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 Mastercard® Titanium Card® ($299/yr) 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.
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2X points on airfare and hotels booked through LuxuryCardTravel.com, 1X on everything else; entry-level tier with unlimited-guest lounge access and 24/7 concierge, no welcome bonus. Earns 1X points on everything else.
Perfect if: You spend enough in bonus categories to easily offset the annual fee.
Beyond the points: Built for benefits over raw earn rate: Priority Pass Select lounge access with unlimited guest visits, 24/7 concierge, and Luxury Card Travel perks averaging $750 per stay at 3,000+ properties, none of which show up in a points-only ranking.
Apply Now| Feature | American Express Gold Card | Luxury Card Mastercard Titanium Card |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Fee | $325 | $299 |
| Sign-Up Bonus | 100,000 points after $8,000 spend in 6 months | None |
| Foreign Transaction Fee | 0% | 0% |
| Base Reward Rate | 1% | 1X points |
| Redemption Value | 1.0¢ per point | 2% redeemed for airfare, 1% redeemed for cash back |
| Dining Rewards | 4% (up to $50,000/yr) | 1X points |
| Groceries Rewards | 4% (up to $25,000/yr) | 1X points |
| 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. | 2X points on airfare and hotels booked through LuxuryCardTravel.com, 1X on everything else; entry-level tier with unlimited-guest lounge access and 24/7 concierge, no welcome bonus. |
American Express Gold Card pulls ahead for dining, groceries spending.
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.
Rewards rates aren’t the whole story here. Lounge access, concierge service, travel protections, and statement credits can be worth more than a fraction of a percent in earn rate. See the key benefits above and weigh them against how you travel and spend.
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.