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Amex Gold vs Capital One SavorOne: Which Is Better In 2025?
July 1, 2025
Editor's Picks
- American Express® Gold Card: This card is ideal for foodies and home chefs, offering high rewards rates for spending at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets.
- Capital One SavorOne Rewards: This is a rewarding card for everyday spending, offering cash back 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 perks and rewards that make the American Express® Gold Card (See Rates & Fees) a consistent favorite.
- 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).
- Cardholders receive annual statement credits for select dining partners and Uber, adding consistent monthly value (Terms apply).
- A substantial Welcome Offer and flexible Membership Rewards® points that can be transferred to airline and hotel partners make it a powerful tool for travelers (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 food-related spending, including at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets.
- Annual statement credits for select dining partners and for Uber use in the U.S. add consistent value (Enrollment required; Terms apply).
- Flexible Membership Rewards® program with a valuable Welcome Offer and the ability to transfer points to airline and hotel partners (Terms apply).
Cons
- The card has a high annual fee, and its annual credits are distributed in monthly increments, which can be difficult to maximize (Enrollment required).
- It isn’t as widely accepted as Visa or Mastercard, and the highest rewards rate on U.S. supermarket spending is capped annually.
Capital One SavorOne Rewards Breakdown
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Why We Like It
Here’s a breakdown of why the Capital One SavorOne Rewards (See Rates & Fees) card stands out from the crowd.
- You'll earn generous cash back on popular everyday categories like dining, entertainment, and at grocery stores.
- Enjoy access to exclusive cardholder-only events and experiences through Capital One Dining and Entertainment.
- Rewards are easy to earn with no rotating categories to activate, and they don't expire for the life of the account.
Pros
- Earn unlimited cash back in popular spending categories like dining, entertainment, and at grocery stores.
- Enjoy flexible rewards that are easy to redeem and don't expire for the life of the account.
- Access exclusive cardholder perks, including special dining reservations and entertainment experiences.
Cons
- This card charges an annual fee.
- There is no welcome offer for new cardholders or an introductory APR on purchases.
- Bonus rewards are not available for all purchases, with some exclusions on popular spending categories.
Capital One SavorOne Rewards vs American Express® Gold Card
Categories
Deciding which is better, Amex Gold or Capital One SavorOne, really comes down to your primary spending habits. Each card is tailored to reward different lifestyles, from the frequent diner to the home entertainer.
- American Express® Gold Card is built for food lovers, offering its highest rewards on purchases at restaurants around the world and at U.S. supermarkets.
- Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card offers strong rewards across a wider array of everyday categories, including dining, entertainment, popular streaming services, and at grocery stores.
Redemption
American Express® Gold Card: This card earns Membership Rewards points, which are known for their flexibility. You can get great value by transferring them to airline and hotel partners or redeem them for things like travel and statement credits.
Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card: With this card, you earn straightforward cash back rewards. Your earnings can be easily redeemed as a statement credit or a check, offering a simple way to get value back.
Travel Perks
- American Express® Gold Card: This card integrates with the broader American Express travel ecosystem. You can book flights and hotels through the dedicated travel portal and transfer rewards to numerous airline partners to redeem for miles. It also offers credits for specific hotel collection bookings. A key consideration for international use is that it does include a foreign transaction fee.
- Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card: A standout travel feature of this card is the absence of a foreign transaction fee, making it an excellent companion for trips abroad. While it provides access to the Capital One Travel portal for bookings, its reward structure is not built around a travel miles program. It doesn't offer benefits like lounge access or the ability to convert rewards into airline miles.
Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos
To cut through the noise and find the best card for your wallet, a tool like Kudos can help you compare nearly 3,000 credit cards side-by-side.
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Who Should Choose the American Express® Gold Card?
The American Express® Gold Card is an ideal choice for individuals whose spending is heavily concentrated on food, whether dining out or cooking at home. Cardholders earn an impressive 4X Membership Rewards® points at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 in purchases per year, then 1X. It also suits travel enthusiasts who can earn 3X points on flights and maximize the card's value by using up to $120 in annual dining credits and up to $120 in Uber Cash. (Terms Apply).
Who Should Choose the Capital One SavorOne Rewards?
The Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card is an excellent choice for individuals with fair credit who are looking to build a stronger credit history. It's particularly well-suited for those whose regular spending includes dining out, entertainment, popular streaming services, and trips to the grocery store. This card acts as a valuable stepping stone, allowing users to earn solid cash back rewards while they work toward qualifying for cards with even better benefits in the future.
Alternatives to Consider
If our Amex Gold vs Capital One SavorOne comparison has you feeling like neither card is the perfect match, 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 - Most premium cards require good to excellent credit, while others are designed for those with fair credit.
- Plan your spending - Ensure you can naturally meet any minimum spending requirements for a welcome offer without forcing purchases.
- Know the issuer's rules - Be aware of any application restrictions, such as welcome offer eligibility for past cardholders.
Application Strategy
- Look for pre-approval tools - Many issuers let you check your eligibility for cards without impacting your credit score.
- Time your application strategically - Align your application with a large planned purchase to help meet any spending requirements for a Welcome Offer.
- Consider unique card features - Some cards offer cosmetic choices or have benefits that require enrollment after approval.
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
Which card is better for someone who travels a lot?
Both cards offer benefits for travelers, but they cater to different needs. The American Express Gold card provides travel-specific credits and point transfer options, while the Capital One SavorOne card offers broad cash back on entertainment and dining that can be useful on the road.
What's the main difference between their rewards?
The American Express Gold card earns Membership Rewards points, which are flexible and can be transferred to travel partners for potentially high value. The Capital One SavorOne card focuses on earning straightforward cash back on everyday spending categories like dining and at grocery stores.
Is one card accepted in more places?
Yes, the Capital One SavorOne card, being a Mastercard, generally has wider acceptance globally. American Express cards are widely accepted but may not be taken by some smaller businesses, especially outside the U.S.
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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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