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Amex Gold vs Bank of America Travel Rewards: Which Is Better In 2025?
July 1, 2025
Editor's Picks
- The American Express® Gold Card is a premium card for earning high rewards on dining, U.S. supermarket spending, and flights. Terms Apply.
- The Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card is ideal for earning simple, flat-rate travel rewards on every purchase with no annual fee.
American Express® Gold Card Breakdown
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Why We Like It
Here’s a breakdown of what makes the American Express® Gold Card (See Rates & Fees) a standout choice in a crowded field of premium rewards cards.
- The card offers generous rewards on spending at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets, making it a top choice for food lovers (Terms apply).
- Cardmembers get monthly credits for both dining and Uber, which helps make the card a valuable part of your wallet (Terms apply).
- Its points are incredibly versatile, offering valuable transfer options to many different airline and hotel loyalty programs (Terms apply).
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.
Pros
- Strong earning rates for spending at restaurants and on groceries at U.S. supermarkets (Terms apply).
- Valuable annual credits for select dining and Uber usage in the U.S. (Terms apply).
- Flexible points that can be transferred to various airline and hotel loyalty programs (Terms apply).
Cons
- A high annual fee.
- Annual credits are distributed in monthly increments, and some benefits require enrollment (Terms apply).
- Not as widely accepted as Visa or Mastercard.
Bank of America® Travel Rewards Breakdown
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Why We Like It
Below, we break down the key reasons this card caught our attention.
- The card offers a simple, flat-rate rewards structure on all purchases, making it easy to earn points without tracking bonus categories.
- You can redeem your points flexibly for statement credits against a wide variety of travel and dining purchases, without worrying about blackout dates or travel portals.
- Existing Bank of America customers can significantly boost their earnings through the Preferred Rewards program.
Pros
- The card has no annual fee, making it a budget-friendly choice to keep in your wallet long-term.
- It’s a solid pick for international travel, as it charges no foreign transaction fees on purchases made abroad.
- You get essential travel protections like rental car insurance and fraud liability coverage for peace of mind on your trips.
Cons
- Its flat-rate rewards structure, while simple, means you won't earn accelerated rewards on travel or dining purchases.
- The card is light on premium travel benefits, so you'll miss out on perks like airport lounge access and comprehensive travel insurance.
- Unlocking the card's highest earning rates requires being a Bank of America Preferred Rewards member, and the lack of transfer partners limits redemption flexibility.
Bank of America® Travel Rewards vs American Express® Gold Card
Categories
Deciding which is better, Amex Gold or Bank of America Travel Rewards, often depends on your lifestyle and spending habits.
- American Express® Gold Card is built for frequent travelers and foodies who spend a significant amount on dining out and at U.S. supermarkets. It's ideal for users who can take full advantage of premium travel and dining benefits.
- Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card is better suited for occasional travelers or those who want a straightforward, single-card strategy. It offers simple, flat-rate rewards on all purchases without the complexity of bonus categories.
Redemption
American Express® Gold Card: Points can be transferred to a variety of airline and hotel partners, offering flexibility for booking travel. You can also redeem them for statement credits, gift cards, or merchandise through the American Express portal.
Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card: Rewards are redeemed as a statement credit to cover travel and dining purchases made with the card. This straightforward system makes it easy to offset your travel-related expenses without dealing with transfer partners or blackout dates.
Travel Perks
- Foreign Transaction Fees: A major perk for travelers is that neither the American Express® Gold Card nor the Bank of America® Travel Rewards card charges a foreign transaction fee, making both suitable for international use.
- Travel Portals: Each card provides access to its own booking platform. Amex Gold cardholders can use the American Express Travel portal, while Bank of America offers its Travel Center for booking flights, hotels, and car rentals.
- Hotel Benefits: The Amex Gold card gives you access to The Hotel Collection, which provides a hotel credit and potential room upgrades on eligible stays of two nights or more. The Bank of America card does not offer a comparable hotel program. Terms apply.
- Airport Lounge Access: If airport lounge access is a priority, you’ll need to look elsewhere. Neither of these cards includes complimentary lounge access as a standard benefit.
- Travel Insurance & Protections: The American Express® Gold Card typically comes with a suite of travel protections, such as car rental loss and damage insurance and a baggage insurance plan. The Bank of America card’s benefits are generally more limited, though as a Visa Signature® card it may offer some travel and emergency assistance services. Terms apply for American Express benefits.
Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos
To eliminate the guesswork, a tool like Kudos can help you compare top-rated cards based on your personal spending habits.
- Test Drive Feature: Use the ‘Test Drive’ feature to simulate a card’s potential earnings based on your real spending data, all without a hard credit pull.
- Personalized Recommendations: Get personalized card recommendations based on your actual transaction history to find the best match for your wallet.
- Approval Odds: See a detailed analysis of your approval odds for different cards based on your credit report.
- Welcome Offer Guarantee: Kudos offers a welcome offer guarantee, promising to match any better public offer you find within three months of your approval.
- Bonus Rewards: Earn extra rewards, including a $100 Kickstart+ reward for adding select cards and Kudos Boost rewards when shopping online.
Who Should Choose the American Express® Gold Card?
The American Express® Gold Card is tailor-made for foodies and frequent travelers who can leverage its premium rewards on everyday spending. Cardholders earn an impressive 4X points at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X. The card's value is further boosted by up to $120 in annual dining credits and up to $120 in Uber Cash, making it a strong contender for those whose lifestyle aligns with these benefits. Terms Apply.
Who Should Choose the Bank of America® Travel Rewards?
The Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card is an excellent starter card for beginners and casual travelers who want a straightforward way to earn rewards without complex programs. Its appeal lies in its simplicity, offering a flat 1.5 points per dollar on all purchases with no annual fee or foreign transaction fees, making it ideal for budget-conscious users and those who prefer a single card for all their spending. The card becomes even more valuable for existing Bank of America customers, who can earn a rewards bonus of 25% to 75% through the Preferred Rewards program.
Alternatives to Consider
So you've weighed the pros and cons in the Amex Gold vs. Bank of America Travel Rewards comparison and neither card feels like a winner? No problem—let's explore a few other travel cards that could be a better fit.
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Tips for Application Success
Before You Apply
- Check your credit score – Most premium cards require good to excellent credit, though some beginner cards are more accessible.
- Plan your spending – Make sure you can meet any minimum spending requirements for a welcome offer without overspending.
- Review the benefits – Understand how you’ll use the card’s perks and credits to make sure it’s a good fit for your lifestyle.
Application Strategy
- Compare card benefits – Find a card that matches your spending habits, whether it's high rewards on dining or simple flat-rate points on all purchases.
- Leverage existing relationships – See if your current bank offers better rewards or a higher chance of approval on their credit cards.
- Time your application – Apply before a large planned purchase to help meet the spending requirement for a welcome offer.
Our Methodology
We evaluate nearly 3,000 credit cards across the U.S. market — far more than the ~150 cards commonly featured on sites that focus only on products tied to affiliate commissions. Our goal is to provide a comprehensive, unbiased view of the credit card landscape so you can make confident, data-driven decisions.
Our editorial team combines deep industry experience with rigorous verification standards. While our experts surface the most relevant recommendations in our guides, you can also explore the full dataset yourself through our card explorer tool, which includes thousands of cards — more than 95% of which do not provide us with commissions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the annual fee for the American Express Gold Card?
The American Express® Gold Card comes with a $250 annual fee. This cost is often offset by the card's various statement credits, including up to $120 in dining credits and up to $120 in Uber Cash annually. Terms Apply.
Does the Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card have an annual fee?
No, the Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card does not have an annual fee. This makes it a straightforward option for earning travel rewards without a yearly commitment.
How do I redeem rewards with each card?
American Express Membership Rewards points can be transferred to airline and hotel partners, which can maximize their value. Bank of America points are redeemed as a simple statement credit to cover recent travel and dining purchases.
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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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