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.
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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 | Column N.A. |
| Card category | travel | travel |
| Best earning category (Prepaid_hotels_amex) | 5x | 1x |
| Transfer partners | amex-mr | bilt |
| Headline benefits |
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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 with Column N.A. as issuer and Cardless as servicer. A flat 2x everyday card that stacks $400 of Bilt Travel hotel credit, $200 of Bilt Cash a year, and Priority Pass with 2 guests. It does not have Obsidian's 3x category, so it wins on credits and lounge access rather than on multipliers. For Bilt loyalists who use the hotel credit and the lounges, 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 Column N.A.) 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.