4 reasons why the Amex Gold is the 1 card we can’t live without
Editor's Note
At TPG, several of us have a wallet brimming with credit cards. Some go all-out (paging senior editorial director Nick Ewen with his 23+ credit cards), while some keep a smaller stockpile (insert a gif of me waving my six cards). But we all undoubtedly have a favorite card.
Many credit card pros have different opinions about choosing the one card we can't live without.
In a panel with reporters and editors from The Points Guy and NextAdvisor, there was a clear winner when the group was asked about their absolute favorite card: the American Express® Gold Card.
But why has this card remained a favorite when there are so many excellent options? Here are four reasons it's the one card so many of us can't live without.
It's a great card for foodies
List a better card for food lovers — I'll wait.
The Amex Gold is a powerhouse when it comes to dining purchases and buying groceries since cardholders earn 4 Membership Rewards points per dollar spent at U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 in spending per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter) and 4 Membership Rewards points per dollar spent at restaurants (up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar).
Plus, the card comes with up to $424 in dining-focused annual statement credits. Enrollment is required.
Each month, you can get up to a $10 statement credit when you get food from one of several participating restaurants or meal services, including Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com and Five Guys.
Each month, you'll also get up to $10 in Uber Cash (which you can use on Uber Eats). Uber Cash will only be deposited into one Uber account when you add the Amex Gold as a payment method and redeem with any Amex card. Enrollment is required for select benefits.
Related: The best credit cards for dining out, taking out and ordering in
It balances premium benefits and affordability
I've talked before about how I don't personally have an ultra-premium card (at least not yet). This is partially because I haven't needed one, but it's also because I'm generally pretty budget-conscious.
The Amex Gold — with its $325 annual fee (see rates and fees) — offers a handful of premium benefits that I can take advantage of without costing me more than I am willing to pay each year in annual fees.
Related: Why the Amex Gold is the perfect 'in-between' card
Membership Rewards is one of the best points currencies
Speaking of earning points, Membership Rewards are some of the best points you can earn right now. According to TPG's October 2024 valuations, Amex points are worth 2 cents each, slightly less than Chase Ultimate Rewards.
Out of the top credit card issuers, Amex has by far the most extensive transfer partner list, with 18 airlines and three hotel chains. And those transfer partners can help make your points go a long way toward a number of excellent redemptions.
Former TPG credit cards writer Chris Dong also listed the Amex Gold as the card he couldn't live without.
"Between dining out at restaurants and spending at U.S. supermarkets, the Amex Gold has become my go-to card while living in New York," said Dong. "The 4 point per dollar bonus goes a really long way in accruing extra Amex Membership Rewards points, which I redeem for flights. For instance, I transferred Membership Rewards points to fly on ANA's incredible first-class suites."
And while the Amex Offers program isn't specific to just Membership Rewards cards, I'd be remiss not to mention how much value Amex Offers can add to the program. I look through the offers available on my card weekly, and there's almost always something new that I add to my account — extra points on hotel stays, cash back on a food order or something else.
All in all, the Amex Membership Rewards program is a great asset to have at your fingertips with the Amex Gold Card.
Related: Redeeming American Express Membership Rewards for maximum value
Bonus: It's one of the prettiest cards on the market
We can't discuss why the Amex Gold is a staff favorite without mentioning the card's sleek design.
The Amex Gold is available in their original Gold design and the wildly popular Rose Gold edition . I can't tell you how often I get asked about my Amex Rose Gold when I use it at coffee shops and restaurants.
Hands down, it's the prettiest card in my wallet (and, I'd argue, in anyone's wallet).
Of course, you can't judge a card purely on how well it matches your aesthetic. But when you factor in all of the other reasons the Amex Gold is an excellent card, the fact that it does have such a gorgeous design certainly doesn't hurt.
Bottom line
All in all, you can't go wrong with the Amex Gold. It's a great card for travelers who would rather earn points on non-travel expenses so they can redeem for their dream trips instead.
You're getting solid benefits, credits and reward earning rates that offset a lot of the annual fee. Plus, the welcome bonus on this card is competitive when compared to top travel cards on the market. That's one of many reasons so many credit card pros are obsessed with having it in their wallets.
Apply here: American Express Gold Card with a 60,000-point welcome bonus after spending $6,000 in the first six months of cardmembership.
For rates and fees of the Amex Gold Card, please click here.