Is the Amex Gold worth the annual fee?
Editor's Note
The American Express® Gold Card gets a lot of attention for its aesthetic, topping our list of the prettiest cards available. It's also heralded as the ideal foodie card for its dining-related bonus-earning categories and statement credits.
At first glance, the Amex Gold's $325 annual fee (see rates and fees) can seem steep. However, this card has some impressive bonus categories, statement credits and insurance perks that make the fee worth paying for many. Enrollment is required for select benefits, and terms apply.
Here's what you need to know to determine if this card is a good choice for you.
Welcome bonus
Find out your new Amex Gold offer and see if you are eligible to earn as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $6,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. According to TPG's June 2025 valuations, this bonus is worth up to $2,000.
This is the standard offer for the Amex Gold; we recommend waiting for an elevated offer before applying.
This welcome bonus adds a lot to the card's first-year value since you can get excellent value from your points by transferring them to one of American Express's travel partners. The welcome bonus on the Amex Gold card is a great kick-start to your Membership Rewards stash.
That said, with American Express's one bonus per lifetime rule, it's important to ensure you get the best offer available for the Amex Gold.
Related: How to redeem American Express Membership Rewards for maximum value
Earning points
Whether you're dining out or cooking at home, this card will earn you some serious rewards on your food purchases. It earns 4 points per dollar at restaurants worldwide (up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar) and 4 points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 per calendar year, then 1 point).
Since TPG's February 2025 valuations peg Amex points at 2 cents each, you'll essentially get an 8% return on dining and supermarket spending before hitting the spending caps.
You'll also earn 3 points per dollar on flights booked directly with an airline or Amex Travel and 2 points per dollar on prepaid hotels and other travel purchases booked through Amex Travel.
You'll get a better return on flights through certain other cards, but this is a decent bonus if you don't already have another card that earns more.
Related: When you should (and shouldn't) use your Amex Gold
Statement credits
In addition to its foodie earning structure, this card comes with two different types of valuable statement credits you can use for ordering in.
First, you'll get up to $10 in monthly statement credits when you use your Amex Gold to pay at participating dining partners, including Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com and Five Guys (up to $120 per calendar year). Enrollment is required, and terms apply.
You'll also get up to $10 in Uber Cash monthly, which you can use for Uber Eats or Uber rides in the U.S. (up to $120 per calendar year).
Add your Amex Gold as a payment method in the Uber app to receive this benefit, and you can then redeem with any Amex card. The credit is then deposited into your account as Uber Cash each month.
Additionally, you'll get up to $100 per calendar year in annual Resy credits, which are broken down into two bi-annual up to $50 statement credits. To use these credits, all you have to do is pay your bill with your Amex Gold at a restaurant in the U.S. registered with Resy—no reservation required. Enrollment is required, and terms apply.
Lastly, you'll receive up to $7 in monthly statements when you use your Amex Gold card at U.S. Dunkin' Donuts (up to $84 per calendar year). Enrollment is required, and terms apply.
None of these credits roll over and must be used within the allotted monthly or bi-annual time frame. Here's how to maximize the credits when you're traveling abroad.
If you take full advantage of these credits, you'll get $424 worth of value annually. This easily covers the annual fee, and you'll rack up generous rewards in the process.
Related: What to do when you get your Amex Gold
Other benefits
The Amex Gold's impressive earning structure and statement credits aren't the only ways to get value from it. This card also has a handful of benefits that can make your travels easier.
When you use your card to book a stay of two nights or more through Amex's The Hotel Collection*, you'll get an up to $100 on-site credit for qualifying activities. The qualifying activities depend on the property but could include perks like spa treatments or dining.
You'll also be covered if something goes awry in your travels because this card comes with lost baggage insurance*, trip delay insurance** and rental car insurance*** when you use it to pay for your travel expenses.
*Eligible charges vary by property.
In addition to these travel benefits, you'll also get purchase protection and an extended warranty for purchases made with this card. Terms and conditions apply.*
Hopefully, you won't need to take advantage of any of the protections included with your Amex Gold, but you'll have valuable peace of mind knowing you're covered if something goes wrong.
*Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details. Policies are underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.
**Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details. Policies are underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
***Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Not all vehicle types or rentals are covered, and geographic restrictions apply. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details. Policies are underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
Related: 4 of our favorite under-the-radar Amex Gold benefits
Bottom line
The Amex Gold's $325 annual fee more than pays for itself if you can take advantage of all the credits and benefits this card offers.
If you rarely dine out or travel, we recommend calculating what you could potentially earn using the Amex Gold to decide if it's worth adding to your wallet. If your lifestyle includes a decent amount of dining out, ordering in and cooking at home, you'll likely get enough value from this card to easily justify its annual fee.
To learn more, check out our full review of the Amex Gold.
Apply here: American Express Gold Card
For rates and fees of the Amex Gold Card, click here.
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| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Delta SkyClub access when flying Delta
- Annual companion ticket for travel on Delta (upon renewal)
- Ability to earn MQDs through spending
- Various statement credits for eligible purchases
Cons
- Steep annual fee of $650
- Other Delta cobranded cards offer superior earning categories
- Earn 100,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 or more in purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership and an additional 25,000 bonus miles after you make an additional $3,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months, starting from the date that your account is opened. Offer Ends 04/01/2026.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members receive 15 Visits per Medallion® Year to the Delta Sky Club® when flying Delta and can unlock an unlimited number of Visits after spending $75,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Plus, you’ll receive four One-Time Guest Passes each Medallion Year so you can share the experience with family and friends when traveling Delta together.
- Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. and select international locations (as set forth on the Centurion Lounge Website), Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. (see the Centurion Lounge Website for more information on Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge availability), and Escape Lounges when flying on a Delta flight booked with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. § To access Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 90 minutes of their departing flight (including layovers). To access The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 3 hours of their departing flight. Effective July 8, 2026, during a layover, Card Members must arrive within 5 hours of the connecting flight.
- Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $10 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card with MQD Boost to get closer to Status next Medallion Year.
- Enjoy a Companion Certificate on a Delta First, Delta Comfort, or Delta Main round-trip flight to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit.
- $240 Resy Credit: When you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card for eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants, you can earn up to $20 each month in statement credits. Enrollment required.
- $120 Rideshare Credit: Earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month after you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card to pay for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- With your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, receive upgrade priority over others with the same Medallion tier, product and fare experience purchased, and Million Miler milestone when you fly with Delta.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
- $650 Annual Fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees