Editorial take: American Express Gold Card
The ultimate foodie card, earning bonus points at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. Plus over $400 in easy-to-use statement credits make the annual fee a no-brainer.
All credit cards
Side-by-side
American Express Gold Card vs Bilt Palladium
Both are travel travel cards. The American Express Gold Card comes from American Express at $325/yr; the Bilt Palladium from Bilt / Cardless at $495/yr. Below: side-by-side specs, an opinionated verdict, and the FAQs people actually ask before applying.
Bottom line
For most people the American Express Gold Card is the stronger pick today, the sign-up bonus is meaningfully larger ($875 more in estimated value) than the Bilt Palladium's. Get the American Express Gold Card first; revisit the Bilt Palladium after you've earned that bonus.
| Feature | American Express Gold Card | Bilt Palladium |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $325 | $495 |
| Sign-up bonus | 100,000 points | 50,000 Bilt Points + $300 Bilt Cash + Bilt Gold status |
| Bonus value (est.) | $2,000 | $1,125 |
| Min spend to unlock bonus | $8,000 in 6 mo | $4,000 in 3 mo |
| Issuer | American Express | Bilt / Cardless |
| Card category | travel | travel |
| Best earning category (Prepaid_hotels_amex) | 5x | 1x |
| Transfer partners | amex-mr | bilt |
| Headline benefits |
|
|
Read the full review
American Express Gold Card
$325/yr · 100,000 points
Read the full review
Bilt Palladium
$495/yr · 50,000 Bilt Points + $300 Bilt Cash + Bilt Gold status
Editorial take: Bilt Palladium
Bilt 2.0's top tier ($495 AF), launched February 7, 2026 by Cardless. Stacks $400 hotel + $200 Bilt Cash + the Obsidian benefit set + Priority Pass with 2 guests. For Bilt loyalists who already hit the rent-day game hard, the math works; for everyone else, Obsidian is plenty.
Common questions
- Which card has the bigger sign-up bonus, American Express Gold Card or Bilt Palladium?
- The American Express Gold Card has the bigger bonus, 100,000 points, worth roughly $2,000, versus 50,000 Bilt Points + $300 Bilt Cash + Bilt Gold status (~$1,125) on the Bilt Palladium.
- Is the American Express Gold Card's $325 annual fee worth it compared to the Bilt Palladium?
- At $325/yr, the American Express Gold Card is in the mid-fee tier. Compare its specific perks (lounge access, travel credits, primary rental insurance) to the Bilt Palladium's, pick the one whose perks you'll actually use.
- Can I have both the American Express Gold Card and Bilt Palladium?
- Yes, since they're from different issuers (American Express and Bilt / Cardless) the application rules don't conflict. Many points enthusiasts hold both, they pair well when one earns flexible bank points and the other earns a different currency.
- Should I get the American Express Gold Card or the Bilt Palladium first?
- Get the one whose sign-up bonus you can hit comfortably without overspending. American Express Gold Card: $8,000 spend in 6 months. Bilt Palladium: $4,000 in 3 months. Pick the easier minimum spend if you're new to points; pick the larger bonus if you have planned big purchases coming up.
Card details on this page reflect the most recent data we've verified against the issuer's own site. Sign-up bonuses and fees can change at any time, confirm the current offer on the issuer's page before applying.