Blue Cash Preferred from American Express Card: Big Cash Back, Small Annual Fee
Blue Cash Preferred from American Express Card Review
The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express is one of the most rewarding credit cards for everyday spending.
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Quick facts
More details
Rates & fees
- Credit needed: 660 - 850
- Welcome offer: Earn a $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months. Redeemable for statement credits.
- Earning rate: 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. Terms apply. Cash back redeemable for statement credits.
- Annual fee: $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.
- Intro APR offer: 0% on purchases for 12 months from the date of account opening, then 18.74%-29.74% Variable APR.
- Foreign transaction fee: 2.7% of each transaction after conversion to US dollars.
Quick facts
- Credit needed: 660 - 850
- Welcome offer: Earn a $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months. Redeemable for statement credits.
- Earning rate: 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. Terms apply. Cash back redeemable for statement credits.
- Annual fee: $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.
- Intro APR offer: 0% on purchases for 12 months from the date of account opening, then 18.74%-29.74% Variable APR.
- Foreign transaction fee: 2.7% of each transaction after conversion to US dollars.
More details
- Earn a $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.
- $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.
- Buy Now, Pay Later: Enjoy $0 intro plan fees when you use Plan It® to split up large purchases into monthly installments. Pay $0 intro plan fees on plans created during the first 12 months from the date of account opening. Plans created after that will have a monthly plan fee up to 1.33% of each eligible 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% for 12 months on purchases from the date of account opening, then a variable rate, 18.74% to 29.74%
- 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.
- Get $7 back each month after using your Blue Cash Preferred Card to spend $12.99 or more each month on an eligible subscription to The Disney Bundle, which includes Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+. Enrollment required.
- Terms Apply.
Rates & fees
- Intro Purchase APR: 0% on purchases for 12 months
- Regular Purchase APR: 18.74%-29.74% Variable
- Intro BT APR: 0% on balance transfers for 12 months
- Regular BT APR: 18.74%-29.74% Variable
- Annual Fee: $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.
- Foreign Transaction Fee: 2.7% of each transaction after conversion to US dollars.
- Balance Transfer Fee: Either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
- See rates and fees
For rates and fees of Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express, please click here.
Pros
Cons
Is the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express worth it?
First Year Savings
$693 ?When you take into account the generous welcome offer and the potential earnings, the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express can definitely be worth it — especially in the first year. We estimate that average cardholder can earn around $693 in value in the first year. Cardholders can earn even more, especially if they max out the grocery category ($6,000 will earn you $360 in cash back).
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express review
One of our favorite cash back cards for everyday spending, the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express is a great option for most consumers. The card comes with lucrative earning rates in everyday spending categories: 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. Terms apply. This card is great for families and consumers who regularly spend in these categories.
Beyond the earning rate, the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express also comes with a generous welcome offer and a low interest intro APR, which can be useful for those who need a little extra buffer when paying their card. While there are plenty of other great cash back cards out there, the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express is one of the best for daily spending categories.
Welcome offer
When you’re approved for the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express, you’ll have the opportunity to Earn a $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.
This is an extremely generous offer, and it's attainable for the average consumer, since you have a full six months to meet the moderate spending threshold.
What's it worth? $250 in cash back in the form of a statement credit.
Who's eligible to earn this offer? This offer isn’t available to current and previous cardholders. Your account must be open and not past due at the time the statement credit is posted. American Express also reserves the right to withhold your welcome offer if they determine you’ve abused or misused the system in regards to your offer, if you cancel or downgrade your card within 12 months of opening it or cancel or return purchases you made to reach the spending threshold.
Earning rate
The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express offers an exceptionally high rewards rate on several categories that make up a good part of many consumers' budgets.
You earn 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. Terms apply.
Rewards can be redeemed as statement credits toward your purchases.
- 6% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%). This rewards rate is one of the highest bonus percentages we’ve seen for this category. While the 6% can only be earned on the first $6,000 of U.S. supermarket spending in the year, it’s still an excellent rate for U.S. supermarket purchases compared to other credit cards.
- 6% Cash Back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions. In the age of Netflix, Hulu and the endless other available streaming options, there's no question most U.S. consumers will benefit from this high earning rate.
- 3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations and on transit (including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more). This is an above average earning rate in this category and will likely be useful for most people.
- 1% Cash Back on other purchases. Terms apply.
Who is the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express best for?
The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express is best for families who spend heavily at U.S. supermarkets, as well as regular consumers who could benefit from cash back on U.S. streaming subscriptions, U.S. gas stations and transit. This card is not ideal for those looking for a travel rewards card, as the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express charges foreign transaction fees and offers few perks that can be used outside the U.S.
Redeeming rewards
You will earn cash back in the form of Blue Cash Reward Dollars, which can then be redeemed as a statement credit whenever your reward dollars balance is $25 or more. Note that you cannot redeem cash back to pay your card balance.
Because there’s only one option for redeeming your rewards with this card, you lose the opportunity to maximize their value by transferring them to a transfer partner or redeeming for travel. However, you know you're getting a strong value for your rewards with cash back, which is straightforward, valuable and can be used for anything you like.
Travel and purchase protections
The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express offers several travel and purchase protections, which help to sweeten the deal.
Return Protection: Return Protection* will cover eligible purchases if the merchant won’t accept the return up to 90 days from the date of purchase. American Express may refund up to $300 per item, up to $1,000 per year per account.
*With Return Protection, you may return eligible purchases to American Express if the seller won't take them back up to 90 days from the date of purchase. American Express may refund the full purchase price excluding shipping and handling, up to $300 per item, up to a maximum of $1,000 per calendar year per Card account, if you purchased it entirely with your eligible American Express® Card. Purchases must be made in the U.S. or its territories. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details.
Purchase Protection: Purchase Protection* covers eligible items for 90 days if they’re stolen or damaged. American Express covers up to $1,000 per covered purchase and up to $50,000 per eligible card. Amex also offers dispute resolution, so if there are fraudulent charges on your account, it'll work with you to resolve the issue.
*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.
Shoprunner membership: Shoprunner earns you free two day shipping and returns on eligible items from over 100 retailers, like Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus (enrollment required).
Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance: Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance* provides secondary coverage when you use your card for the entire rental and decline coverage offered by the rental company. Exclusions and restrictions apply.
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.
Global Assist Hotline: Global Assist Hotline* offers cardholders access to travel assistance both before you leave and when you travel more than 100 miles from home.
*You can rely on Global Assist Hotline 24 hours a day / 7 days a week for medical,legal, financial or other select emergency coordination and assistance services while traveling more than 100 miles away from your home. Third-party service costs may be your responsibility. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Card Members are responsible for the costs charged by third-party service providers.
Low intro APR on purchases
One of the top features of the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express is its low APR offer: 0% on purchases for 12 months from the date of account opening, then a 18.74%-29.74% Variable APR applies. While we always recommend paying off your monthly balance on time and in full to avoid falling into debt, an intro APR offer can give you a little buffer if you need a bit of extra time paying off your bills.
Other benefits
American Express Experiences offers exclusive access to ticket presales and cardmember-only events. These include concerts, sporting events, Broadway shows and more.
Cardholders can receive up to a $120 Equinox+ credit annually when you purchase your membership with your Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express (enrollment required). You can receive up to a total of $10 in statement credits each month towards your membership fees. This can be a great way to save on your Equinox membership.
The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express allows you to "Pay It," by paying the full amount of purchases under $100, or "Plan It," by creating up to 10 payment plans to pay off larger payments. This gives cardholders more flexibility when it comes to paying off their monthly bill.
Drawbacks
- Charges foreign transaction fees. A major drawback of the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express is that it charges a foreign transaction fee of 2.7% of each transaction after conversion to US dollars. For this reason, we wouldn't recommend the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express as a travel card, and instead suggest using another card when spending time abroad. For domestic use, however, this card is a top choice.
- High credit score needed for approval. The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express requires a 660 - 850 credit score for approval, which can make it difficult to obtain if your score is lower than that.
Alternatives to the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
We've picked out a few other top cash back credit cards to help you pick the right card for your wallet.
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Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express vs. Discover it® Cash Back
Verdict: A great choice for 5% back on rotating categories
Though the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express offers higher rates of cash back on consistent categories, the Discover it® Cash Back Card is a solid option if you're interested in rotating categories.
It offers 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places each quarter like Amazon.com, grocery stores, restaurants, and gas stations, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases - automatically. You’ll have to remember to enroll in these categories each quarter, and they come with a slightly lower limit than the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express: $1,500 in purchases per quarter (earn 1% cash back thereafter).
However, cardholders who prefer to earn a bonus on a variety of purchases may find the Discover it® Cash Back more appealing. Not to mention, it comes with a Cash Match offer in the first year for new cardholders, matching all the cash back that you earn with no limits.
Highlights
- Sign-up bonus: Unlimited Cashback Match – only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. You could turn $150 cash back into $300.
- Earning rate: 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places each quarter like Amazon.com, grocery stores, restaurants, and gas stations, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases - automatically
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express vs. Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card
Verdict: An excellent option for customizable cash back categories.
The Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card is another great selection for consumers interested in a cash back credit card with tiered rewards.
While the cash back rates with this card are less than what the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express offers, this card gives consumers the flexibility to earn where they spend the most, rather than in pre-established categories. Cardholders earn 3% cash back in a category of their choice, and they can select a new category each month.
While the 3% category doesn't include grocery stores (cardholders only earn 2% on grocery purchases), it does include lucrative categories like gas and dining. The card's 3% and 2% categories also come with a higher cap than the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express — $2,500 in combined purchases each quarter (or $10,000 each year).
Highlights
- Sign-up bonus: $200 online cash rewards bonus after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening
- Earning rate: 3% cash back in the category of your choice, automatic 2% at grocery stores and wholesale clubs (up to $2,500 in combined choice category/grocery store/wholesale club quarterly purchases) and unlimited 1% on all other purchases
- Annual fee: $0
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express vs. Citi® Double Cash Card – 18 month BT offer
Verdict: A top flat-rate cash back card.
If you're looking for a card that offers a strong cash back flat rate across all categories, the Citi® Double Cash Card can be a great choice. This card comes with a $0 annual fee and lets cardholders Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases. Though the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express offers higher rates of cash back on bonus spending categories, if your spending habits are more varied, it might be more lucrative for you to earn a high flat rate on every purchase you make instead.
Cardholders can also enjoy an intro APR of 0% for 18 months on Balance Transfers. After that, the APR will be 18.74% - 28.74% (Variable), which can be helpful for consumers who are already carrying debt but who still want to earn rewards on their purchases.
Highlights
- Sign-up bonus: None
- Earning rate: Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases.
- Annual fee: $0
Should you get the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express?
If you're looking for an excellent cash back card for everyday spending, you should definitely consider the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express. Its high earning rates in numerous relevant spending categories make it a valuable card for earning cash back on your regular purchases — you could earn hundreds of dollars annually, simply by using your card to make your regular purchases.
However, if you'd rather have a flat-rate, rotating categories or customizable categories cash back card, there are plenty of other great cash back card options to choose from as well.
Frequently asked questions
Is it hard to get an Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express?
The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express requires a 660 - 850 credit score, so if your score is below that it will be hard to get approved for the card.
Is Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express a credit card?
Yes, the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express is a cash back credit card — this means that you can earn a percentage back of every purchase you make with your card as a cash back statement credit.
How does the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express work?
The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express offers the following earning rate: 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. Terms apply. You’ll earn these percentages of cash back when you make purchases in these specific bonus categories. For all purchases that don't fall into one of the bonus categories, you'll still earn 1% of cash back. You can redeem your cash back rewards for statement credits.
Can I upgrade The Amex EveryDay® Credit Card from American Express to Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express?
Yes, you can upgrade The Amex EveryDay® Credit Card from American Express to the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express. Once you've had The Amex EveryDay® Credit Card from American Express for at least a year, you can call American Express customer service and ask for an upgrade. You'll want to take the annual fee ($0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.) of the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express and your personal credit score into consideration before asking for an upgrade, however.
For rates and fees of Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express, please click here.
For rates and fees of Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express, please click here.
The information related to Discover it® Cash Back and Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card has been independently collected by ValuePenguin and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication.
These responses are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser's responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.
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How We Calculate Rewards: ValuePenguin calculates the value of rewards by estimating the dollar value of any points, miles or bonuses earned using the card less any associated annual fees. These estimates here are ValuePenguin's alone, not those of the card issuer, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the credit card issuer.
Example of how we calculate the rewards rates: When redeemed for travel through Ultimate Rewards, Chase Sapphire Preferred points are worth $0.0125 each. The card awards 2 points on travel and dining and 1 point on everything else. Therefore, we say the card has a 2.5% rewards rate on dining and travel (2 x $0.0125) and a 1.25% rewards rate on everything else (1 x $0.0125).