United Club Infinite vs Amex Gold: Which Is Better In 2025?

American Express® Gold Card Breakdown

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Why We Like It

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Here’s a detailed look at why the American Express® Gold Card (See Rates & Fees) consistently ranks as a favorite among cardholders.

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• The card offers exceptional rewards on dining out globally and at U.S. supermarkets, making it a top choice for foodies.
• Valuable monthly credits for dining and Uber help you get the most out of the card each month.
• Membership Rewards® points are incredibly flexible, with valuable options to transfer them to a wide range of airline and hotel partners.

Terms Apply.

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_{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.}

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Pros

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• Exceptional rewards rate on two major spending categories: dining at restaurants worldwide and groceries at U.S. supermarkets.
• Valuable annual credits for dining and Uber that can significantly offset the annual fee.
• Highly flexible Membership Rewards® points with a wide array of high-value transfer partners, especially for travel.

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Cons

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• A high annual fee that requires you to maximize the card’s credits and benefits to make it worthwhile.
• Annual statement credits are distributed in monthly increments and are restricted to select partners, which can make them less convenient to use.
• Limited acceptance compared to Visa and Mastercard, particularly at smaller businesses and some international locations.

American Express® Gold Card vs United Club

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Categories

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Deciding which is better, United Club Infinite or Amex Gold, comes down to your spending habits and travel style.

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• The United Club℠ Card is built for frequent United flyers and travelers who prioritize airport comfort. It's best for those who can take full advantage of benefits like lounge access and priority services exclusive to the airline.
• American Express® Gold Card is ideal for dining and travel enthusiasts who want to earn rewards on everyday spending. The card suits home cooks and frequent diners who value flexible point redemption options.

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Redemption

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United Club℠ Card: Rewards are earned as United MileagePlus miles, which are best redeemed for flights on United and its extensive network of airline partners. Miles can also be used for flight upgrades, hotel stays, and other travel-related purchases through the United portal.

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American Express® Gold Card: This card earns Membership Rewards points, which are highly flexible and can be transferred to a wide variety of airline and hotel loyalty programs. Points can also be redeemed for statement credits, gift cards, or travel booked directly through American Express.

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Travel Perks

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• United Club℠ Card: This card’s travel ecosystem is built around the United Airlines experience. Key perks include a United Club membership for lounge access, Premier Access services (which cover priority check-in, security screening, boarding, and baggage handling), and two free checked bags for the cardmember and a companion on the same reservation. The card does include a foreign transaction fee.
• American Express® Gold Card: The travel benefits for this card center on credits and booking perks. Cardmembers can book travel through the American Express Travel portal and receive access to The Hotel Collection, which offers an experience credit on eligible stays. The card has no foreign transaction fees. It also provides up to $120 in annual Uber Cash and up to $120 in dining credits, which can be used during travels. Terms apply to these benefits.

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Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos

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To make an informed decision, you can use a tool like Kudos to compare top-rated cards based on your own spending.

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• Test drive a credit card: Before you apply, Kudos can simulate your potential earnings with a new card using your actual spending data, giving you a personalized projection of its value.
• Get personalized recommendations: The platform helps you compare nearly 3,000 credit cards to find the best match for your spending habits, not just cards from issuers that pay a commission.
• See your approval odds: Receive a detailed analysis based on your credit report to understand your chances of getting approved for a card.
• Earn extra rewards: With Kudos Boost, you can earn additional rewards on top of your regular credit card points when shopping at participating stores.

Who Should Choose the United Club?

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The ideal candidate for the United Club℠ Card is a loyal United Airlines flyer who travels frequently and prioritizes comfort and convenience at the airport. This traveler, whether flying for business or leisure multiple times a year, sees significant value in having a quiet space to relax or work and wants to streamline their journey with perks like priority boarding and free checked bags. They are also likely invested in the MileagePlus program, looking to leverage card spending to help earn or maintain elite status while enjoying premium travel benefits.

Who Should Choose the American Express® Gold Card?

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The American Express® Gold Card is tailor-made for food and travel enthusiasts who can maximize its powerful rewards structure. It’s an excellent fit for those who spend significantly at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets, as it offers 4X points on those purchases, with the supermarket category capped at $25,000 per calendar year, then 1X. Ultimately, the ideal cardholder is someone who will take full advantage of the card’s various statement credits, such as up to $120 in annual dining credits and up to $120 in Uber Cash, to help offset the annual fee.

Alternatives to Consider

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So, the big United Club Infinite vs. Amex Gold comparison didn't reveal a clear winner for your wallet? If neither the United Club℠ Infinite Card nor the American Express® Gold Card feels like the right fit, let's look at a few other top-tier travel cards.

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Tips for Application Success

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Before You Apply

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• Check your credit score – Most premium cards require good to excellent credit for the best approval odds.
• Plan your spending – Ensure you can naturally meet the welcome offer's spending requirement without financial strain.
• Research the benefits – Understand the card’s perks and partners to make sure they align with your lifestyle.

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Application Strategy

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• Time your application around large, planned purchases to help meet the spending requirement naturally.
• Look for elevated welcome offers, as these can change and may be higher through different channels.
• Have a plan to use the card’s credits and benefits right away to start maximizing its value.

Our Methodology

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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.

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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

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Which card offers better airport lounge access?

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The United Club℠ Infinite Card provides a full United Club membership, giving you access to United Clubs and participating Star Alliance lounges worldwide. The American Express® Gold Card does not offer complimentary lounge access as a card benefit.

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Can I transfer points from the American Express® Gold Card to United Airlines?

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No, you cannot directly transfer American Express Membership Rewards points to the United MileagePlus program. However, you can transfer points to other Star Alliance partners, such as Air Canada Aeroplan, and then book United flights through them.

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What are the key differences in earning rewards with these cards?

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The American Express® Gold Card excels at earning points on dining at restaurants and at U.S. supermarkets. The United Club℠ Infinite Card, on the other hand, focuses its highest reward rates on United Airlines purchases, followed by other travel and dining.

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Is the United Club℠ Infinite Card's annual fee justified if I don't fly United often?

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If you are not a frequent United flyer, you may find it difficult to maximize the value of the card's United-centric benefits relative to its annual fee. The card's value is most apparent for travelers who can regularly take advantage of the included United Club membership.

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