Amex Gold vs Capital One Savor
The Amex Gold comes out ahead for all three spending profiles we tested. Below: what each card pays after fees for three spending profiles, the break-even, and a live calculator for your own numbers. Card terms verified Oct 5, 2026.
Simulated results
Five years, welcome offers counted when the profile's own spending reaches them, points valued for travel (Amex points at 1.5¢, Capital One cash back at 1.0¢). Merchant credits like Uber or DoorDash aren't counted for typed profiles; they show up in the break-even instead.
| Profile | Amex Gold: year 1 | then yearly | 5 years | Capital One Savor: year 1 | then yearly | 5 years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Everyday spender About $2,000 a month, mostly groceries and errands, one trip a year. | $1,927 | $427 | $3,637 | $626 | $426 | $2,330 |
| Balanced About $3,500 a month with a few trips a year and regular dining out. | $2,543 | $1,043 | $6,715 | $944 | $744 | $3,920 |
| Frequent traveler About $5,000 a month, heavy on flights, hotels and restaurants, some trips abroad. | $3,218 | $1,718 | $10,090 | $1,258 | $1,058 | $5,492 |
The break-even
Everyday spender
Capital One Savor trails Amex Gold by $261 a year. It has no extra perks we left unpriced that could close that gap.
This flips if Capital One cash back are worth more than 1.61¢ each to you (we're using 1.0¢).
Balanced
Capital One Savor trails Amex Gold by $559 a year. It has no extra perks we left unpriced that could close that gap.
This flips if Capital One cash back are worth more than 1.75¢ each to you (we're using 1.0¢).
Frequent traveler
Capital One Savor trails Amex Gold by $920 a year. It has no extra perks we left unpriced that could close that gap.
This flips if Capital One cash back are worth more than 1.87¢ each to you (we're using 1.0¢).
Try it with your spending
Starts from the Balanced profile. Change any number, or drop in your statements; they're read on this device and never uploaded.
The live calculator needs JavaScript. The tables above are precomputed.
The live calculator needs JavaScript. The tables above are precomputed.
Side by side
| Term | Amex Gold | Capital One Savor |
|---|---|---|
| Issuer and network | American Express, American Express | Capital One, Mastercard |
| Annual fee | $325 | None |
| Requires | Nothing extra | Nothing extra |
| Welcome offer | 100,000 points after $8,000 in 6 months (as high as; offers vary) | $200 after $500 in 3 months |
| Earning | 4x at restaurants worldwide (incl. takeout and U.S. delivery) on up to $50,000 a calendar year · 4x at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 a calendar year · 5x on prepaid hotels booked through Amex Travel · 3x on flights booked directly with airlines or through Amex Travel · 2x on prepaid car rentals and cruises booked through Amex Travel · 1x on everything else | 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment ticket purchases · 5% cash back on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel · 3% cash back on dining · 3% cash back at grocery stores (excludes superstores like Walmart and Target, warehouse clubs, discount stores, gas stations and convenience stores) · 3% cash back on qualifying entertainment (movie theaters, live sports, concerts/theater promoters, amusement parks, zoos, etc.) · 3% cash back on popular streaming services · 1x on everything else |
| Rewards currency | American Express Membership Rewards points | Capital One cash rewards |
| Statement credits | $120 Uber Cash ($10 a month) · $120 dining credit ($10 a month) · $100 Resy credit ($50 semi-annually) · $84 Dunkin' credit ($7 a month) | None |
| Lounges | None | None |
| Foreign transaction fee | None | None |
| Authorized users | No fee | No fee |
| Availability | Open to new applicants | Open to new applicants |
| Verified | Oct 5, 2026 | Oct 5, 2026 |
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