There are different types of credit cards in the financial sector. In addition to platinum credit cards, gold credit cards represent a special category, as they exude a certain exclusivity. In this guide, we will show you why the costs of gold credit cards are justified in view of the services they offer and even exceed them.
An overview of the best gold credit cards
American Express Gold Card
- Promotion: Up to 50,000 points welcome bonus
- Credit: Up to 360 euros in mobility and shopping credit
- Earn points with every euro spent
- Comprehensive travel insurance included
- Lounge access via discounted Priority Pass
TF Bank Mastercard Gold
- 0 Euro annual fee
- Payments worldwide without any fees
- Travel cancellation insurance included
- Foreign health insurance included
Bank Norwegian Visa
- Promotion: 15 Euro welcome bonus
- Free credit card – permanently without annual fee
- Free cash withdrawals worldwide
- Worldwide free payments – no foreign transaction fee
- Attractive travel insurance included
Revolut Metal
- Promotion: 20 Euro welcome bonus
- Collect Rev Points with every Euro spent
- Personalized metal card
- Free payments worldwide
- Free cash withdrawals worldwide
- Travel insurance package included
Consorsbank Card Gold Light
- Free credit card
- Pay worldwide without fees
- Withdraw cash worldwide without fees
- Flexible billing possible in the middle of the month
- Checking account included
In addition to credit cards and debit cards, more and more banks in Germany now also offer so-called debit cards. These combine immediate debiting from your checking account with the advantages of a credit card, making them a kind of hybrid between a credit card and a debit card. They can be used for both online payments and transactions abroad without any problems, which is why debit cards are also included in our credit card comparisons.
Many people still believe that gold credit cards automatically incur an annual fee—but that’s not true. While this may generally be the case, there are also some fee-free gold cards that offer attractive benefits, especially when traveling. Below, we explain who would benefit from such a credit card and which is the best gold credit card.
Inhaltsverzeichnis
- What exactly distinguishes a gold credit card?
- Which is the best gold credit card?
- Which is the best Visa Gold card?
- Which is the best Mastercard Gold credit card?
- What does the color of a gold credit card indicate?
- How much does a gold credit card cost?
- What requirements must be met to qualify for a gold credit card?
- Who benefits from a gold credit card?
- What alternatives are there to gold credit cards?
- Our conclusion on the best gold credit card
What exactly distinguishes a gold credit card?
In general, it can be said that a gold credit card usually offers the following advantages compared to other credit card classes:
- Important travel insurance
- Lower credit card fees (than platinum cards)
- Free additional cards
- High credit limit
Of course, not every model offers all of these advantages, but it can generally be said that gold credit cards from various credit card providers stand out from free credit cards thanks to the advantages mentioned above.
Note: The benefits of gold credit cards vary greatly depending on the provider and model. However, there are often benefits when traveling, such as comprehensive travel insurance or free payments and cash withdrawals abroad.
Important travel insurance included
The most important aspect of the advantages of a gold card is undoubtedly insurance. Not only do the best gold credit cards offer various insurance benefits, but these are also extremely valuable and important when traveling.
The practical thing about this is that you don’t have to worry about taking out multiple insurance policies, as the credit card itself already includes all the important benefits. Three insurance benefits are essential if you travel regularly around the world:
- International travel health insurance
- Travel cancellation insurance
- Rental car insurance
In our credit card comparison, you will find many models that offer all these insurance policies in one package. The insurance policies are already included in the annual fee for the card. The insurance policies included would cost significantly more individually. If you travel a lot, you can therefore save a lot with a gold credit card.
If you benefit from the protection services and feel safer when traveling as a result, the right card may be worthwhile for you.
Please note: Some insurance benefits only apply when the card is used. As a rule, international travel insurance also applies without card use, whereas travel cancellation and rental car insurance usually only apply when the card is used. It is therefore important to be aware of the exact insurance conditions in advance.
💡 Tip: We have created a separate overview page for almost all credit cards, listing the most important advantages and disadvantages. There you will also find the complete insurance benefits – clearly explained and without having to laboriously work your way through extensive insurance policies.
Travel toll-free – relax without additional costs
Gold credit cards usually come with an annual fee, but in most cases you benefit from no foreign currency or withdrawal fees. This means that you pay a fixed amount each year, but can relax when making payments and cash withdrawals while traveling.
Please note, however, that individual ATM operators may charge additional fees of their own—these are beyond the control of credit card providers.
Which is the best gold credit card?
When comparing these credit cards, one thing stands out in particular: many cards promise good benefits that are comparable overall. But which is the best gold credit card?
American Express Gold Card
- Promotion: Up to 50,000 points welcome bonus
- Credit: Up to 360 euros in mobility and shopping credit
- Earn points with every euro spent
- Comprehensive travel insurance included
- Lounge access via discounted Priority Pass
TF Bank Mastercard Gold
- 0 Euro annual fee
- Payments worldwide without any fees
- Travel cancellation insurance included
- Foreign health insurance included
Bank Norwegian Visa
- Promotion: 15 Euro welcome bonus
- Free credit card – permanently without annual fee
- Free cash withdrawals worldwide
- Worldwide free payments – no foreign transaction fee
- Attractive travel insurance included
Revolut Metal
- Promotion: 20 Euro welcome bonus
- Collect Rev Points with every Euro spent
- Personalized metal card
- Free payments worldwide
- Free cash withdrawals worldwide
- Travel insurance package included
Consorsbank Card Gold Light
- Free credit card
- Pay worldwide without fees
- Withdraw cash worldwide without fees
- Flexible billing possible in the middle of the month
- Checking account included
Which credit card you ultimately choose should be based entirely on your individual financial behavior. This is because the different card models are also suitable for different purposes.
You should also always take a close look at the terms and conditions of the respective gold card, as many charge a comparatively high annual fee for premium benefits, but fees may still apply in other areas.
Furthermore, various credit card providers also offer several gold models, which may be more or less advantageous for you. It is important to note that there are not too many differences between Visa and Mastercard.
The American Express® gold credit card offers most of the above-mentioned advantages of a premium credit card, plus a few exclusive extras. You can choose between a gold or rose gold card. In addition to a comprehensive insurance package and a free additional card, you benefit from further travel advantages.
These include a Gold Card at SIXT, hotel privileges with GHA DISCOVERY Gold status, credits on all data packages from eSIMfirst, and a discounted Priority Pass for access to airport lounges. In addition, you can enjoy other attractive benefits, such as LODENFREY shopping credit, rental car credit with SIXT rent, monthly FREENOW taxi credit, and monthly SIXT+ car subscription credit.
American Express Gold Card
- 180 Euro SIXT Plus and 50 euros SIXT Rent credit
- 80 Euro Lodenfrey credit
- 60 Euro Freenow taxi credit
- Collect valuable points with every euro spent
- Versatile discounts thanks to Amex Offers
- Choose between gold or rose gold
- Comprehensive travel insurance included
- Hotel status and travel benefits included
Are there any free gold credit cards?
In fact, in addition to the paid offers, there are also a few free gold credit cards that offer a range of attractive benefits.
However, only the TF Bank Mastercard Gold, Bank Norwegian credit card, and the Gebührenfrei Mastercard Gold are completely free of charge. With some gold credit cards, the annual fee is only reduced in the first year. It is therefore advisable to carefully read the credit card terms and conditions to identify any subsequent costs.
TF Bank Mastercard Gold
- Free credit card
- Payments worldwide without any fees
- Travel cancellation insurance included
- Foreign health insurance included
Unfortunately, however, these advantages do not come without disadvantages for both free gold credit cards, as high interest rates can result in additional costs elsewhere. This should be kept in mind before applying, or alternatively, a better alternative should be sought.
Bank Norwegian Visa Credit Card
- Free credit card with no annual fee
- Free cash withdrawals worldwide
- Free worldwide payments with no foreign transaction fees
- Attractive travel insurance included
- Up to 44 days interest-free payment period
- Recommended by Stiftung Warentest (04/2026)
Which is the best Visa Gold card?
Overall, one product stands out among the gold Visa credit cards: the Eurowings Premium credit card. Not only do you get a brilliant credit card for everyday use, but also numerous additional benefits.
With the Eurowings Premium credit card, you get comparatively favorable terms and conditions, and it offers you particular advantages when traveling. In cooperation with the Lufthansa frequent flyer program, you can collect miles with your credit card purchases, which offer you many benefits.
What’s more, with this credit card, you can not only withdraw cash completely free of charge at any ATM abroad, but you are also reliably covered when traveling. This is because the credit card covers the most important travel insurance policies and offers high coverage amounts – rental car insurance is also included.
Eurowings Premium credit card
- Free cash withdrawals and payments abroad
- Benefits with Eurowings (e.g., Fast Lane, seat reservation)
- Comprehensive insurance coverage
- Earn Miles & More miles
Which is the best Mastercard Gold credit card?
Mastercard also offers a number of advantageous gold credit cards. However, one model is particularly interesting for frequent travelers: the TF Bank Mastercard Gold. This card is one of the few free gold credit cards and also offers a number of attractive benefits when traveling.
This credit card also waives foreign currency fees for payments made abroad. In addition, travelers are optimally protected by the comprehensive insurance package if at least 50 percent of the trip was paid for with the credit card.
TF Bank Mastercard Gold
- Free credit card
- Payments worldwide without any fees
- Travel cancellation insurance included
- Foreign health insurance included
Another card we can recommend, which runs on the Mastercard payment network, is the Miles & More Gold Credit Card. With this credit card, you collect valuable Miles & More miles every time you use it: with the private card, you receive one mile for every two euros spent, while with the business version, you collect one mile per euro. Your miles are also fully protected against expiry – a big advantage for anyone who wants to use their points in the long term.
The card also offers you comprehensive insurance coverage for your travels. You are covered by travel cancellation and interruption insurance, international health insurance, and additional rental car insurance. The travel insurance even applies regardless of whether you paid for the trip with the card. In addition, you enjoy Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status, which allows you to take advantage of late checkouts and room upgrades, subject to availability.
On top of that, with the card you receive an attractive welcome bonus in miles, which you can redeem directly for your next trip.
Lufthansa Miles and More Credit Card Gold
- Unlimited validity of Miles and More miles
- Earn miles with every purchase
- Travel cancellation insurance
- International health insurance
- Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status
- NEW: Free data allowance abroad
- NEW: Two free cash withdrawals abroad per year
What does the color of a gold credit card indicate?
When it comes to gold credit cards, there is often explicit discussion about the color. However, certain credit card benefits have practically nothing to do with the color or name of a credit card.
Not every Mastercard Gold card has certain advantages; rather, the respective advantages always depend on the specific credit card. It is difficult to compare an ADAC Gold credit card with a Commerzbank Gold credit card, even though both are Mastercard Gold cards.
It is true, of course, that many issuers use colors and names to convey a certain exclusivity, but one should not assume that all cards of a particular color are on the same level.
The color of a credit card gives a first impression of its status within a provider’s range. However, for accurate information, it is worth taking a look at the individual services offered by each card.
How much does a gold credit card cost?
Despite numerous advantages, you should always keep an eye on the potential costs of a credit card. This is because fees may be incurred in some cases that exceed the annual fee.
If you use your card frequently, this can quickly become a problem. You should therefore pay attention to the following conditions before applying for a gold card:
- Annual fee: this can vary greatly between different models. The decisive factor is whether it is offset by the services included.
- Cash transaction fees: some premium credit cards may also charge fees for cash deposits or withdrawals. If you handle a lot of cash, these fees are particularly important.
- Foreign transaction fees: Additional fees may apply for payments in foreign currencies and for withdrawing money abroad. If you travel a lot, you should definitely pay attention to these conditions.
- Interest charges: This fee relates to the payment of credit card costs. If you choose the installment payment option, which is not recommended, you may have to pay a high interest rate.
- Additional cards: In some cases, you may have to pay additional fees for additional cards or in the event of a credit card being lost.
Once you have found out about the potential additional costs, you can narrow down your choice for the best credit card.
What requirements must be met to qualify for a gold credit card?
Anyone looking for a gold credit card is surely also looking for the corresponding premium services. But do you have to meet certain requirements to apply for one? How easy is it to apply for such a credit card?
The conditions for a gold card are basically no different from those for a regular credit card.
In addition to being of legal age, your credit rating will also be checked. There should be no negative Schufa entries, as a gold credit card is not a credit card without Schufa. Your income will also be checked, and it may be that both your place of residence and a reference account with a German bank are relevant.
Who benefits from a gold credit card?
Whether a gold credit card is worthwhile depends, logically, on whether and to what extent you can use the card’s services. When traveling, this type of credit card is only really worthwhile if there are no foreign currency fees or fees for cash withdrawals abroad.
It is more difficult to assess the monetary value of the various insurance benefits. Some are definitely mandatory, such as international health insurance or travel cancellation insurance, but others are not so easy to evaluate.
What can definitely be said, however, is that using a gold credit card for insurance is extremely worthwhile. This is because you would pay significantly more for the individual services if you purchased them separately.
With a credit card such as the Hanseatic Bank GoldCard, you generally have everything you need in one package and no longer have to worry about insurance. When it comes to individual assessments, we generally recommend taking a look at your own travel habits and then evaluating which insurance is worthwhile in which case.
Hanseatic Bank Gold Card
- Pay worldwide free of charge*
- Withdraw cash worldwide free of charge**
- Travel insurance included
- Smart online banking included
- Apple Pay and Google Pay compatible
However, based on our experience with gold credit cards, we have found that they are always worthwhile if you take more than two trips per year. Our clear comparison allows you to easily compare the best credit cards of this type:
American Express Gold Card
- Promotion: Up to 50,000 points welcome bonus
- Credit: Up to 360 euros in mobility and shopping credit
- Earn points with every euro spent
- Comprehensive travel insurance included
- Lounge access via discounted Priority Pass
TF Bank Mastercard Gold
- 0 Euro annual fee
- Payments worldwide without any fees
- Travel cancellation insurance included
- Foreign health insurance included
Bank Norwegian Visa
- Promotion: 15 Euro welcome bonus
- Free credit card – permanently without annual fee
- Free cash withdrawals worldwide
- Worldwide free payments – no foreign transaction fee
- Attractive travel insurance included
Revolut Metal
- Promotion: 20 Euro welcome bonus
- Collect Rev Points with every Euro spent
- Personalized metal card
- Free payments worldwide
- Free cash withdrawals worldwide
- Travel insurance package included
Consorsbank Card Gold Light
- Free credit card
- Pay worldwide without fees
- Withdraw cash worldwide without fees
- Flexible billing possible in the middle of the month
- Checking account included
What alternatives are there to gold credit cards?
In addition, there are other credit card models on the financial market that offer premium services. These luxury credit cards are also available in various designs and differ fundamentally in terms of conditions and benefits.
For several reasons, we recommend the American Express Platinum credit card. Although this is also a premium credit card, which means you will have to pay an annual fee, it usually pays off thanks to its many advantages, some of which are monetary.
With the Platinum credit card, you not only have access to a comprehensive insurance package, which saves you money, especially when traveling, but also to additional benefits through the Membership Rewards® program. Here, you can also collect points with your credit card purchases, which entitle you to certain benefits.
In addition, cardholders automatically receive high status levels at hotels and car rental companies and thus benefit from further advantages when traveling, such as room upgrades, lounge access, and free breakfast. Although the American Express Gold metal credit card is also extremely worthwhile, the advantages of the Platinum card may seem more attractive.
American Express Platinum Card
- 200 Euro travel credit per year for flights, hotels and more
- 200 Euro SIXT Ride credit per year
- Up to 200 Euro discount & Priority benefits for Condor flight bookings
- Exclusive metal credit card
- Collect valuable points with each turnover
- Free platinum partner card with all benefits included
- Best insurance package in Germany
- Free lounge access with a guest at 1.550 lounges worldwide
- Upgrades, breakfast and more status benefits in hotels
If you are only interested in the benefits and, above all, the use when traveling, then a travel credit card may be the best choice.
The easybank credit card is one of our favorites among the best credit cards for use abroad. The black credit card offers all the advantages you could wish for when traveling and is also permanently free of charge, making it suitable for a wide target group.
easybank Visa Credit card
former Barclays Visa
- Free credit card without annual fees
- Free payments worldwide – no foreign transaction fees
- Free cash withdrawals worldwide
- Free loan for up to 2 months
- Flexible repayment options
- Compatible with existing bank account
Haven’t found the right credit card yet? In our credit card comparison, you can quickly and easily find the right model for your personal wishes and requirements using any number of filter options.
Haven’t found the right credit card yet? Then check out our reisetopia financial picks:
💳 reisetopia’s financial picks April – find the best credit card for your needs:
Our conclusion on the best gold credit card
Since the benefits of gold credit cards cannot be determined by their color, but only by their issuer, it is difficult to draw a definitive conclusion. One thing is certain: virtually all of these cards offer more benefits than a conventional credit card.
These benefits are mostly aimed at frequent travelers who want to save on fees when traveling or be covered by travel insurance. Depending on what you want to use your gold credit card for, it is worth taking a look at the exact benefits. In our gold credit card comparison, you can easily compare the best cards and find the best model for you:
American Express Gold Card
- Promotion: Up to 50,000 points welcome bonus
- Credit: Up to 360 euros in mobility and shopping credit
- Earn points with every euro spent
- Comprehensive travel insurance included
- Lounge access via discounted Priority Pass
TF Bank Mastercard Gold
- 0 Euro annual fee
- Payments worldwide without any fees
- Travel cancellation insurance included
- Foreign health insurance included
Bank Norwegian Visa
- Promotion: 15 Euro welcome bonus
- Free credit card – permanently without annual fee
- Free cash withdrawals worldwide
- Worldwide free payments – no foreign transaction fee
- Attractive travel insurance included
Revolut Metal
- Promotion: 20 Euro welcome bonus
- Collect Rev Points with every Euro spent
- Personalized metal card
- Free payments worldwide
- Free cash withdrawals worldwide
- Travel insurance package included
Consorsbank Card Gold Light
- Free credit card
- Pay worldwide without fees
- Withdraw cash worldwide without fees
- Flexible billing possible in the middle of the month
- Checking account included
