The Amex Gold wins for households that dine out regularly and can realistically use both monthly credits. The Blue Cash Preferred wins for cash-back-focused households spending under $10,000 per year on groceries who want a straightforward card without credit tracking.
Both cards earn strong rewards at U.S. supermarkets. But the similarity stops there.
Quick Comparison
| Amex Gold | Blue Cash Preferred | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $325 (effective ~$85 with credits) | $95 (waived year 1) |
| U.S. supermarkets | 4x points, $25K/yr cap | 6% cash back, $6K/yr cap |
| Dining | 4x points (no cap) | 1% cash back |
| Streaming | 1x | 6% cash back |
| Gas stations | 1x | 3% cash back |
| Transit | 1x | 3% cash back |
| Rewards type | Transferable MR points | Statement credits |
| Rates verified | March 2026 | March 2026 |
American Express Gold Card
The Gold Card earns 4x Membership Rewards points at U.S. restaurants with no cap, and 4x at U.S. supermarkets up to $25,000 per year (then 1x). That grocery cap is generous enough that only households spending more than $2,083 per month at supermarkets would ever hit it.
The $325 annual fee shrinks considerably once you account for the two monthly credits:
- $120 Uber Cash ($10/month, valid for Uber rides or Uber Eats)
- $120 dining credit ($10/month at Grubhub, Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Milk Bar)
Both credits require monthly activation and use at specific merchants. If you reliably use both each month, the effective annual fee drops to around $85. Miss months regularly and the real cost climbs back toward the sticker price.
Membership Rewards points transfer 1:1 to more than a dozen airline and hotel programs. At two cents per point or better on business class awards, 4x on dining is effectively 8% or higher for cardholders who travel. That potential is what separates the Gold from any flat-rate cash-back card.
Best for: Consistent restaurant-goers who also buy groceries at supermarkets, travel at least once a year, and can reliably use both monthly credits each month.
Not for: Households that rarely eat out, anyone who wants simple cash back without credit tracking, or cardholders who won’t use the Uber Cash or dining credit consistently.
Blue Cash Preferred from American Express
The Blue Cash Preferred earns 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets, capped at $6,000 per year (then 1%), and 6% on select U.S. streaming services with no cap. It also earns 3% at U.S. gas stations and on transit (taxis, rideshare, buses, trains, tolls, parking).
The grocery cap is the critical number to understand. At $6,000 per year, you earn a maximum of $360 in grocery cash back. Once you cross $6,000 in supermarket spend, the rate drops to 1% for the rest of the year.
Key exclusions: Costco, Walmart, Target, and warehouse clubs do not qualify as supermarkets and earn only 1%. If those stores represent a significant share of your food budget, the BCP’s effective grocery rate will fall below 6%.
The $95 annual fee is waived in year one, giving you a full year to verify the card earns its keep. At 6% on groceries, you break even on the fee at $1,584 in qualifying supermarket spend. Most households hit that within a few months.
Cash back comes as statement credits, not transferable points. No portals, no partners, no tracking.
Best for: Households spending under $10,000 per year at supermarkets who want consistent cash back without credit juggling, streaming-heavy households, and commuters spending on gas and transit.
Not for: Frequent restaurant diners (BCP earns only 1% on dining), households spending over $10,000 per year at supermarkets (Gold becomes more valuable at that level), or anyone interested in airline and hotel point transfers.
The Grocery Math
The grocery cap comparison is where most households should start their decision.
For a household spending $500/month on groceries ($6,000/year):
- BCP: 6% on $6,000 = $360 in cash back
- Gold: 4x on $6,000 = 24,000 points (worth $240 at 1 cent each, up to $480 for travel at 2 cents per point)
At that spending level, BCP wins on pure grocery value if you redeem Gold points at 1 cent each. Transfer to an airline partner at 2 cents per point and the math reverses.
For a household spending $1,000/month on groceries ($12,000/year):
- BCP: 6% on $6,000, then 1% on $6,000 = $360 + $60 = $420
- Gold: 4x on $12,000 = 48,000 points ($480 at 1 cent each, $960 at 2 cents per point)
Gold pulls ahead at roughly $10,000 per year in supermarket spend at 1 cent per point. For households at that level, the annual fee gap between the two cards also narrows: Gold’s effective $85 versus BCP’s $95 is a $10 difference, not $230.
The Dining Difference
On dining, the Gold Card wins clearly. BCP earns 1% at restaurants. Gold earns 4x.
On $300/month in dining ($3,600/year):
- BCP: 1% = $36
- Gold: 4x = 14,400 points ($144 at 1 cent each, $288 at 2 cents per point)
For households spending $200 or more per month at restaurants, Gold’s dining advantage alone covers the fee difference between the two cards.
Can You Hold Both?
Yes. Many households use the Gold for restaurants and the BCP for supermarket purchases under the $6,000 cap. This pairing works well for households where dining and grocery spend are both significant: Gold leads on restaurants, BCP handles everyday supermarket runs until the cap is hit, and Gold picks up grocery spend above $6,000 at 4x.
Bottom Line
Choose the Blue Cash Preferred if you want straightforward cash back on groceries and streaming, spend under $10,000 per year at supermarkets, and rarely eat out. The fee math is simple: 6% on groceries, no credit juggling required.
Choose the Amex Gold if you dine out regularly, can reliably use both monthly credits, and would benefit from transferable points toward flights. The higher sticker price is softened by $240 in credits that cost you nothing if you were going to spend that money anyway.
All rates are verified as of March 2026. Confirm current terms at AmericanExpress.com before applying.
FAQ
Q: Does the Amex Gold earn 4x at Costco?
A: No. Costco codes as a warehouse club, not a U.S. supermarket. Amex Gold earns 1x at Costco. BCP also earns 1% at Costco. Neither card is optimized for warehouse club spending.
Q: What streaming services earn 6% on the Blue Cash Preferred?
A: Select U.S. streaming services including Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, ESPN+, Spotify, Apple TV+, and others. Check current BCP terms for the full list. International streaming services may not qualify.
Q: Does BCP earn 6% on food delivery like Grubhub or DoorDash?
A: No. Food delivery services code as restaurants, not supermarkets, and earn only 1% on the BCP. If food delivery is a significant spend category, the Amex Gold’s 4x at restaurants (which includes delivery orders) is the better card.
Q: What is the Amex Gold grocery cap?
A: $25,000 per year at U.S. supermarkets, then 1x. Most households will not reach this cap. Rates verified March 2026.
Q: What is the Amex dining credit on the Gold Card?
A: $10 per month ($120 per year) at a specific list of restaurants: Grubhub, Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Milk Bar. The credit does not work at random restaurants. Enrollment is required and must be done through your Amex account. Unused monthly credit does not roll over.