Blue Cash Preferred Card vs American Express Gold Card
Fees, rewards and real yearly value, side by side. Updated October 29, 2026.
Blue Cash Preferred Card
Estimated value every year on typical spending
$607/ year
Every year, after the annual fee. Year one adds a $300 welcome bonus: $907
American Express Gold Card
Estimated value every year on typical spending
$332/ year
Every year, after the annual fee. Year one adds a $800 welcome bonus: $1,132
The short answer
- On typical spending, the American Express Blue Cash Preferred Card comes out ahead: about $607 a year after its fee, against $332 for the American Express Gold Card.
- In the first year the welcome bonus flips it: the American Express Gold Card is worth about $1,132 in year one.
- The American Express Blue Cash Preferred Card earns more on groceries, gas, travel, everything else.
- The American Express Gold Card earns more on dining.
- The American Express Blue Cash Preferred Card costs $230 less a year to hold.
Side by side
| Blue Cash Preferred Card | American Express Gold Card | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $95 | $325 |
| Rewards | 6% cash back on eligible purchases at U.S. supermarkets, on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%); 6% cash back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions | 4X points at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets; 5X points on prepaid hotels booked through AmexTravel.com; 3X points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com or directly with airlines |
| Welcome bonus | $300 Cash Back after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership. | 100,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $8,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership. |
| Credits counted | $42/yr | $148/yr |
| Intro APR | 0% for the first 12 months | Not listed |
| Regular APR | 19.74% to 28.74% variable | 19.74% to 28.74% variable |
| Foreign transaction fee | 2.7% | None |
| Credit needed | Good/Excellent | Good/Excellent |
Yearly rewards by category
| Category (monthly spend) | Blue Cash Preferred Card | American Express Gold Card |
|---|---|---|
| groceries ($500) | $360 | $192 |
| dining ($400) | $48 | $154 |
| gas ($200) | $72 | $19 |
| travel ($300) | $36 | $29 |
| everything else ($1,200) | $144 | $115 |
Yearly value is rewards plus credits you'd realistically use, minus the annual fee, on $2,600/month: $500 groceries, $400 dining, $200 gas, $300 travel, $1,200 everything else. Points use conservative cash values; store-only rewards count at half. How we rank · Use your own spending
Questions people ask
Which is better, the American Express Blue Cash Preferred Card or the American Express Gold Card?
On typical spending the American Express Blue Cash Preferred Card is worth more: about $607 a year after its fee, against $332 for the American Express Gold Card. Which is better for you depends on where you spend most; see the category answers below.
Which has the lower annual fee?
The American Express Blue Cash Preferred Card ($95 a year, against $325).
Which is better for groceries?
The American Express Blue Cash Preferred Card. On $500 a month of groceries it earns about $360 a year, against $192 with the American Express Gold Card.
Which is better for dining?
The American Express Gold Card. On $400 a month of dining it earns about $154 a year, against $48 with the American Express Blue Cash Preferred Card.
Which is better for travel?
The American Express Blue Cash Preferred Card. On $300 a month of travel it earns about $36 a year, against $29 with the American Express Gold Card.
Which is better for gas?
The American Express Blue Cash Preferred Card. On $200 a month of gas it earns about $72 a year, against $19 with the American Express Gold Card.
Put any two cards head to head.
Pick any cards, including ones you already hold, and compare them on your own spending.
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Card details are collected from issuer websites and were last refreshed October 29, 2026. Terms change often; confirm them with the issuer before you apply.