Updated on April 5, 2024

Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express review

This can be a great everyday card for the right spender, earning you bonus rewards on everyday purchases. There's also a generous welcome bonus for new cardholders.

Written by

Jennifer Doss

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Benefits
Annual Fee
Credit Score Requirements
Eligible Supermarkets
Potential Downsides
Cardholder Ratings
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Is This a Good Card?

Cash Back Card

Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express

Top Features

Cash Back on Gas
3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations and on transit (including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more).
Cash Back on Groceries
6% at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%)
Annual Fee
1% Cash Back on other purchases.

Key Features

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% on purchases and balance transfers for 12 months from the date of account opening. After that, your APR will be a variable APR of 19.24% - 29.99%. Variable APRs will not exceed 29.99%.
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.
3% Cash Back 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 or at Amazon.com checkout.
Get up to $120 in statement credits annually when you pay for an auto-renewing subscription to Equinox+ at equinoxplus.com with your Blue Cash Preferred® Card. That's $10 in statement credits each month. Enrollment required.
Thinking about getting the Disney Bundle which can include Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+? Your decision made easy with $7/month back in the form of a statement credit after you spend $9.99 or more each month on an eligible subscription (subject to auto renewal) with your Blue Cash Preferred® Card. Enrollment required.
Terms Apply.

CardRatings Editor's Analysis: Pros & Cons

Pros

Elevated bonuses on everyday expenses makes this a great card for the everyday spender.
A nice welcome bonus is available for new cardholders, helping to start membership off on the right foot.
Cash back is received in the form of reward dollars which can be redeemed as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout.

Cons

This is a great card with outstanding benefits for those who spend a lot on food costs; however, if you don't often shop at U.S. supermarkets you may have a difficult time offsetting the annual fee.

ALTERNATE CARD TO CONSIDER

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Credit Score: credit_score_needed

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Read Review

See Rates and Fees

card_name benefits

The CardName is one of the most popular cards with our readers because of such generous cash back on everyday purchases. In fact, its popularity regularly earns it a spot on our best credit cards of 2024 list as the best credit card for groceries. American Express is a CardRatings advertiser.

In addition to 6% back on up to $6,000 spent at U.S. supermarkets annually, unlimited 3% back at U.S. gas stations, and 1% back on other purchases, users can also earn 6% back on select U.S. streaming services and 3% back on transit purchases.

The card carries a AnnualFees This shouldn’t be hard to offset after the first year if you regularly use your card at U.S supermarkets. Plus, new cardholders can earn a $250 statement credit after spending $3,000 in purchases on the card within the first six months. There’s also a low intro APR period of 0% APR on purchases and balance transfers for 12 months from the date of account opening (then RegAPR). (See Rates and Fees.)

The bonus categories aren’t rotating so the cash back-eligible businesses are predictable. If you’re more of a set-it and forget-it type of person who doesn’t want to have to worry about activating bonus categories and missing out on extra rewards, this card is perfect – especially if you regularly spend money at U.S. supermarkets and U.S. gas stations, have a U.S. streaming subscription such as Spotify, Hulu, Netflix, or Pandora (which who doesn’t these days?) or if you’re a regular commuter. It should be noted though that “transit” is exclusive to ground transit, meaning you won’t gain points on flights. However, “ground transit” in this case has a broad meaning, covering everything from taxis, to ferries to parking fees.

CardRatings Tip

Cash back is received in the form of reward dollars which can be redeemed as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout. This is especially beneficial for those who in addition to U.S. supermarket spending, also do a lot of shopping on Amazon.

card_name annual fee

The CardName has a AnnualFees Don’t let the annual fee after the first year deter you though. Think of it this way: if you spend $1,585 at U.S. supermarkets annually, at 6% cash back you’ve already covered the annual fee (6% x $1,585 = $95.10)! If you’re an avid card user, the high rewards percentages allow you to quickly offset the annual fee, assuming you use your credit card for the categories honored by American Express like at U.S. supermarkets and U.S. gas stations.

card_name credit score

American Express doesn’t explicitly state what credit score is needed to receive the CardName; however, this card is reserved for those with good to excellent scores. A good FICO score is typically anything above 670, according to the credit scoring agency Experian, but having a score above 740 or even 800 may further increase your chances of approval. Please note though that these numbers can vary between different bureaus.

card_name eligible supermarkets

Earning 6% cash back on U.S. supermarket purchases is one of the biggest benefits of the CardName. Although, to make the most of this perk, you need to understand how American Express defines a supermarket. Not every store that sells groceries will qualify.

For instance, American Express does not consider any of the following to be supermarkets:

Superstores such as Walmart and Target
Amazon
Convenience stores
Specialty shops such as cheese or wine stores
Warehouse clubs like Costco or Sam’s Club

The company defines supermarkets as stores that offer a wide variety of food items as well as household goods, pet supplies and pharmacy products. They include the following chains, among others:

Meijer
Whole Foods
Winn-Dixie
Vons
Stop and Shop
Trader Joe’s
ALDI
ShopRite

Please visit the American Express website for a complete list.

To receive the 6% cash-back rate, all purchases must be made at a qualifying U.S. location.

card_name foreign transaction fee and other potential downsides

Like with any credit card it’s imporant to read the fine print. In this case, as we discussed above, some stores that may seem like “supermarkets” may not actually qualify for the rebate. Wholesale clubs, superstores and alcohol retailers are typically the culprits for this confusion.

Also, while this rewards card is excellent for particular categories, if you’re a traveler who uses airlines frequently or a fine restaurant dining connoisseur, you may be missing the boat with the rewards offered with this card.

The CardName is also not really great for traveling abroad, or it’s at least probably not the best card to exclusively hold if it’s traveling abroad where you hope to earn your rewards, and plus, using it internationally will come at a price. Foreign transaction fees for this card are foreign_fee (See Rates and Fees.) This might not seem like too big of a deal, but think of it this way: if you spend $2,000 on a trip abroad, you’ll end up paying $54 in fees. If you travel internationally often, this fee can cause things to add up in a hurry.

How do cardholders rate the card_name?

CardRatings conducts a survey annually to learn what actual cardholders think of their cards. Here are the results for the CardName:

	Current Scores	Past Scores
Overall Score	78.5	78.2
Features Satisfaction	7.6	7.8
Customer Service	7.7	8
Website/App Usability	8.1	7.7
Likelihood of Continuing to Use	8.3	8.2
Recommend to a Friend/Colleague	8.2	7.5

Scores above reflect the results of surveys with actual cardholders. Full methodology below.

How the card_name compares to other cards

Blue Cash Preferred® vs. CardName

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Some of the rewards categories are the same with these two cards. CardName offers 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets, U.S. gas stations and on U.S. online retail purchases (up to $6,000 spent in each category per year, then 1%), and 1% back on other eligible purchases. The decision between which of the two offers is right for you will boil down to how much you use your card and where you shop.

The Blue Cash Everyday® does not have an annual fee so if you spend less than $50 a week with your card it might make more sense. On the other hand, spending over $50 offsets the annual fee moving forward for the Blue Cash Preferred® card, and the higher rewards rates could be more beneficial to you.

Finally, the Blue Cash Everyday® offers new cardholders the opportunity to earn a $200 statement credit after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new card within the first six months.

Blue Cash Preferred® vs. American Express® Gold Card

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Both the Blue Cash Preferred® and CardName are solid rewards cards from American Express. However, they cater to different rewards seekers.

Offering 6% cash back on up to $6,000 spent at U.S. grocery stores, Blue Cash Preferred® is a strong cash back credit card contender. It also gives cardholders 3% cash back for transit and U.S. gas purchases and 1% cash back on other purchases, making it a solid choice for everyday use.

Meanwhile, the American Express® Gold Card is geared primarily towards travelers. It offers 4X Membership Rewards® points for purchases at restaurants and 3X points for airfare booked directly with carriers or on amextravel.com. Points can be redeemed for travel or transferred to other rewards partners.

The Gold Card does also offer points on purchases at U.S. supermarkets— 4X Membership Rewards® on up to $25,000 per year in purchases, then 1X— but the other perks of the card are primarily focused on travel, such as a $100 hotel credit to spend on qualifying dining, spa, and resort activities, plus a room upgrade upon arrival, if available, when you book a stay of at least two consecutive nights with American Express Travel at over 600 properties, and no foreign transaction fees. Enrollment required for select benefits.

Both cards have welcome bonus offers although there is a lower spending requirement for the Blue Cash Preferred® card. With the Gold Card cardholders can receive 60,000 Membership Rewards® points but must spend $6,000 on eligible purchases within the first six months to earn it.

There is also a notable difference in the annual fees for each card. The American Express® Gold Card will set you back AnnualFees each year. (See Rates and Fees.)

Is the card_name a good card?

The CardName is great for frequent commuters, those who enjoy listening to their favorite albums throughout the day (or who appreciates a good Netflix binge), and for anyone who frequently spends at U.S. supermarkets and U.S. gas stations: think soccer parents toting kids to and fro while simultaneously ensuring they have a home-cooked meal to keep their energy up (maybe with some good music on the background to help keep everyone happy).

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the Blue Cash Preferred® Card work at Walmart?

Yes, the card_name can be used at Walmart, as it is accepted at millions of locations worldwide that accept American Express cards. This includes Walmart stores, both online and in-person. However, it's important to note that you will not earn bonus rewards on purchases made at Walmart as Walmart is consider a superstore and does not fall under the eligible supermarket categories which earn bonus rewards with this card.

What is the Blue Cash Preferred® interest rate?

The interest rate for the card_name is reg_apr,reg_apr_type.

How much is the Blue Cash Preferred Card® annual fee?

The annual fee for the card_name is annual_fees

What stores count as supermarkets for the Blue Cash Preferred Card®?

American Express defines supermarkets as stores that offer a wide variety of food items as well as household goods, pet supplies and pharmacy products. They include the following chains, among others: ALDI, Trader Joe's, Meijer, Whole Foods, Winn-Dixie, Vons, and Stop and Shop. Excluded from this list are superstores such as Target and Walmart, warehouse stores such as Costco and BJs, and specialty stores such as bakeries and butcher shops.

Blue Cash Preferred^® Card from American Express