The American Express® Gold Card and the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express are great options for earning rewards on everyday purchases.
The Amex Gold is a great card for earning points at restaurants, U.S. supermarkets, and flights booked directly with airlines. Cardholders can also enjoy up to $424 in annual credits and nice travel and purchase protections.
The Blue Cash Everyday offers 3% cash back on up to $6,000 per year in eligible purchases at U.S. supermarkets, U.S. online retailers, and U.S. gas stations, plus credits for eligible subcriptions.
This article will compare each card based on several factors to help you make an informed decision on which card is the best to add to your wallet.Full Reviews: American Express® Gold Card and Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express.
Overview: Amex Gold vs Blue Cash Everyday
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.
- 4x Points at U.S. Supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year, then 1x points)
- 4x Points at Restaurants Worldwide (up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1x points)
- Up to $424 in Annual Credits
- $325 Annual Fee (Rates and Fees)
- As High As $200 Cash Back. Find Out Your Offer. You may be eligible for as high as $200 cash back after spending $2,000 in purchases on your new Card in the first 6 months. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Cash back is received as Reward Dollars, redeemable for statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout. Terms Apply.
- 3% Cash Back at U.S. Supermarkets, U.S. Online Retail Purchases, & U.S. Gas Stations (each on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, 1% thereafter)
- 0% Intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months from the date of account opening. After that, a 19.49%-28.49% APR.
- No Annual Fee (rates & fees)
Welcome Bonuses
American Express Gold:
The Amex Gold currently offers the following welcome bonus:
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.
Blue Cash Everyday Amex:
The Blue Cash Everyday currently offers the following welcome bonus:
As High As $200 Cash Back. Find Out Your Offer. You may be eligible for as high as $200 cash back after spending $2,000 in purchases on your new Card in the first 6 months. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Cash back is received as Reward Dollars, redeemable for statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout. Terms Apply.
Earning Rewards
American Express Gold:
The Amex Gold earns Membership Rewards points and offers some very nice points multipliers to help you earn a lot of points:
- 5 points per dollar spent on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™ .
- 4 points per dollar on dining at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year (then 1x points).
- 4 points per dollar U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 per calendar year (then 1x points).
- 3 points per dollar on flights booked directly from the airline or booked on AmexTravel.com or via Amex Travel App™ .
- 2 points per dollar on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™ and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
- 1 point per dollar on all other eligible purchases.
Blue Cash Everyday Amex:
The Blue Cash Everyday earns cash back at the following rates:
- 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets;
- 3% cash back on U.S. online retail purchases;
- 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations; and
- 1% cash back on all other eligible purchases.
Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout. Additionally, the 3% back is capped at up to $6,000 per year in purchases in each category, followed by 1% back.
Winner:
The
wins simply because it earns higher rewards. Plus, Amex points are a valuable currency that can give you excellent redemption values, especially when you transfer them to airline partners.Card Benefits and Perks
American Express Gold:
The American Express Gold card offers the following benefits for its cardholders:
$120 Dining Credit:Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
$120 in Uber Cash: Get up to $10 monthly Uber Cash for U.S. Uber Eats orders and rides when you add your American Express Gold Card as a payment method. Your Uber Cash can be redeemed using any American Express card.
$100 Resy Credit: Get up to $50 semi-annually in statement credits after you pay with the Amex Gold to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. Enrollment is required.
$84 Dunkin’ Credit: You can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations.
Up to $100 in Hotel Credits: Take advantage of a $100 credit towards eligible charges at over 1,300 upscale hotels worldwide when you book The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App. Eligible charges vary by property. The Hotel Collection requires a two-night minimum stay.
No Foreign Transaction Fees (rates & fees): The Amex Gold’s lack of foreign transaction fees makes it an ideal choice for international purchases, especially considering you can earn 4 points per dollar at global restaurants (on the first $50,000 spent per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar).
Travel and Purchase Benefits
Trip Delay Insurance: When your trip is significantly delayed due to covered reasons like equipment failures or severe weather, this protection reimburses you for reasonable expenses including lodging, meals, toiletries, and medication. The coverage activates when you pay for travel with your card and extends to family members on the same itinerary, though you’ll need to seek reimbursement from the travel carrier first.*
Baggage Insurance Plan covers your baggage if it is lost, damaged, or stolen and you purchase your ticket with this card.*
Secondary Rental Car Insurance: This card provides backup protection for rental car damage or theft when you charge the full rental to your card.*
Extended Warranty Protection: When you purchase items with your credit card, you’ll get an extra year of warranty coverage on eligible items that have original manufacturer warranties of up to five years. This valuable perk means you can protect expensive electronics and appliances that come with longer manufacturer warranties without paying extra for store protection plans*
Return Protection allows cardholders to receive a refund for purchased items within a certain timeframe for items that merchants may not accept for return.*
ShopRunner Membership: As a cardholder, you’ll enjoy a complimentary ShopRunner membership, which provides free 2-day shipping and free returns at over 100 participating online retailers. This benefit can help frequent online shoppers save on shipping costs and streamline the return process.
Amex Offers: As an American Express cardholder, you can access Amex Offers. These targeted, limited-time promotions provide discounts or bonus points on purchases with select merchants. Offers are added to your card, and you’ll receive either a percentage or dollar amount back as a statement credit when you meet the offer terms. While offers vary and may not always align with your spending habits, this perk can be valuable when an offer matches your preferences.
* Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions, and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details.
Blue Cash Everyday Amex:
The Blue Cash Everyday offers the following benefits and perks:
0% Intro APR: Enjoy 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months from the date of account opening. After that, your APR will be a variable APR of 19.49%-28.49% APR.
Subscription Credit: Get up to a $7 monthly statement credit after using your enrolled Blue Cash Everyday® Card for a subscription purchase, including a bundle subscription purchase, at DisneyPlus.com, Hulu.com, or Stream.ESPN.com U.S. websites. Subject to auto-renewal.
Amex Offers: As an American Express cardholder, you can access Amex Offers. These targeted, limited-time promotions provide discounts or bonus points on purchases with select merchants. Offers are added to your card, and you’ll receive either a percentage or dollar amount back as a statement credit when you meet the offer terms. While offers vary and may not always align with your spending habits, this perk can be valuable when an offer matches your preferences.
ShopRunner Membership: As a cardholder, you’ll enjoy a complimentary ShopRunner membership, which provides free 2-day shipping and free returns at over 100 participating online retailers. This benefit can help frequent online shoppers save on shipping costs and streamline the return process.
Secondary Rental Car Insurance: This card provides backup protection for rental car damage or theft when you charge the full rental to your card.*
90-Day Purchase Protection: Your new purchases are covered against damage and theft for 90 days when you use your card. This protection helps safeguard your eligible items right from the moment you buy them.*
* Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions, and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details.
Winner:
The
wins this round. It offers various travel and purchase protections along with multiple annual credits.Value of the Annual Fees
American Express Gold:
The American Express Gold has a $325 annual fee (rates and fees), which is offset by up to $424 in annual credits, trip and purchase protections, and extra points on dining, flights, and U.S. supermarkets.
Blue Cash Everyday Amex:
The Amex Blue Cash Everyday Card has no annual fee (rates & fees). The card also offers several benefits that provide value, including statement credits for the Disney Bundle.
Winner:
The Blue Cash Everyday wins. It offers several benefits even without an annual fee. With the Gold card, you’d need to find ways to maximize its annual credits so you can offset its annual fee.
Redeeming Rewards
American Express Gold:
American Express Membership Rewards points shine brightest when you transfer them to airline and hotel partners. You can also book travel through Amex Travel at 1 cent per point, but transfers usually deliver far more value.
You can transfer Membership Rewards points to 16 airline partners: Aer Lingus AerClub, Aeromexico Rewards, Air Canada Aeroplan, Air France-KLM Flying Blue, ANA Mileage Club, Avianca LifeMiles, British Airways Club, Cathay, Delta SkyMiles, Emirates Skywards, Iberia Club, JetBlue TrueBlue, Qantas Frequent Flyer, Qatar Airways Privilege Club, Singapore KrisFlyer, and Virgin Atlantic Flying Club.
Three hotel partners round out the list: Choice Privileges, Hilton Honors, and Marriott Bonvoy.
Most transfers are 1:1, but a few aren't. Aeromexico transfers at 1:1.6, Cathay and Emirates at 5:4, JetBlue at 250:200, and Hilton at 1:2.
These partners span all three major airline alliances, so you can reach almost any route worldwide.
A few standout redemptions worth chasing:
- Fly Iberia business class to Madrid from 40,500 Avios each way on off-peak dates.
- Book Singapore's business or suites class on ultra-long-haul flights through KrisFlyer.
- Reach Europe on Flying Blue from 60,000 miles, with monthly Promo Rewards trimming prices further.
- Fly Qatar Airways' Qsuites from North America starting at 70,000 Avios.
- Book United Polaris business class to Europe for 50,000 miles through ANA.
Just confirm your award space before you move any points, since every transfer is irreversible.
Blue Cash Everyday Amex:
The Amex Blue Cash Everyday offers a straightforward approach to redeeming rewards. Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout.
This simple system allows you to easily apply your earnings to your account balance or make purchases on Amazon, giving you flexibility in how you use your rewards.
With no minimum redemption amount, you can use your cash back whenever you want, making it an ideal choice for those who prefer straightforward rewards over complex point systems.
Winner:
The
is the better option. Amex Points are very flexible. You can use them for travel, merchandise, gift cards, and even transfer them to more than 20 partner programs.The Verdict
Both the Amex Gold Card and the Blue Cash Everyday Card are great options for daily spending.
However, the
comes out on top with its multiple annual credits, solid welcome bonus, high rewards, and flexible redemption options.The Blue Cash Everyday is great for beginners since it has zero annual fees and has straightforward redemptions.
Which card are you going to choose?
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.
- 4x Points at U.S. Supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year, then 1x points)
- 4x Points at Restaurants Worldwide (up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1x points)
- Up to $424 in Annual Credits
- $325 Annual Fee (Rates and Fees)
- As High As $200 Cash Back. Find Out Your Offer. You may be eligible for as high as $200 cash back after spending $2,000 in purchases on your new Card in the first 6 months. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Cash back is received as Reward Dollars, redeemable for statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout. Terms Apply.
- 3% Cash Back at U.S. Supermarkets, U.S. Online Retail Purchases, & U.S. Gas Stations (each on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, 1% thereafter)
- 0% Intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months from the date of account opening. After that, a 19.49%-28.49% APR.
- No Annual Fee (rates & fees)
