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Is the Gold Card worth $325 a year?

A fee card has to beat the best no-fee card by more than its fee before it earns you anything. Below is the annual spend, category by category, where the Gold Card’s extra rewards clear the $325. American Express Membership Rewards points are valued at 1.15¢ each; transfer partners can beat that, cashing out won't.

CategoryThis cardBest no-fee cardSpend to clear the fee
DiningAltitude Go at Cap blocks it — this category alone can’t clear the fee

Categories can combine: spending across several bonus categories clears the fee sooner than any single row suggests. Portal-only rates and perks (credits, lounges) are excluded — this is the rewards math only.

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