Why the Amex Gold is the perfect ‘in-between’ card

If you’re looking for a new card, you may find yourself struggling to justify a hefty annual fee on a premium card but dissatisfied with the lower number of perks on most mid-tier cards. It can feel impossible to find a perfect “in-between” card.

And you’re not imagining it. There aren’t many cards that fit into the area between the two tiers. However, one card offers the perfect “in-between” balance — the American Express® Gold Card.

With a $325 annual fee (see rates and fees), the Amex Gold has a lower annual fee than premium cards, but benefits and bonus categories that outshine most mid-tier cards, the Amex Gold may be the “just right” card you’re looking for. Since the card was recently refreshed, now is a great time to properly consider opening this card.

Premium cards: Too much?

The “premium” label is fitting for cards like the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, Chase Sapphire Reserve® and The Platinum Card® from American Express, which offer significant perks but also high annual fees.

Annual fee: $395 for the Venture X (see rates and fees), $550 for the Sapphire Reserve and $695 for the Amex Platinum (see rates and fees)

Welcome bonus: $1,000 or more in value, according to TPG’s July 2024 valuations. However, generally not much higher than mid-tier welcome offers.

Earning: Over 3% returns on select travel or other common bonus categories according to TPG valuations.

Pros of premium cards: These cards have long lists of perks and benefits like elite status, airport lounge access, travel credits and insurance, as well as increased bonus-earning categories. If you can maximize the value of these benefits, you’ll find that the perks far outweigh the cost of an annual fee for a premium card.

Cons of premium cards: Premium cards have high annual fees and somewhat limited bonus-earning categories. Since they don’t have substantially higher welcome offers than other cards, you need to maximize a premium card’s perks and benefits to justify paying its annual fee.

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This means that in addition to the higher out-of-pocket cost, carrying one of these cards incurs the higher mental burden of keeping track of and redeeming all its perks.

Verdict: A premium card is a worthwhile investment for anyone who travels enough to maximize the card’s benefits. However, you may find that the annual fee and work required to maximize the card’s benefits are too high for your current lifestyle.

Mid-tier credit cards: Not enough?

“Mid-tier” is a label we give cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card that fall between beginner and premium cards.

They have a reasonable annual fee and decent welcome bonuses and earning structures, but the perks they offer are fewer and less valuable than those on premium cards.

Annual fee: $95 for both the Sapphire Preferred and the Venture Rewards (see rates and fees for the Venture Rewards)

Welcome bonus: $1,000 or more in value, according to TPG valuations

Earning: 3.7%-10.25% returns on common bonus categories such as travel, dining, groceries and gas, according to TPG’s July 2024 valuations.

Pros of mid-tier credit cards: These cards generally offer a solid welcome bonus and a relatively low annual fee. They also have broader bonus-earning categories like groceries, dining and streaming, giving you more opportunities to earn on your everyday spending.

Cons of mid-tier credit cards: You won’t receive special treatment from elite status or strut into airport lounges with these cards.

Verdict: Mid-tier cards are great for anyone who wants to earn on everyday expenses, keep their annual fee costs low and still have some perks like travel insurance. However, anyone looking for luxury travel perks may find these cards lacking.

Amex Gold: Just right?

The shiny gold, rose gold or white gold look is just the first of many reasons to love this card. With a $325 annual fee and a list of perks that fall squarely between “mid-tier” and “premium,” the Amex Gold is a TPG favorite for a reason.

Annual fee: $325

Welcome bonus: Currently, new applicants can receive 60,000 bonus points after spending $6,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership. Plus, new cardmembers will receive 20% back on all restaurant purchases in the first cardmember year (up to $100 back).

You could also be targeted for an offer of 90,000 points with the same spending requirement through the CardMatch tool or via a referral link (the offer is subject to change at any time). Since Amex has a once-per-lifetime rule for welcome offers, it’s important to ensure you get the best offer possible.

Earning: This card is a foodie’s dream come true, earning 4 points per dollar at restaurants (up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar) and 4 points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1 point). It also earns 3 points per dollar on flights booked directly with airlines and through Amex Travel and 1 point per dollar on all other purchases.

Pros of the Amex Gold card: Besides its impressive earnings on dining and U.S. supermarket purchases, this card comes with up to $424 in annual statement credits. You’ll get up to $10 in monthly dining credits when you use your Amex Gold to pay for eligible dining purchases, as well as an up to $10 monthly Uber Cash credit when you use your card to pay for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S. (up to $120 per calendar year for the dining credit, up to $120 per calendar year for the Uber credit).

You must have downloaded the latest version of the Uber App and have your eligible American Express Gold Card as a payment method in your Uber account. The dining credit may be used for purchases with Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys.

Cardmembers can also receive up to $50 bi-annual credits (up to $100 each calendar year) for purchases made at Resy-affiliated restaurants. Finally, cardmembers can get up to $84 per calendar year in statement credits for Dunkin’ Donuts purchases (up to $7 per month).

If you’re able to maximize these credits, you’ll get more in value than what you’ll pay in the annual fee from these benefits alone. Enrollment is required for these benefits, and terms apply.

Cons of the Amex Gold card: The perfect in-between card for some is still too much or not enough for others. If you want to keep your annual fee costs low and won’t maximize the credits on this card, you may be better off with a mid-tier card with a lower annual fee.

At the same time, those who travel frequently and look for perks like elite status and airport lounge access in a card will be disappointed with the Amex Gold.

Verdict: The Amex Gold is a great fit for anyone who wants more benefits and earnings than most mid-tier cards but doesn’t want to keep track of all the extras that come with a premium card. Foodies and frequent flyers alike will be pleased with the earnings structure and monthly credits this card offers, but of course, no card is perfect for everyone.

For instance, I order delivery more often than I eat out, and I live in a state with no Dunkin’ Donuts locations. I’ll only be able to use the Dunkin’ Donuts credit when I travel, and I envision having some difficulty maximizing the Resy credit. Prospective cardmembers in a situation like mine may be better off opening a different card.

Bottom line

If you want better benefits and earnings than most mid-tier cards offer but are fine with skipping elite status and high annual fees, the Amex Gold is the perfect “in-between” card. Valuable credits, an impressive return on dining, supermarket and flight purchases and an annual fee that won’t break the bank make this a card even Goldilocks would be happy with.

To learn more, check out our full review of the Amex Gold.

Apply here: American Express Gold Card

For rates and fees of the Platinum Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Amex Gold card, click here.