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The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express offers high cashback rates on everyday spending categories, such as supermarkets, streaming services, transportation, and gas stations.
It’s the ultimate cashback card for families since it's heavily tailored to these everyday expenses.
Quick Facts: Blue Cash Preferred Card® from American Express
- Rewards rate: 6% cashback on purchases at U.S. supermarkets (up to $6,000 per year, then 1%) and on select streaming services; 3% on U.S. gas station and transit purchases; 1% on all other spending (cashback is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or on Amazon.com at checkout)
- Welcome offer: Earn $250 statement credit after spending $3,000 in the first six months
- Annual fee: $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95 (rates and fees)
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Overview of the Blue Cash Preferred Card® from American Express
The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express is a cashback card tailored for everyday spending. The cashback is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or on Amazon.com at checkout.
There is an annual fee, but it's waived for the first year. And you can easily earn that amount back in cashback with just spending at supermarkets.
Furthermore, American Express provides its industry-leading car rental loss and damage insurance,* saving you money on car rentals and covering theft or damage to a rental vehicle.
Overall, if you want a simple cashback card that offers big spending bonuses, the Blue Cash Preferred Card® from American Express is one of the best available today.
Pros
- Generous cashback at U.S. supermarkets and on U.S. streaming services
- Statement credits for Disney+ Bundle
- Secondary car rental coverage available
Cons
- Annual fee after first year
- Foreign transaction fee
- Does not earn American Express Membership Rewards points
LEARN MORE: Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
Redeeming Rewards
The Blue Cash Preferred Card® from American Express is a cashback card and doesn’t earn rewards points. Instead, you can use your cashback as statement credits to pay down your credit card balance.
Here's the process to redeem your cashback balance:
- Log in to your American Express account.
- Click on “Use Reward Dollars.”
- Select your amount in increments of $25 ($25 minimum).
- Rewards dollars will post as a statement credit against your credit card balance.
The cashback is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or on Amazon.com at checkout.
Benefits of the Blue Cash Preferred Card® from American Express
Here are a few of the additional benefits of the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express:
- Secondary car insurance: Car rental loss and damage insurance when you decline the collision damage waiver
- Consumer protections: Purchase protection, extended warranty, and return protection
- Disney+ Bundle credit: Up to $84 per year as a statement credit for The Disney+ Bundle, paid out in $7 monthly statement credits (enrollment required and subject to auto-renewal)
Who Should Get the Blue Cash Preferred Card® from American Express?
The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express is one of the better cashback cards out there, especially for families. For those who spend heavily at supermarkets, have a lengthy commute, or use public transportation, the cashback can really add up.
Alternatives to the Blue Cash Preferred Card® from American Express
For no annual fee: Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express
- Rewards rate: 3% cashback at U.S. supermarkets, U.S. gas stations, and U.S. online retailers up to $6,000 in purchases per calendar year in each category; 1% on all other purchases (cashback is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or on Amazon.com at checkout)
- Welcome offer: Earn a $200 statement credit after spending $2,000 on purchases within the first 6 months
- Annual fee: $0 (rates and fees)
. . .
Both the Blue Cash Preferred Card and the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express offer great cashback perks, although the Everyday's rewards rate is lower.
But the Blue Cash Everyday card has no annual fee, while the Blue Cash Preferred does.
LEARN MORE: Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express
For no spending cap: Chase Freedom Unlimited®
- Rewards rate: 5% cashback on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠; 3% cashback on drugstore purchases, restaurants, takeout, and eligible delivery services; 1.5% on all other purchases
- Welcome offer: Earn an additional 1.5% cashback on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) — worth up to $300 cashback
- Annual fee: $0
. . .
The Blue Cash Preferred offers incredible cashback incentives for grocery shopping but with a spending limit each year. The Chase Freedom Unlimited®, on the other hand, offers unlimited cashback, depending on your purchase.
If you dine out more than you cook at home, you could earn more with the Freedom Unlimited.
LEARN MORE: Chase Freedom Unlimited®
For a flat cashback rate: Citi Double Cash® Card
- Rewards rate: Up to 2% on all purchases: 1% when you buy, and another 1% when you pay your balance; limited-time offer of 5% total cashback on hotel and car rentals booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through 12/31/24
- Welcome offer: Earn $200 cashback after you spend $1,500 in the first 6 months
- Annual fee: $0
. . .
The Citi Double Cash card stands out as one of the most flexible cashback cards, offering 2% cashback on all purchases. It provides 1% when you buy and another 1% when you pay off, with no limits. The higher cashback in certain categories and lower cashback for most other purchases.
The Citi Double Cash card also has no annual fee.
FAQs
What does Amex Blue Cash Preferred count as streaming?
It offers 6% cashback on select U.S. streaming services, which can include dozens of different services. This may include Disney+, Apple TV+, Apple Music, Amazon Music, Netflix, Spotify, Max (HBO Max), Kindle Unlimited, and more.
The Bottom Line
With the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express, you can earn a lot of cashback on your regular spending at supermarkets and gas stations — basically saving you money on spending you'd be doing anyway.
But remember there is an annual fee, so make sure you'll earn enough back to offset the cost of the fee.
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* 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.
Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
