American Express Gold Card: When to Use It for Maximum Rewards

The AmericanExpress® Gold Card is a popular choice for heavy food spenders, offering strong earning rates at restaurants and supermarkets. However, it's not the best card for every purchase. Here’s a breakdown of when to leverage the Amex Gold and when another card might be a better fit.

Overview of the Amex Gold

With an annual fee of $325, the Amex Gold focuses on rewarding everyday spending, particularly food purchases. Cardholders earn 5 points per dollar on prepaid hotels booked through amextravel.com or the Amex Travel App™, 4 points per dollar on up to $25,000 in U.S. supermarket purchases annually, 4 points per dollar on dining worldwide (up to $50,000 annually), 3 points per dollar on flights booked directly or through amextravel.com, 2 points per dollar on car rentals and cruises booked through amextravel.com, and 1 point per dollar on all other purchases.

New cardmembers can earn up to 100,000 bonus points after spending $8,000 in the first six months. Welcome offers vary.

When to Use the Amex Gold

Dining: The Amex Gold offers a valuable 4 points per dollar on dining worldwide, up to $50,000 annually, translating to an 8% return based on TPG valuations. It’s considered one of the best cards for dining out.

Supermarkets: Earn 4 points per dollar on up to $25,000 in U.S. supermarket purchases annually.