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Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express

4.3/5

A five pointed starA five pointed starA five pointed starA five pointed starA five pointed star

Editor's Rating

Annual Fee

$95

Regular APR

15.49% - 25.49% Variable

A tooltip

Recommended Credit Score

Good to Excellent

Pros & Cons Chevron iconIt indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.

Pros

• Generous bonus rewards, especially at U.S. supermarkets
• One of a small handful of credit cards that offer bonus rewards on select streaming services
• Intro APR offer

Cons

• Unlike many other cash-back cards, it charges an annual fee
• If you spend more than $6,000 at US supermarkets each year, you'll want to use another card once you reach that cap

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More Information

• Earn a $350 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.
• Buy Now, Pay Later: Enjoy $0 intro plan fees when you use Plan It® to split up large purchases into monthly installments. Pay $0 plan fees on plans created during the first 12 months after account opening. Plans created after that will have a fixed monthly plan fee up to 1.33% of each purchase amount moved into a plan based on the plan duration, the APR that would otherwise apply to the purchase, and other factors.
• Low intro APR: 0% intro APR for 12 months on purchases from the date of account opening, then a variable rate, 15.49% to 25.49%
• 6% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%).
• 6% Cash Back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions.
• 3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations and on transit (including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more).
• 1% Cash Back on other purchases.
• Cash Back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit.
• $95 Annual Fee.
• Terms Apply.
• See Rates & Fees

Review: Is the Blue Cash Preferred the best card for you?

If you spend a lot on groceries, streaming , or commuting, the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express is one of the best cash-back credit cards for getting the biggest return for your purchases.

Along with offering a $350 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new card within the first 6 months from account opening, the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express earns 6% back on your first $6,000 in U.S. supermarket spending each year (then 1% back), which is the best of any cash-back card on the market . You'll also earn 6% cash back on select U.S. streaming services, 3% back on U.S. gas stations and transit, and 1% back on all other eligible purchases (cash back is earned in the form of Rewards Dollars). 

Read more: The best cash-back credit cards of 2021

The card does come with an annual fee of $95, but it's well worth it if your expenses match with the card's bonus categories. If you max out the U.S. supermarkets 6% cash-back category by spending $6,000 per year (or $500 a month, on average), you'd earn $360 in cash back from those purchases alone.

Before you decide if the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express is right for you, be sure to consider other cash-back cards with bonus categories that might also fit your spending habits. For example, the Chase Freedom Unlimited® offers a bonus of 1.5% cash back in addition to regular earning on everything you buy up to $20,000 spent in the first year (worth up to $300 cash back) and has a $0 annual fee, and it earns 5% back on travel booked through Chase, 3% back on dining and drugstores, and 1.5% back on everything else with no spending caps.

Bottom line: The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express is an excellent cash-back card for consumers who spend a lot of money at U.S. supermarkets, use streaming services, or have lots of commuting and gas expenses. The annual fee of $95 is worth it if your typical spending lines up with the card's bonus categories.

We're focused here on the rewards and perks that come with each card. These cards won't be worth it if you're paying interest or late fees. When using a credit card, it's important to pay your balance in full each month, make payments on time, and only spend what you can afford to pay.

Comparison: American Express Blue Cash Preferred vs other Amex cards

*6%/3% cash back/3x points at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 spent per year, then 1% back/1 point per dollar (cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars)

Comparison: American Express Blue Cash Preferred vs other cash-back cards

*6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 spent per year, then 1% back

How to use rewards from the Amex Blue Cash Preferred card

The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express is a straightforward cash-back credit card that doesn't offer a lot of options for redeeming your rewards.

Read more: Blue Cash Preferred versus Blue Cash Everyday: We compare two of the best Amex cards for cash back

The cash back you earn from the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express is issued in the form of reward dollars, which you can apply to your account as a statement credit once your balance is $25 or more. However, you can't use your rewards toward the minimum payment due.

You can't redeem your rewards directly for travel like you could if you had an American Express card that earns Membership Rewards points, like the American Express® Gold Card , or transfer them to airline or hotel partners.

Transferable points, like Amex Membership Rewards or Chase Ultimate Rewards, are a good pick if you want the flexibility to redeem rewards for statement credits, merchandise, gift cards, or travel (when you're ready).

If you prefer to only earn cash back, the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express is a star. Not only do you earn 6% back on your first $6,000 spent in U.S. supermarkets each year (then 1%), but you also earn 6% back (with no caps) on U.S. streaming services, including Hulu , Netflix , and Spotify. You'll also earn an unlimited 3% back at U.S. gas stations and on transit, which includes everything from Lyft and Uber to train fares, tolls, and subways.

Suppose you are the average family who spends a lot more than $6,000 per year (or $500 per month) at the supermarket. In fact, you spend $10,000 per year at Kroger or Whole Foods. With the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express, you would earn $360 in cash back on the first $6,000 you spent and another $40 back earning 1% beyond the $6,000 cap each year. That's $400 already in the bank.

Read more: I don't regret redeeming credit card rewards for cash back during the pandemic — here's why I'm sticking to this strategy in 2021

Now imagine you spend another $100 per month at U.S. gas stations — at 3% back, that's another $36 per year. Put $30 per month ($360 per year) in streaming services on the card, and you're approaching $500 per year — and that's not counting any other regular spending on the card or the $350 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new card within the first 6 months from account opening. This is why the annual fee is worth it — especially the first year.

If you maximize the 6% back at U.S. supermarkets, you'll get $360 in rewards every year at a bare minimum. That's more than enough to make up for the annual fee — and a lot more than you'd earn with a standard 1% cash-back credit card.

Alternatives to the Amex Blue Cash Preferred card

• Citi® Double Cash Card: $0 annual fee, 2% cash back on all purchases — 1% cash back when you buy, plus 1% cash back when you pay your bill (read our Citi Double Cash card review)
• Chase Freedom Flex℠: Earn a $200 after spending $500 on purchases in the first three months from account opening, $0 annual fee, 5% cash back on travel purchased through Ultimate Rewards, 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in purchases each quarter in rotating bonus categories when you activate, 3% cash back on dining and drugstore purchases, 1% cash back on everything else (read our Chase Freedom Flex card review)
• Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card : Earn a one-time $300 cash bonus once you spend $3,000 on purchases within 3 months, $95 annual fee, 4% cash back on dining and entertainment, 2% cash back at grocery stores, 1% cash back on all other purchases (read our Capital One Savor card review)

Amex Blue Cash Preferred card benefits and features

The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express doesn't offer a long list of features like The Platinum Card® from American Express and other premium cards, but it does offer a handful of helpful perks.

Intro APR offer

The card offers a 0% APR on purchases for the first 12 months of account opening, followed by a 15.49% - 25.49% Variable.

Read more: The best 0% APR and low-interest credit cards of 2021

This is helpful if you have big purchases coming up you'd like to pay for over time without racking up big interest charges, but make sure you have the means and a plan to pay off the balance before the introductory period expires. Otherwise, you may find yourself with a lot of high-interest debt.

Car rental loss and damage insurance

If you rent a car with the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express and decline the rental company's collision damage waiver, you'll receive secondary auto rental coverage. Some restrictions apply, so be sure to read the limitations. This is secondary coverage, not primary car rental insurance, so it kicks in after your own car insurance policy

Global Assist Hotline

Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express members who run into trouble while traveling can access Amex Global Assist Hotline for help with translation services, missing luggage, emergency legal and medical referrals, lost passport assistance, and more. The Global Assist Hotline will help arrange these services, but you're responsible for any third-party charges.

Return protection

If you purchase an eligible item with the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express and the original seller won't accept a return, this coverage can get you up to $300 per eligible item (with a maximum of $1,000 per calendar year) for up to 90 days from the purchase date.

Purchase protection

If an eligible item you purchased with the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express is stolen or damaged, you can get reimbursed, up to $1,000 per purchase and up to 90 days from the purchase date (up to $50,000 per calendar year).

Read more: The best credit cards for purchase protection

Extended warranty

When you purchase an eligible item with the card, you can get up to one additional year added to original manufacturer's warranties of five years or less (maximum coverage of $10,000 per item and $50,000 per account per calendar year).

Amex Offers

The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express offers access to the Amex Offers program. Amex Offers can get you cash back or bonus points when you shop with specific retailers and travel brands. You can view all your available offers by logging into your card account and scrolling down. Eligibility for this offer is limited. Enrollment is required in the Amex Offers section of your account before redeeming

Amex Offers are targeted and vary by customer (and even card account). Be sure to click "enroll" to activate an offer, and use the Amex card associated with it to make an eligible purchase and earn the bonus points or cash back.

Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express

4.3/5

A five pointed starA five pointed starA five pointed starA five pointed starA five pointed star

Editor's Rating

Annual Fee

$95

Regular APR

15.49% - 25.49% Variable

A tooltip

Recommended Credit Score

Good to Excellent

Pros & Cons Chevron iconIt indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.

Pros

• Generous bonus rewards, especially at U.S. supermarkets
• One of a small handful of credit cards that offer bonus rewards on select streaming services
• Intro APR offer

Cons

• Unlike many other cash-back cards, it charges an annual fee
• If you spend more than $6,000 at US supermarkets each year, you'll want to use another card once you reach that cap

Read Our Review Read Our ReviewA looong arrow, pointing right

Details Chevron iconIt indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.

More Information

• Earn a $350 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.
• Buy Now, Pay Later: Enjoy $0 intro plan fees when you use Plan It® to split up large purchases into monthly installments. Pay $0 plan fees on plans created during the first 12 months after account opening. Plans created after that will have a fixed monthly plan fee up to 1.33% of each purchase amount moved into a plan based on the plan duration, the APR that would otherwise apply to the purchase, and other factors.
• Low intro APR: 0% intro APR for 12 months on purchases from the date of account opening, then a variable rate, 15.49% to 25.49%
• 6% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%).
• 6% Cash Back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions.
• 3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations and on transit (including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more).
• 1% Cash Back on other purchases.
• Cash Back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit.
• $95 Annual Fee.
• Terms Apply.
• See Rates & Fees

American Express Blue Cash Preferred fees and costs

Aside from the annual fee, the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express has a few other fees you'll want to be aware of, though most of them are avoidable if you pay your balance off in full each month.

The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express offers an introductory 0% APR on purchases in the first 12 months of account opening, but after that, you'll pay a 15.49% - 25.49% Variable.

Read more: Using a 0% APR credit card can save you money on interest, but be sure to avoid these pitfalls that could hurt you in the long run

As with most other cards, the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express charges fees for late payments, returned payments, and cash advances. It's not a good choice for international purchases because it adds foreign transaction fees.

Holly Johnson is a credit card expert, award-winning writer, and mother of two who is obsessed with frugality, budgeting, and travel.