Is the Amex Gold Card’s New $325 Annual Fee Worth It?

The venerable American Express^® Gold Card just got a significant refresh. Along with some new perks and tweaks to existing ones, the card now comes with a higher $325 annual fee (rates & fees).

So, is this higher annual fee still worth it? Let’s take a look at some of the Amex Gold card’s top perks and features to see whether it should still have a place in your wallet.

Amex Gold Card’s New Annual Fee and Statement Credits

Effective immediately for new cardmembers and going into effect for existing cardmembers beginning in October 2024, the Amex Gold card‘s annual fee is increasing from $250 to $325 per year.

That’s up $75 from the previous annual fee, which could be hard to reconcile for anyone who has the card currently or is thinking about applying. However, Amex has added a few new statement credits and tweaked existing ones that should soften the impact of the increase.

The 2 most important new perks to account for are the $100 annual Resy credit and the $84 Dunkin’ credit:

• Resy Credit: Receive up to $100 in statement credits annually (up to $50 semi-annually) on eligible Resy purchases. This applies when dining at U.S. Resy restaurants, Resy event tickets, and merchandise. While enrollment is required, you do not need to have a Resy account to receive the credits.
• Dunkin’ Credit: Receive up to $84 in statement credits annually (up to $7 in credits monthly) for purchases made at U.S. Dunkin’ locations with your card. Enrollment is required.

Changes to Existing Amex Gold Card Perks and Benefits

In addition to adding the new statement credits above, Amex has made some tweaks to some of the existing perks and benefits of the card:

• The list of eligible restaurants for the Amex Gold card’s $120 annual dining credit has changed slightly. The list of eligible restaurants include Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys.
• One of the Amex Gold card’s signature features — 4x earnings at restaurants globally (including delivery and takeout) and at U.S. supermarkets — remains. However, there will be a new $50,000 cap to 4x earnings at restaurants. After that threshold is surpassed, earnings will be 1x point per dollar spent. The $25,000 cap for 4x earnings at U.S. supermarkets stays the same.

And, perhaps most importantly, the Amex Gold card is offering an outstanding welcome bonus offer:

• Earn 60,000 points after spending $6,000 in the first 6 months.

What Isn’t Changing?

While there are new statement credits and tweaks to existing card features to learn about, much of what we’ve come to know and love about the Amex Gold card isn’t changing, including:

• Earn 3x points per dollar spent on flights purchased directly with the airline or via AmexTravel.com.
• Earn 2x points per dollar spent on prepaid hotel purchases and other eligible purchases booked through AmexTravel.com.
• Earn 1x point per dollar spent on all other purchases.
• Receive up to $120 annually in Uber Cash, distributed as $10 each month, to use on Uber rides, Uber Eats orders, and Uber groceries in the U.S. (only available in select markets). Remember that you’ll need to add your Amex Gold card to your Uber account to receive this benefit.

And, the card’s robust suite of travel and purchase protections isn’t going away, either. Here’s what you can expect:

• Access American Express’ The Hotel Collection, which grants special benefits, including a $100 property credit and a room upgrade (subject to availability) to cardmembers who book a stay of at least 2 nights at select properties in the collection.
• Access to Amex Offers, which provide cardmembers with unique ways to save money or earn bonus points on eligible purchases.
• Receive secondary car rental insurance when you reserve and pay for a rental with your Amex Gold card. You’ll have up to $50,000 in coverage if the car is damaged or stolen.
• If you use your Amex Gold card to pay for your airfare on a common carrier, you’ll receive baggage insurance with a coverage of up to $1,250 for carry-on baggage and $500 for checked baggage if the airline loses or damages your bag.
• If you purchase an item with your Amex Gold card and it is accidentally damaged, stolen, or lost, you’ll receive purchase protection with a coverage of up to 90 days from the purchase date and up to $10,000 per occurrence.
• If you purchase an item that has a manufacturer’s warranty of fewer than 5 years, your card extends that warranty coverage by 1 additional year.

The Value of the Amex Gold Card’s Top Perks and Benefits

Let’s take a look at some of the Amex Gold card’s most popular perks, benefits, and statement credits and run the numbers to see if it’s still possible to get more out of the card than what you’ll pay for the annual fee.

Annual Resy Credit [Up to $100]

Each year, you’ll receive a total of $100 in statement credits, $50 for the first half of the year and $50 for the second half, for qualifying Resy purchases. These include U.S. Resy restaurants, Resy event tickets, and merchandise.

This is a straightforward way to shave $50 off your dining-out bill each half of the year. And, considering how many restaurants now participate in Resy across the country, it shouldn’t be hard to put this new credit to work every 6 months.

Dunkin’ Credit [Up to $84]

While coffee addicts will surely debate whether Starbucks or Dunkin’ has the superior “Joe,” there’s no denying Dunkin’ has a cult following, especially in the Northeast. Regardless of where you live, though, it shouldn’t be a problem maximizing this perk, which is distributed in the form of $7 statement credits each month.

Just remember you have to enroll in this perk before you start swiping your card.

Dining Credit [Up to $120]

Cardmembers can receive up to $120 annually (distributed in the form of $10 monthly statement credits) for dining in, takeout, or delivery at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys.

If you’re bummed about Shake Shack, and Milk Bar being removed, don’t worry – you have until September 25, 2024, to enjoy your credit at these locations before they leave the program.

Uber Cash [Up to $120]

Add your Amex Gold card to your payment methods within your Uber account and you’ll receive up to $10 Uber Cash each month for U.S. Eats orders and Rides.

The Hotel Collection [$100]

Holding an Amex Gold card grants access to The Hotel Collection, an exclusive group of hotels at which you’ll receive extra benefits and perks including:

• Upgraded room at check-in, when available
• $100 credit to use at the hotel
• Ability to pay with points
• Double points for prepaid bookings

Note that you must book a minimum of 2 consecutive nights and pay with your card or Membership Rewards Points. The $100 credit can be used toward eligible charges that vary by property.

Amex Offers [Up to $200]

Amex Offers can save eligible cardmembers hundreds of dollars (if not much more) every year. Enroll in these offers first and then when you use your card with the added offer at the merchant specified and you complete the terms of the Amex Offer, you’ll receive a statement credit or bonus Membership Rewards points (this depends on the specific offer).

ShopRunner Membership [Up to $30]

ShopRunner is a service that provides free 2-day shipping and free returns at over 100 stores. It’s easy to forget how expensive shipping (especially the fast variety) can be, so this is a great perk that should be relatively easy to maximize every year, especially if online shopping is your thing.

Is It Worth It?

Taken together, we value the Amex Gold card’s top perks at more than $650 if you maximize each perk, which shouldn’t be hard if your lifestyle fits the card’s offering.

Note, too, that this brief analysis doesn’t even take into account the hefty amount of points you’ll be earning with the Amex Gold card. So, even if you don’t take advantage of every single statement credit, you may come ahead.

And because American Express Membership Rewards has an impressive list of travel partners, transferring the points you earn to one of these partners alone can save you thousands of dollars on top-tier travel experiences, adding much more to the potential value proposition of this card.

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!

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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

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American Express Membership Rewards

Hot Tip:

Learn about all the best ways to redeem Amex Membership Rewards points for maximum value!

Final Thoughts

Even if you were just looking at the statement credits side of the Amex Gold card, it’s easy to see how you can achieve far more value than the cost of the annual fee if you’re able to maximize each of them. And considering the card was designed specifically with consumer spending habits and preferences in mind, it shouldn’t be hard to do so.

When you combine the valuable statement credits with the Amex Gold card’s high-powered earning potential, you’re left with a card that delivers much more in value than it costs to keep in your wallet, despite its higher annual fee.

We never like to see an annual fee get raised, but it’s safe to say the Amex Gold card will remain a favorite in Upgraded Points staffers’ wallets.

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For the car rental loss and damage insurance 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. Please 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 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. Please 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. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance 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. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.