Is the Amex Blue Cash Preferred worth it?

Yes, the Amex Blue Cash Preferred Card is worth it if you spend a lot in the card's bonus categories, particularly at U.S. supermarkets and U.S. streaming services. If you're not sure you'll spend enough to justify the annual fee, consider the card's no-annual-fee sibling, the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express.

What credit score do I need for the Blue Cash Preferred?

Most people who are approved for the Amex Blue Cash Preferred Card have at least a good credit score, which is a FICO score of at least 670.

Is the Amex Blue Cash Preferred metal?

No, the Amex Blue Cash Preferred Card isn't made of metal — it's a plastic card.

Is the Amex Blue Cash Preferred a credit card or charge card?

The Amex Blue Cash Preferred Card is a credit card, not a charge card. That means you'll have a credit limit, which will be based on factors like your credit score at the time of application.

Can I upgrade my Amex Blue Cash Everyday card to the Blue Cash Preferred?

Yes, you may be able to upgrade the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express to the Amex Blue Cash Preferred Card if you've had the card for at least a year. In fact, American Express is known to send out upgrade offers, which can include a bonus for meeting a minimum spending requirement.

Can you transfer Blue Cash Preferred rewards to the Amex Platinum or other cards?

No, you can't transfer cash back (Reward Dollars) from the Amex Blue Cash Preferred Card to other Amex cards like The Platinum Card® from American Express or the American Express® Gold Card. Similarly, you can't transfer Amex Membership Rewards points from cards like the Amex Platinum Card to cash-back cards like the Amex Blue Cash Preferred Card.

Amex Blue Cash Preferred Review 2025

The Amex Blue Cash Preferred Card is one of the best cash back credit cards available, particularly for consumers who spend a lot of money at U.S. supermarkets, use streaming services, or have many commute-related expenses.

Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express

Perks

Earn 6% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%). Earn 6% Cash Back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions. Earn 3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations. Earn 3% Cash Back on transit (including taxis, rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more). Earn 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.

Annual Fee

$0 intro for the first year, then $95

Intro APR

0% intro APR for 12 months on purchases and balance transfers from the date of account opening

Regular APR

18.24% - 29.24% Variable

Intro Offer

Earn a $250 statement credit

Recommended Credit

Good to Excellent

Pros

Generous bonus rewards, especially at U.S. supermarkets
One of a small handful of credit cards that offer bonus rewards on select streaming services
Intro APR offer

Cons

Unlike many other cash-back cards, it charges an annual fee
If you spend more than $6,000 at US supermarkets each year, you'll want to use another card once you reach that cap

Insider’s Take

The Amex Blue Cash Preferred is one of the best cash-back cards, particularly for consumers who spend a lot of money at U.S. supermarkets, use streaming services, or have lots of commuting and gas expenses. The annual fee is worth it if your typical spending lines up with the card's bonus categories.

Product Details

Earn a $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in eligible 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 18.24% - 29.24%.
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.
$84 Disney Bundle Credit: With your enrolled Blue Cash Preferred Card, spend $9.99 or more each month on an auto-renewing Disney Bundle subscription, to receive a monthly statement credit of $7. Valid only at Disney Plus.com, Hulu.com or Plus.espn.com in the U.S.
Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
Terms Apply.

Show Pros, Cons, and More

Amex Blue Cash Preferred Overview

If you spend a lot on groceries, streaming, or commuting, the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express is one of the best credit cards for getting the biggest return for your purchases — up to a certain limit each year, at least.

Along with offering a $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your new card within the first six months from account opening, the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express earns 6% back on your first $6,000 in U.S. supermarket spending each year (then 1% back), which is the best rate of any mainstream cash-back credit card on the market.

You'll also earn 6% cash back on select U.S. streaming services, 3% back on U.S. gas stations and transit, and 1% back on all other eligible purchases. Cash back is earned in the form of Rewards Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout.

The card does come with an annual fee of $0 intro for the first year, then $95, but it's well worth it if your expenses match the card's bonus categories. If you max out the U.S. supermarkets 6% cash-back category by spending $6,000 per year (or $500 a month, on average), you'd earn $360 in cash back from those purchases alone.

New cardholders also receive a 0% intro APR for 12 months on purchases and balance transfers from the date of account opening (then a 18.24% - 29.24% Variable APR). Other benefits include return protection, purchase protection, and extended warranty, making it a good choice for buying things like pricey gadgets or electronics.

Before you decide if the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express is right for you, be sure to consider other cash-back cards with bonus categories that might also fit your spending habits.

For example, the Chase Freedom Unlimited® offers a bonus of additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) and has a $0 annual fee, and it earns 5% back on travel booked through Chase Travel℠, 3% back on dining and drugstores, and 1.5% back on everything else with no spending caps.

Amex Blue Cash Preferred Rewards

Welcome Bonus

The Amex Blue Cash Preferred Card is offering a welcome bonus of a $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your new card within the first six months from account opening. Some cash-back cards don't come with any sort of intro bonus, but this card is also one of the few to have an annual fee ($0 intro for the first year, then $95), so the offer sweetens the deal.

Earning Rewards

With a generous earning structure in popular categories, the Amex Blue Cash Preferred Card is a great option — but keep in mind there are exclusions and limits in some cases.

Cardholders earn:

6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 in spending per year, then 1% back (this doesn't include superstores, convenience stores, warehouse clubs, and meal-kit delivery services)
6% back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions (see eligible services below)
3% back at U.S. gas stations (superstores, supermarkets and warehouse clubs that sell gasoline don't count)
3% back on transit (including trains, taxicabs, rideshare services, ferries, tolls, parking, buses, and subways)
1% back on all other purchases

The supermarket, streaming, and gas categories are limited to purchases in the U.S., although transit purchases can be worldwide.

Here's Amex's current list of eligible streaming subscriptions:

Amazon Music Unlimited
AMC+
Apple Music
Apple TV+
Audible
Britbox
DirecTV Stream (formerly known as AT&T TV or AT&T TV NOW)
Discovery+
Disney+
ESPN+
Fubo TV
Hulu
iHeartRadio
Kindle Unlimited
Luminary
MAX (standalone streaming subscription only, formerly known as HBONow or HBO MAX)
MGM+
MLB.TV
NBA League Pass
Netflix
Pandora
Paramount+
Peacock
Prime Video
Sling TV
SiriusXM Streaming and Satellite
Spotify
Starz
TIDAL Music
YouTube Music Premium
YouTube Premium
YouTube TV

Suppose you are the average family who spends a lot more than $6,000 per year (or $500 per month) at the supermarket. In fact, you spend $10,000 per year at Kroger or Whole Foods. With the Amex Blue Cash Preferred Card, you would earn $360 in cash back on the first $6,000 you spent and another $40 back earning 1% beyond the $6,000 cap each year. That's $400 already in the bank.

Now imagine you spend another $100 per month at U.S. gas stations — at 3% back, that's another $36 per year. Put $30 per month ($360 per year) in streaming services on the card, and you're approaching $500 per year — and that's not counting any other regular spending on the card or the $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your new card within the first six months from account opening. This is why the annual fee is worth it — especially the first year.

If you maximize the 6% back at U.S. supermarkets, you'll get $360 in rewards every year at a bare minimum. That's more than enough to make up for the annual fee — and a lot more than you'd earn with a standard 1% cash-back credit card.

Redeeming Rewards

The Amex Blue Cash Preferred Card is a straightforward cash-back credit card that doesn't offer multiple options for redeeming your rewards.

The cash back you earn from the Amex Blue Cash Preferred Card is issued in the form of Reward Dollars, which you can apply to your account as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout in any amount. However, you can't use your rewards toward the minimum payment due.

You can't redeem your rewards directly for travel like you could with an American Express card that earns Membership Rewards points, like the American Express® Gold Card, or transfer them to airline or hotel partners.

Transferable rewards like Amex points or Chase Ultimate Rewards® points are a good pick if you want the flexibility to redeem rewards for statement credits, merchandise, gift cards, or travel (when you're ready). But if you prefer to only earn cash back, the Amex Blue Cash Preferred Card is a star.

Amex Blue Cash Preferred Benefits

The Amex Blue Cash Preferred Card doesn't offer a long list of features like The Platinum Card® from American Express and other premium cards, but it does offer a handful of helpful perks.

Disney Bundle Credits

One of the newest benefits of the Amex Blue Cash Preferred Card (and the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express) is a monthly $7 credit when you pay for a Disney Bundle subscription of $9.99 or more with your card on auto-renewal**.

The Disney Bundle includes Disney+, ESPN+, and Hulu, so this is a valuable offer for lots of households. If you already subscribe to these streaming services, this perk could effectively save up to $84 per year.

Intro APR Offer

The card offers a 0% intro APR for 12 months on purchases and balance transfers from the date of account opening, followed by a 18.24% - 29.24% Variable APR.

The best 0% credit card offers can save you money if you have big purchases coming up that you'd like to pay for over time without racking up big interest charges.

But make sure you have the means and a plan to pay off the balance before the introductory period expires. Otherwise, you may find yourself with a lot of high-interest debt.

Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance

If you rent a car with the Amex Blue Cash Preferred Card and decline the rental company's collision damage waiver, you'll receive secondary auto rental coverage. Some restrictions apply, so be sure to read the limitations. This is secondary coverage, not primary car rental insurance, so it kicks in after your own car insurance policy.

Global Assist Hotline

Amex Blue Cash Preferred Card members who run into trouble while traveling can access Amex Global Assist Hotline for help with translation services, missing luggage, emergency legal and medical referrals, lost passport assistance, and more.

The Global Assist Hotline will help arrange these services, but you're responsible for any third-party charges.

Return Protection

If you purchase an eligible item with the Amex Blue Cash Preferred Card and the original seller won't accept a return, this coverage can get you up to $300 per eligible item (with a maximum of $1,000 per calendar year) for up to 90 days from the purchase date.

Purchase Protection

If an eligible item you purchased with the Amex Blue Cash Preferred Card is stolen or damaged, you can get reimbursed, up to $1,000 per purchase and up to 90 days from the purchase date (up to $50,000 per calendar year).

Extended Warranty

When you purchase an eligible item with the card, you can get up to one additional year added to the original manufacturer's warranties of five years or less (maximum coverage of $10,000 per item and $50,000 per account per calendar year).

Amex Offers

The Amex Blue Cash Preferred Card comes with access to the Amex Offers** program. Amex Offers can get you cash back or bonus points when you shop with specific retailers and travel brands.

You can view all your available offers by logging into your card account and scrolling down. (Eligibility for these offers is limited. Enrollment is required in the Amex Offers section of your account before redeeming).

Amex Blue Cash Preferred Fees

The annual fee of $0 intro for the first year, then $95 is worth it if your typical spending lines up with the card's bonus categories.

This card isn't a good choice for international purchases because it adds foreign transaction fees.

The Amex Blue Cash Preferred Card also has a few other fees you'll want to be aware of, such as late payment and cash advance fees. Most are avoidable if you pay your balance off in full each month.

Intro APR: 0% intro APR for 12 months on purchases and balance transfers from the date of account opening
Regular APR: 18.24% - 29.24% Variable
Balance transfer fee: $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
Foreign transaction fee: 2.7% of each transaction after conversion to U.S. dollars

As with most other cards, the Amex Blue Cash Preferred Card charges fees for late payments, returned payments, and cash advances.

Amex Blue Cash Preferred Alternatives

Amex Blue Cash Preferred vs. the Amex Blue Cash Everyday

The Amex Blue Cash Preferred Card and the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express are both cash-back cards, but they differ when it comes to bonus categories, reward amounts, and annual fees.

While the Amex Blue Cash Preferred Card has an annual fee of $0 intro for the first year, then $95, the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express has a $0 annual fee.

The Amex Blue Cash Preferred Card has higher cash-back bonus categories, too; the Amex Blue Cash Everyday Card earns 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets, at U.S. gas stations, and on U.S. online retail purchases (on up to $6,000 per category per year, then 1%) and 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).

Cash back for the card is earned in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit. So the best option for you will ultimately come down to which bonus categories you prefer, and whether you're willing to pay an annual fee.

Read our Blue Cash Everyday Amex card review for more.

Amex Blue Cash Preferred vs. the Amex Gold Card

While the Amex Blue Cash Preferred Card is a cash-back card with an annual fee under $100 and the American Express® Gold Card earns Amex Membership Rewards points and has an annual fee of $325, both cards are good options for maximizing your purchases at U.S. supermarkets.

With the Amex Gold Card, you can earn 4 Membership Rewards® points on purchases at restaurants worldwide (on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1 point), 4 points at US supermarkets (on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1 point), 3 points on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com, 2 points on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com, and 1 point on all other eligible purchases.

Business Insider's points and miles valuations peg Amex points at an average value of 1.8 cents apiece, so points have the potential to be significantly more valuable than cash back if you redeem them for travel through Amex or its transfer partners.

The Amex Gold Card also comes with more features, such as a monthly dining credit. Read our Amex Gold Card review for more details.

Amex Blue Cash Preferred vs. the Chase Sapphire Preferred

Like the Amex Blue Cash Preferred Card, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card has a $95 annual fee, but it's not waived the first year. The Sapphire Preferred Card is a rewards credit card that earns Chase Ultimate Rewards points, not cash back, so if you don't want to redeem rewards for travel it won't make sense for you.

The Sapphire Preferred Card comes with more benefits, such as a $50 annual hotel credit and a 10% anniversary points boost.

This card's bonus categories could also be more attractive depending on your spending patterns: it earns 5 points on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3 points on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2 points on all other travel purchases, and 1 points on all other purchases.

Read our Chase Sapphire Preferred card review to learn more.

Amex Blue Cash Preferred Cardholder Insights

In addition to compiling our experts' take on this card, we looked at online forums such as Reddit and Facebook to see what everyday cardholders have to say about this card.

"Underrated for Cash Back"

Many Redditors praise this card for its generous bonus categories, at least until they reach the annual caps on 6% categories.

One commenter specifically stated that this card felt like it was really underrated for cash-back categories.

6% Cash Back on Streaming is the "Silent MVP"

One Redditor earns around $180 a year on this card from paying for streaming subscriptions, calling it the "silent MVP" for their household and why this card makes sense for their family.

Others shared that they don't spend as much on streaming services each year so they don't earn such generous returns, but also find this benefit to be a great deal.

Amex Blue Cash Preferred Frequently Asked Questions

Why You Should Trust Us: How We Reviewed the Amex Blue Cash Preferred

Business Insider's credit card experts evaluated the Amex Blue Cash Preferred Card by comparing it to similar cash-back cards and other rewards cards with a similar annual fee. These were the main criteria that factored into our review:

Simplicity — How easy is the card to use and maximize? Is earning and redeeming rewards a simple process, or are there any hoops to jump through?
Rewards earning potential — Does the card make it easy to earn significant cash back? Are its bonus rewards categories useful for the average cardholder?
Benefits — Are the card's benefits, beyond the rewards, appealing? Can the average cardholder get significant value from them?
Annual fee — Does the card's annual fee make sense given its selection of perks and the bonus categories for earning rewards? And does it compare favorably to other similar cards?

Read about how we rate credit cards for more information about how our personal finance experts determine our card ratings.

Jasmin Baron

Jasmin Baron is a credit cards writer and editor who has contributed her knowledge to sites like The Points Guy, Million Mile Secrets, and Business Insider.Her expertise in maximizing travel rewards grew from over two decades of experience in the aviation industry, including 18 years working as a pilot and flight instructor in her native Canada.