The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express is designed to maximize cash back on common household expenses. If you spend heavily on groceries, streaming services, transit or gas, you’ll find the card’s bonus categories and earning rates hard to beat.
This credit card review will cover everything you need to know about this card to determine if you should add this card or a different card to your wallet. Let’s dive right in.
Welcome Bonus of Blue Cash Preferred
The Blue Cash Preferred currently offers the following welcome bonus: Earn a $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.
Earning Cash Back with Blue Cash Preferred
The Blue Cash Preferred earns cash back at the following rates: Cash back is received as Reward Dollars that can be redeemed for statement credits or at Amazon.com checkout.
Annual Fee
The Blue Cash Preferred Card has a $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then a $95 annual fee after that (rates & fees). You can offset this cost through the card’s generous cash back rewards and statement credits. Authorized user cards are available at no additional cost. These additional cardholders can earn cash back on their purchases, helping you rack up rewards even faster.
Blue Cash Preferred Amex Benefits
The Blue Cash Preferred offers the following benefits and perks: Intro APR: 0% APR on purchases and balance transfers for 12 months from the date of account opening. After that, it will be a reg_apr,reg_apr_type APR. Subscription Credit: 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. 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. 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* 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.* Return Protection allows cardholders to receive a refund for purchased items within a certain timeframe for items that merchants may not accept for return.* * Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions, and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details.
Redeeming Rewards
The Amex Blue Cash Everyday Preferred 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.
Pros and Cons of Blue Cash Preferred
Here’s a quick overview of this card’s advantages and disadvantages:
Pros:
High Cash Back on Key Categories: Earn 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (up to $6,000 per year) and on select U.S. streaming services, plus 3% back on transit and at U.S. gas stations. These are industry-leading rates for everyday spending categories.
Solid Welcome Bonus: The card offers a nice cash back welcome bonus after meeting the spending requirement, which is competitive for a cash back card.
Cons:
Annual Fee: After the first year, there’s a $95 annual fee. While this can be offset by the rewards for many users, it’s still a consideration.
Foreign Transaction Fees: The 2.7% foreign transaction fee makes this card unsuitable for international travel or purchases.
Limited Redemption Options: Cash back can only be redeemed as statement credits or for purchases on Amazon.com, offering less flexibility than some travel rewards cards.
Low Base Earning Rate: Only 1% cash back on purchases outside the bonus categories, which is below average compared to some other cash back cards.
Alternatives to Blue Cash Preferred
Now that you know about the pros and cons of this card and its benefits, it’s time to review the alternatives.
Or, if you are like me, who loves to maximize my rewards, here are other cards you should add to your wallet in addition to this card:
Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express
The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express (review) is designed to maximize cash back on common household expenses. If you spend heavily on groceries, streaming services, transit or gas, you’ll find the card’s bonus categories and earning rates hard to beat. Welcome Bonus: Earn a $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months. Earning Rewards: 6% back at US Supermarkets (up to $6,000 per year, then 1% back) and select US streaming subscriptions; 3% back on transit (including rideshare) and at US gas stations; 1% 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. Card Benefits: Subscription credit (up to a $10 monthly statement credit after using your enrolled card for a subscription purchase, including at disneyplus.com, Hulu.com, or Plus.espn.com U.S. websites), secondary rental car insurance, extended warranty, purchase protection, return protection, and 0% APR on purchases and balance transfers for 12 months from the date of account opening, after that a reg_apr,reg_apr_type APR.
American Express® Gold Card
The American Express® Gold Card (review) 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. Earning Points: 4x points at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year (then 1x points); 4x points at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year (then 1x points); 3x points on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com; 2x points on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com; 1x points on all other eligible purchases. Benefits: Transfer Partners: Aer Lingus, AeroMexico, Air Canada Aeroplan, ANA, Avianca LifeMiles, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Choice Privileges, Delta, Emirates, Etihad, Air France – KLM Flying Blue, Hawaiian Airlines, Hilton, Iberia, JetBlue, Marriott, Qantas, Qatar Airways, Singapore KrisFlyer, and Virgin Atlantic.
Chase Freedom Unlimited®
The Chase Freedom Unlimited® (review) sets itself apart with 1.5% back on non-bonus purchases, plus higher rewards in select categories including dining and travel. This flexible rewards card becomes even more valuable when paired with a premium Chase card, allowing you to transfer your rewards to travel partners. Welcome Bonus: bonus_miles_full Earning Cash Back: 5% back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠; 3% back on dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services; 3% back on drugstore purchases; 1.5% back on all other purchases CaBenefits: Purchase protection, extended warranty, trip cancellation and interruption insurance, secondary rental car insurance, and 0% intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, after that reg_apr,reg_apr_type APR applies; 
Is the Blue Cash Preferred Worth It?
The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express is a good option for those who prioritize cash back rewards, especially on everyday expenses.
You’ll earn top-tier cash back rates at U.S. supermarkets and on select U.S. streaming services, making it a standout choice for families. The card also offers bonus cash back on transit and at U.S. gas stations, which can add up quickly.
While the card does come with an annual fee after the first year, the generous welcome offer and potential for high cash back earnings can easily offset this cost for many users.
For rates and fees of the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express, please click here. 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 rates and fees of the American Express® Gold Card, please click here. 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.
