The American Express® Green Card and Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express are two very different cards.
The Amex Green is a credit card that offers 3 points per dollar spent on travel, transit, and restaurants worldwide, an annual $189 CLEAR® Plus credit, and an annual $100 LoungeBuddy credit.
The Blue Cash Preferred is a credit card that offers 6% cash back on up to $6,000 per year in eligible purchases at U.S. supermarkets and select U.S. streaming services, 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations and on transit, and 1% cash back on other purchases.
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® Green Card and Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express.
Overview of Each Card
- bonus_miles_full
- 6% Cash Back at U.S. Supermarkets (up to $6,000 per year; 1% thereafter) and on Select U.S. Streaming
- 3% Cash Back on Transit, Ridesharing, Parking, and at U.S. Gas Stations
- $0 Intro Annual Fee for the First Year, then $95 (rates & fees).
Welcome Bonus
The Amex Green currently offers the following welcome bonus: Earn 40,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $3,000 within the first 6 months.
The Blue Cash Preferred currently offers the following welcome bonus: bonus_miles_full
Earning Rewards
The Amex Green earns points at the following rates:
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.
Winner: It depends. The Amex Green is great for travelers or people who eat out frequently. The Blue Cash Preferred is great for supermarkets, and gas stations, and streaming.
Card Benefits and Perks
The Amex Green offers the following benefits: * Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions, and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details.
The Blue Cash Preferred offers the following benefits and perks: * Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions, and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details.
Winner: The Amex Green wins this category with better travel protections and no foreign transaction fees.
Value of the Annual Fees
The Amex Green has an annual fee of $150 , which can be offset by the extra points at restaurants, travel, and transit, fee credits, and travel and purchase protections.
The Blue Cash Preferred has an annual fee of $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95 thereafter (rates & fees). This allows you to try out the card without committing to a large annual fee.
Winner: Blue Cash Preferred for the first year and the Amex Green for subsequent years. The Amex Green has better statement credits and trip protections than the Blue Cash Preferred.
Although the Blue Cash Preferred has an Equinox+ credit, most people won’t find much value in it. Plus, the Disney Bundle credit is also a benefit of the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express (review), which has no annual fee (rates & fees).
Redeeming Rewards
American Express Membership Rewards is a popular rewards program that offers a variety of redemption options, including travel, merchandise, gift cards, and more.
However, to get the most value out of your rewards, it’s important to use them strategically.
One of the best ways to use Amex Membership Rewards is through transfer partners.
The program partners with over 20 airline and hotel partners, including ANA, Air Canada Aeroplan, Iberia Avios, and Avianca LifeMiles.
By transferring your points to these partners, you can often get more value per point and enjoy a wider range of redemption options.
Membership Rewards Transfer Partners [1 to 1]
|
|
|---|---|
Aer Lingus Avios
|
AeroMexico [1 to 1.6]
|
Air Canada Aeroplan
|
Air France/KLM Flying Blue
|
ANA
|
Avianca LifeMiles
|
British Airways Avios
|
Cathay Pacific Asia Miles
|
Delta SkyMiles
|
El Al [1,000 to 20]
|
Emirates
|
Etihad Guest
|
Hawaiian Airlines
|
Iberia Avios
|
JetBlue [250 to 200]
|
Qantas
|
Qatar Airways
|
Singapore KrisFlyer
|
Virgin Atlantic
|
Choice
|
Marriott Bonvoy
|
Hilton Honors [1 to 2]
|
The Blue Cash Preferred earns cash back rewards, which are received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit.
Winner: The Amex Green wins because Membership Rewards can unlock a lot of possibilities for travel all of the world.
The Verdict
Both the Amex Green and Blue Cash Preferred are good options.
The Amex Green is great for travelers or people who frequently eat out.
The Blue Cash Preferred is a good option for people who can max out their spending at U.S. Supermarkets and for U.S. gas stations.
Which card are you going to choose?
- bonus_miles_full
- 6% Cash Back at U.S. Supermarkets (up to $6,000 per year; 1% thereafter) and on Select U.S. Streaming
- 3% Cash Back on Transit, Ridesharing, Parking, and at U.S. Gas Stations
- $0 Intro Annual Fee for the First Year, then $95 (rates & fees).
