American Express The American Express® Gold Card
$325 a year. Purchase APR 19.74–28.74%, variable.
- Annual fee
- Cardmember agreementFiled with the CFPB · PDF
“Annual Fee $325”
- Purchase APR, variable
- Cardmember agreementFiled with the CFPB · PDF
“Prime Rate + 12.74% to Prime Rate + 21.74%”
- Prime rate, in effect since Sep 17, 2026
- 7.00%
- Card margin
- +12.74–21.74%
- APR today
- 19.74–28.74%
- Foreign transaction fee
- Cardmember agreementFiled with the CFPB · PDF
“Foreign Transaction: None.”
We don’t earn anything from this link. Select any underlined figure to see where it comes from.
What it's worth
| Spending | First year | After |
|---|---|---|
| Light spender | −$165 | −$165 |
| Typical spender | $50 | $50 |
| Heavy spender | $395 | $395 |
The spending each assumes, a month
- Light spender: groceries $300, dining $100, gas $100, everything else $500
- Typical spender: groceries $600, dining $300, gas $200, travel $150, everything else $1,250
- Heavy spender: groceries $900, dining $600, gas $300, travel $600, airfare $300, hotels $300, everything else $2,500
Assumed: not counted: 2x Cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com; points valued at 0.6¢, the program's statement credit for eligible charges value; not counted: 3x Flights booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App or purchased directly from airlines; not counted: 5x Prepaid hotels booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App.
Estimates from the published terms above, as checked Oct 10, 2026; not advice. How we value cards
How it compares
- Worth more to a typical spender than about 70% of the 647 cards we track.
- Lower top APR than about 25% of the 579 cards we track.
Shares rounded to 5 points. Fees and APRs as stated; value for our typical spender. Method
Before you apply
- What the application asks: your name, address, date of birth, Social Security number (or ITIN), income and housing payment. By law the issuer must consider your ability to pay (Regulation Z, 1026.51).
- Your credit report: applying usually means a hard inquiry, which can lower your score slightly for a while. Some issuers let you check whether you’re pre-approved first without one. How credit reports work (CFPB)
How you earn · Membership Rewards
- 4× pointsRestaurants worldwide
- 4× pointsU.S. supermarkets
- 5× pointsPrepaid hotels booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App
- 3× pointsFlights booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App or purchased directly from airlines
- 2× pointsPrepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App
- 2× pointsCruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com
- 1× pointsEverything else
Rates and fees
| Annual fee | Cardmember agreementFiled with the CFPB · PDF “Annual Fee $325” |
|---|---|
| Purchase APR | Cardmember agreementFiled with the CFPB · PDF “Prime Rate + 12.74% to Prime Rate + 21.74%”
|
| Cash advance APR | Cardmember agreementFiled with the CFPB · PDF “Prime Rate + 21.99%”
|
| Cash advance fee | Cardmember agreementFiled with the CFPB · PDF “Transaction Fees Cash Advance: Either $10 or 5% of the amount of each cash advance, whichever is greater.” |
| Penalty APR | Cardmember agreementFiled with the CFPB · PDF “Prime Rate + 26.74%”
|
| Late payment | Cardmember agreementFiled with the CFPB · PDF “Late Payment: Up to $40.” |
| Returned payment | Cardmember agreementFiled with the CFPB · PDF “Returned Payment: Up to $40.” |
| Foreign transactions | Cardmember agreementFiled with the CFPB · PDF “Foreign Transaction: None.” |
| Grace period | Cardmember agreementFiled with the CFPB · PDF “Account Re-ope ning: $25 if your Account is cancelled, you ask us to re-open it, and we do so.” |
Carrying a balance? See how long it takes to pay off at 28.74% APR
Benefits
- Uber Cash: $10 monthly
- Dunkin' Credit: $7 monthly
- Dining Credit: $10 monthly
- Resy Credit: $100 annual
- Complimentary upgrade to Hertz Five Star® Status; enrollment required.
- The Hotel Collection provides a $100 credit toward eligible charges at participating upscale hotels when booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™; a two-night minimum stay is required.
- The Card has no preset spending limit, although a specific spending limit may be assigned in certain instances.
- Membership Rewards® points may be used with Pay with Points for flights and prepaid hotels booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™.
- Send & Split® allows eligible users to send money and split purchases with Venmo or PayPal users; enrollment required.
- Additional Cards may be added for anyone age 13 or older, and the Basic Card Member earns Membership Rewards® points for their purchases.
- Rental car
Questions
- What is the annual fee?
- $325 Filed with the CFPB · PDF, since Sep 29, 2026
- Does it charge a foreign transaction fee?
- No. Filed with the CFPB · PDF, since Sep 29, 2026
- What is the purchase APR?
- 19.74–28.74% APR Filed with the CFPB · PDF, since Sep 29, 2026
Other points cards with fees over $300
- Bilt PalladiumBilt · $495 a year+$165 a year
- Atmos Rewards Summit Visa InfiniteBank of America · $395 a year−$75 a year
- Hilton Honors American Express AspireAmerican Express · $550 a year−$80 a year
Against this card, for our typical spender's value (rewards and credits minus fees, after the first year).