Which is the better card, the Amex Gold card or the Capital One Savor card?

If you prefer cash-back and your highest expenses are entertainment, streaming services, dining, and groceries, you’ll probably fare well with the Capital One Savor card. If you’re a traveler, the Amex Gold card may be the better card for you. You will earn well on select travel purchases, on restaurants worldwide, and at U.S. supermarkets. Plus, Membership Rewards points earned on the card are valuable and flexible for travel redemptions. The better card will be the one that matches your spending, has redemption choices you prefer, and benefits you can use.

Which is better, Membership Rewards points or cash-back?

If you’re a traveler, Membership Rewards points have the edge at redemption time as you can transfer them to airline or hotel partners and receive potentially greater value than other redemption options. Cash-back, however, can be more liquid.

Does the Amex Gold card have lounge access?

The Amex Gold card does not come with a lounge access benefit.

Can I redeem Capital One Savor card rewards for flights?

Yes, you can redeem cash-back earned on the Capital One Savor card for flights via Capital One Travel. You can also redeem cash-back for a statement credit for previous travel purchases. If you have a miles-earning Capital One card, you can transfer cash-back earned on the Capital One Savor card to the miles-earning card to utilize airline and hotel partners.

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Amex Gold Card vs. Capital One Savor Card [Detailed Comparison]

Updated: January 31, 2026, 12:47am CST

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Table of Contents

Overview
Welcome Offer Comparison
Earning Potential
Redemption Options
Travel Protection and Benefits
Shopping Protection and Benefits Comparison
Annual Fees and Authorized Users
Final Thoughts

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According to U.S. Department of Agriculture statistics, the average family spends more on eating out than on groceries. This statistic translates to the average family spending nearly 6% of their household income on eating away from home. Add weekly groceries, and food becomes a major household expense representing over 11% of household income.

We’re all about ensuring that significant household expenses earn the most rewards possible. It’s a primary reason to secure a card that will earn well on everyday purchases, including dining out and groceries.

Earning rewards on dining and groceries is the foundation for selecting the cards in today’s comparison. The American Express^® Gold Card and the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit CardInformation collected independently. Not reviewed by Capital One. earn well in each category, offer flexible redemption options, and include useful benefits.

Join us as we look closely at these 2 popular cards, each a worthy option for foodies and families.

Overview

We’ll expand on the details of the Amex Gold card and Capital One Savor card, but first, let’s look at a helpful overall summary of the key benefits of our featured cards.

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Feature or Benefit	American Express^® Gold Card	Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card
Welcome Offer	Apply and find out if you're eligible for as high as 100,000 points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases in the first 6 months. Welcome offers vary, and you may not be eligible for an offer.	Earn a one-time $200 cash bonus once you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening.
Top Bonus-Earning Categories	4x points at U.S. supermarkets (limit of $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1x points) 4x points at restaurants worldwide (limit of $50,000 per calendar year, then 1x points) 3x points for flights purchased directly through the airlines or via AmexTravel.com 2x points for select travel via AmexTravel.com	8% cash-back on Capital One Entertainment 5% cash-back on hotels and rental cars via Capital One Travel 3% cash-back on dining, grocery stores, entertainment, and select streaming services
Top Redemption Options	Redeem for flights via AmexTravel.com or transfer to airline or hotel partners	Statement credit or check Transfer rewards to miles-earning Capital One cards and then transfer to travel partners
Top Travel Protections and Benefits	Car rental insurance, trip delay insurance, baggage insurance	MasterRental insurance, trip cancellation or interruption, Master RoadAssist^®
Top Shopping Protections and Benefits	Purchase protection, extended warranty, and Amex Offers	0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 12 months; after that, a 18.49% - 28.49% variable APR applies. BT fee applies Purchase assurance, extended warranty, Capital One Offers
Annual Fees and Authorized Users	Annual fee of $325 (rates & fees) Authorized Users: no charge for up to 5 additional users; $35 for each user added after that (rates & fees)	Annual fee of $0 There is no charge to add authorized users

Welcome Offer Comparison

As soon as you’re approved for either the Amex Gold card or Capital One Savor card, you’ll be able to earn a welcome offer.

Welcome offers can be earned immediately after card approval by meeting the minimum spending requirements within the specified period.

The Amex Gold card offers a generous welcome offer of Membership Rewards points, while the Capital One Savor card’s welcome offer is bonus cash-back.

Welcome offers do vary, so we’re providing these card snapshots that include information on the most recent offers available:

NEW OFFER

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!

Apply Now(at Amex's secure site)

Apply With Confidence

Know if you're approved with no credit score impact

If you're approved and accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.

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 OfferYou may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.
As High As 100,000 Points. Find Out Your Offer.

UP's Offer Valuation*:
Up to   $2,200

Annual Fee

$325

APR

See Pay Over Time APR

Credit Recommended

Good to Excellent

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, up to $50,000 per calendar year, and you’ll also earn 4x Membership Rewards points at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 per calendar year, 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 worldwide, up to $50,000 per calendar year; then 1x thereafter
4x points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets, up to $25,000 per calendar year; then 1x thereafter
3x points per dollar on flights purchased directly from airlines or at AmexTravel.com

Cons

$325 annual fee (rates and fees)
No lounge access

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards^® Points after you spend $6,000 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.
Earn 4X Membership Rewards^® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
Earn 4X Membership Rewards^® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
Earn 3X Membership Rewards^® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
Earn 2X Membership Rewards^® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
Earn 1X Membership Rewards^® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
$120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards^® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
$84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express^® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
$100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express^® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
$120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. 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, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
No Foreign Transaction Fees.
Annual Fee is $325.
Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

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

Rewards Center

American Express Membership Rewards

Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card

U.P. Rating

The Capital One Savor card is a great no-annual fee card for those who regularly spend on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services, and at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart and Target).

Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card

Welcome OfferEarn a one-time $200 cash bonus once you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening.
$200

Annual Fee

APR

Purchases: 0% intro on purchases for 12 months; 18.49% - 28.49% variable thereafter

Credit Recommended

Good to Excellent (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

The Capital One Savor card is a phenomenal option when it comes to no-annual-fee cash-back credit cards. With popular bonus categories like dining, grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart and Target), entertainment, and popular streaming services, and the ability to earn 3% cash-back on these purchases, it is easy to see why those who use the card can earn some serious cash-back throughout the year.

The card also allows you to take your rewards and experiences even further by offering access to Capital One Travel, Capital One Dining, and Capital One Entertainment.

Pros & Cons

Pros

8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases
5% cash-back on hotels, rental cars, and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel, where you’ll get Capital One’s best prices on thousands of trip options. Terms apply.
3% cash-back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services, and at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart and Target)

Cons

Rewards are purely cash-back, so there is no option for miles transfers to transfer partners for redemptions

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

Earn a one-time $200 cash bonus once you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening
$0 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees
Earn unlimited 3% cash back at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart^® and Target^®), on dining, entertainment and popular streaming services, plus 1% on all other purchases
Earn 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases
Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
No rotating categories or sign-ups needed to earn cash rewards; plus cash back won’t expire for the life of the account and there’s no limit to how much you can earn
0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 12 months; 18.49% – 28.49% variable APR after that; balance transfer fee applies
Top rated mobile app

Financial Snapshot

APR: Purchases: 0% intro on purchases for 12 months; 18.49% - 28.49% variable thereafter
Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Bottom Line:

Both the Amex Gold card and the Capital One Savor card include welcome bonus offers that can be earned in the specified period immediately after card approval by meeting minimum spending requirements. Be sure to check for the most recent welcome offer before applying.

Earning Potential

While most of the rewards you’ll earn on the Amex Gold card or Capital One Savor card may come from spending on the card, you can also earn rewards by referring family and friends.

Here are the details for earning rewards via referral bonuses and when spending on your card.

Referral Opportunities

As soon as you’re approved for the Amex Gold card or the Capital One Savor card, you can start earning bonus rewards for referring family or friends.

Amex Gold Card

You can refer family or friends from your Amex Gold card by logging in to your online card account and scrolling down the page until you see the Refer a Friend link. Once you click the link, you can enter your referral’s information or copy a link to send them directly.

Amex Refer a Friend — Image Credit: American Express

You’ll receive a referral bonus if your family member or friend selects any available American Express card and is approved. Amex Gold card referral bonuses can vary but are generally up to 30,000 points for each approved referral, up to 55,000 per year.

Capital One Savor Card

The Capital One Savor card also has a referral bonus that varies in amount. With Capital One, you will only receive the bonus if your referral is approved for the same card. Just like the Amex Gold card, you can find the Refer a Friend link by logging in to your Capital One Savor card online account.

Spending on the Card

Amex Gold With Palm Trees Upgraded Points LLC 2 — Image Credit: Upgraded Points LLC

The Amex Gold card earns Membership Rewards points, while the Capital One Savor card earns cash-back.

Every purchase you make on either card will earn rewards, but many purchases will receive bonus earnings.

Here is a breakdown of the bonus-earning categories and how you’ll earn rewards on each of our featured cards:

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Spending Category	Amex Gold Card	Capital One Savor Card
Dining and Supermarkets	4x points at restaurants worldwide (up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1x points) and on carryout and food delivery in the U.S. 4x points at U.S. supermarkets (limit of $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1x points)	3% cash-back on dining 3% cash-back at grocery stores excluding superstores like Walmart or Target
Travel	3x points for flights purchased directly through the airlines or via AmexTravel.com 2x points for select travel via AmexTravel.com 1x points for all other travel	5% cash-back on hotels, vacation rentals, and rental cars via Capital One Travel 1% cash-back on all other travel
Entertainment and Select Streaming Services	1x points	8% cash-back on Capital One Entertainment 3% cash-back on entertainment and select streaming services
All Other Purchases	1x points	1% cash-back

Matching your actual spending patterns to the card that rewards those categories is the key to maximizing a card’s earning potential.

For example, if you spend a lot on streaming services, you’ll notice the Capital One Savor card earns 3% cash-back on streaming services versus the Amex Gold card’s 1x points.

If you spent $25,000 at U.S. supermarkets each year, you would earn 100,000 Membership Rewards points with the Amex Gold card. The Capital One Savor card would earn $750 in cash-back on the same amount of purchases.

The Amex Gold card is the better card for purchasing flights directly from the airlines (or AmexTravel.com) with 3x earnings. The Capital One Savor card earns just 1% cash-back on any travel outside Capital One Travel hotels and rental cars.

While we value Membership Rewards points at 2.2 cents each and cash-back at a fixed face value, the actual value received will depend on how you redeem your rewards.

Next, we look at the redemption options with the Amex Gold card and Capital One Savor card.

Bottom Line:

Earn rewards on both the Amex Gold card and Capital One Savor card by referring family or friends and by spending on the card. Both cards earn well on dining and at supermarkets. Additionally, the Amex Gold card earns 3x points on flights purchased via AmexTravel.com or directly with the airlines. The Capital One Savor card earns 3% cash-back on select streaming services and entertainment.

Redemption Options

Hong Kong skyline from Victoria Peak at night — Both of our featured cards offer the option to redeem rewards for travel. Image Credit: Ehsan Haque

Once you’ve accumulated a stash of Membership Rewards points or cash-back, it’s time to redeem. Redemption time is when you discover the real value of your rewards.

Here are the options you’ll have to redeem your rewards:

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Redemption Option	Amex Gold Card	Capital One Savor Card
Travel	Redeem points for 1 cent each via AmexTravel.com Transfer points to airline or hotel partners	Redeem cash-back for a statement credit for previous travel purchases Redeem for travel via Capital One Travel Transfer rewards to miles-earning Capital One cards and then transfer to travel partners
Statement Credits	Redeem each point for 0.6 cents each toward a statement credit	Redeem cash-back for a general statement credit (1:1)
Additional Redemption Options	Gift cards, shopping with select retailers, Amazon, or charitable donations	Redeem cash-back when shopping at Amazon, via PayPal, for entertainment, or for gift cards

Amex Gold Card

Membership Rewards points earned on the Amex Gold card can have a variable value based on your redemption choice.

Transferring points to Amex airline (or hotel) partners delivers the best potential value for your Membership Rewards points. JetBlue, Singapore Airlines, and ANA are just a few of Amex’s airline transfer partners offering value. You can discover more valuable redemption ideas for premium flights in our related article.

Capital One Savor Card

Cash-back earned on the Capital One Savor card has a fixed value of 1 cent at redemption time. If you have a card that earns Capital One miles, such as the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card, you can transfer cash-back rewards to that card. This will allow you to utilize Capital One’s airline or hotel partners and potentially receive greater value for your rewards.

Bottom Line:

The Amex Gold card has a strong edge for value at redemption time. In addition to redeeming points for travel via AmexTravel.com, the best potential value may be realized by transferring points to airline or hotel partners. The Capital One Savor card earns cash-back, which can only be redeemed at a fixed rate unless you have a miles-earning Capital One card with access to transfer partners.

Travel Protection and Benefits

We could all use the peace of mind and economic relief travel protections can provide if something goes wrong during a trip. Travel benefits can save you money or make your journey more comfortable.

Here are the travel protections and benefits the Amex Gold card and Capital One Savor card have in common and a list of protections and benefits unique to each card:

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Travel Protection or Benefit	Amex Gold Card	Capital One Savor Card
Car Rental Insurance	Get secondary coverage with the option to purchase Premium Protection that covers the entire rental period, up to 42 days, for as low as $12.25	Get MasterRental Insurance which offers secondary coverage within your country of residence, primary outside your country of residence, limits and terms apply
Foreign Transaction Fees	None (rates & fees)	None

Additional Travel Protection and Benefits

Amex Gold Card

Trip Delay — If your trip is delayed 12 hours or more, you could receive reimbursement for eligible incidentals and lodging, up to $300.
Baggage Insurance — Receive up to $1,250 for damaged, lost, or stolen carry-on. Coverage is up to $500 for checked baggage.
The Hotel Collection Benefits — Book and pay for your 2-night stay or longer, with your card, and receive elite-style benefits. Benefits include a $100 onside experience credit and an upgraded room, when available.

Hot Tip:

Many benefits of the Capital One Savor card are not marketed by Capital One but are provided by Mastercard. Because the Capital One Savor card can be issued as a World Mastercard or World Elite Mastercard, protections and benefits will also vary by card. Consult your card’s Guide to Benefits for full benefit descriptions, limits, and terms/conditions.

Shopping Protection and Benefits Comparison

Shopping protections can help if something goes wrong with an eligible purchase you make with your card. Purchases including computers, cell phones, watches, household appliances, and outdoor equipment are just some examples of items that may be covered.

Shopping benefits can save you money on your purchase or allow you to earn bonus rewards.

Here are the shopping benefits and protections both the Amex Gold card and Capital One Savor card have in common. We’ve also listed the additional benefits that come with each card:

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Shopping Protection or Benefit	Amex Gold Card	Capital One Savor Card
Purchase Protection	Receive up to $1,000 per item, up to $50,000 per calendar year for eligible damaged or stolen items, for up to 90 days from purchase date	Get purchase assurance and receive up to $1,000 for reimbursement, repair, or replacement of an eligible item, for up to 90 days from purchase date; there’s a limit of $25,000 per cardholder per 12 months.
Extended Warranty	Eligible items with manufacturer’s warranties of 5 years or less will be extended for 1 additional year Items with warranties of less than a year will be doubled Coverage up to $10,000 per purchase, $50,000 per card	Eligible items with manufacturer’s warranties of 5 years or less an extension of 1 additional year Items with warranties of less than a year will be doubled Coverage up to $10,000 per purchase, $50,000 per card
Shopping Discounts and Bonus Earnings	Amex Offers give statement credits or bonus earnings when adding the offers to your card and making the associated purchase	Capital One Offers earn statement credits for select purchases Capital One Shopping earns additional cash-back when using the portal
Additional Benefits	N/A	0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 12 months; after that, a 18.49% - 28.49% variable APR applies. BT fee applies

Additional Shopping Protection and Benefits

Amex Gold Card

Monthly Dining Credit — For qualifying purchases made with your card, you could receive up to $10 in monthly statement credits, up to $120 each year. Earn credits on purchases at Goldbelly, Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment is required.
Monthly Uber Cash Credit — Add your Amex Gold card to your account to receive $10 in Uber Cash each month, up to $120 each year, deposited into your Uber account wallet. Uber Cash can be used for Uber rides and Uber Eats in the U.S.
Up to $100 Resy Credit — Receive up to $100 in annual statement credit ($50 semi-annually) redeemable at any U.S. Resy restaurant and other eligible Resy purchases. Enrollment is required through your Amex account.
Dunkin’ Credit — Receive up to $84 annual statement credit (up to $7 per month) redeemable at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.

Capital One Savor Card

Introductory 0% APR — 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 12 months; after that, a 18.49% - 28.49% variable APR applies. BT fee applies

It’s worth noting, that we have not listed every protection or benefit on the Amex Gold card and the Capital One Savor card, only key ones for comparison purposes. We’ve also abbreviated the descriptions and not included applicable terms and conditions. You’ll want to access each card’s Guide to Benefits for complete information.

Bottom Line:

The Amex Gold card and Capital One Savor card include key travel protections like car rental insurance and no foreign transaction fees. The Amex Gold card includes purchase protection for qualifying items, while both cards include extended warranty coverage. The Capital One Savor card offers an introductory 0% APR on purchases and balance transfers.

Annual Fees and Authorized Users

A card’s annual fee should be considered to ensure you’ll receive enough benefits from a card to offset that fee. The Amex Gold card has an annual fee of $325, and the Capital One Savor card has a fee of $0.

Authorized users can help you earn rewards faster. When adding authorized users to the Amex Gold card, there is no charge for up to 5 additional users. For additional authorized users beyond 5, there is a fee of $35 for each user. There is no additional fee to add authorized users to the Capital One Savor card.

Final Thoughts

If cash-back is a priority for you, consider the Capital One Savor card. It earns well on several everyday purchases, including dining, supermarkets, select streaming, and entertainment. Plus, it has a $0 annual fee.

If you prefer to redeem your travel rewards, the Amex Gold card is the stronger card with access to airline and hotel partners. Membership Rewards points can provide more potential value at redemption time than fixed-rate cash-back.

You’ll earn slightly lower rates on the Capital One Savor card on dining and at grocery stores, but you’ll also be able to earn on select travel purchases and redeem your points for travel.

The Amex Gold card does have a higher annual fee. This should not be an issue if you can use the monthly dining and Uber Cash credits.

For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the benefits may be provided by Visa^® or Mastercard^® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.