Is the American Express Gold Card Worth Its Annual Fee?

This card's annual fee makes it cheaper than many premium cards and has more rewards than basic travel cards.

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Updated May 1, 2026

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Amid all the no-annual-fee credit cards, justifying the $325 annual fee on the American Express® Gold Card can be difficult. However, the card does offer perks that you wouldn't otherwise find on a no-annual-fee card. Let's break down whether the American Express® Gold Card is worth its annual fee.

While this card offers compelling travel benefits, it's developed a reputation for being the card of choice for many foodies. The American Express® Gold Card earns an attractive 4 points per $1 dollar on purchases at U.S. supermarkets and restaurants worldwide, in addition to some valuable dining statement credits each month. Terms apply (see rates and fees).

Here's what you need to know about the card's benefits, as well as what to consider when deciding whether the American Express® Gold Card is worth it for you.

Perks of the American Express® Gold Card

The best part about signing up for a new credit card is often the welcome bonus, since it gives you a chance to quickly earn a large sum of points. The American Express® Gold Card currently offers the following welcome bonus: You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted. Terms Apply.

Cardholders earn 4 American Express Membership Rewards points per dollar spent on restaurants worldwide (up to $50,000 per calendar year) as well as on the first $25,000 spent at U.S. supermarkets annually. Plus, earn 3 points per dollar on flights booked directly with airlines and amextravel.com, 5 points per dollar on prepaid hotels booked through amextravel.com or its app, and 1 point per dollar on all other spending. Terms apply.

It also comes with a slew of perks, many of which come in the form of credits for select dining partners, U.S. Resy restaurants, Uber and Dunkin'. Enrollment required. Terms apply.

» Learn more: Six things to do when you get the American Express Gold Card

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The American Express® Gold Card annual fee is worth it if you...

Spend a lot of money at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets

The 4 points per dollar you earn for spending on groceries at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets is much higher than many rewards cards. Keep in mind the 4x on U.S. supermarket spending applies to up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then it reverts to 1x. The elevated earn rate cap on restaurants is $50,000. Some cards only offer 1 point per dollar on the same spend, so this card can provide a hefty boost for your points accrual. Terms apply.

Use the $10 monthly Uber Cash and other monthly dining credits

The American Express® Gold Card comes with several hundred dollars in credits, including up to $120 annually in dining (up to $10 per month at specific merchants including Grubhub, Goldbelly, the food delivery service Wonder and a few restaurants). Enrollment required. Terms apply.

Each month, you'll also get $10 (up to $120 per year) in the form of Uber Cash, which can be used for either U.S. rides or Uber Eats orders. You have to add the card to your Uber account and pay with it (or another AmEx card) to spend the benefit. To celebrate the card's 60th birthday, cardholders can also receive a one-time statement credit of up to $96 when paying for an annual Uber One membership. That offer is available through October 30, 2026. Enrollment required. Terms apply.

Other perks include a monthly $7 credit (up to $84 per year) for spending at U.S. Dunkin' locations and another $100 credit for spending at U.S. Resy restaurants. The Resy credit is split into one $50 credit from January to June, and a second $50 credit from July to December. Enrollment required. Terms apply.

If you make use of the full amount of all these credits, you'll pick up more than $400 worth of value, completely covering the annual fee.

Shop abroad

This card carries no foreign transaction fees. Foreign transaction fees on other cards can add up to 3% on every transaction made outside of the U.S. — a hefty expense for frequent international travelers. Terms apply.

🤓 Nerdy Tip

AmEx is not accepted everywhere internationally, so it’s a good idea to also carry a Visa or Mastercard as a backup.

Can earn the welcome offer

A high welcome offer on a credit card is one of the best ways to earn a large sum of points. However, you'll want to make sure you can meet the minimum spending requirement without carrying over a balance or paying interest charges. Those high interest rates can quickly turn a lucrative welcome offer into a money-losing one.

Rent cars often with Hertz

If you have the American Express® Gold Card, you can get complimentary Hertz Five Star elite status, which includes perks like skipping the rental counter at certain locations, adding an additional driver without an extra charge and getting an upgraded vehicle when available. To be eligible, you must register with the Hertz Gold Plus account. Enrollment required. Terms apply.

Five Star elite status is considered mid-tier elite status in Hertz's program, so this can be a helpful perk to have for the added benefits.

» Learn more: The best AmEx transfer partners — and ones to avoid

The American Express® Gold Card annual fee is not worth it if you...

Prefer cash back. Redeeming AmEx Membership Rewards points for maximum value can be complicated since points vary in value based on how you redeem them. Trading points for flights or other rewards can be limiting if you’re someone who prefers the simplicity of cash back or statement credits.
Cannot use the included credits. For many credit cards, the best way to justify high annual fees is through the credits they provide. For example, the American Express® Gold Card offers more than $400 in credits, which is more than its annual fee. However, that's not much use to you if you're not able to take advantage of them.

The bottom line

The American Express® Gold Card is great for some, but a money-losing proposition for others. If you’re a regular traveler who spends a lot on dining and at U.S. supermarkets, you can easily get more value out of this card than you pay in annual fees.

To view rates and fees of the American Express® Gold Card, see this page.