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American Express issues a variety of different cards that earn Membership Rewards points, which are super valuable because you can transfer them to nearly two dozen airline and hotel partners. Amex is an Insider partner.
One of the best American Express cards in this category is the American Express® Gold Card, which currently offers a welcome bonus of 60,000 points after you spend at least $4,000 in your first 6 months of account opening.
But you may not realize there’s another kind of Amex Gold Card — and we’re not talking about the business version (the American Express® Business Gold Card). It’s one you’ll get as an authorized user on The Platinum Card® from American Express, and though it looks the same on the surface, the similarities mostly end there.
We’re focused here on the rewards and perks that come with each card. These cards won’t be worth it if you’re paying interest or late fees. When using a credit card, it’s important to pay your balance in full each month, make payments on time, and only spend what you can afford to pay.
Authorized-user American Express Gold Card
When you open a new Amex Platinum card, you can choose between two options if you want to add authorized users. Additional Platinum cards — which come with many of the same benefits the primary cardholder enjoys — cost $175 per year for up to three cards and $175 per card after that.
Or, you can order up to 99 additional Gold cards at no extra cost. Even though they appear similar, these Amex Gold cards are very different from the standalone Amex Gold card. They don’t come with a welcome bonus offer, won’t earn bonus points at restaurants or US supermarkets, and don’t offer dining credits like the true Amex Gold card.
The authorized-user Gold card earns 5x Amex Membership Rewards points (on up to $500,000 per year, then 1x) on flights booked directly with airlines or through American Express Travel. It also earns 5x Membership Rewards points on prepaid hotels booked through American Express Travel, and 1 point per dollar on all other purchases. From a spending standpoint, authorized-user Gold cards are just like the Amex Platinum.
The main difference is that authorized-user Gold cards don’t come with most of the benefits the Platinum card offers. The fee for Platinum authorized user cards unlocks perks like airport lounge access (including Priority Pass Select** and Centurion lounges), Marriott and Hilton Gold status**, and more. You won’t get these perks with the no-fee authorized user Gold card.
However, there is one premium Platinum benefit that extends to the free authorized-user Gold card. Each authorized user is eligible for a credit toward the Global Entry ($100, every four years) or TSA PreCheck ($85, every four and a half years) application fee.
American Express Gold Card
The standard American Express® Gold Card has a lot more to offer than the Platinum’s authorized-user Gold card. In addition to a substantial welcome bonus offer, it earns 4 Amex Membership Rewards points per dollar spent at restaurants and 3 points per dollar on flights booked directly with airlines or through Amex Travel. It also earns 4x Membership Rewards points on the first $25,000 spent at US supermarkets each calendar year (then 1x).
This version of the Amex Gold Card comes with a variety of credits that can make it well worth the $250 annual fee. You’ll get up to $120 in dining credit** (up to $10 monthly) to use at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Milk Bar, and participating Shake Shack locations. It also offers up to $120 in Uber Cash (up to $10 per month credits) each calendar year (this is only applicable to U.S. Eats orders and Rides, and the Gold Card needs to be added to the Uber app to receive the Uber Cash benefit).
Amex Gold card comparison
Here’s a side-by-side comparison of the two personal Amex Gold cards:
Standalone Amex Gold CardAuthorized User Gold CardAnnual fee
$250
$0 – included with the $550 annual fee of the Platinum Card
Welcome bonus offer
60,000 points after you spend at least $4,000 in your first 6 months of account opening
None
Earning rates
4x points at US supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year, then 1x)
4x points at restaurants
3x points on flights booked directly with airlines or Amex Travel
5x points on flights booked directly with airlines or Amex Travel (up to a maximum of $500,000 per year, then 1x)
5x points on prepaid hotels booked through Amex Travel
1 point per dollar on everything else
Other benefits
Up to $10 each month at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Milk Bar, and participating Shake Shack locations**
Up to $120 in Uber Cash each calendar year
Up to $100 credit for Global Entry (every four years) or TSA PreCheck (every four and a half years) application fee**
For most people, the standalone card is the better option. In order to get the authorized-user Gold card, you will need a trusted friend or family member with a Platinum card to add you to their account. That said, if you have an authorized-user Gold card, you’re still eligible to apply for the standard Gold card and earn the welcome bonus offer, as long as you meet Amex’s other application rules.