Prime Visa vs American Express® Gold
Side-by-side comparison
| Prime Visa | American Express® Gold | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | No annual fee | $325 |
| Welcome offer | $200 Amazon Gift Card upon approval | 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points |
| Dining | 2x | 4x |
| Groceries | 5x | 4x |
| Gas | 2x | 1x |
| Travel | 1x | 3x |
| Streaming | 1x | 1x |
| Everything else | 1x | 1x |
| Est. yearly rewards* | $590 | $598 |
| Points type | Cash back only | Transfers to airlines & hotels |
| Network | Visa | Amex |
*Estimated yearly rewards on typical household spending, every point valued at a flat 1 cent. Verified June 2026. See your own numbers in the calculator.
The verdict
On a typical year of household spending, the Prime Visa earns about $590 a year in rewards and the American Express® Gold about $598, valuing every point at a flat 1 cent. The Prime Visa has no annual fee, so its rewards are all profit. The American Express® Gold charges $325, but carries about $424 in annual statement credits that offset it for anyone who uses them. Counting rewards, fees, and any credits, the Prime Visa delivers more total value, about $181 a year more for a typical spender, mostly because it earns more where you spend most, on groceries and gas. The bigger difference is the ceiling: the American Express® Gold earns points you can move to travel partners for outsized value, while the Prime Visa pays plain cash back. Favor the American Express® Gold if you will use travel transfers, the Prime Visa if you want simplicity. On the sign-up bonus, the American Express® Gold currently has the larger welcome offer. A welcome bonus is a one-time event, so weigh it apart from the ongoing rewards.
Pick the Prime Visa if your spending leans toward groceries, gas. Pick the American Express® Gold if your spending leans toward dining, travel.