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Amex Business Gold 4X on Ads and Wireless Is Narrowing in 2027: What Business Owners Should Know
September 27, 2026
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American Express is narrowing two of the 4X categories on the American Express® Business Gold Card (See Rates & Fees). Starting February 17, 2027, advertising and wireless purchases only earn 4X when you pay a short list of named companies directly.
If your business runs ads or pays phone bills on this card, here's what changes, who is affected, and how to keep earning as much as you can.
What Is Changing on the Amex Business Gold Card?
Amex updated the card's terms to limit two categories, effective February 17, 2027:
- Advertising: Online, TV, and radio advertising from U.S. media providers will only qualify when purchased directly with Meta, Google, Amazon, Microsoft, GoDaddy, or Yelp.
- Wireless: Monthly wireless telephone service charges will only qualify when purchased directly with Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, Frontier, Comcast, Charter, Spectrum Mobile, UScellular, Optimum, Ultra Mobile, or Mint Mobile.
The other four categories are not part of this change, and nothing changes before February 17, 2027.
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Want the full picture on this card? Read our American Express® Business Gold Card review.
How Do the Business Gold 4X Categories Work Today?
The card earns 4X Membership Rewards® points in the two categories where your business spends the most each billing cycle, out of six eligible categories:
- Purchases at U.S. media providers for advertising in select media (online, TV, radio)
- U.S. purchases from electronic goods retailers and software and cloud system providers
- U.S. purchases at restaurants, including takeout and delivery
- U.S. purchases at gas stations
- Transit purchases, including trains, taxicabs, rideshare services, ferries, tolls, parking, buses, and subways
- Monthly wireless telephone service charges made directly from a U.S. wireless telephone service provider
The 4X rate applies on up to $150,000 in combined purchases from your top two categories each calendar year, then 1X. All other eligible purchases earn 1X. Amex picks your top two categories automatically each billing cycle, so you don't have to enroll in specific categories.
Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.
In Kudos, you can choose your cards' bonus categories and set your preferences, and Kudos automatically recommends the best card in your wallet for each purchase. If an ad or phone charge stops earning 4X on your Business Gold, Kudos points you to the card that earns more on it.
Want every business purchase on the right card? See how Kudos tracks your card perks and credits.
Who Is Affected by the Change?
The change matters most if one of your top two categories is advertising or wireless and you pay companies that aren't on Amex's lists.
- Ad spend on other platforms: Ads bought from platforms not on the list, such as TikTok, Pinterest, or Reddit, won't count toward the 4X advertising category after February 17, 2027.
- Ads bought through a third party: The new terms say purchases must be made directly with the listed companies. If an agency or reseller bills you for Google or Meta ads, those charges may not qualify.
- Phone plans from other carriers: Wireless bills from carriers not on the list won't count toward the 4X wireless category, even if the charge is a monthly U.S. phone bill.
If your ads run on Google or Meta and you pay a major carrier directly, you may not notice a difference.
How Can You Maximize Business Gold Rewards After the Change?
Check Which Merchants You Actually Pay
Pull up a few months of statements and look at who bills you for ads and phone service. If most of it is already Meta, Google, Amazon, or a major carrier, your earning shouldn't change much.
Pay Platforms Directly Where You Can
If an agency places your Google or Meta ads, ask whether you can be billed by the platform directly on your own card. That keeps the purchase eligible under the new terms.
Let a Different Category Become a Top Two
Because Amex picks your top two categories each billing cycle, losing 4X on some ad or wireless spend may let another category take its place, like restaurants, gas, transit, or electronics and software. Steady spend in those categories can keep you earning 4X where it counts.
Set Your Categories in Kudos
Cards like the Business Gold earn their top rate in categories that can shift, which makes it hard to remember which card to use. In Kudos, you can customize and choose the categories for your cards based on how you spend.
Kudos then automatically recommends the best card in your wallet for each purchase based on your preferences. When the new rules kick in, you'll know at checkout whether an ad or phone charge belongs on your Business Gold or another card.
With Kudos Premium, you can also track your card's credits and benefits in one place and activate card-linked offers automatically, so Business Gold credits like Walmart+, Squarespace, and ChatGPT Business don't go unused.
Use a Flat-Rate Card for Spend That Falls Out
For ad or phone charges that no longer qualify, a flat-rate business card can earn more than 1X. The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express (See Rates & Fees) earns 2X Membership Rewards® points on everyday business purchases on up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1X, and points go into the same Membership Rewards account.
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How Does the Amex Business Gold Stack Up Against Other Business Cards?
The Business Gold still makes sense if your business spends heavily in two of its six categories. If your ad or phone spend falls outside the new merchant lists, it's worth comparing a few alternatives.
- American Express® Business Gold Card: $375 annual fee. Earns 4X in your top two of six categories each billing cycle, on up to $150,000 in combined purchases per calendar year, then 1X. Best for businesses with concentrated spend in categories like restaurants, gas, transit, or software.
- Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card: $95 annual fee. Earns 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 in combined purchases on travel, shipping, internet, cable and phone services, and advertising with social media sites and search engines each account anniversary year, then 1 point per $1. A fit for businesses that advertise across more social platforms.
- The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express: No annual fee. Earns 2X on everyday business purchases on up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1X. Simple, and it pairs with the Business Gold in the same Membership Rewards account.
- Capital One Spark Cash Plus (See Rates & Fees): $150 annual fee. Earns 2% cash back on all eligible purchases and 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Business Travel. Good for businesses that want cash back without tracking categories.
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Not sure which mix fits your business? Kudos compares the cards in your wallet against how you actually spend, so you can see which one should handle each purchase.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the Amex Business Gold change take effect?
February 17, 2027. Until then, advertising and wireless purchases earn 4X under the current terms when they're among your top two categories.
Which advertising purchases will still earn 4X?
Online, TV, and radio advertising bought directly from Meta, Google, Amazon, Microsoft, GoDaddy, or Yelp.
Which wireless providers will still earn 4X?
Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, Frontier, Comcast, Charter, Spectrum Mobile, UScellular, Optimum, Ultra Mobile, and Mint Mobile, when you pay them directly.
Are the other 4X categories changing?
No. Restaurants, gas stations, transit, and electronic goods, software, and cloud purchases aren't part of this change.
Is the $150,000 cap changing?
No. The 4X rate still applies on up to $150,000 in combined purchases from your top two categories each calendar year, then 1X.
Can Kudos help me pick the right card after the change?
Yes. You can customize your card categories in Kudos, and it automatically recommends the best card in your wallet for each purchase based on your preferences.
The Bottom Line
The Amex Business Gold still earns 4X in your top two categories, but starting February 17, 2027, advertising and wireless spend only counts at the companies Amex names. Check who you pay now so you aren't surprised next year.
Set your card categories in Kudos, and it will recommend the best card for each purchase, so your business keeps earning the most on every charge before and after the change.
Unlock your extra benefits when you become a Kudos member
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Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are those of Kudos alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
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