Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express Review

American Express has a lot of strong cards but if you want many benefits rolled into one card, this is the one for you.

Written by : Updated On: July 20
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The basics

Reward Rate:

Groceries

Grocery

6%
Groceries

Streaming

6%
Groceries

Transit

3%
Groceries

Gas

3%
Groceries

All other purchases

1%

Earn 6% back on up to $6,000 in purchases on groceries per year

Earn 6% back on select streaming services

Earn 3% back on transit, which includes taxis, rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses, and more

Earn 3% back at US gas stations

Earn 1% back on all other purchases

 

Key Features:

Annual Fee:

$0 for first year, then $95 each year after

Intro APR:

0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months

Regular APR:

18.99%-29.99% Variable APR

Signup Bonus:

signup-bonus

$250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new card within the first 6 months.

Redemption ways:

signup-bonus

Cash back is received as Reward Dollars which can be redeemed as a statement credit.

Our Verdict

The Blue Cash Preferred from American Express is a great choice. With its introductory offer, you get your first year with no annual fee, and no APR on purchases for 12 months. You get a whopping 6% back at U.S. supermarkets and 3% back on transit.

If you are someone that loves Equinox+, the monthly statement credit more than pays for the annual fee of $95 after your first year. Combine that with excellent cash back and tons of protection while you are traveling, and it is an excellent option. The signup bonus also gives you $350 back after spending $3,000 in six months, which is easy to do. That is only $500 per month, which you are likely already spending on groceries or gas.

However, if you do not spend a lot in those categories, the annual fee may not be worth it, and cards that offer higher rewards in categories that align with your spending habits may be a better choice.

Best Suited for:

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Pantry stocker

You are not happy unless you have a kitchen full of food. You are the designated grocery person in your household, and you are good at it. But what you really like is getting cash back for spending in this category.

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Always on the Road

Travel is your middle name. When you aren’t taking advantage of transit for your daily commute in the form of cabs, rideshares and trains, you are looking for a weekend escape. And if there is an opportunity to go somewhere, you take it. You are into earning miles, getting hotel upgrades, eating out and making sure your car is always fueled.

Hidden perks

The intro offer is one of the best on the market, and the Equinox+ credit adds a lot of value. This card is a prime example of getting a lot more value than the cost of the annual fee.

Pair this card with:

Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card

citi-Premier

To get even more benefits, pair this card with the Wells Fargo Active Cash Card. This combination will help feed hungry mouths and provide you with the maximum cash back and rewards.

Apply for: Active Cash: Cash Rewards Credit Card

Beyond the basics

Balance transfer intro APR

No balance transfers allowed

Cash advance APR

25.99%

Foreign transaction

2.7% of each transaction after conversion to US dollars

Loan APR

None

Late payment fee

Up to $40

Penalty APR

29.99%

Credit score required

690+

Other Offers

Use your Blue Cash Preferred Card to pay for your Equinox+ membership and receive $10 in monthly statements, up to $120 per year.

Use Pay it to quickly make payments on purchases under $100 throughout the month. Use Plan it to split purchases of over $100 for a fixed monthly fee and no interest charges.

Earn more cash back by adding a card member to earn on eligible purchases, just as you would.

When you pay for a rental car with your card, you can decline the collision damage waiver and be covered. Restrictions apply.

When traveling more than 100 miles from home, you get access to 24/7 emergency assistance and coordination services.

You can return eligible purchases to American Express if the seller will not take them back up to 90 days from the date of purchase. American Express may refund the item up to $300 per item and $1000 per year.

Gain access to ticket presales and member only events near you.

Send money and split purchases to any Venmo or PayPal user directly through the Amex app.

You are never held responsible for fraudulent charges when using your card.

Manage your account from anywhere using a web browser or the Amex mobile app.

View charges on your account from January 1st to December 31st of the previous year.

Cashback Example

If you spend $125 every two weeks at grocery stores, you could get $195 back per calendar year. Add on other spending categories, and your cash back keeps growing.

ProsCons
High rewards rateRequires good/excellent credit
$300 statement credit bonus offerHigh annual fee
Bonus categoriesSpending caps on bonus rewards
Cash rewards

Apply now