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

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 at the grocery store is the foundation for selecting the cards in today’s comparison. The American Express^® Gold Card and the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card*×Information 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.

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:

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!

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 Offer

Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards^® points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.

60,000 points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$1,200

Annual Fee

$325

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, 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

• Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards^® points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
• 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 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. Effective 11/8/2024, an Amex Card must be selected as the payment method for your Uber or Uber Eats transaction to redeem the Amex Uber Cash benefit.
• $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.
• $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.
• Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
• Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

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

Rewards Center

American Express Membership Rewards

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit 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.

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

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).

Welcome Offer

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

$200

Annual Fee

$0

APR

19.49% - 29.49% (Variable),0% intro on purchases for 15 months

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 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 and rental cars 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
• 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 and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options. Terms apply
• 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 15 months; 19.49% - 29.49% variable APR after that; balance transfer fee applies
• No foreign transaction fee
• No annual fee

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 19.49% - 29.49% (Variable),0% intro on purchases for 15 months
• 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.

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

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:

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 the grocery store 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

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:

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*×Information collected independently. Not reviewed by Capital One., 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:

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:

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 — Set your Amex Gold as your payment method and 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 ($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 15 months; after that, a 19.49% - 29.49% variable APR applies. BT fee applies (rates & fees)

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 (rates & fees for the Capital One Savor card). 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 (rates & fees).

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 (rates & fees).

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 (rates & fees).

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 (rates & fees).

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.

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 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.

For the car rental collision damage coverage benefit of the American Express^® Gold Card, car rental loss and damage insurance can provide coverage up to $50,000 for theft of or damage to most rental vehicles when you use your eligible card to reserve and pay for the entire eligible vehicle rental and decline the collision damage waiver or similar option offered by the commercial car rental company. This product provides secondary coverage and does not include liability coverage. Not all vehicle types or rentals are covered. Geographic restrictions apply. 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 baggage insurance plan benefit of the American Express^® Gold Card, baggage insurance plan coverage can be in effect for eligible persons for eligible lost, damaged, or stolen baggage during their travel on a common carrier (e.g. plane, train, ship, or bus) when the entire fare for a common carrier vehicle ticket for the trip (one-way or round-trip) is charged to an eligible account. Coverage can be provided for up to $1,250 for carry-on baggage and up to $500 for checked baggage, in excess of coverage provided by the common carrier (e.g. plane, train, ship, or bus). For New York state residents, there is a $10,000 aggregate maximum limit for all covered persons per covered Trip. 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 purchase protection benefit of the American Express^® Gold Card, purchase protection is an embedded benefit of your card membership and requires no enrollment. It can help protect covered purchases made on your eligible card when they’re accidentally damaged, stolen, or lost, for up to 90 days from the covered purchase date. The coverage is limited up to $10,000 per occurrence, up to $50,000 per card member account per calendar year. Coverage limits apply. 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 trip delay insurance coverage benefit of the American Express^® Gold Card, up to $300 per covered trip that is delayed for more than 12 hours; and 2 claims per eligible card per 12 consecutive month period. 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 extended warranty benefit of the American Express^® Gold Card, when an American Express^® card member charges a covered purchase to an eligible card, extended warranty can provide up to one extra year added to the original manufacturer’s warranty. Applies to warranties of five (5) years or less. Coverage is up to the actual amount charged to your card for the item up to a maximum of $10,000; not to exceed $50,000 per card member account per calendar year. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.