If you’re in the market for a new credit card, you’ve likely come across the Amex Gold vs Blue Cash Preferred cards. These two very popular American Express cards offer great signup bonuses and rewards, and can definitely be worth their annual fees!
However, there are a few differences between the two cards that you should consider before making a decision.
Our Take
Blue Cash Preferred is a great card for the average cardholder notably thanks to its 6% on groceries and streaming.
Big travelers and Uber customers may be able to justify the Gold’s $250 annual fee.
For more details, use our Amex Gold vs Blue Cash Preferred rewards calculator
Overview: Amex Gold vs Blue Cash Preferred
 Gold |
 Blue Cash Preferred |
|
| Annual Fee | $250 | $95 (waived the first year) |
| Signup Bonus | 60k points after spending $4,000 in the first 6 months of account opening | $300 after spending $3,000 in the first 6 months of account opening |
| Rewards | • 4X points at Restaurants • 4X points on Groceries (up to $25,000/year) • 3X points on Flights • 1X points on all other purchases |
• 6% cash back on Groceries (up to $6,000/year) • 6% cash back on Streaming • 3% on Transit • 3% on Gas • 1% cash back on all other purchases |
| Benefits | • $120 Dining Credit every year • $120 Uber Cash to Dine or Ride |
• $84 Disney Bundle Credit • $120 Equinox+ Credit |
Amex Gold vs Blue Cash Preferred Highlights
Great signup bonuses
Both cards offer generous sign up bonuses at this time. For the Blue Cash Preferred, you receive a $300 cash bonus after spending $3,000 in the 6 months following the account opening. For the Gold, you earn 60,000 points (worth at least $600) after spending $4,000 in the first 6 months.
A heavy $250 annual fee for Gold
With an annual fee of $250, the Amex Gold is one of the most expensive credit cards out there. While your Groceries or Dining spending could help break even, the 4X rewards is not extremely impressive. There are many credit cards offering 3X in these two categories with no annual fee. However, there are other ways to make it worth the fee by maximizing the value of the combined $120 dining credit and $120 Uber cash, or by taking advantage of Amex offers throughout the year.
Points vs Cash Back
An important consideration before choosing is your preferred redemption method. The Gold earns Amex Membership Rewards points, while the Blue Cash Preferred earn cash back.
Is 6% on groceries worth it for Preferred?
The Blue Cash Preferred offers 6% back on Groceries. This is an amazing rate in a category where people spend most of their money. However, be aware of the $6,000 yearly limit, after which your grocery spending only earns 1%. Depending on your typical grocery spending, it could make the $95 annual fee totally worth it.
To illustrate the break even points, let’s consider no annual fee with 3% on groceries as a baseline, since many credit cards offer that rate. The chart below shows that Blue Cash Preferred is worth the fee when your average grocery spending lays between $300 and $850/month.
Run the numbers for your spending
To determine which card is right for you, you’ll need to consider your spending habits and how much you’re willing to pay for an annual fee. To make an informed decision, you can use our cash back calculator, which allows you to input your estimated monthly spending on various categories to determine which card will earn you the most cash back.
Sample result of Gold vs Blue Cash Preferred calculator for average spending
Which card should you choose?
Overall, the Blue Cash Preferred is a solid choice for an average everyday spending like groceries, gas and streaming. For very low or very high budgets, there are better alternatives that earn up to 5% cash back with no annual fees.
Amex Gold’s annual fee is high, but can be worth it by taking advantage of the large signup bonus and Dining/Uber benefits. If you don’t already spend in those categories, you might find it difficult to justify the high annual fee.
For a clear answer based on your specific spending, use our Gold vs Blue Cash Preferred rewards calculator to run the numbers and settle the debate!