American Express Gold Rewards Card Review 2025: Is It Worth It?
If you like to travel without being tied to a particular airline and typically use your credit card at the grocery store, gas station or drugstore, the flashy American Express® Gold Rewards Card may be a great choice.
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American Express Gold Rewards Card full review
The American Express Gold Rewards Card, also called the Amex Gold Rewards Card or Amex Gold Card, is a metal credit card that earns American Express Membership Rewards points. Cardholders earn points for each eligible dollar spent, with accelerated rates on travel, grocery store, gas station and drugstore spending.
Benefits of the American Express Gold Rewards Card
Airport lounge access: Four complimentary Plaza Premium Lounge passes each year, plus access to Priority Pass (visit fees apply).
Hotel and travel credits: Redeem points for travel bookings or statement credits toward eligible purchases.
Car rental perks: Enjoy upgrades and discounts with Hertz.
Design options: Choose between gold or rose gold stainless steel.
Drawbacks of the American Express Gold Rewards Card
Limited medical coverage: No emergency medical insurance for cardholders aged 65+.
Restricted lounge passes: Only four complimentary Plaza Premium visits per year.
Who should get the American Express Gold Rewards Card?
This card is best for travel enthusiasts who spend heavily on everyday categories like groceries, gas, and drugstore purchases. With accelerated earn rates, comprehensive travel insurance, and extras like NEXUS fee rebates and lounge passes, it’s a strong fit for Canadians who travel at least a few times per year.
Is American Express Gold Rewards worth it?
It depends on your spending and travel habits. If you want to:
Earn points on everyday essentials and travel purchases,
Access flexible redemption options across multiple airlines and travel providers, and
Take advantage of valuable travel insurance,
then the $250 annual fee can easily justify itself. However, if you’re on a tighter budget or rarely travel, the annual fee may outweigh the benefits.
» MORE: Best American Express credit cards
American Express customer ratings
High in customer satisfaction: American Express ranks second in customer satisfaction among credit card issuers in J.D. Power’s 2024 Canada Credit Card Satisfaction Study.
Low Trustpilot rating: American Express has 1.5 out of 5 possible stars based on over 4,400 customer reviews, as of this writing.
Poor Better Business Bureau customer rating: American Express has 1.1 out of 5 possible stars based on over 500 customer reviews, as of this writing.
Amex Gold Rewards Card eligibility
Who qualifies for the American Express Gold Rewards Card?
You must be a Canadian resident and at least the age of majority for your province or territory to be eligible for the Amex Gold Rewards Card.
Approximate credit score needed for approval
Canadian credit card issuers rarely disclose required credit scores, which makes it hard to know your chances of approval when comparing credit cards. What we do know is that higher scores have better chances of approval — that’s true no matter what type of credit you’re applying for.
Want to learn more? Our guide can help you figure out what credit score is typically needed for a credit card.
American Express Gold Rewards Card rewards
New American Express® Gold Rewards Cardmembers can earn up to 60,000 Membership Rewards® points — up to $600 in value toward your next trip.
To claim the offer, you'll need to earn 5,000 points for each monthly billing cycle where you spend at least $1,000 on your Card — do this every month for a year to collect 60,000 points.
2x points on eligible travel purchases.
2x points on eligible purchases at gas stations, grocery stores and drugstores in Canada.
1x points on all other eligible purchases.
1 additional point on every dollar spent on eligible car rental and hotel bookings made through American Express Travel Online.
You could unlock up to $850 in value in your first year with the American Express® Gold Rewards Card, depending on how you redeem your points and perks:
$600 for the welcome bonus (Amex’s estimate): 60,000 Membership Rewards points, valued at up to $600 in travel through Amex Travel.
Note — Membership Rewards points are typically worth 0.6¢–11.5¢ each, depending on redemption, based on NerdWallet's valuation. At our baseline of 0.8¢–1¢ per point, the 60,000-point bonus = $480–$600, while airline transfers could yield even higher value.
$100 annual travel credit: Redeemable on trips booked through American Express Travel Online.
$50 NEXUS credit: Statement credit for application or renewal fees (available once every 4 years; counted here in year one).
US$100 hotel amenities credit: When booking at least two consecutive nights at eligible Hotel Collection properties (redeemable for dining, spa, or resort activities).
That puts the total potential card value at about $730–$850. That’s more than enough to outweigh the $250 annual fee, leaving a net positive value even at NerdWallet’s conservative point valuation.
Point value breakdown
The value of an American Express Membership Rewards point depends on the redemption method you choose, but you can expect to get around 0.6 to 11.5 cents per point based on our NerdWallet analysis. Here’s our breakdown:
11.52 cents per point for hotel redemptions.
1.74 cents per point for business class air fare redemptions.
1.42 cents per point for economy class air fare redemptions.
1 cent per point for statement credits.
0.76 cents per point for gift cards.
0.65 cents per point for merchandise.
How to apply for the American Express Gold Rewards Card
You can complete the application for the Amex Gold Card from the American Express website:
Select the Apply Now button on the American Express Gold Rewards Card page.
Review the card’s terms and conditions and select Agree and Begin to continue.
Enter your personal details, including your full name, date of birth, phone number, email address and postal code.
Tell American Express about your finances and any other required details.
Review the information you’ve supplied and submit your application.
American Express Gold Rewards Card vs. Amex Platinum Card
Open to paying a higher annual fee if it means greater benefits? Here’s how the American Express Gold Rewards Card stacks up to the more luxurious — and more expensive — The Platinum Card® from American Express.
Rewards breakdown
Rewards breakdown
NerdWallet's take
NerdWallet's take
Card details
Card details
Rewards breakdown
Rewards breakdownNerdWallet's take
NerdWallet's takeCard details
Card detailsReasons you might want a different card
The Amex Gold Card earns American Express Membership Rewards points and comes with an attractive lineup of perks, but there are a few circumstances where it won’t be a practical fit:
You don’t want to pay an annual fee.
You don’t travel often.
You don’t spend much at grocery stores, gas stations or drugstores.
American Express Gold Rewards Card facts
American Express Gold Rewards Card | |
|---|---|
Card type | |
Fees and interest rates | |
Annual fee | $250.00 |
Regular/purchase APR | 21.99%. |
Penalty APR | 25.99% if you miss two payments within 12 months, and 29.99% if you miss three payments within 12 months. |
Cash advance APR | 21.99%. |
Funds advance fee | $0 each. |
Foreign transaction fee | 2.5% of transaction. |
Rewards and benefits | |
Intro offer | Up to 60,000 Points. |
Reward earn rates | 1x-2x Points. |
Other perks | Choose between gold or rose gold for the design of your stainless steel card. Receive a $100 annual travel credit to redeem for travel experiences booked through American Express Travel Online. Enjoy four complimentary passes to Plaza Premium Lounges across Canadian airports annually. Get a $50 statement credit when you charge a NEXUS application or renewal fee to your card. Access over 1,200 airport lounges across the world via Priority Pass (for a fee). Stay at least two consecutive nights at eligible hotels to get a US$100 credit for hotel amenities, like dining, spa treatments, room upgrades and more. Enroll in the Hertz Gold Plus Rewards program to receive car class upgrades on rentals of five or more consecutive days and waived fees for one additional driver. Access exclusive ticketing presales for concerts, shows and special events through the Front Of The Line program. Enjoy special access to advanced film screenings, food festivals, private shopping experiences and curated offers through the Amex Experiences™ program. Skip the crowds and lineups at popular Toronto event venues like the Budweiser Stage and the Royal Alexandra Theatre. Relax in exclusive Priority Bars when you take in a Toronto show at the Princess of Wales and Ed Mirvish Theatres. |
Insurance coverage | |
Travel accident | Up to $500,000. |
Emergency medical | Up to $5 million per person under age 65, per trip. |
Flight and baggage delay | Up to $500 per person for meals and accommodations. |
Lost or stolen baggage | Up to $500 of coverage per trip for all insured persons. |
Trip cancellation | Up to $1,500 per trip (up to $3,000 for all insured persons). |
Trip interruption | Up to $1,500 per trip (up to $6,000 for all insured persons). |
Hotel burglary | Up to $500 of coverage for personal items (excluding cash). |
Rental car theft/damage | For up to 48 days. |
Extended warranty | Up to one additional year. |
Purchase protection | 90 days. |
Methodology
BACK TO TOPFrequently asked questions
How do you qualify for an Amex Gold Card?
How do you qualify for an Amex Gold Card?
To be eligible for the Amex Gold Rewards Card, you must be a Canadian resident and at least the age of majority for your province or territory.
Is the Amex Gold Card a metal card?
Is the Amex Gold Card a metal card?
Yes, the American Express Gold Rewards Card is a metal credit card. It’s made of stainless steel and is available in gold or rose gold finish.
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Shannon Terrell
Shannon Terrell