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Centurion Card (Black Card) vs Amex Gold

Every figure below is from the same dataset Miles computes its recommendations from. Rows the two cards agree on are collapsed at the bottom.

Economics

Dollar figures are per year unless the row says otherwise. Ongoing annual value is Miles' estimate of what the card adds per year after its annual fee: statement credits discounted for realistic use, benefits, and earning above a strong flat-rate card on a typical spending profile. First-year value is a separate net figure that includes the welcome bonus. A welcome bonus shown at its advertised maximum may not be available to every applicant; that figure is not marked as stronger. ★ marks the stronger comparable figure on other rows, and no row is marked when either figure is unknown.
Figure
Amex Gold
Amex Gold
American Express
Annual fee$5,000
Best: $325
$4,675/yr less
Ongoing annual value, after fee−$4,379
Best: $274
$4,653/yr more
First-year value−$4,979$1,614
At the advertised maximum
Authorized user fee$5,000
Best: $0
$5,000 less

Sign-up Bonus

The current welcome offer as recorded in the dataset. No winner is marked: a bonus is points times a valuation times a spend requirement you may or may not clear, and the first-year value above already prices it.
Offer
Amex Gold
Amex Gold
American Express
Current offerInvitation-only; no public welcome offerYou may be eligible for as high as 100K points after $8K spend in the first 6 months

Earning

Percentages are the return on a dollar spent: the multiplier times what Miles values those points at. ★ marks the higher return on a row. Categories only one card earns a bonus on are marked for that card; the other earns its base rate.
Category
Amex Gold
Amex Gold
American Express
Prepaid hotels booked through Amex Travel—Unknown
Best: 5X7.5%
Dining (up to $50K per year, then 1X)—Unknown
Best: 4X6%
US Grocery Stores (up to $25K per year, then 1X)—Unknown
Best: 4X6%
Flights booked directly with airlines or through Amex Travel—Unknown
Best: 3X4.5%
Purchases of $5K+ (up to $500K per calendar year)
Best: 1.5X2.2%
—Unknown

Benefits

Statement credits, lounge access and elite status as listed in the dataset; protections are counted, not listed. No winner is marked: twelve small credits are not more than two large ones, and the row that prices them, ongoing annual value, is under Economics.
Benefit
Amex Gold
Amex Gold
American Express
Statement credits
  • CLEAR Plus: $438 (Annual Calendar Year)
  • Saks Fifth Avenue: $250 (Quarterly Calendar Year)
  • Equinox: $300 (Monthly)
  • Uber Cash: $15 (Monthly)
  • Global Entry/TSA PreCheck: $120 (Every 4 Years)
  • Dining: $10 (Monthly)
  • Dunkin': $7 (Monthly)
  • The Hotel Collection: $100 (Annual Calendar Year)
  • Resy: $50 (Semi Annual Calendar Year)
  • Uber Cash: $10 (Monthly)
Lounge access
  • American Express Centurion Lounge (unlimited)
  • Priority Pass Select (unlimited)
  • Delta Sky Club (when flying Delta) (unlimited)
—Unknown
Elite status
  • Delta SkyMiles Platinum Medallion
  • Hertz Gold Plus Rewards Five Star
Protections96
The same on both cards (6)
Rows where both cards state the same figure or the same earning rate. Nothing is marked, because there is no stronger side.
FactCenturion Card (Black Card)Amex Gold
Foreign transaction feeNoneNone
IssuerAmerican ExpressAmerican Express
Rewards currencyAmerican Express Membership RewardsAmerican Express Membership Rewards
Card typePersonalPersonal
NetworkAmerican ExpressAmerican Express
All other purchases1X1.5%1X1.5%
Which one is right for you

This page shows the difference. It does not pick: the winner depends on what you spend and what you already hold, and adding these figures up without knowing that would be a guess dressed as a verdict. Ask Miles and it computes the answer against your own wallet.

Ask Miles which to get
American Express Centurion Card (Black Card) vs Amex Gold • Miles