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Amex Blue Cash Preferred Review: A Lucrative Rewards Program and a Big Welcome Offer

Review Updated
Lyle Daly
By: Lyle Daly

Our Credit Cards Expert

Nathan Alderman
Check IconFact Checked Nathan Alderman
Many or all of the products here are from our partners that compensate us. It’s how we make money. But our editorial integrity ensures our experts’ opinions aren’t influenced by compensation. Terms may apply to offers listed on this page.

The cash back rewards on the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express are about as impressive as it gets. It earns a staggering 6% back at U.S. supermarkets ($6,000 annual spending cap), as well as 3% back on transit and at U.S. gas stations. Terms apply. New cardholders can also score a sizable welcome offer. Find out more about this card's features and see how much it can save you in our Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express review.

Award Icon 2024 Award Winner
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
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4.50/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
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Credit Score: Circle with letter I in it. Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.

Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Good/Excellent (670-850)
Credit Score Circle with letter I in it. Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.

Good/Excellent (670-850)

Intro APR

Purchases: 0%, 12 months

Balance Transfers: 0%, 12 months

Regular APR

19.24%-29.99% Variable

Rewards Circle with letter I in it. 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.

1%-6% Cash Back

Annual Fee

$0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.

Welcome Offer Circle with letter I in it. Earn a $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.

$250

  • This card offers market-leading cash back at U.S. Supermarkets. The welcome bonus and intro APR offer just sweeten the deal. Terms apply. If you spend at least $500 per month on groceries (excluding wholesale clubs like Costco), this card is worth considering.

    • Big welcome offer
    • U.S. supermarkets rewards
    • U.S. gas stations rewards
    • Streaming subscription rewards
    • Travel and purchase protections
    • Annual fee
    • Foreign transaction fee
    • 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.

Full Amex Blue Cash Preferred review

This credit card is a good fit for: Consumers who spend quite a bit on groceries and gas. Families are well suited to get the most value from this credit card's bonus categories.

Top perks

The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express has a great lineup of popular credit card benefits.

Up to 6% cash back

This card has stellar cash back rates, as you earn:

  • 6% back at U.S. supermarkets, capped at $6,000 per calendar year
  • 6% back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions
  • 3% back at U.S. gas stations
  • 3% back on transit including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses, and more
  • 1% back on other purchases
  • Terms apply

You receive this cash back as Reward Dollars, which you can redeem as a statement credit. A 6% cash back rate is among the highest we've seen from any credit card. What makes it even better is that you can earn that on groceries, one of the biggest monthly expenses for most consumers. With that and its gas, streaming, and transit rewards, this card can help you save quite a bit on everyday purchases.

See more cards offering big rewards: Best Cash Back Credit Cards

0% intro APR offer

The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express has a full-featured lineup of perks, including a long 0%, 12 months introductory APR for purchases and balance transfers. A go-to 19.24%-29.99% Variable rate applies after the intro period.

$250 welcome offer

You can earn $250 in statement credits when you spend $3,000 in purchases on your card within the first 6 months. As far as cash back cards are concerned, this is one of the biggest welcome bonuses we've seen, and most other cards only give you 90 days to reach your spending requirement. Terms apply.

Find more valuable welcome offers: Best Sign-Up Bonus Credit Cards

Travel and purchase protections

American Express cards typically include a nice list of complimentary protections that cover eligible purchases. This one is no exception. It offers:

Terms apply.

$84 Disney Bundle credit

You can get up to $84 back annually, in $7 monthly statement credits, after spending $9.99 or more each month on an eligible subscription to the Disney Bundle using your enrolled card. Terms apply.

The Disney Bundle includes Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+. Not only can you save money on it with this card's spending credit, but you'll also earn 6% back.

More options for streaming: Best Credit Cards for Streaming Services

$120 annual Equinox credit

This card offers up to $120 back annually, in $10 monthly statement credits, for an Equinox+ membership. To receive the benefit, you must enroll in your American Express card account. Terms apply.

Equinox+ is a fitness app with at-home workouts that normally costs $39.99 per month. If you've been interested in signing up, then the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express can save you $10 per month on a membership.

RELATED: Read The Ascent's guide to the Best American Express Credit Cards.

What could be improved

Although it has fantastic perks, the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express also has a couple drawbacks worth mentioning.

Annual fee

The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express charges a $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95. (see rates and fees). The cash rewards this card offers can easily make up for that annual fee. For example, if you spend $6,000 at U.S. supermarkets per year, you'll earn $360 from that alone.

Do your own math to make sure the benefits of this card are worth the cost. If you aren't a big spender, a no annual fee credit card may work better for you.

RELATED: Best No Annual Fee Credit Cards

Foreign transaction fee

The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express charges a foreign transaction fee of 2.7% of each transaction after conversion to US dollars. This fee applies to purchases made in a foreign currency or with foreign merchants (see rates and fees).

Between the card's foreign transaction fee and the fact that most of its bonus categories are only valid with U.S.-based businesses, you probably wouldn't want to use it as a travel card.

If you love to travel: Best Travel Rewards Credit Cards

Find the best credit card for your needs

Compare credit card rewards, fees, APRs, and more using our side-by-side comparison tool.

Suggested credit score

A FICO® Score of 670 or higher is best when applying for the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express. As one of the top rewards credit cards, it's targeted at consumers who have credit scores in the good credit to excellent credit range.

American Express uses several factors to evaluate your creditworthiness. Your credit score isn't the only thing that's important, but it does play a large role.

Want to improve your credit? Check out our guide on How to Increase Your Credit Score

Is the Amex Blue Cash Preferred worth it?

After the first year, your annual fee will be $95 for the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express. But when you consider its benefits and its sky-high cash back rates, this card easily justifies the cost for most people.

Here's a hypothetical example of how much you could earn with this card per year:

Category Cash-Back Rate Spending Annual Earnings
U.S. Supermarkets 6% up to $6,000 per year $500 per month $360
Select U.S. Streaming Subscriptions 6% $20 per month $14
U.S. Gas Stations 3% $200 per month $72
Transit 3% $100 per month $36
Other Eligible Spending 1% $800 per month $96

With a reasonable spending total of $1,620 per month, you'd earn at least $578 cash back each year. After subtracting the annual fee, you're still coming out $483 ahead. Plus, you can also get over $200 per year in spending credits.

It's worth noting that you need to have high spending in this card's bonus categories to take advantage of its rewards. If you don't, you're better off going through other credit card reviews to find one that works more with your spending habits.

LEARN MORE: A Complete Guide to Amex Blue Cash Preferred Benefits

The Amex Blue Cash Preferred is right for you if:

You spend at least $350 per month across its bonus categories and you want to earn cash back rewards. Here are the most common situations where the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express would be one of the best credit cards to add to your wallet:

  • You're looking for a card that offers big rewards for a reasonable annual fee.
  • You spend a lot on groceries, gas, streaming services, and/or transit expenses.
  • You'd like a card with great travel and purchase protections.

Alternatives to consider

MORE TOP PICKS: Best Gas and Groceries Credit Cards

As of Nov. 27, 2023
Image for
Image for
Image for
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
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Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
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5.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
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Credit Rating Requirement: Circle with letter I in it. Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.

Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Good/Excellent (670-850)

Good/Excellent (670-850)

Credit Rating Requirement: Circle with letter I in it. Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.

Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Good/Excellent (670-850)

Good/Excellent (670-850)

Credit Rating Requirement: Circle with letter I in it. Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.

Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Good/Excellent (670-850)

Good/Excellent (670-850)

Welcome Offer: Circle with letter I in it. Earn a $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.

$250

Welcome Offer: Circle with letter I in it. Earn a $200 statement credit after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.

$200

Welcome Offer: Circle with letter I in it. 75,000 Miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening

75,000 Miles

Rewards Program: Circle with letter I in it. 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.

1%-6% Cash Back

Rewards Program: Circle with letter I in it. 3% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%. 3% Cash Back on U.S. online retail purchases, on up to $6,000 per year, then 1%. 3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations, on up to $6,000 per year, then 1%. Cash Back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout.

1%-3% cash back

Rewards Program: Circle with letter I in it. Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day. Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options.

2X-5X miles

Intro APR:

Purchases: 0%, 12 months

Balance Transfers: 0%, 12 months

Intro APR:

Purchases: 0%, 15 months

Balance Transfers: 0%, 15 months

Intro APR:

Purchases: N/A

Balance Transfers: N/A

Regular APR:

19.24%-29.99% Variable

Regular APR:

19.24%-29.99% Variable

Regular APR:

19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)

Annual Fee:

$0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.

Annual Fee:

$0

Annual Fee:

$95

Highlights:

  • 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.

Highlights:

  • Earn a $200 statement credit after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.
  • No Annual Fee.
  • Balance Transfer is back! Enjoy 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months from the date of account opening. After that, 19.24% to 29.99% variable APR.
  • 3% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%.
  • 3% Cash Back on U.S. online retail purchases, on up to $6,000 per year, then 1%.
  • 3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations, on up to $6,000 per year, then 1%.
  • Cash Back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout.
  • 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 Everyday® Card. Enrollment required.
  • Enjoy up to $15 back per month when you purchase a Home Chef meal kit subscription (subject to auto renewal) with your enrolled Blue Cash Everyday® Card.
  • Terms Apply.

Highlights:

  • Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
  • Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
  • Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
  • Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
  • Receive up to a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
  • Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
  • Enrich every hotel stay from the Lifestyle Collection with a suite of cardholder benefits, like a $50 experience credit, room upgrades, and more
  • Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
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Our Credit Card Methodology

At The Motley Fool Ascent, we rate credit cards on a five-star scale (1 = poor, 5 = best). Our rating criteria includes rewards rates, welcome bonuses, fees, and perks like travel credits and 0% intro APR offers to evaluate our ratings.

We combine these factors with an evaluation of brand reputation and customer satisfaction to ensure you're getting the best card recommendations. Learn more about how The Ascent rates credit cards.

FAQs

  • The credit limit on the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express depends on your income, credit score, and other financial details. Cardholders have reported credit limits ranging from $1,000 to well over $25,000.

  • The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express isn't necessarily hard to get, but it depends on your credit score. Successful applicants tend to have good or excellent credit, with a credit score of at least 670. If your credit score is lower than that, it's still possible to get approved, but it's less likely.

  • No, the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express is made of plastic.

Our Credit Cards Experts