American Express Gold Card vs Brex Card
Head-to-head comparison of every feature, fee, and perk
At a Glance
Annual Fee
$250
vs
No annual fee
Base Rewards
1x
vs
1x
Sign-Up Bonus
$600
vs
$1,100
Editor Score
9/10
vs
8/10
Detailed Comparison
| Category wins | 4/6 | 2/6 |
| Fees & APR | ||
| Annual Fee | $250✗ Highest | No annual fee★ Lowest |
| Purchase APR | 29.49% | 0% |
| Intro APR (Purchases) | ||
| Intro APR (Balance Transfer) | ||
| Foreign Txn Fee | None★ Lowest | None |
| Balance Transfer Fee | None | None |
| Rewards | ||
| Rewards Type | Points | Points |
| Base Rewards Rate | 1x★ Highest | 1x |
| Bonus Categories | 4x Restaurants · 4x Groceries · 3x Flights | 8x Rideshare · 5x Travel (via Brex) · 4x Restaurants |
| Sign-Up Bonus | $600 value✗ Lowest | $1,100 value★ Highest |
| Eligibility | ||
| Credit Score | Excellent (750+) | Good (670-749) |
| Network | American Express | Mastercard |
| At a Glance | ||
| Best For | Foodies and grocery shoppers | Funded startups and tech companies |
| Ratings | ||
| User Rating | 4.6 / 5★ Highest | 4.3 / 5✗ Lowest |
| Editor Score | 9 / 10★ Highest | 8 / 10✗ Lowest |
| Apply Now | Apply | Apply |
| Full Review | View details → | View details → |
| Pros & Cons | ||
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| Cons |
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Our verdict: Brex Card
The American Express Gold Card ($250/year) and the Brex Card (no annual fee) compete on different axes. The American Express Gold Card's strongest category is 4x on Restaurants, while the Brex Card leads with 8x on Rideshare. The American Express Gold Card costs $250 more per year, so you need at least $250 in incremental rewards to justify it over the Brex Card. At typical spend levels this breaks even somewhere between $7,500 and $15,000 in bonus-category purchases annually. Our scoring model gives the edge to the Brex Card — it leads on 4 of the 5 key dimensions we evaluate. That said, this ranking is algorithmic; your specific spending pattern can flip the answer.
Leads on 4 of 5 key comparison dimensions
Dimension-by-dimension
| Dimension | American Express Gold Card | Brex Card |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Fee | $250/year | no annual fee |
| Base Reward Rate | 1x on everything | 1x on everything |
| Top Bonus Category | 4x on Restaurants | 8x on Rideshare |
| Sign-Up Bonus | 60,000 points after spending $6,000 in 6 months | Up to 110,000 points for qualifying startups |
| Credit Score Required | excellent | good |
Green checkmark indicates the card that leans stronger on that dimension. Our scoring model evaluates these quantitatively — your specific needs may shift the answer.
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Common Questions
Which is better: American Express Gold Card or Brex Card?
It depends on your spending habits. The American Express Gold Card has a $250 annual fee and earns 1x base rewards. The Brex Card has no annual fee and earns 1x base rewards. Compare their bonus categories above to see which aligns better with your spending.
What is the annual fee difference between American Express Gold Card and Brex Card?
The American Express Gold Card has a $250 annual fee while the Brex Card has no annual fee. The American Express Gold Card costs $250 more per year, so it needs to deliver that much extra value in rewards and perks to justify the difference.
Can I have both the American Express Gold Card and Brex Card?
Yes, since these cards are from different issuers (American Express and Brex), you can hold both. Many people pair cards from different banks to maximize bonus category coverage across all their spending.