The best cards to pair with the American Express Gold
The American Express® Gold Card is a card we can’t live without, even considering its $325 annual fee (see rates and fees).
It earns 4 points per dollar spent at U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; 1 point per dollar after) and dining at restaurants worldwide (up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; 1 point per dollar after), 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or through amextravel.com, 2 points per dollar on prepaid hotels booked through amextravel.com and 1 point per dollar on all other purchases.
The card also comes with statement credits, such as up to $10 in monthly dining credits on eligible purchases at participating restaurants, up to $120 in annual Uber Cash* (which can be used for Uber or Uber Eats) for U.S. customers, up to $50 bi-annually in U.S. Resy statement credits and up to $7 in monthly Dunkin‘ statement credits at US locations.
To receive the Uber Cash benefit, the card must be added to an Uber account, and an Amex Card must be selected as the payment method for your Uber or Uber Eats transaction to redeem the Amex Uber Cash benefit. Enrollment is required for select benefits; terms apply.
Even though the Amex Gold is a great card on its own, it also pairs well with other rewards cards to build a more well-rounded card strategy.
Let’s review seven cards that pair well with the Amex Gold to help you build a great wallet strategy.
Supercharge your Membership Rewards balance
The first cards you should consider pairing with the Amex Gold are other Membership Rewards points-earning cards. Amex allows you to pool your points into one Membership Rewards account, meaning you can earn across multiple cards and cash in for one fantastic redemption.
The Platinum Card from American Express
The Platinum Card® from American Express is the first card many will think of when considering cards to pair with the Amex Gold.
Welcome bonus: Earn 80,000 bonus points after spending $8,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership. You may be targeted for a higher offer through the CardMatch tool. Offers are subject to change at any time, and not everyone will be targeted for the same offers.
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Annual fee: $695 (see rates and fees).
Earnings rates:
- Earn 5 points per dollar spent on airfare purchased directly from the airline or through American Express Travel® (on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar) and 5 points per dollar for prepaid hotels booked through Amex Travel
- Earn 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases
Why we like it: If you are a frequent traveler looking to upgrade your experiences, the Amex Platinum could be a great choice to add to your wallet alongside the Amex Gold. You’ll earn more on eligible airfare and hotels and get a stellar lineup of travel perks, including lounge access, elite status with both Marriott and Hilton and many different statement credits. Enrollment is required for select benefits; terms apply.
To learn more, check out our full review of the Amex Platinum.
Apply here: Amex Platinum Card
Amex cash back options
There are plenty of good reasons to have a cash-back card in your wallet. Cash-back is the ultimate flexible rewards currency, and these options will help you earn bonus cash back in categories the Amex Gold misses.
Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express
As a basic cash-back card, the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express is a fantastic option for anyone who wants a simple partner for the Amex Gold.
Welcome bonus: Earn $200 back after spending $2,000 on eligible purchases within the first six months of card membership. Cash back will be received in the form of a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout.
Annual fee: $0 (see rates and fees).
Earnings rates:
- Earn 3% cash back on groceries at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $6,000 per year, then 1%), U.S. online shopping (on up to $6,000 per year, then 1%) and at U.S. gas stations (on up to $6,000 per year, then 1%)
- Earn 1% cash back on all other purchases
Why we like it: The Blue Cash Everyday is a great option for frequent online shoppers. This card earns elevated cash back on websites that generally don’t fall into bonus categories. Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout.
To learn more, check out our full review of the Blue Cash Everyday card.
Apply here: Amex Blue Cash Everyday
Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express
If the Blue Cash Everyday isn’t quite enough for you, check out the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express instead.
Welcome bonus: Earn $250 back after spending $3,000 on eligible purchases within the first six months of card membership. You’ll receive your cash back as a statement credit or at Amazon checkout.
Annual fee: $0 introductory annual fee, then $95 (see rates and fees).
Earnings rates:
- Earn 6% cash back on groceries at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $6,000 per year, then 1%) and select U.S. streaming services
- Earn 3% cash back on transit and at U.S. gas stations
- Earn 1% cash back on all other purchases
Why we like it: The Blue Cash Preferred often flies under the radar, but it’s a solid cash-back card, especially for U.S. supermarkets and U.S. gas purchases. Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout.
To learn more, check out our full review of the Blue Cash Preferred card.
Apply here: Amex Blue Cash Preferred
Rack up points or miles with an Amex travel partner
If you are loyal to one of the hotels or airlines that are a Membership Rewards transfer partner, like Delta SkyMiles or Hilton Honors, a cobranded card could be a great way to supplement your earning potential.
Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card
Whether you’re a frequent Delta flyer or not, the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card can make sense to add to your wallet.
Welcome bonus: Earn 50,000 bonus miles after spending $2,000 in eligible purchases within the first six months of card membership.
Annual fee: $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150 (see rates and fees).
Earnings rates:
- Earn 2 points per dollar spent on eligible Delta, restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarket purchases
- Earn 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases
Why we like it: Those who live near a Delta hub or regularly fly with the airline might be interested in a Delta cobranded credit card that helps you earn bonus miles on flights and gives you some nice airline benefits. Delta is one of Amex’s transfer partners, which makes using your Amex Gold to supplement your Delta earnings for redemptions easy.
The Delta SkyMiles Gold Amex is a great choice for casual flyers and those who don’t want to add a high annual fee to their wallet. Still, Delta’s other credit cards are also excellent choices for those who want help to hit elite status with the airline.
To learn more, check out our full review of the Delta SkyMiles Gold.
Apply here: Delta SkyMiles Gold Amex Card
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card
Those who stay with Hilton at least a couple of times each year can appreciate what the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card has to offer.
Welcome bonus: Earn 130,000 Hilton Honors bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership.
Annual fee: $150 (see rates and fees).
Earnings rates:
- Earn 12 points per dollar spent on eligible purchases at Hilton hotels
- Earn 6 points per dollar spent at U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets and U.S. gas stations
- Earn 4 points per dollar spent on U.S. online retail purchases
- Earn 3 points per dollar spent on other eligible purchases
Why we like it: If you are loyal to Hilton Hotels when you travel, having a Hilton credit card in your wallet may be a good idea. The card comes with complimentary Gold status (though you can earn Diamond status through the end of the next calendar year when you spend $40,000 on eligible purchases on your card in a calendar year), a free night award after spending $15,000 each calendar year and more. Enrollment required for select benefits; terms apply.
It’s a solid card to pair with your Amex Gold because it earns in categories the Amex Gold misses — like Hilton hotel stays, U.S. online retailers and U.S. gas stations — and you can transfer Membership Rewards to Hilton Honors to help you top off your Hilton account for redemptions.
To learn more, check out our full review of the Hilton Honors Surpass.
Apply here: Hilton Honors Surpass Credit Card
Stock up on other types of points
Of course, there is also value in having cards that earn entirely different currencies in your wallet to maximize your redemption options across the board. Here are some options to diversify the points and miles you’re earning.
Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
With great benefits and a solid rewards structure, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees) is absolutely worth considering for any traveler.
Welcome bonus: Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
Annual fee: $95.
Earnings rates:
- Earn 5 points per dollar spent on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠
- Earn 5 points per dollar spent on Lyft purchases (through Sept. 2027)
- Earn 5 points per dollar spent on Peloton equipment and accessory purchases of $150 or more (through Dec. 2027, with a limit of 25,000 bonus points)
- Earn 3 points per dollar spent on dining purchases, online groceries (excluding Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs) and select streaming services
- Earn 2 points per dollar spent on a generous definition of other travel purchases
- Earn 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases
Why we like it: At face value, you may wonder why the Chase Sapphire Preferred is a good card to pair with the Amex Gold, considering it earns 2 points per dollar spent on travel and 3 points per dollar spent on dining — two categories that overlap with the Amex Gold.
Chase defines travel broadly, which makes this card a great choice for travel spending that isn’t covered by the Amex Gold. Chase is also more generous than Amex in defining ‘dining,’ which includes most bars.
And when it comes to earning diversified points, Amex and Chase both offer the most valuable flexible rewards currencies on the market. They also both come with a unique set of redemption options, so it makes sense to have both in your wallet.
To learn more, check out our full review of the Chase Sapphire Preferred.
Apply here: Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Those looking for a mid-tier card will find that the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is a great option to consider.
Welcome bonus: Earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.
Annual fee: $95 .
Earnings rates:
- Earn 5 miles per dollar on hotels, vacation rentals and car rentals booked through Capital One Travel
- Earn 2 miles per dollar spent on all other purchases
Why we like it: If you want a catch-all card for your non-bonus spending, it doesn’t get much better than the Capital One Venture Rewards. You’ll earn 2 miles per dollar spent on every purchase, making it a great choice for purchases that don’t earn bonus rewards on your Amex Gold.
When it comes time to redeem your miles, you can choose a simple fixed-value redemption option for broader travel purchases or transfer your miles to any of Capital One’s 15-plus hotel and airline partners.
To learn more, check out our full review of the Capital One Venture Rewards Card.
Learn more: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Related: 5 under-the-radar ways to maximize the Amex Gold’s dining credits
Bottom line
The Amex Gold is a solid card on its own — but it’s even better as part of a complementary card pair. Choose from any of the options listed here or a different card that works well with your lifestyle and spending habits.
To learn more, check out our full review of the Amex Gold.
Apply here: American Express Gold Card
For rates and fees of the Amex Blue Cash Everyday, click here.
For rates and fees of the Amex Blue Cash Preferred, click here.
For rates and fees of the Amex Gold card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Amex Platinum card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles Gold card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Hilton Surpass card, click here.
