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Looking for a rewarding cashback card that fits your everyday spending habits? American Express offers two standout options: the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express and the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express. Both come with generous sign-up bonuses, strong spending categories, and perks like 0% introductory APRs and balance transfer offers.
But which one is right for your wallet? Let’s break down the key differences.
Page Contents
- Amex Blue Cash Everyday and Blue Cash Preferred at a Glance
- Each Card Comes With a Valuable Welcome Offer
- Each Card Is Optimized to a Different Kind of Spender
- Each Card Offers Monthly Statement Credits to Select Merchants and Services
- Introductory 0% APR Offers
- Take Advantage of 0% Balance Transfer Offers
- Our Take
Amex Blue Cash Everyday and Blue Cash Preferred at a Glance
(Terms apply)
- 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%)
- 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations (on up to $6,000 per year, then 1%)
- 3% cash back with U.S. online retailers (on up to $6,000 per year, then 1%)
- 1% 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.
(Terms apply)
- 6% Cash Back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions
- 6% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%)
- 3% Cash Back on transit including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more
- 3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations
- 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.
Related: Which American Express Cash-Back Card Is Right for You?
Each Card Comes With a Valuable Welcome Offer
Both the Blue Cash Everyday and Blue Cash Preferred offer new applicants a generous sign-up bonus. Here's the current cash-back offer on each card:
- Blue Cash Everyday: Earn a $200 statement credit after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.
- Blue Cash Preferred: Earn a $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months. Plus, this card offers a $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95 (Rates & Fees).
In addition to the cash-back bonus after meeting the minimum spending requirements, cardholders can also take advantage of introductory 0% APR and balance transfer offers — more on this shortly.
Who is eligible to earn the welcome bonus on these Amex cards?
As American Express issues both cards, the eligibility requirements are relatively straightforward. As long as you don't already hold the card (or have held it in the past), you should qualify for the bonus cashback, the intro APR periods, and any introductory annual fee offer.
“The welcome offer, intro APRs, and intro plan fees are not available to applicants who have or have had this Card. We may also consider the number of American Express Cards you have opened and closed as well as other factors in making a decision on your welcome offer, intro APRs, and intro plan fee eligibility.”
There are no family restrictions on these cards (at least yet). So, if you've held the Blue Cash Everyday in the past, you should qualify for the Blue Cash Preferred (and vice versa) if you meet the rest of the eligibility requirements.
Related: Everything To Know About The Amex Welcome Offer Eligibility Tool
Each Card Is Optimized to a Different Kind of Spender
The card that's right for you will likely come down to what you spend money on. Both the Blue Cash Everyday and Blue Cash Preferred are unique in what purchases earn the most bonus rewards.
Blue Cash Everyday earning rates
By focusing on the categories that shoppers use most — such as groceries and gas — Amex has catapulted the Blue Cash Everyday into the upper echelon of cashback rewards cards. This card earns as follows:
- 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%)
- 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations (on up to $6,000 per year, then 1%)
- 3% cash back with U.S. online retailers (on up to $6,000 per year, then 1%)
- 1% 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.
While it's a bummer that there are caps on the 3% earnings categories, you'd need to average more than $500 in spending per category per month before this will become a limitation.
Blue Cash Preferred earning rates
The Blue Cash Preferred trades the online retail category for streaming and transit services categories (as well as doubling the cash back on supermarkets). In a time when streaming services are becoming commonplace, the ability to earn 6% back on 30+ different streaming platforms should appeal to almost everyone.
This card earns rewards as follows:
- 6% Cash Back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions
- 6% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%)
- 3% Cash Back on transit including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more
- 3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations
- 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.
Earning rate example
Your spending patterns will determine whether it's worth paying the annual fee on the Blue Cash Preferred for higher earning rates.
For example, let's say each month you spend roughly $300 on groceries, $150 on gas, $50 on tolls and parking, $100 on streaming services, and $200 on online purchases, for a total of $800 in spending per month.
If you charge these expenses to the Blue Cash Preferred, you’ll earn $360 cash back each year. If you charge these expenses to the Blue Cash Everyday instead, you’ll earn $234 each year.
After factoring in the ongoing $95 annual fee, the Blue Cash Preferred earns $265 vs. $234 for the Blue Cash Everyday. While it's likely your expenses will differ from those we've listed above, it's certainly possible that the Blue Cash Preferred will be a more lucrative choice — if it aligns better with your spending habits.
Related: The Best Rewards Credit Cards for Each Spending Category
Each Card Offers Monthly Statement Credits to Select Merchants and Services
Blue Cash Everyday holders can take advantage of annual credits that may add an additional layer of value if you already use these services or intend to in the future. The Blue Cash Everyday offers an annual $180 Home Chef Credit (issued as $15 monthly statement credits on eligible purchases of online meal kits), plus both cards receive up to $84 in statement credits each year ($7 per month) when you spend $9.99 or more each month on an eligible Disney+ Bundle subscription.
These streaming credits would stack nicely with the 6% cash back on the Blue Cash Preferred.
Enrollment is required for select Amex benefits.
Introductory 0% APR Offers
While the goal is always to pay your card off in full every month, an introductory 0% APR on purchases is a great fallback option to finance larger purchases over the short term.
Rather than paying loan setup and broker fees and then paying interest on the purchase each month, you can finance a purchase using your 0% APR card and pay it back over the intro period without the fees or interest charges.
Both of the Blue Cash cards feature generous intro 0% APR offers. The Blue Cash Everyday provides up to 15 months and the Blue Cash Preferred up to 12 months before the regular variable interest rates (dependant on the card and other factors) kick in on both cards.
If you pay the balance within the intro period, you won't pay interest on purchases made with either card.
Related: The Best Credit Cards With No Annual Fee and 0% Introductory APR
Take Advantage of 0% Balance Transfer Offers
In addition to the 0% Intro APR offer on purchases, the Blue Cash Everyday gives new cardholders an intro offer of 0% on balance transfers for 15 months then a Variable rate of 20.24% - 29.24%. You'll pay a balance transfer fee of Either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
The Blue Cash Preferred also offers a 0% on balance transfers for 12 months then a Variable rate of 20.24% - 29.24%. You'll pay a balance transfer fee of Either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater. (Rates & Fees)
Should you be in a position where transferring balances on high-interest cards to this 0% option makes sense, it's a solid card offer. However, compared to the best balance transfer cards, you can wind up paying a significant fee upfront courtesy of the balance transfer fee (Rates & Fees).
Our Take
The Blue Cash Everyday and Blue Cash Preferred cards each offer impressive value — but for different kinds of spenders.
If you want to avoid an annual fee while earning solid rewards on gas, groceries, and online shopping, the Blue Cash Everyday card is a no-brainer.
But if your spending aligns with the higher-earning categories on the Blue Cash Preferred card — like streaming, transit, and higher grocery bills — it could easily justify its $95 annual fee after year one.
Either way, for those who like the simplicity of a cashback card, both options are excellent tools for earning money back on your daily essentials.
For rates and fees of the cards mentioned in this post, please visit the following links: Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express (Rates & Fees), and Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express (Rates & Fees)
The comments on this page are not provided, reviewed, or otherwise approved by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser's responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.
Don’t care much for the redemption options since you are limited to either a statement credit or giftcards. Would prefer an actual cashback option
It is a fact that the pandemic will disrupt our travel plans for a long time to come.
And having the opportunity to choose between reward points or earning money back with everyday expenses is a fantastic experience.
Even better when we have two options for AMEX cards,
Blue Cash Everyday and Blue Cash Preferred with simple eligibility requirements.
I loved!
Nice additions, make sense to use those cards more often.
Amex has a great rewards program but in Argentina is really expensive to have one 🙁
A pair of very solid cards. Glad to see them getting a little love.
Really like the 6% cash back on groceries on the Blue Cash Preferred, but it still has some room for improvement here….the 6% isn’t valid at the big box stores (Sam’s Club, Costco and even Walmart) even when all you buy is groceries. I know this is a bit tricky for AMEX to figure out, but I get over half my groceries at these places. It is hard to justify the $95 annual fee with this “limitation” in place…..
I like this card. Simple and to the point vs a lot of the other card products out there these days.
I have the Blue Cash everyday and it’s ok. Having to redeem rewards in exactly $25 increments is a little dated when most cards today you can redeem as little as a penny if you really wanted to.
I appreciate the monthly spending example and seeing how much you come ahead using the Preferred after factoring in the AF. Very helpful stuff.
Obviously apply for business cards first to keep Chase 5/24 intact.
I have one of these cards in anticipation of the day when I don’t renew my Platinum card but not lose my earned points since Amex seems to keep dropping benefits, the most recent being their plan to not allow me to take a guest into the Centurion Lounge starting some time next year.
Yeah I need to sign up for that card. I signed up for the Platinum in May and now with the new benefits won’t be keeping it. I am going to look into the Morgan Stanley version though and see if I can get it for free.
Used to have one but not competitive for big spenders with The more expensive fee cards
Nice article and write up, Jess.
Still waiting on some improved offerings on the AmEx MR-generating Everyday and Everyday Preferred cards.
Have been following/watching them for ~21 months without seeing any changes in SUB or earnings categories.
If your main focus is cash back, that Blue Cash Preferred would be hard to beat with those 6% categories on groceries and select streaming services.
good analysis