Amex Business Gold Narrows 4X Advertising and Wireless Categories on February 17, 2027
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Starting February 17, 2027, the American Express® Business Gold Card narrows two of its six 4X bonus categories. Online, TV and radio advertising will earn 4X only when bought directly from Meta, Google, Amazon, Microsoft, GoDaddy or Yelp, and monthly wireless phone service will earn 4X only when paid directly to 11 named carriers. The change is written into the Business Gold card terms on americanexpress.com.
Nothing else about the earning structure moves. The card still pays 4X Membership Rewards points in the 2 categories where your business spends the most each billing cycle, on up to $150,000 in combined purchases per calendar year, and the annual fee stays at $375. If your ad spend or phone bill runs through a company that is not on the list, those purchases drop to 1X on February 17, 2027.
- Annual fee
- $375
- Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$3,800Total$3,800Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- $3,800
- Welcome offerAfter $15,000 in 3 months
- 200,000 points
Apply Now
on American Express's website
What changes on February 17, 2027
Today, the advertising category covers online, television and radio advertising bought from media providers located in the U.S. to promote a business. The wireless category covers monthly wireless telephone service charges paid directly to a U.S. wireless provider. From February 17, 2027, both categories become closed lists.
| Category | Until February 16, 2027 | From February 17, 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Advertising | Online, TV and radio advertising from U.S. media providers | Only purchases made directly with Meta, Google, Amazon, Microsoft, GoDaddy and Yelp |
| Wireless | Monthly wireless phone service paid directly to a U.S. provider | Only Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, Frontier, Comcast, Charter, Spectrum Mobile, UScellular, Optimum, Ultra Mobile and Mint Mobile |
| Other 4 categories | Electronics and software, restaurants, gas, transit | No change |
| Annual cap at 4X | $150,000 in combined purchases per calendar year | No change |
Advertising purchases that will still earn 4X must be made directly with:
- Meta
- Amazon
- Microsoft
- GoDaddy
- Yelp
Wireless service charges that will still earn 4X must be paid directly to:
- Verizon
- AT&T
- T-Mobile
- Frontier
- Comcast
- Charter
- Spectrum Mobile
- UScellular
- Optimum
- Ultra Mobile
- Mint Mobile
The terms already exclude purchases from Google Fi, third parties, authorized retailers and resellers. A phone plan bought through a reseller or a store, or an ad campaign billed by an agency, does not count as a direct purchase.
How the Business Gold 4X earning works
The Business Gold does not pay 4X on everything in its six categories at once. Each billing period, Amex looks at the six eligible categories and pays 4X points per dollar on the 2 where the account spent the most. Everything else earns 1X.
The six categories are:
- Advertising: online, TV and radio ads from U.S. media providers, to promote a business
- Electronics and software: U.S. electronic goods retailers and software and cloud system providers
- Restaurants: U.S. restaurants, including takeout and delivery
- Gas: U.S. gas stations (superstores, supermarkets and warehouse clubs that sell gas do not count)
- Transit: trains, taxis, rideshare, ferries, tolls, parking, buses and subways
- Wireless: monthly wireless phone service paid directly to a U.S. provider
The 4X rate applies to the first $150,000 in combined purchases from these categories each calendar year across the card account. Beyond that, the same purchases earn 1X. If two categories tie, you still earn the bonus in only 2 categories.
Who is affected
The businesses that lose the most are those whose top category is advertising and who buy ads from platforms outside the six named companies, or through an agency that bills them. For them, a category that earned 4X can fall to 1X overnight.
Wireless is a smaller line for most companies, but the same logic applies. A business that pays a carrier not on the list, or buys service through a reseller, loses the 4X rate on that bill.
If your top 2 categories are restaurants, gas, transit or electronics and software, the change does not touch you. It can even shift which categories land in your top 2: when advertising drops out, your third-largest category may move up and take its place.
What to do before February 17, 2027
Pull your last few statements and check where your ad and phone spending actually goes. If most of it is already billed directly by Meta, Google, Amazon, Microsoft, GoDaddy or Yelp, you keep earning 4X.
If not, you have three options. Move billing so the platform charges your card directly, accept 1X on that spend, or put it on another card. Our ranking of the best business credit cards lists other cards to compare.
Your Membership Rewards points keep their value either way. You can still move them to airline and hotel partners with our transfer partners tool, and the current credit card transfer bonuses can stretch them further.
Bottom Line
The Amex Business Gold keeps its 4X structure and its $375 fee, but from February 17, 2027, ads and wireless only count with named companies. Check who bills you before that date. If your ad spend runs through platforms outside the list, plan to move it or put it on another card. For the current sign-up bonus, read our Amex Business Gold welcome offer guide, and compare it against the best credit cards in the U.S..
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When do the Amex Business Gold category changes take effect?
The changes take effect on February 17, 2027. Until then, advertising and wireless purchases earn 4X under the current rules, as long as they fall in your top 2 categories for the billing period.
Which advertising purchases still earn 4X after February 17, 2027?
Only online, TV and radio advertising bought directly from Meta, Google, Amazon, Microsoft, GoDaddy or Yelp. Ads bought from any other media provider earn 1X from that date.
Which wireless carriers still earn 4X on the Amex Business Gold?
From February 17, 2027, 11 providers qualify: Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, Frontier, Comcast, Charter, Spectrum Mobile, UScellular, Optimum, Ultra Mobile and Mint Mobile. Service must be paid directly to the provider, and Google Fi is excluded.
Do ads bought through an agency earn 4X?
No. The terms require purchases made directly with the named companies, and they exclude third parties, authorized retailers and resellers. An agency that bills your card for ad campaigns does not count as a direct purchase.
Is the $150,000 annual cap changing?
No. The card pays 4X on the first $150,000 in combined purchases from your top 2 categories each calendar year. Purchases beyond $150,000 earn 1X.
Does the annual fee change?
No. The annual fee of the Amex Business Gold Card remains $375, and Employee Business Gold Cards cost $95 each.
What if advertising is no longer my top category?
Amex picks the 2 categories with the most eligible spending each billing period. If advertising drops out, your next-largest eligible category, such as restaurants or gas, can take its place at 4X.