American Express® Gold vs Choice Privileges® Mastercard®
Side-by-side comparison
| American Express® Gold | Choice Privileges® Mastercard® | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $325 | No annual fee |
| Welcome offer | 60,000 points | |
| Dining | 4x | 1x |
| Groceries | 4x | 3x |
| Gas | 1x | 3x |
| Travel | 3x | 5x |
| Streaming | 1x | 1x |
| Everything else | 1x | 1x |
| Est. yearly rewards* | $598 | $527 |
| Points type | Transfers to airlines & hotels | Locked to Choice Privileges |
| Network | Amex | Mastercard |
*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 American Express® Gold earns about $598 a year in rewards and the Choice Privileges® Mastercard® about $527, valuing every point at a flat 1 cent. The American Express® Gold charges $325, but carries about $424 in annual statement credits that offset it for anyone who uses them. The Choice Privileges® Mastercard® has no annual fee, so its rewards are all profit. Counting rewards, fees, and any credits, the Choice Privileges® Mastercard® delivers more total value, about $42 a year more for a typical spender, mostly because it earns more where you spend most, on gas and travel. The bigger difference is the ceiling: the American Express® Gold earns points you can move to travel partners for outsized value, while the Choice Privileges® Mastercard® stays locked to a single airline or hotel program. Favor the American Express® Gold if you will use travel transfers, the Choice Privileges® Mastercard® if you want simplicity. On the sign-up bonus, the American Express® Gold currently has the larger welcome offer (a limited-time offer above its usual amount, so treat it as a one-time boost). A welcome bonus is a one-time event, so weigh it apart from the ongoing rewards.
Pick the American Express® Gold if your spending leans toward dining, groceries. Pick the Choice Privileges® Mastercard® if your spending leans toward gas, travel.