Amex Gold vs CSP Rewards: Every Spending Category Compared (2026)
The Amex Gold dominates dining and groceries. The CSP wins travel portal and streaming. Here is exactly how much each card earns in every category, with spending projections at three levels.
Earn Rate Table: Every Category Side by Side
| Spending Category | Amex Gold | CSP | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Restaurants | 4x (cap $50K/yr) | 3x | Gold (+1x) |
| US Supermarkets (in-store) | 4x (cap $25K/yr) | 1x | Gold (+3x) |
| Online Grocery Delivery | 1x | 3x | CSP (+2x) |
| Flights (booked direct) | 3x | 2x | Gold (+1x) |
| Chase Travel Portal | N/A | 5x | CSP |
| Other Travel (hotels, cars) | 1x | 2x | CSP (+1x) |
| Streaming Services | 1x | 3x | CSP (+2x) |
| Everything Else | 1x | 1x | Tie |
The Grocery Gap: Gold's Biggest Advantage
The single largest earning difference between these cards is groceries. Amex Gold earns 4x at US supermarkets while CSP earns just 1x for in-store purchases. At $600/month in groceries, that gap is worth $324/year in extra point value at 1.5 cents per point.
The critical detail: not all grocery stores count. Amex defines “US supermarkets” by merchant category code. Kroger, Publix, Safeway, Albertsons, Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, and Aldi count. Walmart, Target, Costco, Sam's Club, and Amazon Fresh do not, because they code as superstores or warehouse clubs.
If most of your grocery spending happens at Walmart or Costco, Gold's 4x grocery advantage largely disappears. CSP's 3x online grocery category (through Instacart and similar delivery platforms) may even overtake Gold if you order delivery frequently. Full details on our groceries page.
The Travel Gap: CSP's Counter
CSP earns 5x on purchases through the Chase Travel portal. At $500/month in travel booked through Chase, CSP earns 30,000 UR/year ($450 at 1.5cpp) versus Gold's 6,000 MR ($90 at 1x). That is a $360/year advantage for CSP.
The catch: the 5x rate only applies to Chase Travel portal bookings. If you book flights directly with airlines (for loyalty status, better seat selection, or flexible cancellation), CSP drops to 2x while Gold earns 3x on direct flights. More detail in our travel comparison.
Spending Caps: When Gold's Multipliers Run Out
Gold's restaurant rewards are capped at $50,000/year in spending (earning 4x), then drop to 1x. That is $4,167/month. Unless you are running a business on this card, you will not hit this cap.
The grocery cap is more relevant: $25,000/year ($2,083/month). Large families spending $1,500+/month on groceries could approach this cap, but the average US household spends roughly $500-800/month at grocery stores. CSP has no spending caps on any category.
Spending Projections: Light, Moderate, and Heavy
| Profile | Gold Points/Yr | Gold Value | CSP Points/Yr | CSP Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Light ($2K/mo) $300 dining, $400 grocery, $200 travel, $30 streaming, $1,070 other | 44,040 | $661 | 36,360 | $545 |
| Moderate ($4K/mo) $500 dining, $600 grocery, $400 travel, $50 streaming, $2,450 other | 82,800 | $1,242 | 61,800 | $927 |
| Heavy ($8K/mo) $1,000 dining, $1,000 grocery, $800 travel, $60 streaming, $5,140 other | 158,400 | $2,376 | 110,160 | $1,652 |
Gold wins on raw points at every spending level because dining and grocery multipliers are higher. But raw points are not the full picture. Factor in fees, credits, and how you redeem. Use our interactive calculator for a personalised comparison.
Rewards FAQ
Does Amex Gold earn 4x at all restaurants?▾
Does CSP earn 5x on all travel?▾
What counts as a US supermarket for Amex Gold?▾
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Updated 11 April 2026