American Express · American Express · Amex Membership Rewards
Reviewed 2026-07-05 · By The Points Standard editorial team
Amex Gold Rewards Card
A balanced mid-premium card that pairs well with the Cobalt. Good value with the travel credit, but rarely the single best card on its own.
Standard Score breakdown — Excellent
Six weighted components, each rated 0–10. "Contributes" is the rating × weight — add all six and you get the 7.78/10 Standard Score above.
See how the Standard Score works or re-weight it to your priorities.
The numbers
| Annual fee | $250 |
| Welcome bonus | Up to 90,000 MR points (30,000 on $4K/3 mo + 5,000/month on $1K monthly spend for 12 months) |
| Est. bonus value | ≈ $1,800 |
| First-year net value | ≈ $1,700 |
Earn rates
| Travel and transit | 2x |
| Gas and groceries | 2x |
| Everything else | 1x |
Why it earns its score
- $100 annual travel credit offsets nearly half the fee
- Full MR transfer flexibility including Aeroplan 1:1
- Four annual Plaza Premium lounge passes
Where it loses points
- Cobalt earns more on food for a lower fee
- 2x categories are good but not category-leading
Who it's for
Travellers who want strong MR earning and real travel insurance without the Platinum's $799 commitment.
Who should skip it
Most of your spend is groceries and dining — the Cobalt is the better Amex.
Included insurance
Travel medical · Trip interruption · Flight delay · Baggage insurance · Rental car coverage
Source: issuer card page · Last reviewed 2026-07-05. Details change often — confirm current terms with the issuer before applying.