From February 17, 2027, the American Express Business Gold Card pays 4 points per dollar on advertising only at Meta, Google, Amazon, Microsoft, GoDaddy and Yelp. The wireless category shrinks the same day to 11 named carriers. Ads and phone bills from anyone else drop to 1 point per dollar, which costs a business spending $4,000 a month on TikTok ads about $2,880 a year in points.
The Business Gold still earns 4X on your top 2 of 6 categories each billing cycle, on up to $150,000 a year. The other four bonus categories don’t change.
What changed
- Before: 4X on “purchases at U.S. media providers for advertising in select media (online, TV, radio)” and on monthly wireless bills from any U.S. carrier, per the Business Gold card page
- Now: advertising counts only when bought directly from Meta, Google, Amazon, Microsoft, GoDaddy or Yelp
- Wireless: only Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, Frontier, Comcast, Charter, Spectrum Mobile, UScellular, Optimum, Ultra Mobile and Mint Mobile qualify
- Date: February 17, 2027
- Unchanged: electronics and software, U.S. restaurants, U.S. gas stations and transit, plus the $150,000 yearly cap and the $375 annual fee
- Who it affects: businesses advertising on TikTok, Pinterest, Reddit, Snapchat, local TV or radio, or through an agency, and businesses on carriers missing from the list
Key terms
- The wording: Amex’s Business Gold terms say advertising “will be limited to purchases made directly with Meta, Google, Amazon, Microsoft, GoDaddy, and Yelp.”
- On the product page: the advertising and wireless lines now carry the footnote “Effective February 17, 2027, select merchants only.”
- “Directly” matters: ads booked through an agency or reseller are billed by the agency, so we’d expect them to earn 1X even when the ads run on Google or Meta.
- The cap: 4X applies to the first $150,000 in combined purchases from your top 2 categories each calendar year, then 1X.
- Points: you earn Membership Rewards points, which transfer to airline and hotel partners. Amex now keeps each card’s points in its own account, as our Membership Rewards accounts post explains.
Who loses and how much
The change hits you only if ads or wireless is one of your top 2 categories today and your merchant isn’t on the list. Here’s what it costs on a $4,000 monthly ad budget, valuing Membership Rewards at 2.0 cents per point from our points valuation guide:
| Ad spend | Points a year now | Points a year after Feb 17, 2027 | Value lost a year |
|---|---|---|---|
| $48,000 on Google or Meta | 192,000 points | 192,000 points | $0 |
| $48,000 on TikTok or Pinterest | 192,000 points | 48,000 points | $2,880 |
| $48,000 through an agency | 192,000 points | 48,000 points (likely) | $2,880 |
The math: $48,000 at 4X is 192,000 points, and at 1X it’s 48,000 points. The 144,000-point gap at 2.0 cents a point is $2,880. If another category such as restaurants moves into your top 2, you win back part of the loss.
Wireless is smaller money. A $300 monthly phone bill at a carrier missing from the list, such as Visible, Cricket Wireless or Boost Mobile, drops from 14,400 points a year to 3,600. At 2.0 cents a point, that’s $216 a year.
Our take
If your ads run on Google or Meta and your phone bill goes to Verizon, AT&T or T-Mobile, you lose nothing. Keep the card.
If you buy TikTok, Pinterest or broadcast ads, or pay through an agency, you have until February 16, 2027, to plan around it. The Chase Ink Business Preferred is the cleanest swap. Chase’s Ink Business Preferred page lists 3 points per dollar on advertising with social media sites and search engines, and on internet, cable and phone services. The 3X covers up to $150,000 a year, and the fee is $95. TikTok and Pinterest fit that wording. LinkedIn is a Microsoft company, and we’re not sure yet whether Amex will count LinkedIn ads as Microsoft purchases.
For phone bills, Chase’s Ink Business Cash page pays 5% back on internet, cable and phone services on the first $25,000 a year, with no annual fee. Our Ink Cash vs Ink Unlimited post covers the card. For ad spend outside every bonus category, the Amex Blue Business Plus earns 2X on the first $50,000 a year with no fee. It earns Membership Rewards points too.
We wouldn’t cancel the Business Gold over this alone if restaurants or software still fill your top 2. The $375 fee equals 18,750 points at 2.0 cents a point. Earning those back takes about $6,250 a year of 4X spending instead of 1X, so run your last three statements before deciding. In October, Amex swapped FedEx for UPS in the card’s $240 credit, as our Business Gold UPS post explains. This devaluation is the second change to the card this fall. Our best travel credit cards guide compares the alternatives. Doctor of Credit first reported the change.
FAQ
When does the Amex Business Gold 4X change start?
February 17, 2027. Purchases before that date earn 4X under the current rules.
Which advertising merchants still earn 4X on the Business Gold?
Only purchases made directly with Meta, Google, Amazon, Microsoft, GoDaddy and Yelp.
Which wireless carriers still earn 4X?
Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, Frontier, Comcast, Charter, Spectrum Mobile, UScellular, Optimum, Ultra Mobile and Mint Mobile.
Does TikTok advertising still earn 4X?
No. TikTok isn’t on the list, so from February 17, 2027, TikTok ads earn 1 point per dollar unless Amex adds it.
Is the Business Gold annual fee changing?
No. Amex still lists the fee at $375, and the $150,000 yearly cap on 4X earning stays.
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