Monthly spending. We rank on rewards minus the full annual fee, so statement credits and perks are listed separately and never counted for you.
Choosing between the American Express® Gold Card ($325/yr) and the Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards credit card (no annual fee) comes down to where you spend most. Both cards can deliver real value. Let’s break it down, then run your numbers to find the winner.
Strongest in dining at 4% (up to $50,000/yr). 4X points at restaurants worldwide, 4X on U.S. supermarkets, 3X on flights.
Perfect if: You spend enough in bonus categories to easily offset the annual fee.
Apply Now2% first year, then 1.5% unlimited, up to 2.62% with Preferred Rewards. Earns a solid 1.5% on everything else.
Perfect if: You want solid rewards without paying an annual fee.
Apply Now| Feature | American Express Gold Card | Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Fee | $325 | $0 |
| Sign-Up Bonus | 100,000 points after $8,000 spend in 6 months | $200 after $1,000 spend in 90 days |
| Foreign Transaction Fee | 0% | 3% |
| Base Reward Rate | 1% | 1.5% |
| Dining Rewards | 4% (up to $50,000/yr) | 1.5% |
| Groceries Rewards | 4% (up to $25,000/yr) | 1.5% |
| Rates with conditions not counted in the rows above |
3% on flights Earns 3% only on flights booked direct with the airline or on AmexTravel.com. Hotels, car rentals and cruises earn 1%. |
None |
| Key Benefits | 4X points at restaurants worldwide, 4X on U.S. supermarkets, 3X on flights. | 2% first year, then 1.5% unlimited, up to 2.62% with Preferred Rewards. |
American Express Gold Card pulls ahead for dining, groceries spending.
Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards wins on travel, gas.
The $325/year fee difference means American Express Gold Card needs to earn about that much more in rewards to justify its cost.
American Express Gold Card carries $424/year in credits (mostly tied to specific merchants or bookings). Those only count if you’d actually use them. Worth checking against your own habits before treating them as a discount on the fee.
Not sure which fits your life? Enter your spending below and we’ll do the math. The calculator ranks purely on rewards minus the full annual fee, so credits and perks are yours to judge.