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The Points Guy believes that credit cards can transform lives, helping you leverage everyday spending for cash back or travel experiences that might otherwise be out of reach. That's why we publish a variety of editorial content and card comparisons: to help you find a great card to turn your goals into reality.
Our site may earn compensation when a customer clicks on a link, when an application is approved, or when an account is opened with our partners, and this may impact how or where these products appear. While we don't cover all available credit cards, our editorial team creates and maintains all of the analysis of these cards, and our content is not influenced nor subject to review by any credit card company, bank or partner prior to (or after) publication. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.
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Amex Gold vs. Amex Business Gold: Which wins the race?
Featured image by ARTISTGNDPHOTOGRAPHY/GETTY IMAGES
Chris was a reporter at The Points Guy, where he covered the intersection of credit card rewards and travel. At TPG, he wrote a broad array of stories ranging from in-depth features and reports to trending travel news as it related to loyalty, card benefits and consumer behavior.
Augusta Stone is a credit cards writer for TPG. She joined the TPG team in 2023 and is excited to take points and miles beginners with her on a journey toward maximizing rewards.
also contributed to this story
May 21, 2026 • 13 min read
The cards we feature here are from partners who compensate us when you are approved through our site, and this may impact how or where these products appear. We don't cover all available credit cards, but our analysis, reviews, and opinions are entirely from our editorial team. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.
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By commenting, you agree to our Community Guidelines to help create a positive space for conversation. The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser, our partners, or The Points Guy (“TPG”). They have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these parties. All responses are submitted by individual contributors, and neither the bank advertiser, our partners, nor TPG are responsible for ensuring that all posts and/or questions are answered.
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Quick summary
This article compares two mid-tier to premium rewards cards, one for personal use and one for business, focusing on their earning rates, benefits and redemption options.
Both cards offer strong points-earning potential in popular categories, with the personal card favoring dining and groceries and the business card offering flexibility in top spending categories each month.
Statement credits and additional perks differ, with the personal card providing more consumer-friendly credits and the business card including features like cellphone protection and business-related credits.
Both cards earn the same transferable rewards currency, allowing for flexible redemptions and access to valuable airline and hotel partners.
What to consider
Eligibility for welcome bonuses is limited to once per card per lifetime, regardless of how much time has passed since last holding the card.
Enrollment is required for select benefits, and some credits are tied to specific merchants or require monthly activation.
The business card's bonus categories automatically adjust to your highest spending areas each billing cycle, up to a set annual cap.
What you'll miss from the article
A detailed side-by-side breakdown of benefits, earning structures and which card best aligns with different spending profiles.
Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.
If you’re looking for cards that offer generous points-earning bonuses for a wide range of categories, the Gold lineup within the American Express portfolio is worth a closer look.
However, with annual fees of $325 (see rates and fees) for the Amex Gold and $375 (see rates and fees) for the Amex Business Gold, these cards don’t come cheap.
Let’s dive in and compare these two Gold cards to see which one may be right for you.
Amex Gold vs. Amex Business Gold comparison
Amex Gold
Amex Business Gold
Welcome bonus
Find out your offer and see if you are eligible for as high as 100,000 bonus points after spending $8,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership. Welcome offers vary, and you may not be eligible for an offer.
Find out your offer and see if you're eligible for as high as 200,000 bonus points after spending $15,000 on purchases in the first three months of card membership. Welcome offers vary, and you may not be eligible for an offer.
Annual fee
$325
$375
Points bonuses
5 points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels booked on amextravel.com or the Amex Travel App™
4 points per dollar spent at restaurants worldwide (on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar spent)
4 points per dollar spent at U.S. supermarkets (on the first $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar spent)
3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline, amextravel.com or the Amex Travel App
2 points per dollar spent on car rentals booked on amextravel.com or the Amex Travel App
2 points per dollar spent on cruises booked on amextravel.com
1 point per dollar spent on other eligible purchases
4 points per dollar spent in the two categories (U.S. gas stations, U.S. restaurants, U.S. advertising in select online, TV and radio media, transit, U.S. electronics & U.S. wireless purchases) with the most spending each billing cycle (up to $150,000 in combined purchases each calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent)
3 points per dollar spent on flights and prepaid hotel bookings made through amextravel.com or the Amex Travel App
1 point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases
Benefits
Up to $120 per calendar year in dining statement credits with select partners (up to $10 monthly statement credit)
Up to $120 per calendar year in Uber Cash for U.S. Uber and Uber Eats orders ($10 monthly increments; Uber Cash will only be deposited into one Uber account when you add the Amex Gold as a payment method and redeem with any Amex card)
Up to $100 per calendar year in statement credits for U.S. Resy purchases (two up to $50 biannual statement credits)
Up to $84 in statement credits for U.S. Dunkin' purchases (up to $7 monthly statement credit)
Up to $300 in statement credits on U.S. purchases of ChatGPT Business subscriptions (subject to auto-renewal)
Up to $240 per calendar year (up to $20 each month in statement credits) for eligible U.S. purchases at Grubhub, office supply stores and shipments at UPS.com
Up to $155 per calendar year (up to $12.95 each month plus applicable taxes) in statement credits for one monthly Walmart+ membership (excluding Plus Ups; subject to auto-renewal)
Up to $150 in statement credits per calendar year for U.S. subscription purchases with Squarespace (subject to auto-renewal)
*Eligibility and benefit levels vary by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details. Policies are underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
Amex Gold vs. Amex Business Gold welcome bonus
Find out your offer and see if you are eligible for as high as 100,000 bonus points after spending $8,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership for the Amex Gold. Welcome offers vary, and you may not be eligible for an offer.
Meanwhile, new Amex Business Gold cardmembers can find out their offer and see if they're eligible for as high as 200,000 bonus points after spending $15,000 on purchases in the first three months of card membership. Welcome offers vary, and you may not be eligible for an offer.
THE POINTS GUY
Based on TPG's May 2026 valuation of Membership Rewards points at 2 cents apiece, the welcome offer for the Amex Gold is worth up to $2,000. Meanwhile, the welcome offer for the Amex Business Gold is worth up to $4,000 — albeit with a much higher spending requirement.
Keep in mind that Amex has strict rules regarding welcome bonus eligibility. Amex limits customers to one bonus per card per lifetime, regardless of how much time has passed since you last applied for that card. So, if you’ve held either of these cards in the past, you might be ineligible to earn their welcome offers again.
Winner: Amex Business Gold, unless you can’t hit the spending requirement.
With the Amex Business Gold, business owners will appreciate the addition of cellphone protection, which provides up to $800 in reimbursement for repairing or replacing damaged or stolen phones when you charge your monthly phone bill to the card. This benefit applies to up to 2 claims in a 12-month calendar year, each with a $50 deductible.
Neither card charges a foreign transaction fee, and both offer access to booking through The Hotel Collection**, which includes perks on stays of two nights or more — including on-property credits and space-available room upgrades.
**Eligible charges vary by property.
ANDREW POGUE/HYATT
The personal Amex Gold has many statement credit benefits to help offset its annual fee:
Up to $120 per calendar year in dining statement credits: Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Amex Gold at participating dining partners, including Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Buffalo Wild Wings, Wonder and Five Guys.
Up to $120 per calendar year in Uber Cash: You’ll receive $10 in monthly Uber Cash. The Amex Gold card or any Amex Card must be selected as the payment method for your Uber or Uber Eats transaction to redeem the Amex Uber Cash benefit. This can be used on Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S. and stacked with the monthly Uber Cash offered on the American Express Platinum Card®.
Up to $100 per calendar year in Resy statement credits: Cardmembers can utilize the semiannual up to $50 statement credit by paying for a meal at U.S. Resy restaurants or on other eligible Resy purchases
Up to $84 per calendar year in Dunkin' statement credits: Cardmembers receive up to $7 in monthly statement credits to use at all Dunkin' locations in the U.S.
Up to $300 per calendar year in ChatGPT Business statementcredits: Cardmembers receive up to $300 in statement credits for U.S. purchases of ChatGPT Business subscriptions (subject to auto-renewal)
Up to $240 per calendar year in statement credits for select business merchants: Receive up to $240 per calendar year (up to $20 each month in statement credits) on eligible U.S. purchases at Grubhub, office supply stores and shipments at UPS.com.
Up to $155 per calendar year in statement credits for Walmart+: Earn up to $155 per calendar year (up to $12.95 each month plus applicable taxes) in statement credits for one monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal). Plus-Ups are excluded.
Up to $150 per calendar year in statement credits for Squarespace: Receive up to $150 in statement credits for U.S. subscription purchases with Squarespace (subject to auto-renewal)
Cellphoneprotection: Get reimbursed for the cost to repair or replace a damaged cellphone, up to $800, for 2 approved claims in a 12-month period when the monthly service bill is paid with the Amex Business Gold (subject to a $50 deductible per claim)
Enrollment required for select benefits.
Winner: Amex Gold. Its statement credits are easier to use.
Earning points with the Amex Gold vs. the Amex Business Gold
Both the Amex Gold and Amex Business Gold offer up to 4 points per dollar spent in popular spending categories. That rate equates to an 8% return on spending, based on TPG's valuations.
THOMAS BARWICK/GETTY IMAGES
For the personal Amex Gold, you’ll earn points for the following categories:
5 points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels booked on amextravel.com or the Amex Travel App
4 points per dollar spent at restaurants worldwide (on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar spent)
4 points per dollar spent at U.S. supermarkets (on the first $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar spent)
3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline, amextravel.com or the Amex Travel App
2 points per dollar spent on car rentals booked on amextravel.com or the Amex Travel App
2 points per dollar spent on cruises booked on amextravel.com
1 point per dollar spent on other eligible purchases
The earning rates of 4 points per dollar spent at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets are particularly strong compared to other cards and help the Amex Gold make our list of best cards for groceries and best cards for dining out.
Meanwhile, the Amex Business Gold card has powerful, business-friendly bonus categories. What is unique is that you’ll automatically earn 4 points per dollar spent in your top two spending categories each billing cycle (on the first $150,000 each calendar year in combined purchases, then 1 point per dollar spent).
That means you’re not locked into a category, and you don’t have to pick them on your own. The eligible categories are:
U.S. purchases for advertising in select media
U.S. purchases at gas stations
U.S. purchases at restaurants
Transit, including trains, taxi cabs, ride-hailing services, tolls, ferries, buses, parking and subways
U.S. purchases made with electronic goods retailers, software and cloud service providers
Monthly wireless telephone charges made directly with U.S. service providers
Additionally, the Amex Business Gold earns 3 points per dollar spent on flights, prepaid hotels, and prepaid flight and hotel packages booked directly through the Amex Travel App or amextravel.com.
ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY
The structure of these categories means this card will likely appeal to someone who wants to rack up travel rewards without putting in too much work.
Specifically, you’ll automatically earn 4 points per dollar spent in your top two spending categories from the list of eligible bonus categories on the first $150,000 in combined purchases each calendar year, then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter.
This card is meant to be a one-stop shop that you can swipe for everything, giving you more bandwidth to focus on your business.
Winner: Tie. Both cards offer compelling earnings structures, and the better one will depend on your spending habits.
Redeeming points with the Amex Gold vs. the Amex Business Gold
Both the Amex Gold and Amex Business Gold earn Membership Rewards points that can be redeemed in a variety of ways.
ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY
Points can also be redeemed for gift cards and travel through American Express Travel® and merchant partners via the Amex Travel portal.
Additionally, you can use the Pay with Points option to redeem your Membership Reward points with multiple online retailers.
Winner: Tie. Both cards offer the same redemption options.
Transferring points with the Amex Gold vs. the Amex Business Gold
With many options to choose from, you’ll be able to find a transfer partner in any of the three major airline alliances and several nonalliance carriers.
QATAR AIRWAYS/FACEBOOK
TPG senior writer Ben Smithson often transfers his Membership Rewards points to Air Canada Aeroplan to take advantage of its region and distance-based award chart and their sweet spots.
Winner: Tie. Both cards earn Membership Rewards points and have the same transfer options.
The Amex Business Gold, on the other hand, is targeted at larger, more established businesses with high operating costs. The best fit for you will depend entirely on your spending habits and which benefits offer the most value.
Bottom line
The Amex Gold will be the right choice for most consumers who spend a lot on eating out worldwide and groceries in the U.S. Conversely, the Business Gold only makes sense if your business spends a lot in certain categories, such as advertising and technology.
For rates and fees of the American Express Gold Card, click here For rates and fees of the American Express Business Gold Card, clickhere
Comments
By commenting, you agree to our Community Guidelines to help create a positive space for conversation. The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser, our partners, or The Points Guy (“TPG”). They have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these parties. All responses are submitted by individual contributors, and neither the bank advertiser, our partners, nor TPG are responsible for ensuring that all posts and/or questions are answered.
