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Amex Gold vs Capital One Savor: Which Is Better In 2025?
July 1, 2025
Editor's Picks
- The American Express® Gold Card is a premium choice for foodies and travelers, offering high reward rates on dining worldwide, at U.S. supermarkets, and on flights.
- The Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card is great for earning cash back on everyday spending, with high unlimited rewards on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services, and at grocery stores.
American Express® Gold Card Breakdown
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Why We Like It
Here’s a detailed look at the rewards, credits, and other benefits that make the American Express® Gold Card(See Rates & Fees) a favorite for foodies and travelers alike.
- The card's rewards structure is exceptional for spending at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets.
- Cardholders can also get significant value from monthly dining and Uber credits, plus travel benefits like no foreign transaction fees (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
- High rewards-earning potential on spending at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets.
- Valuable monthly statement credits for use with select dining partners and for Uber in the U.S. (Terms Apply).
- Flexible point redemption options, including transfers to a wide range of airline and hotel loyalty programs.
Cons
- The card comes with a notable annual fee.
- Statement credits are split into monthly increments, and some benefits require enrollment to activate (Terms Apply).
- Limited acceptance when compared to Visa and Mastercard.
Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Breakdown
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Why We Like It
Here’s a closer look at the features that make the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards (See Rates & Fees) one of our top picks.
- Earn unlimited cash back in popular spending categories like dining, entertainment, and at grocery stores.
- Get access to exclusive entertainment events and experiences reserved for cardholders.
- Enjoy straightforward and flexible reward redemption for statement credits, direct deposits, and more.
Pros
- No annual fee or foreign transaction fees.
- Valuable travel and purchase protection benefits.
- A welcome cash bonus for new cardholders.
Cons
- A good to excellent credit score is generally required for approval.
- Bonus cash back is limited to specific categories and excludes certain purchases, like those at most superstores and wholesale clubs.
Capital One Savor Cash Rewards vs American Express® Gold Card
Categories
When deciding which is better, Amex Gold or Capital One Savor, it's essential to compare their reward categories to see which card aligns with your spending habits.
- American Express® Gold Card is ideal for individuals who spend a significant amount on dining at restaurants worldwide and on groceries at U.S. supermarkets.
- Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card excels for those who spend on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services, and at grocery stores.
Redemption
American Express® Gold Card: This card earns flexible rewards points that can be transferred to various airline and hotel loyalty programs. You can also redeem points for travel, gift cards, or statement credits.
Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card: With this card, you earn cash back that can be redeemed at any time and for any amount. Your rewards can be received as a statement credit or a check.
Travel Perks
- American Express® Gold Card
- Offers the flexibility to transfer rewards to a variety of airline partners, converting them into miles for award flights.
- Cardholders can book travel through the American Express Travel portal.
- Provides access to benefits at eligible properties in The Hotel Collection. Terms Apply.
- A foreign transaction fee applies to all purchases made outside of the United States.
- Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card
- Rewards earned with this card are not transferable to airline mileage programs.
- Cardholders can book travel through the Capital One Travel portal.
- Features no foreign transaction fees, making it a strong choice for international spending.
- Does not include airport lounge access as a card benefit.
Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos
Kudos is a financial technology platform that helps you compare nearly 3,000 credit cards to find the best option for your spending habits, setting it apart from many sites that only review a fraction of that number.
- Test drive credit cards using your actual spending data to simulate potential earnings before you apply, with no impact on your credit score.
- Receive a detailed analysis of your approval odds for different cards based on your credit report.
- Track your progress toward credit card sign-up bonuses and monitor your credit score for free.
- Get personalized card recommendations matched to your unique spending history.
- Unlock exclusive rewards and offers, including the Kudos Kickstart+ program and a welcome offer guarantee.
Who Should Choose the American Express® Gold Card?
The American Express® Gold Card is an excellent choice for food enthusiasts who frequently dine out or spend heavily on groceries at U.S. supermarkets. It offers a lucrative 4X points at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X. Additionally, consumers who can maximize the up to $120 in annual dining credits and up to $120 in Uber Cash will find the card's benefits easily justify its annual fee. Terms Apply.
Who Should Choose the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards?
The Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card is an excellent choice for social spenders who frequently dine out or seek entertainment. Its rewards structure is tailor-made for urban professionals and active families, offering unlimited 3% cash back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services, and at grocery stores. Those who value straightforward cash back rewards without an annual fee will find this card particularly rewarding for their lifestyle spending.
Alternatives to Consider
If the Amex Gold vs Capital One Savor comparison didn't point you to a clear winner, don't worry. There are plenty of other excellent rewards cards on the market that might be a better fit for your spending habits.
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Tips for Application Success
Before You Apply
- Check your credit score, as most premium cards require good to excellent credit.
- Plan how you will meet the minimum spending requirement for the welcome offer.
- Understand the card’s benefits to ensure they align with your spending patterns.
Application Strategy
- Enroll in card benefits immediately after approval to maximize their value.
- Review the issuer’s application rules, as some limit the number of cards you can hold.
- Consider unique card features, like design choices or reward category restrictions, before you apply.
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 main difference between the rewards from the Amex Gold and Capital One Savor cards?
The American Express® Gold Card earns points within a flexible travel rewards program, ideal for transferring to airline and hotel partners. The Capital One Savor Card earns cash back, providing straightforward value that can be redeemed as a statement credit or check.
Which card is better for someone who travels internationally?
The Amex Gold's points can be particularly valuable for international travel when transferred to airline partners. While the Savor's cash back can offset any travel expense, it lacks the travel-specific transfer options that can maximize value.
Do I need a high credit score to get approved for these cards?
Both the American Express Gold Card and the Capital One Savor Card are generally intended for applicants with good to excellent credit. Issuers consider your entire credit profile, not just your score, when making an approval decision.
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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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