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 Mastercard Gold Card
Both are travel travel cards. The American Express Gold Card comes from American Express at $325/yr; the Mastercard Gold Card from Barclays (Luxury Card) at $1199/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 ($2,000 more in estimated value) than the Mastercard Gold Card's. Get the American Express Gold Card first; revisit the Mastercard Gold Card after you've earned that bonus.
| Feature | American Express Gold Card | Mastercard Gold Card |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $325 | $1199 |
| Sign-up bonus | 100,000 points | No public welcome offer |
| Bonus value (est.) | $2,000 | $0 |
| Min spend to unlock bonus | $8,000 in 6 mo | $0 in 0 mo |
| Issuer | American Express | Barclays (Luxury Card) |
| Card category | travel | travel |
| Best earning category (Prepaid_hotels_amex) | 5x | 1x |
| Transfer partners | amex-mr | None |
| Headline benefits |
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Read the full review
American Express Gold Card
$325/yr · 100,000 points
Read the full review
Mastercard Gold Card
$1199/yr · No public welcome offer
Editorial take: Mastercard Gold Card
The top tier of Barclays' Luxury Card lineup at $1,199. The $300 airline + $200 dining + $120 Global Entry credits chip away at the AF (about $620 of stated value before lounge access), and the 2cpp redemption on cash back is unusual. Still a status play more than a smart-points play; Amex Platinum or Sapphire Reserve win on credits-to-fee math for most travelers. Authorized-user fee is steep at $349 each.
Common questions
- Which card has the bigger sign-up bonus, American Express Gold Card or Mastercard Gold Card?
- The American Express Gold Card has the bigger bonus, 100,000 points, worth roughly $2,000, versus No public welcome offer (~$0) on the Mastercard Gold Card.
- Is the American Express Gold Card's $325 annual fee worth it compared to the Mastercard Gold Card?
- 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 Mastercard Gold Card's, pick the one whose perks you'll actually use.
- Can I have both the American Express Gold Card and Mastercard Gold Card?
- Yes, since they're from different issuers (American Express and Barclays (Luxury Card)) 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 Mastercard Gold Card first?
- Get the one whose sign-up bonus you can hit comfortably without overspending. American Express Gold Card: $8,000 spend in 6 months. Mastercard Gold Card: $0 in 0 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.