Amex Business Gold Card vs. Amex Gold Card [2024]

When you’re ready to select a new rewards card, an American Express card should be at the top of your list for consideration. The company issues a variety of business cards and personal consumer cards designed to match up with nearly every spending profile, redemption priority, and desire for useable benefits.

Aside from its flagship premium travel rewards cards, The Platinum Card^® from American Express and The Business Platinum Card^® from American Express, there are 2 additional cards that cardholders consistently seek out.

The American Express^® Business Gold Card and the American Express^® Gold Card are workhorses when it comes to rewarding everyday business and personal spending. The cards also shine at redemption time and offer travel and shopping benefits that deliver additional value.

But if you’re trying to decide between the 2 for your next rewards card, you’ll find the cards can be totally different animals. That’s where we come in.

We’ve chosen these 2 popular cards today to dig deep and cover all the differences so you can choose which works best for you.

Amex Business Gold Card vs. Amex Gold Card — Overview

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Card	American Express^® Business Gold Card	American Express^® Gold Card
Welcome Offer	Earn 70,000 points after you spend $10,000 on purchases in the first 3 months.	Earn 60,000 points when you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 6 months.
Earning Potential	4x points on the top 2 categories where your business spends the most (terms apply) 3x points on eligible flights and prepaid hotels booked through AmexTravel.com 1x points on other purchases	4x points at restaurants worldwide (including takeout and delivery in the U.S.) and U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 every calendar year) 3x points on airfare purchased directly with the airline or AmexTravel.com 1x points on other purchases
Redemption Options	Transfers to airline and hotel partners AmexTravel.com bookings Statement credits, merchandise, gift cards, charitable donations, Amazon.com, PayPal.com
Statement Credits	Up to $240 back annually ($20 back per month) for eligible purchases at FedEx, Grubhub, and office supply stores Up to $155 back annually for a monthly Walmart+ membership	Up to $120 in dining credits per year (terms apply) Up to $120 in Uber Cash per year (terms apply)
Travel Benefits and Protections	Secondary rental car insurance, baggage insurance plan, Global Access Hotline
Shopping Benefits and Protections	Purchase protection; Extended warranty
Shopping Benefits and Protections	No foreign transaction fees (rates & fees)	No foreign transaction fees (rates & fees)
Annual Fees	$375 (rates & fees)	$250 (rates & fees)

The Value of a Welcome Bonus

Amex Business Gold Card

BEST FOR BONUSES

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

American Express^® Business Gold Card

U.P. Rating

Get 4x points in 2 select categories where your business spends the most each month (on your first $150,000 spent each year).

Learn More(at Amex's secure site)

American Express^® Business Gold Card

Get 4x points in 2 select categories where your business spends the most each month (on your first $150,000 spent each year).

Welcome OfferEarn 70,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $10,000 on eligible purchases with the Business Gold Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership
70,000 points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:
$1,540

Annual Fee

$375

APR

19.49% - 28.49% Variable

Credit Recommended

Good to Excellent (670-850)

The American Express^® Business Gold Card is excellent at racking up rewards for your business spend.

The card earns a whopping 4x points per $1 in the 2 categories (from a list of 6) that your business spends the most money on each month. With no need to opt-in or preselect your categories, so you can focus on what matters most — running your business.

Pros

4x points per dollar spent on your 2 highest purchase categories each month up to $150,000 each calendar year in purchases; categories include:
- NEW! Transit purchases including trains, taxicabs, rideshare services, ferries, tolls, parking, buses, and subways
- NEW! U.S. purchases made from electronic goods retailers and software & cloud system providers
- NEW! Monthly wireless telephone service charges made directly from a wireless telephone service provider in the U.S.
- U.S. purchases at gas stations
- U.S. purchases at restaurants, including takeout and delivery
- Purchases at U.S. media providers for advertising in select media (online such as Google Ads, Facebook Ads, plus TV and radio)
3x points per dollar on flights and prepaid hotels booked on amextravel.com using your Business Gold Card
Access to Amex’s The Hotel Collection
Purchase protection and extended warranty protection
Trip delay insurance
Car rental insurance
Cell phone insurance

Cons

$375 annual fee (rates and fees)
No elite travel benefits like airport lounge access or elite status

Welcome Offer: Earn 70,000 Membership Rewards^® points after you spend $10,000 on eligible purchases with the Business Gold Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.*
Earn 4X Membership Rewards^® points on the 2 categories where your business spends the most each billing cycle from 6 eligible categories. While your top 2 categories may change, you will earn 4X points on the first $150,000 in combined purchases from these categories each calendar year (then 1X thereafter). Only the top 2 categories each billing cycle will count towards the $150,000 cap.
Earn 3X Membership Rewards^® points on flights and prepaid hotels booked on amextravel.com using your Business Gold Card.
Earn up to $20 in statement credits monthly after you use the Business Gold Card for eligible U.S. purchases at FedEx, Grubhub, and Office Supply Stores. This can be an annual savings of up to $240. Enrollment required.
Get $12.95 back in statement credits each month when you pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) with your Business Gold Card. $12.95 plus applicable taxes.
Your Card – Your Choice. Choose from Gold or Rose Gold.
*Terms Apply

Financial Snapshot

APR: 19.49% - 28.49% Variable
Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Card Categories

Rewards Center

American Express Membership Rewards

Hot Tip: Check to see if you’re eligible for a huge welcome bonus offer of up to 110,000 points with the Amex Business Gold card! The current public offer is 70,000 points. (This targeted offer was independently researched and may not be available to all applicants.)

Amex Gold Card

BEST FOR DINING

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

American Express^® Gold Card

U.P. Rating

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)

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 OfferEarn 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

Good to Excellent (670-850)

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

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
3x points per dollar on flights purchased directly from airlines or at Amex Travel
Up to $120 annual dining credit: up to $10 monthly statement credit when you pay with the Amex Gold card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Milk Bar and select Shake Shack locations
Up to $120 in annual Uber Cash: get $10 monthly in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S. when you add your Gold Card to your Uber account
No foreign transaction fees (see rates and fees)
Access to Amex’s The Hotel Collection
Access to American Express transfer partners

Cons

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

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

Card Categories

Rewards Center

American Express Membership Rewards

Hot Tip: Check to see if you’re eligible for a welcome bonus offer of up to 90,000 points with the Amex Gold card. The current public offer is 60,000 points. (This targeted offer was independently researched and may not be available to all applicants.)

While the Amex Gold card may currently offer a bonus that exceeds the Amex Business Gold card, offers can change. Additionally, the actual value of a welcome bonus is dependent on how you choose to redeem your Membership Rewards points.

It’s always prudent to review the current welcome bonus, annual fee, any other associated fees and rates, and the applicable terms and conditions of a card prior to applying for any card.

The snapshots above can assist you in finding this information and help you estimate the value of a welcome bonus.

Business vs. Personal Card

The Amex Business Gold card is obviously a business card and the Amex Gold card is a personal consumer card.

If you have a business, it’s appropriate to keep business and personal purchases separated by selecting a business card to use for those purchases. Additionally, business cards may provide greater protection and offer business-related benefits such as employee cards that help you manage purchases and organizational tools that can make tax time easier.

If you’re looking specifically for a business card, you’ll want to review our article on some of the best business card choices available.

Personal consumer rewards cards, the Amex Gold card included, tend to focus on rewarding typical everyday expenses and providing additional useful travel and shopping-related benefits.

If you’re looking to apply for just 1 card and are not sure whether your next card will be a business or personal card, our 2 featured cards could both potentially qualify as great choices. Read on to find everything you need here to make your decision.

Comparing Earning Options

Each of our featured cards has a very different earning profile. While the Amex Business Gold card rewards common business purchases, the Amex Gold card focuses more on everyday spending categories.

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Amex Business Gold Card

Amex Gold Card

4x points per dollar spent on your 2 highest purchase categories each month up to $150,000 each calendar year
3x points per dollar on flights and prepaid hotels booked on amextravel.com using your Business Gold Card
1x points on all other purchases

4x points at restaurants and at U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 per calendar year; 1x thereafter)
3x points on flights booked directly with the airline or via AmexTravel.com
2x points on other qualifying travel purchases via AmexTravel.com
1x points on all other purchases

Both cards are winners when you select the card that aligns with your business or personal spending profile.

If you’re a busy business owner, you’ll like that you don’t need to decide which bonus categories to select, as the Amex Business Gold card applies the bonus rewards automatically to your 2 highest qualifying expenses each statement period.

As a consumer, you’ll find the Amex Gold card will deliver elevated earnings on qualifying supermarket, restaurant, and flight purchases.

Hot Tip: If your business involves advertising on Facebook or other qualifying media, you’ll want to consider the Amex Business Gold card. The card earns 4x points per dollar spent (up to $150,000 in purchases each calendar year) on select online advertising when that expense is one of your highest expenses in a specific statement period.

Comparing Redemption Options

C. Baldwin, Curio Collection by Hilton in Houston Texas Lobby Bar — Redeem Membership Rewards points for premium travel experiences including first-class flights and luxury hotel nights. C. Baldwin, Curio Collection by Hilton. Image Credit: Chris Hassan

While earning options on our featured cards are quite different, redemption options for Membership Rewards points are similar.

Let’s look at the choices you’ll have for redeeming Membership Rewards points earned on either card.

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Redemption Option	Amex Business Gold Card	Amex Gold Card
Redeem for Travel	Redeem points for 1 cent each for qualifying travel via AmexTravel.com
Transfer to Travel Partners	20+ American Express transfer partners; most transfer at a 1:1 ratio; a small fee applies for domestic airline transfers
Statement credits to Offset Purchases	Redeem for statement credits to offset qualifying purchases at the rate of 0.6 cents per point
Additional Redemption Options	Upgrade your flight, gift cards, Amazon, Uber, and other shopping partners

The best value for redeeming Membership Rewards earned on either card is to redeem the points for travel via AmexTravel.com or transfer the points to airline and hotel partners for the potential to receive even greater value.

Watch for bonus transfer offers that can be found in your online card account. Recent offers have included a 40% bonus when transferring Membership Rewards to Marriott Bonvoy and an offer to redeem 1,000 Membership Rewards points for 2,800 Hilton Honors points. Additional bonuses are offered periodically when transferring to airline frequent flyer programs.

Bottom Line: The process and options for redeeming Membership Rewards are the same for either of our featured cards.

Statement Credits

Statement credits directly offset any qualifying purchases made with your card. Here are the statement credit offers you can expect on our featured cards.

Amex Gold Card

$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 your card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Milk Bar and select Shake Shack locations. Enrollment required.

Amex Business Gold Card

Up to $240 back annually ($20 back per month) for eligible purchases at FedEx, Grubhub, and office supply stores upon enrollment
Up to $155 back annually for a monthly Walmart+ membership

Travel Benefits and Protections

Amex Car Rental Insurance — Both of our featured cards offer the option to purchase premium car rental protection. Image Credit: American Express

You’ll find several useful travel benefits and protections that come with both the Amex Business Gold card and the Amex Gold card:

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Benefit	Amex Business Gold Card	Amex Gold Card
Rental Car Insurance	Secondary car rental insurance with the option to purchase Premium Protection for 1 low fee that covers the entire rental period; prices range from $12.95 to $24.95
Trip Delay Insurance	Up to $300 when your trip is delayed more than 12 hours
Baggage Insurance	Receive up to $1,250 for damaged, lost, or stolen carry-on baggage and up to $500 for checked baggage
Travel Accident Insurance	Up to $100,000 per person for accidental death or dismemberment	Up to $250,000 per person for accidental death or dismemberment
Global Assist Hotline	24/7 assistance when traveling more than 100 miles from home
The Hotel Collection Benefits	On each qualifying 2-night stay through The Hotel Collection, receive $100 hotel credit, an upgraded room when available, and 2x earnings on prepaid bookings

Bottom Line: For a complete overview of American Express card travel insurance, our article provides an in-depth look at the travel insurance coverages offered on each card.

Shopping Benefits and Protections

Both of our featured cards come with several shopping benefits and protections that can save you money on your purchases or reimburse you in the case of a covered event.

No Preset Spending Limit — Both cards are charge cards, which means there are no preset spending limits associated with these cards.

Purchase Protection — Receive up to $1,000 per item, $50,000 per card per calendar year, for damaged or stolen items for up to 90 days from the date of purchase.

Extended Warranty — For manufacturers’ warranties of 5 years or less, the card benefit extends the warranty by 1 additional year. The maximum benefit is $10,000 per item, $50,000 per card, per calendar year.

Amex Offers — Log into your online Amex card account, scroll down the page, and find up to 100 Amex Offers that can save you money or provide bonus earnings. Add the offer to your card by clicking on the Add to card button, then make the associated purchase with your card.

American Express Auto Purchasing Program — Receive guaranteed savings on your new car purchase and be able to use your Amex card to charge at least $2,000 of the purchase price.

Amex Business Gold Card vs. Amex Gold Card — Summary

We’re dealing with 2 worthy cards here, but 1 may be a better fit for your current situation.

Let’s recap what we’ve covered and summarize how the cards fare in each category:

Best for Earning Rewards — Both cards offer bonus-earning spending categories, with the Amex Business Gold card focusing on rewarding common business purchases, and the Amex Gold card’s earning strength centering around supermarket and dining purchases. The better card will be the one that matches your specific spending profile.

Best for Redeeming Rewards — Both of our featured cards offer the same redemption options.

Best for Travel Benefits and Protections — The core travel insurance coverages that come with our featured cards are identical with the exception of the travel accident insurance, which is a rarely used benefit.

Best for Shopping Benefits and Protections — You wouldn’t select a card based solely on shopping benefits, but fortunately, both cards fare equally in this category.

Best for Adding Authorized Users — Both cards are winners when it comes to adding authorized users, as both offer appropriate options for the cards’ designed purposes. The Amex Business Gold card, created for the business owner, allows up to 99 additional users for a low $50 fee each year and the personal Amex Gold card allows up to 5 additional users for no extra charge, which could be sufficient for the average consumer.

Final Thoughts

We like that the Amex Gold card functions well as an everyday spending card, but still offers plenty of travel and shopping benefits. We also like the Amex Business Gold card for its focus on rewarding common purchases a business might make on a regular basis.

Both cards are worthy choices, but the best card for you will reward your greatest spending and offer redemption options that make sense for you personally. And bottom line, your chosen card should provide enough overall value to exceed any annual fee you’ll need to pay.

If you’re still undecided and like both of our featured cards, you might select the one with the greater welcome bonus to jump-start your earnings. But you may not qualify for a welcome bonus if you’ve previously had the selected card.

Before applying for any card, be sure to check for the current welcome bonus, fees, and terms and conditions.

For the car rental collision damage coverage benefit of the American Express^® Business Gold Card and American Express^® Gold Card, eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car rental loss or damage coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc. For the trip cancellation and interruption insurance and trip delay insurance benefits of the American Express^® Business Gold Card and American Express^® Gold Card, eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company. For the baggage insurance plan benefit of the American Express^® Business Gold Card and American Express^® Gold Card, eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. For the extended warranty and purchase protection benefit of the American Express^® Business Gold Card and American Express^® Gold Card, eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. For the Global Assist Hotline benefit of the American Express^® Business Gold Card and American Express^® Gold Card, eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. If approved and coordinated by Global Assist Hotline, emergency medical transportation assistance may be provided at no cost. In any other circumstance, card members may be responsible for the costs charged by third-party service providers.

For rates and fees of the American Express^® Business Gold Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the American Express^® Gold Card, click here.

Featured Image Credit: Upgraded Points

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Amex Business Gold card worth it?

Yes. For businesses that have expenses that fall into the 4x bonus earning categories of the Amex Business Gold card, the card could generate enough earnings to more than offset any annual fee.

The card also provides a valuable tool for managing expenses with the option to add up to 99 additional users for just $50 per year.

Which is better, the Amex Business Gold card or the Amex Gold card?

Both cards provide elevated earnings, valuable redemption options, and travel and shopping benefits. The better card will depend on your preferences and whether your expenditures are business or personal purchases.

Which Amex business card is best?

American Express issues several business cards that can fit nearly every type of business, from startups to large established operations.

To check out some of the best Amex business card options, our article provides information on several popular choices.

How do I redeem Membership Rewards?

Membership Rewards points are earned when you make qualifying purchases with your card. These points are added to your Membership Rewards account when your statement closes each month and you pay the associated balance.

You can redeem your points by logging in to your associated online American Express card account and selecting Rewards at the top of the home page. You will then see all of the options for redeeming your rewards.

Does the Amex Business Gold card have a spending limit?

Neither the Amex Business Gold card nor the Amex Gold card has a preset spending limit.

Both cards have the option to pay for purchases of $100 or more with the Pay Over Time benefit.

This option allows you to pay back a purchase over time with interest.

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About Christine Krzyszton

Christine ran her own business developing and managing insurance and financial services. This stoked a passion for points and miles and she now has over 2 dozen credit cards and creates in-depth, detailed content for UP.

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