American Express Gold Rewards Card Review 2026: Is It Worth It?
If you’re a frequent traveller and typically use your credit card for groceries or gas, the flashy American Express Gold Rewards Card may be a natural fit.
Rewards breakdown
Rewards breakdown
NerdWallet's take
NerdWallet's take
Card details
Card detailsA good fit for travellers seeking flexible rewards.
Not a good fit for tight budgeters or infrequent travellers.
What our Nerds think
"This glitzy stainless steel travel card offers premium perks at a mid-tier price. That said, jetsetters will be best positioned to maximize its value, so unless you’re something of a travel bug, this card may not be worthwhile. "
- Shannon Terrell, Lead Writer & Spokesperson
Note: This card is scored as a Points card, which means 60% of the star rating is based on the card's rewards, 30% on fees and interest rates and 10% on perks. You can read more about how we evaluate Points credit cards on our methodology page.
Fees and rates
POOR
The interest rates are pretty standard, but this card’s $250 annual fee is higher than average for a points card in Canada.
Annual fee:
$250
Purchase APR:
21.99%
Foreign transaction fee:
2.5%
🤓 Get nerdy: Read more about fees
Annual fee: $250
The average annual fee for a Points card in Canada: $60*
Purchase interest rate: 21.99%
The average purchase interest rate for a Points card in Canada: 21.18%
Cash advance interest rate: 21.99%
Cash advances apply to cash-like transactions, such as ATM withdrawals, and start accruing interest immediately.
Penalty APR: 25.99%
25.99% if you miss two payments within 12 months, and 29.99% if you miss three payments within 12 months.
Foreign transaction fee: 2.5%
Foreign transaction fees are charged on any purchases made in foreign currencies or when overseas. The average foreign transaction fee for a Points card in Canada: 2.41%*
Additional card fee: $50
You can get nine additional cards for $50 each, per account. The first additional card is free.
*according to NerdWallet’s analysis of over 200 credit cards, as of this writing.
Perks
EXCELLENT
Complimentary airport lounge access, NEXUS rebates, annual travel credits and robust insurance round out this card’s valuable extras.
Insurance coverage:
Comprehensive
Airport lounge access:
Four free passes to Plaza Premium Lounges annually
Annual travel credit:
$100 annually redeemable via American Express Travel Online
🤓 Get nerdy: Read more about perks
Airport lounge access. Receive four complimentary passes to Plaza Premium lounges annually.
$100 annual travel credit: Redeemable on trips booked through American Express Travel Online.
NEXUS rebates. Get a $50 statement credit for application or renewal fees (available once every 4 years).
Robust insurance. Travel coverage includes emergency medical, trip cancellation and interruption, flight and baggage delay and more.
Stainless steel card. Choose between gold or rose gold stainless steel.
Rewards value
EXCELLENT
American Express Membership Rewards Points have, on average, a higher monetary value than other rewards programs. If earned and redeemed strategically, cardholders will generate more value from this card’s points than they might via competitor programs.
Reward earn rate:
1x-2x points per $1 spent
Reward value:
1 point = 2.88 cents
Reward program:
American Express Membership Rewards Points
🤓 Get nerdy: Read more about rewards
Earning rewards
Earn American Express Membership Rewards Points at the following rates:
2x points on eligible travel purchases.
2x points on eligible purchases at gas stations, grocery stores and drugstores in Canada.
1x points on all other eligible purchases.
1 additional point for every dollar spent on eligible car rental and hotel bookings made through American Express Travel Online.
Redeeming rewards
American Express Membership Rewards points can be redeemed on the Membership Rewards portal for:
Statement credits.
Flights, hotels, and car rentals.
Amazon purchases.
Merchandise.
Gift cards.
Charity donations.
Points from other rewards programs.
Welcome offer
New American Express Gold Rewards cardmembers can earn up to 60,000 points in their first year of card membership.
Each month you spend $1,000 in your first year:
5,000 Points
Up to a maximum of:
60,000 Points
Estimated value of offer:
$600
Offer effective as of February 3, 2026.
🤓 Get nerdy: Read more about the welcome offer
New American Express Gold Rewards cardmembers can earn up to 60,000 Membership Rewards points — up to $600 in value toward their next trip.
To claim the offer, they’ll need to earn 5,000 points for each monthly billing cycle where they spend at least $1,000 on their card, up to a maximum of 60,000 points in their first year of card membership.
Eligibility
To be eligible for this card, you must:
✓ Be a Canadian resident
✓ Be at least the age of majority in your province or territory
✓ Have no history of bankruptcy in the past seven years
🤓 Get nerdy: Read more about how to apply
How to apply for the American Express Gold Rewards Card
The application for the American Express Gold Rewards Card can be completed online from the American Express website. Review the card’s terms and conditions and enter your personal information to submit your application.
Approximate credit score needed for approval
Canadian credit card issuers rarely disclose required credit scores, which makes it hard to know your chances of approval when comparing credit cards. What we do know is that higher scores have better chances of approval — that’s true no matter what type of credit you’re applying for.
Want to learn more? Visit our “What Credit Score is Needed for a Credit Card?” page.
» MORE: How to Check Your Credit Score
American Express Canada now lets you check your eligibility for a personal card before you apply. You’ll get an instant decision through a soft credit check, with no impact to your credit score — a smart, easy way to apply with confidence.
Customer ratings and Reddit chatter
First in customer satisfaction: American Express ranks 1st out of 14 issuers in J.D. Power’s 2025 Canada Credit Card Satisfaction Study
Low Trustpilot rating: American Express scored 1.3 out of 5 possible stars based on over 5,000 customer reviews, as of this writing.
Poor Better Business Bureau customer rating: American Express has 1.1 out of 5 possible stars based on over 550 customer reviews, as of this writing.
What Reddit has to say
We know expert recommendations matter — but so do real-life experiences. On Reddit, Canadian users talk about the American Express Gold’s attractive welcome offer and travel perks.
As of this writing, Redditors seem to like the Amex Gold, frequently mentioning the card’s robust travel insurance, attractive travel credit and airport lounge access. They also praise the high quality of Amex’s customer service compared to that of other big banks in Canada.
American Express Gold Rewards Card vs Amex Platinum Card
If you’re open to paying a higher annual fee for more luxurious benefits, the top-line Amex Platinum could be worth a look.
Rewards breakdown
Rewards breakdownNerdWallet's take
NerdWallet's takeCard details
Card details
Rewards breakdown
Rewards breakdownNerdWallet's take
NerdWallet's takeCard details
Card detailsMethodology
BACK TO TOPFrequently asked questions
How do you qualify for an Amex Gold Card?
How do you qualify for an Amex Gold Card?
To be eligible for the Amex Gold Rewards Card, you must be a Canadian resident and at least the age of majority for your province or territory.
Is the Amex Gold Card a metal card?
Is the Amex Gold Card a metal card?
Yes, the American Express Gold Rewards Card is a metal credit card. It’s made of stainless steel and is available in gold or rose gold finish.
DIVE EVEN DEEPER
Shannon Terrell
