Amex Business Gold Is Cutting Back 4X Rewards on Advertising and Wireless Purchases in 2027
American Express is making a significant change to one of the most valuable earning features of the American Express Business Gold Card, and some business owners could lose thousands of Membership Rewards points annually.
Starting February 17, 2027, Amex will restrict its popular 4X advertising and wireless spending categories to a specific list of approved merchants.
Currently, the Business Gold Card earns 4X Membership Rewards points in the two eligible categories where a business spends the most each billing cycle, up to a combined $150,000 in purchases per calendar year.
While that structure isn’t changing, the new restrictions mean certain advertising platforms and wireless providers that currently qualify for 4X rewards will no longer be eligible.
Here’s everything cardholders need to know.
What’s Changing on February 17, 2027?
American Express is narrowing two of the Business Gold Card’s six existing 4X bonus categories:
- Advertising purchases made with U.S. media providers.
- Monthly wireless telephone service charges paid directly to U.S. providers.
Instead of allowing purchases from a broader range of qualifying businesses, American Express will limit these categories to specific merchants.
Advertising: Only Six Merchants Will Qualify for 4X
Beginning February 17, 2027, eligible online, television, and radio advertising purchases must be made directly with one of the following six companies:
| Eligible advertising merchants |
|---|
| Meta (Facebook and Instagram) |
| Amazon |
| Microsoft |
| GoDaddy |
| Yelp |
This is a substantial restriction for businesses that advertise through smaller networks, independent media companies, or other advertising platforms.
For example, businesses purchasing advertising directly from an eligible Google or Meta platform should continue qualifying for 4X points, assuming advertising is one of their top two spending categories.
However, advertising purchases from companies outside the approved list will generally earn just 1X, even if similar transactions previously earned 4X.
Important: Not every purchase from one of these six companies automatically qualifies. The transaction must still meet American Express’s advertising category requirements.
Wireless: Only 11 Providers Will Qualify for 4X
The wireless category is also becoming more restrictive.
Starting February 17, 2027, eligible monthly wireless telephone service charges must be paid directly to one of these providers:
| Eligible wireless providers |
|---|
| Verizon |
| AT&T |
| T-Mobile |
| Frontier |
| Comcast |
| Charter |
| Spectrum Mobile |
| UScellular |
| Optimum |
| Ultra Mobile |
| Mint Mobile |
Cardholders using smaller carriers or providers not explicitly included on this list should review their payment arrangements before the changes take effect.
For example, Google Fi, Visible, Cricket Wireless, and Boost Mobile are not specifically named on the new list.
It’s also important to understand that these rewards apply to qualifying monthly wireless service charges, not necessarily phone purchases, accessories, or other transactions with the listed providers.
What Happens to the Other 4X Business Gold Categories?
Fortunately, American Express is not eliminating the Business Gold Card’s overall 4X earning structure.
The card will continue offering 4X Membership Rewards points on the two categories where your business spends the most each billing cycle, selected automatically from six eligible categories.
Those categories are:
- Advertising: Eligible online, television, and radio advertising purchases, restricted to select merchants beginning February 17, 2027.
- Electronics and software: Qualifying purchases from U.S. electronics retailers and software or cloud system providers.
- Restaurants: Eligible U.S. restaurant purchases, including takeout and delivery.
- Gas stations: Eligible purchases at U.S. gas stations.
- Transit: Qualifying purchases including rideshare services, taxis, tolls, parking, trains, buses, and subways.
- Wireless services: Qualifying monthly wireless telephone service charges, restricted to select providers beginning February 17, 2027.
The annual earning cap also remains unchanged.
Cardholders can continue earning 4X on up to $150,000 in combined eligible purchases across their top two categories per calendar year, after which those purchases earn 1X.
How Many Membership Rewards Points Could You Lose?
For businesses spending heavily on advertising, the impact could be significant.
Consider a business that spends $25,000 annually on advertising through a provider that currently qualifies for 4X rewards but won’t qualify under the new rules.
Assuming the purchases fall within the annual 4X cap and advertising is one of the business’s top two categories:
| Before change | After change | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual advertising spend | $25,000 | $25,000 |
| Earning rate | 4X | 1X |
| Points earned | 100,000 | 25,000 |
That’s a loss of 75,000 Membership Rewards points annually from the same advertising budget.
For businesses spending $50,000 or more with advertising providers excluded from the new list, the difference could be even greater.
Depending on how Membership Rewards points are redeemed, particularly when transferred to airline and hotel partners, those lost points could represent substantial travel value.
Why This Change Matters for Business Owners
The American Express Business Gold Card has been particularly attractive to businesses spending heavily on digital advertising.
Its automatic top-two-category system allows businesses to maximize rewards without manually selecting bonus categories every month.
However, the upcoming restrictions reduce that flexibility.
A business using Meta, Google, or Amazon for advertising may see little impact.
On the other hand, a business working with smaller advertising platforms or spending heavily with an excluded wireless provider could see a meaningful reduction in rewards.
Another important consideration is how purchases are billed. Because the updated terms require purchases to be made directly with approved merchants, businesses paying through intermediaries should verify how those transactions will qualify.
What Should Amex Business Gold Cardholders Do Now?
The changes don’t take effect until February 17, 2027, giving cardholders time to review their spending.
Business owners should examine their recent advertising and wireless transactions to determine whether their merchants appear on the approved lists.
If a significant portion of spending will no longer qualify for 4X rewards, it may be worth comparing other business credit cards that offer bonus rewards on advertising or a strong flat-rate return on everyday purchases.
Also, remember that the Amex Business Gold Card has a $375 annual fee. Businesses that primarily justify that fee through advertising rewards should reconsider the card’s overall value once the changes take effect.
That doesn’t necessarily mean the Business Gold Card will no longer be worthwhile. Its remaining bonus categories and other benefits may still provide enough value, depending on each business’s spending patterns.
Frequently Asked Questions
When do the Amex Business Gold 4X changes take effect?
The new restrictions on advertising and wireless purchases begin February 17, 2027.
Will Facebook and Google advertising still earn 4X?
Yes. Meta and Google remain on the approved advertising merchant list. Qualifying purchases can continue earning 4X when advertising is among the card’s top two eligible spending categories and the annual cap has not been reached.
Will Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile still earn 4X?
Yes. All three providers are included in the approved wireless merchant list. Eligible monthly service charges can continue qualifying for 4X points under the card’s existing top-two-category rules.
Is American Express reducing the $150,000 annual 4X cap?
No. The $150,000 combined annual cap is not changing. The restrictions affect which advertising and wireless transactions qualify.
Will the other four 4X categories be affected?
American Express has not announced changes to the electronics/software, restaurants, gas stations, or transit categories as part of this February 2027 update.
Bottom Line
This is a negative change for American Express Business Gold cardholders who use smaller advertising platforms or wireless providers.
Although the card will continue offering 4X Membership Rewards points in its two highest eligible spending categories, American Express is making two of those categories significantly more restrictive.
For businesses primarily advertising through Google, Meta, or Amazon, the impact may be minimal.
But for those relying on other advertising networks or wireless providers, the changes could mean losing tens of thousands of Membership Rewards points every year.
With the new restrictions arriving February 17, 2027, now is a good time to review your business expenses and decide whether the Business Gold Card will remain the best choice for your spending.
Will these changes affect your business spending, or do you primarily use the approved advertising and wireless providers? Let us know in the comments.
