Is the Amex Gold card better than the Amex Blue Cash Preferred card?

Neither card is better than the other, but rather each is built with a certain demographic in mind. Those who prefer a cash-back card and frequently spend at supermarkets, streaming, gas, and transit purchases should go for the Amex Blue Cash Preferred card. Those who prefer a card that earns flexible rewards, offers bonus categories for dining, supermarkets, and airfare, and includes a monthly dining credit and monthly Uber Cash credit should go for the Amex Gold card.

How soon can you upgrade cards with American Express?

Due to the CARD Act of 2009, credit issuers are not able to increase the annual fee on your card if it has been open for a period of less than 1 year, even at your request. This means any card you wish you upgrade must have been open for at least 1 year first.

Does American Express pull your credit for an upgrade?

No, American Express does not perform a hard pull on your credit when upgrading your card. This means a new inquiry will not be added to your credit report.

Can You Upgrade the Amex Blue Cash Preferred Card to the Amex Gold Card? [2025]

Updated: October 17, 2025, 4:37am CDT

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Table of Contents

The Short Answer
Comparing the Benefits of Each Card
Final Thoughts

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When it comes to American Express cards, both the Blue Cash Preferred^® Card from American Express and the American Express^® Gold Card are top-notch options that can be a valuable addition to your wallet.

You’ve probably noticed that the Amex Blue Cash Preferred card is focused on cash-back, while the Amex Gold card earns Amex Membership Rewards points that are more travel-focused. But if you’re trying to decide which card is the better option for you, there’s more to consider than just that.

The Short Answer

If you have the Amex Blue Cash Preferred card and think the Amex Gold card would be a better fit for you, you should know that it is not possible to upgrade the Amex Blue Cash Preferred card to the Amex Gold card.

If you want to add the Amex Gold card to your wallet, you need to apply for the Amex Gold card outright and cancel your Amex Blue Cash Preferred card. Or you could keep both cards open to take advantage of their different perks and bonus categories.

Comparing the Benefits of Each Card

Amex Gold vs Blue Cash Preferred Upgraded Points LLC — Image Credit: Upgraded Points

If you’re trying to decide which card is a better option for you, here’s a look at the top benefits of each card.

Amex Blue Cash Preferred Card Benefits

GREAT FOR CASH BACK

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Blue Cash Preferred^® Card from American Express

U.P. Rating

This card is great for those who want to earn cash-back with U.S. supermarkets, U.S. streaming subscriptions, transit, and U.S. gas stations.

Apply Now(at Amex's secure site)

Apply With Confidence

Know if you're approved with no credit score impact

If you're approved and accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.

Blue Cash Preferred^® Card from American Express

This card is great for those who want to earn cash-back with U.S. supermarkets, U.S. streaming subscriptions, transit, and U.S. gas stations.

Welcome OfferEarn a $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.
$250

UP's Offer Valuation*:
$250

Annual Fee

$0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.

APR

19.74%-28.74% Variable,0% on purchases for 12 months

Credit Recommended

Good to Excellent

Why We Like This Card

The Blue Cash Preferred^® Card from American Express is a stellar cash-back credit card for those looking to maximize every purchase they make.

With bonus categories like U.S. supermarkets, select U.S. streaming services, U.S. gas stations, and transit purchases, this card rewards you for the items you spend the most on in a big way! For those looking to earn up to 6% cash-back on their purchases, this could be the card for you!

Pros & Cons

Pros

6% cash-back at U.S. supermarkets (up to $6,000 per year)
6% cash-back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions
3% cash-back on U.S. gas stations and transit (including rideshares, parking, etc.)

Cons

$0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95 annual fee (rates and fees)

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

Earn a $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.
$0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.
Low Intro APR: 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 12 months from the date of account opening. After that, your APR will be a variable APR of 19.74% - 28.74%.
Plan It^®: Buy now, pay later with Plan It. Split purchases of $100 or more into equal monthly installments with a fixed fee so you don’t have the pressure of paying all at once. Simply select the purchase in your online account or the American Express^® App to see your plan options. Plus, you’ll still earn rewards on purchases the way you usually do.
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. Cash Back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit and at Amazon.com checkout.
Get up to a $10 monthly statement credit after using your enrolled Blue Cash Preferred^® Card for a subscription purchase, including a bundle subscription purchase, at disneyplus.com, Hulu.com, or Plus.espn.com U.S. websites. Subject to auto-renewal.
Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

APR: 19.74%-28.74% Variable,0% on purchases for 12 months
Foreign Transaction Fees: 2.7% of each transaction after conversion to US dollars.

Rewards Center

Redeem cash-back through your American Express account

The Amex Blue Cash Preferred card is a strong cash-back earner thanks to its 4 bonus categories. It also offers multiple credits that extend value to cardmembers:

6% cash-back on groceries on up to $6,000 per year in purchases at U.S. supermarkets
6% cash-back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions
3% cash-back on transit, including taxis, rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses, and more
3% cash-back on gas at U.S. gas stations
Up to a $10 monthly statement credit after using your enrolled Blue Cash Preferred Card for a subscription purchase, including a bundle subscription purchase, at Disneyplus.com, Hulu.com, or Plus.espn.com U.S. websites. Subject to auto-renewal
Travel and purchase protections

Bottom Line: If a decent portion of your monthly budget falls within the 4 bonus categories and you already have a subscription to Disney Streaming, the Amex Blue Cash Preferred card might be a no-brainer for you.

Amex Gold Card Benefits

NEW OFFER

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

American Express^® Gold Card

U.P. Rating

This is the best card for food lovers who dine out at restaurants (worldwide), order take-out and want big rewards at U.S. supermarkets!

Apply Now(at Amex's secure site)

Apply With Confidence

Know if you're approved with no credit score impact

If you're approved and accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.

American Express^® Gold Card

This is the best card for food lovers who dine out at restaurants (worldwide), order take-out and want big rewards at U.S. supermarkets!

Welcome OfferYou may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 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.
As High As 100,000 Points. Find Out Your Offer.

UP's Offer Valuation*:
Up to   $2,200

Annual Fee

$325

APR

See Pay Over Time APR

Credit Recommended

Good to Excellent

Why We Like This Card

The American Express^® Gold Card is a game-changer.

With this card, you can earn 4x Membership Rewards points at restaurants, up to $50,000 per calendar year, and you’ll also earn 4x Membership Rewards points at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 per calendar year, then 1x.

There isn’t another card on the market that offers a 1-2 punch like this. Of course, there are several other benefits of the Gold Card as well, including extra monthly dining rewards and more.

Pros & Cons

Pros

4x points per dollar at restaurants worldwide, up to $50,000 per calendar year; then 1x thereafter
4x points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets, up to $25,000 per calendar year; then 1x thereafter
3x points per dollar on flights purchased directly from airlines or at AmexTravel.com

Cons

$325 annual fee (rates and fees)
No lounge access

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards^® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 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.
Earn 4X Membership Rewards^® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
Earn 4X Membership Rewards^® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
Earn 3X Membership Rewards^® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
Earn 2X Membership Rewards^® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
Earn 1X Membership Rewards^® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
$120 Uber Cash on Gold: 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. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards^® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
$84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $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. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
$100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express^® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
$120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express^® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
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.
No Foreign Transaction Fees.
Annual Fee is $325.
Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

APR: See Pay Over Time APR
Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

American Express Membership Rewards

The Amex Gold card offers a great combination of perks and bonus categories and is especially geared toward foodies:

4x points at restaurants worldwide (up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1x thereafter)
4x points at U.S. supermarkets, up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1x thereafter
3x points on flights purchased directly from airlines or at AmexTravel.com
Access to Amex’s The Hotel Collection
Up to $120 annual dining credit: Up to $10 monthly statement credit when you pay with the Amex Gold card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys (enrollment required)
Up to $120 annual Uber Cash credit
$100 Resy Credit: $100 annual statement credit ($50 semi-annually), redeemable at any U.S. Resy restaurant and other eligible Resy purchases. Enrollment required through your Amex account.
Dunkin’ Credit: $84 annual statement credit (up to $7/month), redeemable at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
No foreign transaction fees (rates & fees)
Travel and purchase protections

Bottom Line: If you’re a food lover looking for a card with points geared toward travel and know you can get good value out of the annual dining credit and annual Uber Cash credit, then the Amex Gold card would be well worth a spot in your wallet.

Benefits Comparison

Here is a head-to-head comparison of the Amex Blue Cash Preferred card and the Amex Gold card to help you determine which card is a better fit for you:

SCROLL FOR MORE

Benefit	Amex Blue Cash Preferred Card	Amex Gold Card
Supermarket Purchases	6% back on up to $6,000 in purchases per year*	4x points per $1 on up to $25,000 in purchases per year*
Select U.S. Streaming Purchases	6% back	1x
Transit	3% back	1x
U.S. Gas Stations	3% back	1x
Dining Purchases	1% back	4x up to $50,000 per calendar year
Airfare Purchases	1% back	3x
Up to $10 monthly statment credit for Disney Streaming	X	–
Rental Car Insurance	Secondary: $50,000	Secondary: $50,000
Return Protection	Within 90 days of purchase, coverage is up to $300 per item and a maximum of $1,000 per calendar year	–
Up to $120 Annual Dining Credit	–	X
Up to $120 Annual Uber Cash	–	X
Foreign Transaction Fees	2.7% (rates & fees)	$0 (rates & fees)
Baggage Insurance	–	$1,250 per person
Trip Delay Insurance	–	$300 per trip, for delays longer than 12 hours
Purchase Protection	Up to $1,000 per item, and $50,000 per year	Up to $10,000 per item, and $50,000 per year
Extended Warranty Protection	Up to $10,000 per item, and $50,000 per year	Up to $10,000 per item, and $50,000 per year
American Express Hotel Collection	–	X
Annual Fee	$0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95 (rates & fees)	$325 (rates & fees)

* If you value Amex Membership Rewards points at greater than 1.5 cents per point, or spend far more than $6,000 on groceries each year, then the Amex Gold card offers the better return on groceries; if not then the Amex Blue Cash Preferred card is the better choice.

Deciding which card is best for you largely comes down to your spending habits and the perks you’re looking for. The Amex Blue Cash Preferred card would be a better option if you want a cash-back credit card with great bonus categories allowing you to earn 3% to 6% back.

On the other hand, if you’re looking for a card that offers flexible redemption options, is food-focused with dining and supermarket bonus categories, and offers several lifestyle and travel perks and protections, then the Amex Gold card might be the better fit for you.

Final Thoughts

It isn’t possible to upgrade the Amex Blue Cash Preferred card to the Amex Gold card. If you decide that the Amex Gold card is a better fit for you then you’ll need to apply for it as a new account.

On the bright side, this allows you to earn the welcome offer as a new applicant on the Amex Gold card. If you choose, you can keep your Amex Blue Cash Preferred card open to take advantage of its bonus categories and benefits, making a strong card combo.

For the baggage insurance plan benefit of the American Express^® Gold Card, baggage insurance plan coverage can be in effect for eligible persons for eligible lost, damaged, or stolen baggage during their travel on a common carrier (e.g. plane, train, ship, or bus) when the entire fare for a common carrier vehicle ticket for the trip (one-way or round-trip) is charged to an eligible account. Coverage can be provided for up to $1,250 for carry-on baggage and up to $500 for checked baggage, in excess of coverage provided by the common carrier (e.g. plane, train, ship, or bus). For New York State residents, there is a $10,000 aggregate maximum limit for all covered persons per covered trip. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.

For the car rental loss and damage insurance benefit of the Blue Cash Preferred^® Card from American Express and the American Express^® Gold Card, car rental loss and damage insurance can provide coverage up to $50,000 for theft of or damage to most rental vehicles when you use your eligible card to reserve and pay for the entire eligible vehicle rental and decline the collision damage waiver or similar option offered by the commercial car rental company. This product provides secondary coverage and does not include liability coverage. Not all vehicle types or rentals are covered. geographic restrictions apply. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.

For the extended warranty benefit of the Blue Cash Preferred^® Card and the American Express^® Gold Card, when an American Express® card member charges a covered purchase to an eligible card, extended warranty can provide up to one extra year added to the original manufacturer’s warranty. Applies to warranties of five (5) years or less. Coverage is up to the actual amount charged to your card for the item up to a maximum of $10,000; not to exceed $50,000 per card member account per calendar year. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.

For the purchase protection benefit of the Blue Cash Preferred^® Card and the American Express^® Gold Card, when an American Express® card member charges a covered purchase with their eligible card, purchase protection can help protect their covered purchases for up to 90 days from the covered purchase date if it is stolen or accidentally damaged. The coverage is limited up to $1,000 per occurrence, up to $50,000 per card member account per calendar year. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.

For the return protection benefit of the Blue Cash Preferred^® Card, eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details.

For the trip delay insurance benefit of the American Express^® Gold Card, up to $300 per covered trip that is delayed for more than 12 hours; and 2 claims per eligible card per 12 consecutive month period. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.