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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.
On American Express' Secure Website.
Terms apply
On American Express' Secure Website.
Terms apply
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR
Purchases: 0%, 12 months
Balance Transfers: 0%, 12 months
Regular APR
19.24%-29.99% Variable
Rewards 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 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 and super-stores like Costco and Walmart), this card is worth considering.
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.
The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express has a great lineup of popular credit card benefits.
This card has stellar cash back rates, as you earn:
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
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.
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
American Express cards typically include a nice list of complimentary protections that cover eligible purchases. This one is no exception. It offers:
Terms apply.
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
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.
Although it has fantastic perks, the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express also has a couple drawbacks worth mentioning.
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
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
Compare credit card rewards, fees, APRs, and more using our side-by-side comparison tool.
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
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
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:
We recommend comparing options to ensure the card you're selecting is the best fit for you. To make your search easier, here's a short list of standout credit cards.
Offer | Our Rating | Welcome Offer | Rewards Program | APR | Learn More |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5
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 = Good = Fair = Poor |
Discover will match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year. N/A | 1% - 5% Cashback Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases—automatically. |
Intro: Purchases: 0%, 15 months Balance Transfers: 0%, 15 months Regular: 17.24% - 28.24% Variable APR |
||
Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5
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 = Good = Fair = Poor |
Up to $300 cash back Earn an extra 1.5% on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) — worth up to $300 cash back. That's 6.5% on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 4.5% on dining and drugstores, and 3% on all other purchases. | 1.5% - 5% cash back Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 1.5% on all other purchases |
Intro: 0% Intro APR on Purchases and Balance Transfers for 15 months Purchases: 0% Intro APR on Purchases, 15 months Balance Transfers: 0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers, 15 months Regular: 20.49% - 29.24% Variable |
Apply Now for Chase Freedom Unlimited®
On Chase's Secure Website. |
|
Apply Now for Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
On Chase's Secure Website. |
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5
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 = Good = Fair = Poor |
60,000 bonus points Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠. | 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining and 2x on all other travel purchases Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more. |
Intro: N/A Purchases: N/A Balance Transfers: N/A Regular: 21.49%-28.49% Variable |
Apply Now for Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
On Chase's Secure Website. |
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.
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
We're firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. The Ascent does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.
*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. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
**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.
***Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details.
For rates and fees for the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express, click here
The Motley Fool recommends Amex.