50,000 in purchases you make each calendar year, then 1 point)
- 4 points for every $1 spent at U.S. supermarkets (on the first $25,000 in purchases you make each calendar year, then 1 point)
- 3 points for every $1 spent on flights either booked directly with the airline or through amextravel.com.
- 2 points for every $1 spent on prepaid hotels booked through amextravel.com
- 1 point for every $1 spent on other eligible purchases.
The combination of the welcome bonus and these bonus categories can help you earn plenty of points.
Restaurant and dining credits
The American Express® Gold Card features a number of credits that people who dine out may find useful.
- Up to $120 per year in Uber Cash. You’ll get $10 in Uber Cash each month when you add your card as your payment method on your Uber or Uber Eats app.
- A $7 monthly statement credit at Dunkin’ after you enroll and pay with your card.
- Up to $100 in annual statement credits ($50 twice a year) after enrolling your card and making eligible purchases at U.S. restaurants on the Resy app or Resy.com.
- Up to $10 a month — $120 a year — in statement credits when you enroll and use your American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com and Five Guys.
American Express® Gold Card cardholders also may be able to earn a $100 hotel credit on eligible charges for stays of at least two nights at The Hotel Collection properties booked with American Express Travel or other participating providers.
What are the drawbacks of American Express® Gold Card?
The annual fee might make you think twice
The American Express® Gold Card charges a $325 annual fee.
If you don’t spend a lot at grocery stores and restaurants or can’t take advantage of the dining credits, the fee may not make financial sense.
Food perks come with strings attached
As nice as the food perks are, some of them may be a hassle to use.
For example, enrollment is required for the Dunkin’, Resy and dining credits.
And you’ll have to stay on top of the dining credit, Dunkin’ credit and Uber Cash offer because they don’t roll over from month to month. If you don’t use them, you’ll lose them.
Making use of the dining credits could be tough if you don’t have access to participating restaurants. You may not live near Dunkin’, Five Guys, Goldbelly, The Cheesecake Factory or a participating Resy restaurant that interests you.
If you already use the Uber Eats delivery app, it could save you money. But if you don’t, you might find yourself spending more just to use this credit.
How to redeem American Express Membership Rewards
American Express Membership Rewards® points are best used toward travel.
We calculated your points are worth 1 cent each when redeemed through American Express Membership Rewards.
But you might get a better value if you redeem through an American Express Membership Rewards transfer partner. For example, if you redeem through British Airways Executive Club, your points could be worth an estimated 2.12 cents each, based on Credit Karma’s point valuations.
Other cards to consider
- Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express: This card is good for people who spend a lot on groceries but want a lower annual fee.
- Platinum Card® from American Express: This premium card could be the choice for travelers seeking more perks and benefits.
- Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card: This card is good for people who want restaurant credits that are easier to use.
Credit Karma’s methodology
Credit Karma uses qualitative and quantitative measures to review travel and premium credit cards. Our goal is to help you understand a card’s most useful features — and where it may fall short compared to other options.
We take into account factors such as unique rewards and benefits, ease of redeeming rewards, fees and rates, transfer partners, lounge access and rewards rates.
Credit Karma editors have also built some proprietary metrics to measure the value of rewards credit cards.
Our point valuations estimate how much rewards programs are worth. We look at both the value you could get by redeeming your points directly through a credit card issuer, as well as the value you could get by transferring your points and miles to an airline or hotel rewards program.
Instead of just telling you how many miles you could earn, the editors’ estimated bonus value multiplies the sign-up bonus by the reward program’s point valuations to tell you how much we believe they’re worth.
Our goal is that these metrics will help you decide whether the card’s rewards and benefits are worth it for you.
FAQs about the American Express Gold Card
We’ve found that Credit Karma members with the American Express® Gold Card or similar cards tend to have good to excellent credit scores.
But keep in mind, your credit scores are just one factor American Express may evaluate when determining your eligibility.
Credit Karma members who report having the American Express® Gold Card or similar cards have an average annual income of more than $100,000. Your income is only one datapoint American Express may look at to evaluate your application.
Credit Karma members who report having the American Express® Gold Card or similar cards have an average credit limit of more than $14,000.
Member reviews
Most helpful positive review
January 20, 2024
LEARN AND LEVERAGE YOUR CREDIT CARDS!
— Credit Karma Member
Its not for everyone to understand. In school we were not taught about credit. I learned about credit in 2004 when i got divorced. judge told me I had 2 years to refinance out of her name.(my last name) I started with a self paid $200 to ORCHARD BANK, witch is Now CAPITAL 1 that start has given me a addiction to credit. I have to have more credit cards & lines of credit. I'm now at 48 cards 8 business cards 6 of them being AmEx cards personal & business cards. Do I NEED 48 CARDS ...NO but i like flying around the world on rewards points, buying cars for Turo on your credit card then paying all cards off, cash REWARDS & POINTS for buying a car may sound crazy but when you log on to card carrier and see the results you can then understand. Paying annual fees my sound ridiculous but you LEVERAGE your credit make it work for YOU . Try it and please don't be a follower. Other Peoples negative experience's can hold you back. Pay all your cards off (if you can). ZERO balance =PAID tradeline= HIGH score= HIGH limits= never being turned down for ANY CREDIT. ONLY USE CREDIT UNIONS ONLY (Banks don't like you!) Learn about personal & business credit its a whole new world. I know i know i sound ridiculous to some people. But those that know. Sorry so long i love talking CREDIT and helping others!
Most helpful negative review
November 9, 2023
A lousey company
— Credit Karma Member
I requested their card once and they denied me; therefore, I now deny them. I have way over an 800 credit rating and now they keep bombarding me with offers to join. My, reply to them is, take a hike.
*Approval Odds are not a guarantee of approval. Credit Karma determines Approval Odds by comparing your credit profile to other Credit Karma members who were approved for the card shown, or whether you meet certain criteria determined by the lender. Of course, there’s no such thing as a sure thing, but knowing your Approval Odds may help you narrow down your choices. For example, you may not be approved because you don’t meet the lender’s “ability to pay standard” after they verify your income and employment; or, you already have the maximum number of accounts with that specific lender.