Amex Gold Card vs. Citi Premier Card [Detailed Comparison]

Most of us make purchases every single day. It’s not uncommon to take a trip to the grocery store, pick up a prescription at the drugstore, fill up the car with gas, and then order pizza for dinner. And, if you have a family, chances are those purchases are just the beginning.

Having a credit card that earns rewards on common daily expenses can be a smart financial move, especially if those points could help you offset the cost of a nice annual vacation or weekend getaway.

On the agenda today are 2 very popular rewards-earning cards, the American Express^® Gold Card and the Citi Premier^® Card. Both cards have the potential to be at the top of your wallet for everyday spending.

We’ll help you decide what card is better for you by comparing how you earn rewards on each card, the options you’ll have when it’s time to redeem those rewards, and all the additional benefits and protections that come with each card.

Amex Gold Card vs. Citi Premier Card — Overview

Here’s a quick summary of all the key features and benefits that come with the Amex Gold card and the Citi Premier card. Details of each benefit will be explained more thoroughly later in the story.

The Value of a Welcome Offer

Welcome offers provide the opportunity for cardholders to earn a lump sum of rewards within the first months after card approval. Fortunately, after being approved and meeting the minimum spending requirements, you’ll earn a generous welcome offer with either the Amex Gold card or Citi Premier card.

Welcome offers change constantly, so be sure to check the most recent offer before applying for any card.

BEST FOR DINING

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

American Express^® Gold Card

U.P. Rating

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

This is the best card for food lovers who dine out at restaurants (worldwide), order take-out and want big rewards at U.S. supermarkets!

Learn More(at Amex's secure site)

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American Express^® Gold Card

This is the best card for food lovers who dine out at restaurants (worldwide), order take-out and want big rewards at U.S. supermarkets!

Welcome Offer

Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards^® Points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months.

60,000 points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$1,320

Annual Fee

$250

APR

See Pay Over Time APR

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

The American Express^® Gold Card is a game-changer.

With this card, you can earn 4x Membership Rewards points at restaurants and you’ll also earn 4x Membership Rewards points at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1x.

There isn’t another card on the market that offers a 1-2 punch like this. Of course, there are several other benefits of the Gold Card as well, including extra monthly dining rewards and more.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 4x points per dollar at restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.
• 4x points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets, up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases; and 1x thereafter

Cons

• $250 annual fee (see rates and fees)
• No lounge access

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Card Highlights

• Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards^® points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
• Earn 4X Membership Rewards^® Points at Restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., and earn 4X Membership Rewards^® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X).
• Earn 3X Membership Rewards^® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com.
• $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and each month automatically get $10 in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S., totaling up to $120 per year.
• $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings and earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express^® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Milk Bar and select Shake Shack locations. Enrollment required.
• Get a $100 experience credit with a minimum two-night stay when you book The Hotel Collection through American Express Travel. Experience credit varies by property.
• Choose the color that suits your style. Gold or Rose Gold.
• No Foreign Transaction Fees.
• Annual Fee is $250.
• Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

• APR: See Pay Over Time APR
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

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American Express Membership Rewards

Citi Premier^® Card

U.P. Rating

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

Frequent flyers will enjoy 3x ThankYou Points at restaurants, gas stations, supermarkets, air travel, and hotels.

Learn More(at our partner's secure site)

Citi Premier^® Card

Frequent flyers will enjoy 3x ThankYou Points at restaurants, gas stations, supermarkets, air travel, and hotels.

Welcome Offer

Earn 60,000 bonus ThankYou^® Points after you spend $4,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening. Plus, for a limited time, earn a total of 10 ThankYou^® Points per $1 spent on hotel, car rentals, and attractions (excluding air travel) booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through June 30, 2024.

60,000 points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$960

Annual Fee

$95

APR

21.24% - 29.24% Variable

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

The Citi Premier^® Card is an excellent option for anyone looking for an all-around travel rewards credit card. The card helps you earn points fast with great 3x bonus categories such as restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, airfare, and hotels. Plus, it offers access to airline and hotel transfer partners, doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees, and has a reasonable annual fee!

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 3x points at restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, airfare, and hotel purchases
• Access to Citi transfer partners

Cons

• $95 annual fee

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn 60,000 bonus ThankYou^® Points after you spend $4,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening. Plus, for a limited time, earn a total of 10 ThankYou^® Points per $1 spent on hotel, car rentals, and attractions (excluding air travel) booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through June 30, 2024.
• Earn 3 Points per $1 spent at Gas Stations, Air Travel and Other Hotels
• Earn 3 Points per $1 spent at Restaurants and Supermarkets
• Earn 1 Point per $1 spent on all other purchases
• Annual Hotel Savings Benefit
• 60,000 ThankYou^® Points are redeemable for $600 in gift cards redeemable for $600 in gift cards or travel rewards at thankyou.com
• No expiration and no limit to the amount of points you can earn with this card
• No Foreign Transaction Fees on purchases

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 21.24% - 29.24% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

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• Credit Card Reviews
• Travel Rewards Credit Cards
• Best Sign Up Bonuses

Rewards Center

Citi ThankYou Rewards

Bottom Line: Both the Amex Gold card and Citi Premier card come with generous welcome offers that are generally worth more than $1,000 when redeemed for travel. 

Membership Rewards Points vs. Citi ThankYou Points

The Amex Gold card earns Membership Rewards points and the Citi Premier card earns ThankYou Points. The 2 cards have somewhat similar points-earning structures and redemption options.

However, depending on your spending mix and redemption preferences, one card may be a better choice for you than the other.

Let’s review what you can expect regarding points-earning and redemption options on our 2 featured cards.

Earning Potential

If you’re selecting a card to use for everyday purchases, you’ll want to pay close attention to a card’s bonus points-earning categories as they can help you rack up rewards quickly.

Here’s how the Amex Gold card and Citi Premier card earn rewards on every purchase and which categories have bonus earnings.

Earning Example

Different spending mixes result in different levels of earned rewards. Here’s an example of how rewards are earned on each of our featured cards.

Let’s say you spend the following each year:

• $10,000 on flights purchased with the airline or the card’s travel portal
• $18,000 on groceries
• $5,000 on gas
• $3,000 dining out

Here’s how your earnings would play out on the Amex Gold card and on the Citi Premier card:

Amex Gold Card

• 3x points on $10,000 of flights = 30,000 points
• 4x points on $18,000 of groceries = 72,000 points
• 1x points on $5,000 of gas = 5,000 points
• 4x points on $3,000 of dining out = 12,000 points

Total: 119,000 points x 2.2 cents = $2,618 in value when redeemed for travel via the card’s transfer partners

Citi Premier Card

• 3x points on $10,000 of flights = 30,000 points
• 3x points on $18,000 of groceries = 54,000 points
• 3x points on $5,000 of gas = 15,000 points
• 3x points on $3,000 of dining out = 9,000 points

Total: 108,000 points x 1.6 cents = $1,728 in value when redeemed for travel via the card’s transfer partners

Of course, this example is arbitrary as your spending mix will differ, plus how you actually redeem your rewards will determine the value you’ll receive. The example is meant to illustrate how the same spending mix can result in different earnings depending on the card you use.

You’ll want to evaluate your spending habits and match them to each card’s bonus-earning categories to determine the best option for you.

Bottom Line: Both the Amex Gold card and Citi Premier card have robust earning structures for everyday purchases and travel. The better card for you will depend on your spending mix and how it matches the card’s bonus category earnings. If your greatest household expense is gas, for example, you may find the Citi Premier card is a better fit since it earns 3x points on gas, compared to the Amex Gold card which earns only 1x points for the same purchases. 

Redemption Options

Once you’ve accumulated a nice stash of rewards, you’ll want to receive the best value when redeeming your points. While you’ll often realize the most value when transferring points to travel partners, you will still have several other ways to use your points.

Here are the choices you’ll have for redeeming points earned on the Amex Gold card or the Citi Premier card:

While Membership Rewards Points and Citi ThankYou Points can normally be redeemed through the cards’ respective travel portals for 1 cent each, greater value can be had by transferring points to airline or hotel partners.

The Amex Gold card allows you to transfer Membership Rewards points to airline and hotel partners, most at a 1:1 ratio. You could also redeem points for flights or stays with The Hotel Collection or Fine Hotels & Resorts at the rate of 1 cent each via AmexTravel.com. Other eligible travel can be booked via the portal at the rate of just 0.7 cents for each point. You can also redeem points to bid on airline seat upgrades.

Note that redeeming Membership Rewards points for gift cards, shopping, or statement credits could result in a value of less than 1 cent per point.

Citi ThankYou Points can be redeemed for travel for 1 cent each through ThankYou.com or transferred to airline and hotel partners for even greater potential value.

ThankYou Points can also be transferred to the Sears Shop Your Way program where it’s possible to find some decent gift card redemptions or use points to shop at Sears and Kmart.

Membership Rewards points cannot be redeemed for cash while ThankYou Points can be redeemed for cash at a value of 1 cent each.

Examples of Transfer Redemptions

Amex Gold Card

While you’ll have several redemption options, the best value for your Membership Rewards points will be realized by transferring to the Amex airline partners.

JetBlue, Singapore Airlines, and ANA are just a few of Amex’s airline transfer partners, but here’s how you can use your Amex points for big value on a bucket-list trip.

• Fly Qatar Airways Qsuites From the U.S. to Doha — Transfer Membership Rewards points to British Airways Executive Club and use Avios to book a one-way Qatar Airways business class award ticket starting at 70,000 Avios plus taxes and fees. This flight normally costs thousands of dollars.
• Fly ANA Business Class From the U.S. to Japan — Transfer Membership Rewards points to ANA Mileage Club and book a flight in ANA business class from the U.S. to Japan, with round-trip rates starting at just 75,000 miles, plus taxes and fees.

To learn more about the best way to maximize Membership Rewards transfer partners, read our story where we list dozens of examples on how to get the most value out of your Amex points.

Citi Premier Card

Citi ThankYou Points can be redeemed for travel for 1 cent each through ThankYou.com or transferred to airline and hotel partners for even greater potential value.

The Citi Premier card earns ThankYou Points that can be transferred to many popular airline partners at a 1:1 ratio and a couple of hotel partners. Transfer partners include Air France-KLM Flying Blue, EVA Air, and Turkish Airlines, just to name a few.

Here’s a quick glimpse at the best ways to maximize Citi ThankYou Points when you utilize airline transfer partners.

• Fly Singapore Suites to Europe — Transfer ThankYou Points to Singapore Airlines’ Krisflyer program and enjoy first class luxury in your A380 suite from New York to Frankfurt. Prices start at 97,000 miles for Saver awards.
• Fly a Family of 4 to Hawaii on United — Transfer just 60,000 ThankYou Points to Turkish Airlines to book 4 round-trip tickets from the mainland U.S. to the Hawaiian Islands on United Airlines.

Hot Tip: The best time to transfer Membership Rewards points or ThankYou Points is during a transfer bonus promotion. Log in to your card account and under the redemption section, select the transfer option to see if there are offers available. Examples of past transfer bonuses include a 30% bonus when transferring Membership Rewards points to Marriott Bonvoy or a 25% bonus when transferring Citi ThankYou Points to JetBlue. 

Travel Benefits and Protections

Travel benefits can save you money on travel-related purchases, provide assistance during your trips, and should something go wrong, you may have travel insurance that can reimburse you for covered expenses.

Here are the travel benefits and protections that come with both the Amex Gold card and the Citi Premier card:

• Hotel Program Benefits — Both the Amex Gold card and Citi Premier card offer elite-style benefits through their associated hotel programs when you use your card to book your stay.
• No Foreign Transaction Fees — Use your card when you travel internationally as neither card charges foreign transaction fees.

Amex Gold Card

• The Hotel Collection Elite-style Benefits — Use your card to book a 2-night stay or longer with The Hotel Collection and receive room upgrades when available, $100 on-site amenities, and daily breakfast for 2. Pay with points or earn 2x points per dollar when you pay with your card.
• Car Rental Program Discounts and Benefits — Enjoy Amex discounts and benefits at Hertz, Avis, and Alamo.
• Car Rental Insurance — Use your card to reserve and pay for your car rental, decline the rental agency’s CDW/LDW coverage, and receive secondary coverage for damage and theft. Card members also have access to Premium Protection for 1 low price that covers the entire rental period (up to 41 days).
• Trip Delay Insurance — If your trip is delayed for more than 12 hours for a covered reason, you could receive up to $300 in reimbursement for incidental expenses.
• Baggage Insurance — Use your card to pay for your common carrier ticket and receive coverage for lost, stolen, or damaged luggage, up to $1,250 for carry-on and $500 for checked bags.
• Global Assist Hotline — When you’re traveling more than 100 miles from home, have access 24/7 to help to arrange emergency transportation, receive medical or legal referrals, assist with a lost passport, and more.

Citi Premier Card

• $100 Hotel Credit — Book a hotel of $500 or more for a single stay (excluding taxes and fees) via ThankYou.com using your card and receive an annual statement credit of $100.
• Mastercard Travel Benefits — The Citi Premier card is a World Elite Mastercard offering lifestyle benefits such as hotel elite-style benefits via the Mastercard Luxury Hotel & Resorts Portfolio program, Priceless Experiences, car rental discounts, and more.

Bottom Line: While neither the Amex Gold card nor the Citi Premier card is packed with travel benefits and protections, the Amex Gold card is superior in this category due to the available car rental protection, trip delay insurance, and baggage insurance you won’t find on the Citi Premier card. 

Shopping Benefits and Protections

Both the Amex Gold card and Citi Premier card come with core protection coverages for eligible items purchased with either card.

• Purchase Protection — The Amex Gold card provides coverage for theft or damage for 90 days after the purchase date for eligible items purchased with the card. Coverage is limited to $10,000 per covered item, up to $50,000 per event. The Citi Premier card offers protection for 90 days from the date of purchase, up to $10,000 per incident, and $50,000 per calendar year.
• Extended Warranty — The Amex Gold card will add 1 additional year of warranty to eligible items, purchased with the card, that have manufacturer’s warranties of 5 years or less. The Citi Premier card provides up to an additional 24 months extended warranty, for a total of no more than 7 total years including the manufacturer’s warranty, for eligible items purchased in part or entirely with the card.

In addition to these protections, each card has its own shopping benefits and protections.

Amex Gold Card

• Monthly Dining Credit — Receive up to $10 in dining credits each month, up to $120 each year, when you enroll your card and use it for purchases at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Milk Bar, and select Shake Shack locations.
• Monthly Uber Cash — Add your Amex Gold card as a payment option to your Uber account and receive $10 in Uber Cash each month, up to $120 each year. Uber Cash can be used for Uber rides and Uber Eats in the U.S.
• ShopRunner Membership — Receive free 2-day shipping and returns plus discounts at dozens of retailers with your complimentary ShopRunner membership.
• Amex Offers — Login to your online card account and select from dozens of offers from select retailers and service providers. Use your card to make the associated purchases to earn additional Membership Rewards points or cash-back.

Citi Premier Card

• Citi Merchant Offers — Citi Merchant Offers have become more robust lately. Examples of recent offers include 10% back at Shell gas stations, 5% back at Sam’s Club, and 1.5% back at CVS. You’ll find dozens of offers by logging into your online card account and adding the offer to your card. Make the required purchase and you’ll earn cash-back in addition to any applicable ThankYou Points.
• Mastercard Shopping Benefits — Receive complimentary ShopRunner membership that comes with free 2-day shipping and returns, plus discounts at dozens of retailers. You’ll also receive a 3-month trial DoorDash membership, discounts at Lyft and Fandango, and more.

Please keep in mind that all of these benefit and protection descriptions have been abbreviated and do not include any terms and conditions that may apply. Each card’s Guide to Benefits should be your reference for full descriptions, additional benefits/protections that may be available, and any terms and conditions that apply.

Bottom Line: Both the Amex Gold card and Citi Premier card come with shopping benefits and protections such as complimentary ShopRunner membership, purchase protection, and extended warranty coverage. Additionally, the Amex Gold card offers monthly statement credits for select dining purchases, Uber Cash, and Amex Offers. The Citi Premier card comes with Citi Merchant Offers and the Mastercard shopping benefits of a trial DoorDash membership and discounts on Lyft, Fandango, and more. 

Annual Fees and Authorized Users

It’s important to acknowledge the cost of holding a credit card in order to determine the net value you’ll actually receive. You’ll want to make sure you receive at least enough value from your card to offset its associated annual fee.

The Amex Gold card charges an annual fee of $250, while the Citi Premier card charges an annual fee of $95.

The Amex Gold card does not charge a fee to add up to 5 authorized users. Each additional user after that incurs a $35 charge. There is no charge to add authorized users to the Citi Premier card.

Credit Score Requirements

You will need a good to excellent credit score, normally 670 to 850, to qualify for either the Amex Gold card or Citi Premier card.

Final Thoughts

For earning rewards on common everyday purchases and travel, both the Amex Gold card and Citi Premier card suit that purpose perfectly with their robust points-earning structures.

The Amex Gold card, however, offers better travel benefits such as having access to Premium Protection car rental insurance for 1 low price that covers the entire rental period, trip delay insurance, and baggage delay insurance. If you don’t have another travel rewards credit card with premium travel benefits, the Citi Premier card may not be a good stand-alone choice as your primary card for travel purchases.

If travel benefits are not a priority, consider the Amex Gold card’s Uber and dining credits, which can help offset the $250 annual fee. The Citi Premier doesn’t have as many shopping benefits, but it does have a $100 hotel credit which can offset its $95 annual fee.

Either card could work well to earn you a ton of flexible points which you be redeemed in a variety of ways. Before you make a final decision, though, analyze your spending habits to see which card would earn you the most points. Then, ask yourself how you’d like to use your points and see which card’s redemption options best align with your preferences.

The information regarding the For the rates and fees of the American Express Gold Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.