Stacking Rewards: Combining the Amex Gold Card With the Amex Blue Business Plus Card

We can’t get enough of the American Express^® Gold Card here at Upgraded Points, and for good reason. The Amex Gold card consistently ranks as one of our top rewards cards, with an incredible earning structure on common spending categories.

However, as valuable as the Amex Gold card is, no single rewards card has high earning potential in every category. This is why it’s a good idea to carry another card to help maximize your rewards as much as possible. 

Although many cards could be paired well with the Amex Gold card, The Blue Business^® Plus Credit Card from American Express might just be the best one available.

Here’s a look at the Amex Gold card and the Amex Blue Business Plus card and how I use each card to maximize my rewards earnings.

Amex Gold Card Overview

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

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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

The Amex Gold card is one of the most popular travel rewards cards today, thanks to its incredible earning potential in everyday spending categories. It also earns our favorite transferrable points currency: American Express Membership Rewards points, creating a great balance as both a travel rewards card and an everyday spending card.

With the Amex Gold card, you can earn 4x points at restaurants on up to $50,000 per calendar year in purchases (then 1x) and 4x points at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases (then 1x). The Amex Gold card also earns 3x points on flights purchased directly from airlines or at AmexTravel.com.

However, the Amex Gold card also has a hefty $325 annual fee (rates & fees), which can be hard to justify for many. To help offset the annual fee, the Amex Gold card comes with perks (enrollment required), including up to $120 in annual dining credits and up to $120 in annual Uber Cash for U.S. Uber Eats orders or Uber rides, which is distributed in up to $10 monthly credits.

Amex Blue Business Plus Card Overview

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

The Blue Business^® Plus Credit Card from American Express

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.

Earn Membership Rewards for your business spending the easy way: get 2x points for the first $50,000 in purchases per year.

Apply Now(at Amex's secure site)

The Blue Business^® Plus Credit Card from American Express

Earn Membership Rewards for your business spending the easy way: get 2x points for the first $50,000 in purchases per year.

Welcome Offer

Earn 15,000 Membership Rewards^® points after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on the Card within your first 3 months of Card Membership.

15,000 points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$330

Annual Fee

No annual fee

APR

17.49% - 25.49% Variable,0% on purchases for 12 months from date of account opening

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 (670-840)

Why We Like This Card

As a business owner, getting a credit card that maximizes each dollar you spend does not have to be complicated or expensive. Especially when you opt for The Blue Business^® Plus Credit Card from American Express.

With the Amex Blue Business Plus card, you’ll earn 2x Membership Rewards points on everyday business purchases throughout the year (up to $50,000; 1x thereafter) and receive purchase protections and no-additional-charge employee cards all for no annual fee (see rates and fees).

The simple and straightforward earning structure makes it a great fit for those looking to earn flexible rewards, without having to fixate on which purchases earn the most points.

Let’s take look at all that the Amex Blue Business Plus card has to offer.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 2x Membership Rewards points per $1 on everyday business purchases (up to $50,000; 1x thereafter)
• Purchase protection and extended warranty protection
• No annual fee and employee cards at no additional cost

Cons

• No unique bonus categories and 2x earnings are capped at $50,000 in annual spend
• No elite travel benefits like lounge access or elite status

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Card Highlights

• Earn 15,000 Membership Rewards^® points after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on the Card within your first 3 months of Card Membership.
• 0.0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months from the date of account opening, then a variable rate, 17.49% - 25.49%, based on your creditworthiness and other factors at account opening. APR will not exceed 29.99%
• Earn 2X points on everyday business purchases such as office supplies or client dinners. 2X applies to the first $50,000 in purchases per year, 1 point per dollar thereafter. Terms and limitations apply.
• You’ve got the power to spend beyond your credit limit* with Expanded Buying Power. *The amount you can spend above your credit limit is flexible, so it adapts with your use of the Card, your payment history, credit record, financial resources known to us, and other factors. Just remember, the amount you can spend with Expanded Buying Power is not unlimited.
• No Annual Fee
• Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 17.49% - 25.49% Variable,0% on purchases for 12 months from date of account opening
• Foreign Transaction Fees: 2.7% of each transaction after conversion to US dollars.

Rewards Center

American Express Membership Rewards

The Amex Blue Business Plus card is another excellent Membership Rewards-earning card with a simple earning structure. With it, you earn 2x Membership Rewards points on everyday business purchases yearly (up to $50,000 annually, 1x thereafter).

The straightforward earning structure makes it an excellent card, especially for those who worry about bonus categories. Although the card’s simplified earning structure may be its defining feature, it also provides additional benefits, including purchase protection and extended warranty protection.

The Amex Blue Business Plus card has a $0 annual fee (rates & fees) and consistently ranks as one of the best credit cards with no annual fee. You can also add employee cards at no additional cost (rates & fees).

Why These Cards Pair So Well Together

Here at Upgraded Points, we love earning American Express Membership Rewards points because of their incredible value. We value Amex Membership Reward points at 2.2 cents apiece, the highest value of any rewards currency.

Fortunately, both the Amex Gold card and the Amex Blue Business Plus card earn Membership Rewards points. However, the 2 cards’ different earning structures make them work so well together.

With these 2 cards paired together, you can earn 2x points on every purchase, with elevated earnings at restaurants, U.S. supermarkets, and flights directly with airlines or at AmexTravel.com.

How I Use Each Card To Maximize Earnings

Since I emphasize maximizing your rewards-earning potential, I always try to use the right card when spending. Although that is different for each person, the concept remains the same: Why earn fewer points on your spending when you have a card that earns more points?

For example, I spend about $2,000 on groceries at U.S. supermarkets and at restaurants every month, which is by far my biggest expense each month.

While that is a lot of spending, it also helps me earn rewards quickly. For these purchases, I use the Amex Gold card to earn 4x points, which earns me nearly 100,000 Amex Membership Rewards points per year.

Meanwhile, I use the Amex Blue Business Plus card for all my business expenses and nonbonus category spending, which amounts to several thousands of Membership Rewards points annually.

This card combination allows me to significantly boost my rewards-earning potential. While earning fewer rewards might not seem like a big deal, the lost rewards can quickly add up over time. Accumulating millions of points and miles over the years has shown me that every little bit adds up.

Final Thoughts

The Amex Gold card is an excellent hybrid travel rewards and everyday spending card. It has become one of my most used cards largely because of its elevated earnings in categories I spend a lot in.

However, as great as the Amex Gold card is, it is best paired with another card. Although many options exist, few pair as nicely with the Amex Gold card as the Amex Blue Business Plus card.

With these 2 cards, I maximize my rewards and earn many Membership Rewards points each year, which I redeem for luxury hotels and business class travel worldwide. You can add the Amex Blue Business Plus card to your wallet for a $0 annual fee.

For the extended warranty benefit of The Blue Business^® Plus Credit Card from American Express, eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.

For the purchase protection benefit of The Blue Business^® Plus Credit Card from American Express, eligibility and benefit level varies by Card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.