Why No Other Card Compares to the Amex Gold for Grocery Spend

For years, the American Express^® Gold Card has been my preferred card for restaurant and supermarket purchases. Although other cards can provide bonus points or cash-back for grocery purchases, I still prefer using my Amex Gold card to earn quadruple the points:

• Earn 4x Membership Rewards points per dollar spent at U.S. supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1x points for the rest of the year.
• 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.

Even with its higher $325 annual fee (rates & fees), I still come out far ahead with the rewards I earn every month. Here’s a closer look at how the Amex Gold card aligns well with my daily spending.

Higher Earning Potential On the Market

There are lots of cards best for grocery and supermarket purchases that help consumers earn something back on these everyday purchases.

For example, the Blue Cash Preferred^® Card from American Express offers cardholders an enticing 6% cash-back at U.S. supermarkets, though there’s a cap of $6,000 per year in purchases to earn that fantastic rate (1% after the cap). Or there’s the super popular Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card, which rakes in 3x points, but is limited to online grocery store purchases.

But what do I do if I need to shop in person, or if my family spends more than $6,000 a year — which we do, since our household has 5 members?

That’s where the Amex Gold card excels. It allows me to earn 4x Membership Rewards points at U.S. supermarkets for up to $25,000 a year and then 1x after that. I keep this spending just short of $25,000 per year (I sometimes come close, considering that I have 3 children to feed), so earning 4x points on one of my most recurring expenses is a huge win for me.

Amex Points Are More Valuable Than Other Rewards Currencies

I have hundreds of thousands of points in numerous credit card programs, including Chase Ultimate Rewards and Capital One Miles, as well as airline programs such as American Airlines’ AAdvantage and Alaska Airlines’ Atmos Rewards, but I still prioritize Amex Membership Rewards above all.

Last year, I racked up more than 1 million Amex points, with much of them earned through the Amex Gold card’s 4x earnings, as well as new welcome bonus offers.

BEST FOR DINING

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American Express^® Gold Card

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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!

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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

You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards^® Points after you spend $8,000 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.

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

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 card application.

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

• 5x points per dollar on prepaid hotels via AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App
• 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

Cons

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

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Card Highlights

• You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards^® Points after you spend $8,000 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.
• New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards^® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App.
• Earn 3X Membership Rewards^® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines.
• Earn 2X Membership Rewards^® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
• Earn 1X Membership Rewards^® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
• Pay It^® lets you tap in the American Express^® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It^® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
• Updated! $120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
• $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express^® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
• $84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express^® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
• $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
• New! As an American Express^® Gold Card Member, you can enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star^® Status. Enjoy benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
• Take advantage of a $100 credit towards eligible charges* at over 1,300 upscale hotels worldwide when you book The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App **. *Eligible charges vary by property. **The Hotel Collection requires a two-night minimum stay.
• Book your travel through the Amex Travel App with added peace of mind – backed by American Express^® service and support. Only for American Express^® Card Members.
• Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
• 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

We value Amex Membership Rewards Points at 2.2 cents per point, and they’re the most valuable flexible point program out there for me. Whether I go to my local Publix or Trader Joe’s, I get an 8.8% return on my food shopping list on the Amex Gold card — a higher return than I get on any other card.

By spending $25,000 per year at U.S. supermarkets, I earn 100,000 Membership Rewards points with the Amex Gold card alone. That’s worth $2,200 in our book, which is far greater than the $325 annual fee — and that’s before accounting for any of the other perks on the card.

A Card Designed With Foodies in Mind

In addition to offering impressive earning rates of 4x points at U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 in purchases annually) and 4x points at restaurants worldwide (up to $50,000 in purchases each year), the Amex Gold card provides cardholders with additional food-related perks, making it an ideal companion for a foodie like me.

As an Amex Gold cardholder, I also receive up to $120 in dining statement credits upon enrollment (up to $10 each month) at participating eateries, including Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Buffalo Wild Wings, Wonder, and Five Guys.

Further, I get an annual statement credit of up to $100 with Resy, distributed as $50 semi-annually, which can be used at any U.S. Resy restaurant. There’s also the annual Dunkin’ credit of up to $84, giving me up to $7 each month, which is helpful as there are plenty of locations at airports. Note that each of these credits require enrollment so be sure to enroll through your Amex account.

Lastly, another food-related benefit issued by the Amex Gold card is that cardholders can receive up to $120 in Uber Cash, distributed as up to $10 per month, for use on rides and Uber Eats orders in the U.S. That’s useful to me as I work from home and order lunch from Uber Eats once a week. You must add your Amex Gold card to your Uber account and an Amex Card must be selected as the payment method for your Uber or Uber Eats transaction to redeem the Amex Uber Cash benefit.

Final Thoughts

Even though I have plenty of cards to choose from at the grocery store, I always reach for my Amex Gold card. Knowing that I can use 1 card for all of my food purchases is what truly distinguishes the Amex Gold card from the competition and makes it my favorite for earning tons of rewards every day.