American Categorical Gold vs. American Categorical Inexperienced: Who wins?

The American Categorical® Gold Card and the American Categorical® Inexperienced Card are two of essentially the most iconic playing cards provided — they’ve each been round for the reason that Sixties.

However traditional does not imply outdated, as these playing cards have obtained important makeovers lately, leading to two aggressive merchandise aimed toward completely different market segments.

The Amex Inexperienced is extra centered on journey, whereas the Amex Gold is best fitted to spending on groceries and eating.

Let’s take a deep dive into the options and advantages of those two merchandise and see which one is the higher match for you.

The knowledge for the American Categorical Inexperienced Card has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or offered by the cardboard issuer.

Amex Gold vs. Amex Inexperienced comparability

*Enrollment is required; phrases apply.
˜The Amex Gold Card have to be added to your Uber account and you may redeem your Uber and Uber Eats transactions with any Amex card.
^Eligible costs range by property.

Amex Gold vs. Amex Inexperienced welcome provide

Each playing cards have a priceless welcome provide.

The Amex Gold provides 60,000 bonus factors after spending $6,000 on purchases inside the first six months of cardmembership.

And the Amex Inexperienced provides 40,000 bonus factors after spending $3,000 on purchases in your first six months of cardmembership.

Utilizing TPG’s March 2025 valuation of Membership Rewards factors at 2 cents every, these welcome bonuses are price $1,200 and $800, respectively.

Typically, the playing cards provide larger focused welcome provides by way of the CardMatch Instrument (provide topic to alter at any time). So you’ll want to test this software earlier than making use of for a card.

Be aware that when you’ve held both of those playing cards earlier than, you are nearly definitely ineligible for a second welcome provide. Regardless of the revamps each playing cards have obtained prior to now few years, they’re nonetheless thought-about the identical merchandise.

When you’ve got or beforehand had the Amex Gold, you will possible be ineligible for the Amex Inexperienced’s welcome provide; nevertheless, when you have or have had had the Inexperienced, you need to be capable of get the welcome provide on the Gold.

As well as, American Categorical additionally considers different elements to find out welcome provide eligibility, although it ought to notify you of your standing earlier than you submit your software and face a tough inquiry.

Winner: Amex Gold. Its welcome provide provides you higher worth and the requirement for $6,000 in spending inside six months can be straightforward for most individuals to finish.

Amex Gold Vs. Amex Inexperienced advantages

Each playing cards provide journey and purchasing protections in addition to entry to Amex Presents. And neither costs a international transaction payment.

A standout good thing about the Amex Inexperienced is its as much as $199 annual assertion credit score each calendar 12 months towards a Clear Plus membership. This is sufficient to absolutely cowl the price of one grownup membership. (Enrollment is required; phrases apply.)

Nevertheless, the Amex Gold provides way more worth to cardmembers within the type of as much as $424 in assertion credit yearly. (Particular person credit detailed within the desk above.)

Winner: Amex Gold. It provides extra advantages than the Amex Inexperienced.

Incomes factors with the Amex Gold vs. Amex Inexperienced

The Amex Inexperienced provides:

• 3 factors per greenback at eating places worldwide
• 3 factors per greenback on eligible journey and transit
• 1 level per greenback on all different eligible purchases

The Amex Gold provides:

• 4 factors per greenback for eating at eating places worldwide (as much as $50,000 per calendar 12 months, then 1 level per greenback)
• 4 factors per greenback on groceries at U.S. supermarkets (as much as $25,000 spent per calendar 12 months, then 1 level per greenback)
• 3 factors per greenback on airfare bought instantly with the airline or by way of amextravel.com
• 2 factors per greenback on pay as you go motels and different eligible journey booked by way of amextravel.com
• 1 level per greenback on all different eligible purchases

The Gold earns 33% extra factors for eating at eating places worldwide than the Amex Inexperienced. You may additionally earn bonus factors on groceries at U.S. supermarkets with the Gold, whereas the identical purchases with the Inexperienced will solely web you 1 level per greenback.

Though they each provide 3 factors per greenback on choose journey purchases, the Amex Inexperienced provides bonus factors on a wider vary of travel-related purchases.

Winner: Amex Gold. It earns extra factors on eating and groceries, though the Inexperienced is best for journey.

Redeeming factors with the Amex Gold vs. Amex Inexperienced

Your redemption choices are precisely the identical with each playing cards, which embody redeeming factors for:

Utilizing any methodology other than transferring your factors to switch companions will trigger you to fall wanting TPG’s March 2025 Membership Reward valuation of two cents per level.

Winner: Tie

Associated: All the things it’s worthwhile to learn about Amex Journey

Transferring factors with the Amex Gold vs. Amex Inexperienced

You may entry the identical 18 airline and three lodge switch companions with each playing cards.

With most applications, you may convert your factors at a 1:1 ratio. Key applications embody Air Canada Aeroplan, Air France-KLM Flying Blue and Virgin Atlantic Flying Membership.

TPG bank cards author Chris Nelson continuously transfers Membership Rewards factors to SkyMiles at any time when Delta runs award flash gross sales. He not too long ago transferred simply 8,000 factors for a round-trip economic system ticket from Seattle to Cancun.

Winner: Tie

Associated: American Categorical Membership Rewards switch companions

Ought to I get the Amex Gold or the Amex Inexperienced?

The flexibility to earn bonus factors eating at eating places and on groceries at U.S. supermarkets makes the Amex Gold a greater match for most individuals. Nevertheless, when you spend lots on journey and commuting, the Amex Inexperienced is the best way to go.

The best way to swap from the Amex Inexperienced to the Amex Gold

Since these two playing cards exist in the identical ecosystem and card household, swapping between them is feasible. Nevertheless, you’ll miss out on the welcome provide when you do that.

To transform your Amex Inexperienced to the Amex Gold (or vice versa), name the quantity on the again of your card or use American Categorical’s on-line buyer chat operate.

We suggest ready at the very least one 12 months from the date your account was opened earlier than requesting a product change.

Associated: The final word information to bank card upgrades

Backside line

Though the Amex Inexperienced has a lot to supply, its extra upscale sibling — the Amex Gold — is a greater match for many.

Utilizing the Amex Gold to earn extra factors at eating places and U.S. supermarkets will work out higher for most individuals than incomes extra on journey purchases with the Amex Inexperienced.

Nonetheless, the Amex Inexperienced is a strong choice with a decrease annual payment, helpful Clear Plus credit score and broad bonus classes.

To be taught extra, take a look at our full critiques of the Amex Inexperienced and Amex Gold.

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Apply right here: Amex Gold

Be taught extra: Amex Inexperienced

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For charges and costs of the Amex Gold, please click on right here.