Guide
Is the Amex Gold worth the annual fee? (2026)
Amex Gold costs $250/year and earns 4× on dining and U.S. supermarkets. Rough break-even vs a 1× card: about $6,250/year in combined dining and grocery spend — less if you value the included dining and Uber credits.
Quick comparison
| Card | Best for | Earn rate | Annual fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amex Gold | Dining + groceries | 4× points | $250 |
| Freedom Unlimited | No-fee alternative | 3% dining | $0 |
| Blue Cash Preferred | Groceries only | 6% cash back | $95 |
Why most people pick the wrong card
Most people default to the same card at checkout — usually the one on top in their wallet. That habit quietly costs hundreds of dollars a year when another card in your stack earns 3×, 4×, or even 6× on the same purchase.
How Pikt routes smarter than guesswork
Pikt links the cards you already carry, weighs your offers and category earn rates, and tells you the best card to use — with a plain-English explanation and dollar estimate for every purchase. Online, the Pikt Checkout extension auto-fills that card at checkout; in-store, Pikt Nearby names it on your lock screen. Pikt tracks whether Gold actually wins each purchase — or if another card in your stack should have been used.
Frequently asked questions
- Do credits offset the fee?
- Dining and Uber credits can offset $240+ if you use them — but unused credits don't count.
$49 at Blue Bottle → Amex Gold earns $1.94
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