Is the American Express Gold Card worth the higher annual fee?

The American Express Gold Card costs $325/yr vs $0/yr for the Barclays View Mastercard. The higher fee and travel credits that can offset the cost for frequent travelers.

Which card earns more rewards, the American Express Gold Card or Barclays View Mastercard?

The American Express Gold Card has a higher base earn rate (1X vs 0X), but both cards have different bonus categories where they excel.

What benefits does the American Express Gold Card have that the Barclays View Mastercard doesn't?

The American Express Gold Card offers travel credits. The Barclays View Mastercard focuses more on earn rates than premium perks.

Should I get the American Express Gold Card or the Barclays View Mastercard?

Choose the Barclays View Mastercard if you want lower fees and solid rewards. Pick the American Express Gold Card if you spend enough to justify the $325/yr fee through its premium benefits and higher earn rates.

Is the American Express Gold Card worth the higher annual fee?

The American Express Gold Card costs $325/yr vs $0/yr for the Barclays View Mastercard. The higher fee and travel credits that can offset the cost for frequent travelers.

Which card earns more rewards, the American Express Gold Card or Barclays View Mastercard?

The American Express Gold Card has a higher base earn rate (1X vs 0X), but both cards have different bonus categories where they excel.

What benefits does the American Express Gold Card have that the Barclays View Mastercard doesn't?

The American Express Gold Card offers travel credits. The Barclays View Mastercard focuses more on earn rates than premium perks.

Should I get the American Express Gold Card or the Barclays View Mastercard?

Choose the Barclays View Mastercard if you want lower fees and solid rewards. Pick the American Express Gold Card if you spend enough to justify the $325/yr fee through its premium benefits and higher earn rates.

Is the American Express Gold Card worth the higher annual fee?

The American Express Gold Card costs $325/yr vs $0/yr for the Barclays View Mastercard. The higher fee and travel credits that can offset the cost for frequent travelers.

Which card earns more rewards, the American Express Gold Card or Barclays View Mastercard?

The American Express Gold Card has a higher base earn rate (1X vs 0X), but both cards have different bonus categories where they excel.

What benefits does the American Express Gold Card have that the Barclays View Mastercard doesn't?

The American Express Gold Card offers travel credits. The Barclays View Mastercard focuses more on earn rates than premium perks.

Should I get the American Express Gold Card or the Barclays View Mastercard?

Choose the Barclays View Mastercard if you want lower fees and solid rewards. Pick the American Express Gold Card if you spend enough to justify the $325/yr fee through its premium benefits and higher earn rates.

CardRewards

Editorial disclosure: CardRewards.ai is an independent comparison service. Our analysis is based on publicly available card data and is reviewed regularly by our editorial team. Card issuers do not influence our rankings or content. Last updated: May 2026.

American Express Gold Card vs Barclays View Mastercard

The Barclays View Mastercard ($0/yr) is better for everyday value, while the American Express Gold Card ($325/yr) is worth it for frequent travelers who can use its premium perks. Here's the full comparison.

American Express Gold Card

American Express

Barclays View Mastercard

Barclays

Fees & Welcome Offer

Annual Fee

$325

Welcome Bonus

60,000 Flex point

—

Earn Rates

Category	American Express Gold Card	Barclays View Mastercard
Dining	4X	3X

Category-by-Category Winner

The American Express Gold Card wins in 3 of 5 categories. The Barclays View Mastercard leads in 2.

Dining

American Express Gold Card earns 4X vs 3X

Grocery Stores

American Express Gold Card earns 4X vs 2X

Flights

American Express Gold Card earns 3X vs 1X

Streaming

Barclays View Mastercard earns 2X vs 1X

Telecom

Barclays View Mastercard earns 2X vs 1X

Is the Fee Difference Worth It?

The American Express Gold Card costs $325/yr — that's $325 more than the Barclays View Mastercard (no annual fee). To justify that gap, you need to extract at least $325 in annual value from the card's higher earn rates and benefits.

The American Express Gold Card offers travel credits. Whether that justifies the fee depends on how often you use these benefits.

Bottom line: The $325 gap is significant. Choose the American Express Gold Card only if you spend heavily on dining and grocery stores and will use its premium benefits regularly — otherwise the Barclays View Mastercard delivers strong value at a fraction of the cost.

What You Give Up

Choosing one card means missing out on these benefits from the other.

Choosing Barclays View Mastercard means losing:

The Bottom Line

The Barclays View Mastercard has a lower annual fee ($0 vs $325), making it the more accessible option.

The American Express Gold Card justifies its higher fee with premium perks like travel credits.

Choose the Barclays View Mastercard if you want solid rewards with a lower cost of entry. Choose the American Express Gold Card if you travel frequently and can maximize its premium benefits.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the American Express Gold Card worth the higher annual fee?: The American Express Gold Card costs $325/yr vs $0/yr for the Barclays View Mastercard. The higher fee and travel credits that can offset the cost for frequent travelers.
Which card earns more rewards, the American Express Gold Card or Barclays View Mastercard?: The American Express Gold Card has a higher base earn rate (1X vs 0X), but both cards have different bonus categories where they excel.
What benefits does the American Express Gold Card have that the Barclays View Mastercard doesn't?: The American Express Gold Card offers travel credits. The Barclays View Mastercard focuses more on earn rates than premium perks.
Should I get the American Express Gold Card or the Barclays View Mastercard?: Choose the Barclays View Mastercard if you want lower fees and solid rewards. Pick the American Express Gold Card if you spend enough to justify the $325/yr fee through its premium benefits and higher earn rates.

Related Comparisons

Amex Blue Cash Everyday vs Amex Gold Amex Gold vs Amex Platinum Amex Gold vs Bank Of America Customized Cash Amex Gold vs Capital One Venture X

Explore More

American Express Gold Card — Full Review All American Express Cards

Barclays View Mastercard — Full Review All Barclays Cards

Browse all comparisons →Browse all card categories →

Official issuer pages: American Express cards · Barclays cards

Editorial disclosure: The analysis on this page is based on publicly available card data and is updated regularly. CardRewards.ai is an independent comparison service. Card issuers do not influence our rankings or editorial content. Last updated: May 2026.

American Express Gold Card vs Barclays View Mastercard

American Express Gold Card

American Express

Barclays View Mastercard

Barclays

Fees & Welcome Offer

Annual Fee

$325

Welcome Bonus

60,000 Flex point

—

Earn Rates

Category	American Express Gold Card	Barclays View Mastercard
Dining	4X	3X

Category-by-Category Winner

The American Express Gold Card wins in 3 of 5 categories. The Barclays View Mastercard leads in 2.

Dining

American Express Gold Card earns 4X vs 3X

Grocery Stores

American Express Gold Card earns 4X vs 2X

Flights

American Express Gold Card earns 3X vs 1X

Streaming

Barclays View Mastercard earns 2X vs 1X

Telecom

Barclays View Mastercard earns 2X vs 1X

Is the Fee Difference Worth It?

The American Express Gold Card offers travel credits. Whether that justifies the fee depends on how often you use these benefits.

What You Give Up

Choosing one card means missing out on these benefits from the other.

Choosing Barclays View Mastercard means losing:

The Bottom Line

The Barclays View Mastercard has a lower annual fee ($0 vs $325), making it the more accessible option.

The American Express Gold Card justifies its higher fee with premium perks like travel credits.

Choose the Barclays View Mastercard if you want solid rewards with a lower cost of entry. Choose the American Express Gold Card if you travel frequently and can maximize its premium benefits.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the American Express Gold Card worth the higher annual fee?: The American Express Gold Card costs $325/yr vs $0/yr for the Barclays View Mastercard. The higher fee and travel credits that can offset the cost for frequent travelers.
Which card earns more rewards, the American Express Gold Card or Barclays View Mastercard?: The American Express Gold Card has a higher base earn rate (1X vs 0X), but both cards have different bonus categories where they excel.
What benefits does the American Express Gold Card have that the Barclays View Mastercard doesn't?: The American Express Gold Card offers travel credits. The Barclays View Mastercard focuses more on earn rates than premium perks.
Should I get the American Express Gold Card or the Barclays View Mastercard?: Choose the Barclays View Mastercard if you want lower fees and solid rewards. Pick the American Express Gold Card if you spend enough to justify the $325/yr fee through its premium benefits and higher earn rates.

Related Comparisons

Amex Blue Cash Everyday vs Amex Gold Amex Gold vs Amex Platinum Amex Gold vs Bank Of America Customized Cash Amex Gold vs Capital One Venture X

Explore More

American Express Gold Card — Full Review All American Express Cards

Barclays View Mastercard — Full Review All Barclays Cards

Browse all comparisons →Browse all card categories →

Official issuer pages: American Express cards · Barclays cards

American Express Gold Card vs Barclays View Mastercard

American Express Gold Card

American Express

Barclays View Mastercard

Barclays

Fees & Welcome Offer

Annual Fee

$325

Welcome Bonus

60,000 Flex point

—

Earn Rates

Category	American Express Gold Card	Barclays View Mastercard
Dining	4X	3X

Category-by-Category Winner

The American Express Gold Card wins in 3 of 5 categories. The Barclays View Mastercard leads in 2.

Dining

American Express Gold Card earns 4X vs 3X

Grocery Stores

American Express Gold Card earns 4X vs 2X

Flights

American Express Gold Card earns 3X vs 1X

Streaming

Barclays View Mastercard earns 2X vs 1X

Telecom

Barclays View Mastercard earns 2X vs 1X

Is the Fee Difference Worth It?

The American Express Gold Card offers travel credits. Whether that justifies the fee depends on how often you use these benefits.

What You Give Up

Choosing one card means missing out on these benefits from the other.

Choosing Barclays View Mastercard means losing:

The Bottom Line

The Barclays View Mastercard has a lower annual fee ($0 vs $325), making it the more accessible option.

The American Express Gold Card justifies its higher fee with premium perks like travel credits.

Choose the Barclays View Mastercard if you want solid rewards with a lower cost of entry. Choose the American Express Gold Card if you travel frequently and can maximize its premium benefits.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the American Express Gold Card worth the higher annual fee?: The American Express Gold Card costs $325/yr vs $0/yr for the Barclays View Mastercard. The higher fee and travel credits that can offset the cost for frequent travelers.
Which card earns more rewards, the American Express Gold Card or Barclays View Mastercard?: The American Express Gold Card has a higher base earn rate (1X vs 0X), but both cards have different bonus categories where they excel.
What benefits does the American Express Gold Card have that the Barclays View Mastercard doesn't?: The American Express Gold Card offers travel credits. The Barclays View Mastercard focuses more on earn rates than premium perks.
Should I get the American Express Gold Card or the Barclays View Mastercard?: Choose the Barclays View Mastercard if you want lower fees and solid rewards. Pick the American Express Gold Card if you spend enough to justify the $325/yr fee through its premium benefits and higher earn rates.

Related Comparisons

Amex Blue Cash Everyday vs Amex Gold Amex Gold vs Amex Platinum Amex Gold vs Bank Of America Customized Cash Amex Gold vs Capital One Venture X

Explore More

American Express Gold Card — Full Review All American Express Cards

Barclays View Mastercard — Full Review All Barclays Cards

Browse all comparisons →Browse all card categories →

Official issuer pages: American Express cards · Barclays cards

Benefits & Features

Network

AMEX

MASTERCARD

Key Benefits

✓Travel credit

✓Travel insurance

✓Purchase protection

None

Pros & Cons

Pros

+4X points on dining worldwide - industry leading
+4X at U.S. supermarkets up to $25k/year
+$424 in annual credits offset $325 fee
+No foreign transaction fees
+Transfer to 20+ airline and hotel partners

+No annual fee
+Low variable APR (15.24%-24.24%) compared to most cards
+$0 balance transfer fee - extremely rare in the industry
+No late payment fees
+No foreign transaction fees

Cons

−$325 annual fee with no waived first year
−4X grocery excludes Costco, Walmart, Target
−No lounge access included
−Limited non-food spending categories
−Amex acceptance less universal than Visa/MC

−Modest earning rates compared to premium rewards cards
−No welcome bonus
−No travel benefits or purchase protections
−Requires good to excellent credit
−Standard Mastercard network tier (no World Elite benefits)

-Annual travel credit
-Purchase protection
-Travel insurance

Which Card Is Right for You?

Get the American Express Gold Card if you:

+Travel enough to fully use annual credits and premium perks

Get the Barclays View Mastercard if you:

+Want strong rewards without a large annual fee commitment

Benefits & Features

Network

AMEX

MASTERCARD

Key Benefits

✓Travel credit

✓Travel insurance

✓Purchase protection

None

Pros & Cons

Pros

+4X points on dining worldwide - industry leading
+4X at U.S. supermarkets up to $25k/year
+$424 in annual credits offset $325 fee
+No foreign transaction fees
+Transfer to 20+ airline and hotel partners

+No annual fee
+Low variable APR (15.24%-24.24%) compared to most cards
+$0 balance transfer fee - extremely rare in the industry
+No late payment fees
+No foreign transaction fees

Cons

−$325 annual fee with no waived first year
−4X grocery excludes Costco, Walmart, Target
−No lounge access included
−Limited non-food spending categories
−Amex acceptance less universal than Visa/MC

−Modest earning rates compared to premium rewards cards
−No welcome bonus
−No travel benefits or purchase protections
−Requires good to excellent credit
−Standard Mastercard network tier (no World Elite benefits)

-Annual travel credit
-Purchase protection
-Travel insurance

Which Card Is Right for You?

Get the American Express Gold Card if you:

+Travel enough to fully use annual credits and premium perks

Get the Barclays View Mastercard if you:

+Want strong rewards without a large annual fee commitment

Benefits & Features

Network

AMEX

MASTERCARD

Key Benefits

✓Travel credit

✓Travel insurance

✓Purchase protection

None

Pros & Cons

Pros

+4X points on dining worldwide - industry leading
+4X at U.S. supermarkets up to $25k/year
+$424 in annual credits offset $325 fee
+No foreign transaction fees
+Transfer to 20+ airline and hotel partners

+No annual fee
+Low variable APR (15.24%-24.24%) compared to most cards
+$0 balance transfer fee - extremely rare in the industry
+No late payment fees
+No foreign transaction fees

Cons

−$325 annual fee with no waived first year
−4X grocery excludes Costco, Walmart, Target
−No lounge access included
−Limited non-food spending categories
−Amex acceptance less universal than Visa/MC

−Modest earning rates compared to premium rewards cards
−No welcome bonus
−No travel benefits or purchase protections
−Requires good to excellent credit
−Standard Mastercard network tier (no World Elite benefits)

-Annual travel credit
-Purchase protection
-Travel insurance

Which Card Is Right for You?

Get the American Express Gold Card if you:

+Travel enough to fully use annual credits and premium perks

Get the Barclays View Mastercard if you:

+Want strong rewards without a large annual fee commitment