Choosing a new credit card is often a challenge, particularly as spending habits evolve and household budgets shift. Finding the right fit requires balancing immediate rewards with long-term value.
The American Express® Gold Card and the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express are two standout options for maximizing everyday purchases. Both cards offer strong ongoing earning potential and reward new cardholders with generous welcome offers upon meeting spend requirements. Notably, both cards excel at U.S. supermarkets — a primary spending category for most households. American Express is a CardRatings advertiser.
While these cards share similarities, such as tiered rewards on groceries, a side-by-side comparison reveals distinct differences in how they function. For instance, the Gold card is a unique hybrid that allows you to carry a balance for certain charges while offering a robust travel-and-dining rewards structure. We break down the full details below to help you decide which belongs in your wallet.
➤ SEE MORE:Best cash back credit cards
Amex Gold vs. Blue Cash Preferred®
American Express® Gold Card
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Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
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Annual Fee
AnnualFees
AnnualFees
New Cardholder Bonus Offer
You may be eligible for as high as signup_reward Membership Rewards® Points after you spend signup_bonus_spend_amount in eligible purchases in your first six months of card membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the card, your score may be impacted.
Apply and find out your welcome offer. As High As signup_reward cash back after you spend signup_bonus_spend_amount in purchases within the first six months of card membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply and, if approved, find out your offer amount and accept the card to get started. Once you spend signup_bonus_spend_amount within the first six months, you will receive your cash back in the form of Reward Dollars redeemable for statement credits or at Amazon.com checkout.
Rewards
Earn 4X points per $1 spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide (on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year), then 1X point; 4X points per $1 spent at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year) then 1X point; 3X points per $1 spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com; 2X points per $1 spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com; and 1X point per $1 spent on all other eligible purchases.
Earn 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in eligible purchases (then 1%); 6% cash back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions; 3% cash back at eligible U.S. gas stations and on transit (including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more) purchases; and 1% cash back on other purchases.
Intro 0% APR
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0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for intro_apr_duration from the date of account opening, then RegAPR
Foreign Transaction Fees
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foreign_fee in U.S. dollars
Travel Benefits
- $120 Uber Cash – add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. (when you select an American Express Card for your transaction). Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made at restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- Rental Car Insurance – when you use your card to pay for the entire rental and decline the collision damage waiver at the rental company counter, you can be covered for damage or theft of a rental vehicle in a covered territory.
- Dining Benefits – earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with your card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys locations (enrollment required).
- Hotel Credit up to $100 – explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. Eligible charges vary by property
- Car rental loss and damage insurance
- Access to Global Assist Hotline which provides coordination and assistance services such as lost passport replacement assistance, translation services, missing luggage assistance, and emergency legal and medical referrals when traveling more than 100 miles from home.
- Baggage insurance plan up to $1,250 for carry-on baggage and up to $500 for checked baggage.
- Enrollment required for select benefits.
- Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance – When you use your eligible card to reserve and pay for the entire eligible vehicle rental and decline the collision damage waiver at the rental car counter, you can be covered if the car is damaged or stolen.
- Global Assist Hotline – When you travel more than 100 miles from home, you have 24/7 access to medical, legal, financial or other select emergency coordination and assistance services, including medical and legal referrals, assistance with cash wires, passport replacement, missing luggage and more.
Purchase Protection
- Dispute resolution – if there is a fraudulent or incorrect charge on your statement, American Express will work with you to resolve the issue.
- Return Protection – With Return Protection, you may return eligible purchases to American Express if the seller won’t take them back up to 90 days from the date of purchase. American Express may refund the full purchase price, excluding shipping and handling, up to $300 per item, up to a maximum of $1,000 per calendar year per card account, if you purchased it entirely with your eligible American Express Card.
Account Protection
- Fraud Protection – When you use your American Express card, you won’t be held responsible for fraudulent charges. If you see a charge that you think is fraudulent, just call us at the number on the back of your card. There’s no deductible, so you can use your card with confidence.
- Fraud Protection – When you use your American Express card, you won’t be held responsible for fraudulent charges. If you see a charge that you think is fraudulent, just call us at the number on the back of your card. There’s no deductible, so you can use your card with confidence.
Amex Gold vs. Blue Cash Preferred®: Annual fees
When deciding on a new card, the annual fee can be a large factor in determining which card is right for you. Both the Blue Cash Preferred® Card and the Amex Gold’s annual fees are noteworthy in their differences.
The Blue Cash Preferred® card has a AnnualFees (See Rates and Fees)
This compares to a AnnualFees annual fee charged by the Gold card. (See Rates and Fees)
Both cards are packed with features that can help to justify the annual fees though. But, if your primary card evaluation criteria is based on the annual fee, the Blue Cash Preferred® card has the advantage in this area with a lower cost.
➤ LEARN MORE:Blue Cash Preferred review
Rewards earning rates
One benefit both cards share is the ability to earn tiered rewards, where specific categories earn at a higher rate than others. However, the cards differ significantly in which categories they prioritize.
The Blue Cash Preferred® Card is built for household essentials, earning:
- 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in eligible purchases (then 1%)
- 6% cash back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions
- 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations and on transit (including rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, and buses)
- 1% cash back on other eligible purchases
- Note: Cash back is received as Reward Dollars redeemable for statement credits or at Amazon.com checkout.
The American Express® Gold Card favors food and travel enthusiasts, earning:
- 4X points at restaurants worldwide (on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year), then 1X
- 4X points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year), then 1X
- 3X points on flights booked directly with airlines or via AmexTravel.com
- 2X points on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked through Amex Travel
- 1X point on all other eligible purchases
The right choice ultimately comes down to your lifestyle. If you find yourself binging streaming services, planning road trips, or focusing strictly on the weekly grocery run, the Blue Cash Preferred® Card likely offers the most direct value.
However, if you cook at home but also spend heavily on dining out and travel, the American Express® Gold Card provides higher earning potential in those broader categories and more flexible redemption options through Membership Rewards points.
➤ LEARN MORE:American Express Gold Card review
New cardholder welcome bonus offer
A welcome bonus alone shouldn’t be the only reason to apply for a card, but it is a significant factor in the first year’s value. Both cards currently feature strong offers, though they cater to different budget levels.
American Express® Gold Card
- The offer: Earn as high as signup_reward Membership Rewards® points
- The requirement: Spend signup_bonus_spend_amount on eligible purchases within the first six months of card membership
- Best for: Those who can meet a higher spend threshold to unlock premium travel rewards
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
- The offer: As high as signup_reward cash back (received as Reward Dollars)
- The requirement: Spend signup_bonus_spend_amount on purchases within the first six months of card membership
- Best for: Those looking for a more manageable spending requirement and immediate cash-back value
Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to find out your exact offer amount with no credit score impact; if you choose to accept the card after approval, your score may be impacted.
Frequently asked questions
Is Amex Gold worth the higher annual fee?
The Amex Gold is worth its AnnualFees annual fee if you can maximize the annual credits for dining and Uber, which can offset much of the cost. It is particularly valuable for high spenders in the restaurant and supermarket categories who prefer earning flexible travel rewards. (See Rates and Fees)
Is Amex Gold good for groceries?
Yes, it is one of the best cards for foodies, earning 4x Membership Rewards points at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 in purchases per year. This high earn rate makes it a powerhouse for building a significant travel point balance through routine grocery shopping.
Is Blue Cash Preferred® good for gas and streaming?
The Blue Cash Preferred® is an excellent choice for commuters and entertainment lovers, offering 6% cash back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions and 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations. These categories provide consistent, straightforward savings on essential monthly household expenses.
Are Amex Gold points worth more than cash back?
Amex Gold points (Membership Rewards) can be worth significantly more than 1 cent per point when transferred to airline or hotel partners for high-value bookings.
Can you use Amex Gold and Blue Cash Preferred® together?
While you can hold both, they belong to different reward ecosystems (points vs. cash back), so your earnings won’t pool together. Most users choose the Blue Cash Preferred® for its 6% back at U.S. supermarkets (up to $6,000 annually) and the Gold card for dining and larger grocery spends once that cap is reached.
Which card is better for families or household spending?
The Blue Cash Preferred® is often better for the average household due to its lower annual fee and high cash-back rates on gas, transit, and streaming. Families with very high grocery and dining budgets, or those who prioritize luxury travel, may find the Amex Gold more lucrative despite the higher upfront cost.
See Rates and Fees for the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express; See Rates and Fees for the American Express® Gold Card
