How Much Is the American Express® Gold Card Annual Fee?

If you’re used to using debit cards or a credit card with no annual fee, you may consider paying a $250 yearly fee to be inappropriate. But there’s a good reason why many credit cards have annual fees – these cards tend to offer more robust benefits and rewards-earning opportunities, especially when the card’s money-saving benefits are aligned with your lifestyle and spending habits. 

Here’s an in-depth look at the American Express Gold Card, including its annual fee and how the Card can be used to earn rewards and perks. Terms apply to all benefits listed below and all offers are subject to change.

The Gold card has a $250 annual fee.¹ Though paid annually, the math works out to about $20 a month. That’s less than half of what it would cost to pay for a $2 coffee, five days a week, all year. The Card comes with a variety of dining and travel benefits, covered below.

Amex charges the annual fee on your Card anniversary date. So if you opened your Gold Card on March 10, the fee will be charged that day and every March 10 going forward – as long as your account is open. Amex does offer a 30-day grace period for cancelations, so if next year rolls around and you’d prefer to upgrade, downgrade, or close your Card account, you can do so without having to pay the Gold Card annual fee. 

Renewal date can be an important consideration when applying for the Card. Knowing when that $250 annual fee¹ will be charged can help you prepare and budget for the expense. For example, a parent of an elementary school student may not want to apply for the Card in August if they already set aside a strict budget for back to school expenses.

As with all Amex Cards, Gold Card Members can add Additional Card Members – also known as authorized users – as long as the individual is at least 13 years old or older and never had a defaulted account with American Express. Gold Card Members can add up to five Additional Cards without an annual fee.² The annual fee for the sixth (or more) Additional Card Member(s) is $35² for each Card. If you have seven Additional Card Members, your total annual fee would be $320 ($250 + $35 + $35). 

Note that the primary Card Member is responsible for all Additional Card Member activity, meaning you are responsible for paying all charges they make. Whether you make a payback plan with an Additional Card Member is up to you. You can, however, set spending limits as low as $200 if you desire, and you can track their purchases.

The Gold Card is a useful option for food lovers – and their families – thanks to dining-focused benefits like four Membership Rewards^® points earned per dollar spent at restaurants, including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and 4X points at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases (1X point thereafter). Card Members will get 1X points on all other eligible purchases. 

For example, a husband and wife with a 5-year-old child, eating on what the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) considers a moderate-cost food plan, might expect to spend about $800 a month on food as of September 2021.³ With 4X points per dollar on groceries, that’s nearly 40,000 points a year, which can be redeemed for as much as $400 or more, depending on where you redeem. Add a monthly date night with a $200 bill and that’s nearly another 10,000 points per year, or up to $100 depending on redemption method. 

Gold Card Members can also enjoy a $120 Dining Credit. When dining at any participating partner – including ordering takeout from qualifying third-party delivery services – you’ll receive up to a $10 monthly statement credit, for a total annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment is required. 

Similarly, Card Members can get $120 in Uber Cash per year for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you’ll automatically receive $10 in Uber Cash every month, up to $120 in Uber Cash per year.