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The Blue Cash cards from American Express are high-value cashback cards that stand out amongst Amex's portfolio of travel-focused rewards cards.
These cards feature valuable welcome offers, top earning rates, and useful perks for cardholders. Better still, both cards have recently received some huge improvements, including new annual credits, a fresh card design and additional bonus categories on the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express, and balance transfer offers - Rates & Fees.
In this post, we'll compare the refreshed Blue Cash cards to help you decide which will deliver the best value for you.
Amex Blue Cash Cards at a Glance
| Card Details | Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express | Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express |
|---|---|---|
| Welcome Offer | Earn a $200 statement credit after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months. | Earn a $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months. |
| Bonus Categories | • 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 in purchases, then 1%) • 3% Cash Back with U.S. online retailers (on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%) • 1% Cash Back on other purchases • Cash back is issued as a statement credit. | • 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 issued as a statement credit. |
| Intro APRs | • 0% on purchases for 15 months then a Variable rate of 19.24% - 29.99% • 0% on balance transfers for 15 months then a Variable rate of 19.24% - 29.99% Balance transfer fee of Either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater. - Rates & Fees | • 0% on purchases for 12 months then a Variable rate of 19.24% - 29.99% • 0% on balance transfers for 12 months then a Variable rate of 19.24% - 29.99% Balance transfer fee of Either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater. - Rates & Fees |
| Annual Fee | $0 - Rates & Fees | $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95. - Rates & Fees |
Updated Blue Cash Welcome Offers Now Include Intro 0% Balance Transfer
- 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%.
- 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.
- Rates & Fees
- 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 issued as a statement credit.
In addition to the current welcome offer of $200 back in statement credits, new Blue Cash Everyday cardmembers can also take advantage of intro APR offers of 0% on purchases and 0% on balance transfers for 15 months from the date of account opening, then a 19.24% - 29.99% Variable rate applies. (Rates & Fees)
The Blue Cash Preferred offers a $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months. This offer also comes with an intro APR of 0% on purchases and 0% on balance transfers for 12 months—then a Variable rate of 19.24% - 29.99%. (Rates & Fees)
If your goal is to avoid paying annual fees, the Blue Cash Everyday provides a great welcome offer without the ongoing cost. Plus, you gain access to a longer intro APR period to pay down any balance incurred on the card. You can catch our in-depth breakdown of the updated Blue Cash Everyday benefits here.
Increased Return on Spending Turns Blue Cash Everyday Into a Powerhouse Cashback Card
With the addition of a new bonus category and an increased return on gas purchases, Amex has catapulted the Blue Cash Everyday into the top tier of cashback rewards cards.
- 3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations (on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%)
- 3% Cash Back with U.S. online retailers (on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%)
- 3% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%)
- 1% back on other purchases
- Cashback is issued as a statement credit
These earning rates all fall in essential everyday spending categories, and most cardholders should have no trouble spending up to the cap each year.
The Blue Cash Preferred will still likely provide a better ongoing return if you maximize each of the bonus categories. However, factoring in the difference in annual fees and the new benefits added to the Blue Cash Everyday, there is a good argument to be made for applying for the no-annual-fee option.
- 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.
- 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.
- Rates & Fees
- 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 issued as a statement credit.
For example, let's say each month you spend roughly $300 on groceries, $150 on gas, $50 on tolls and parking, and $200 on online purchases, for a total of $700 per month.
If you charge these expenses to the Blue Cash Preferred, you’ll earn $312 cash back each year. If you charge these expenses to the Blue Cash Everyday instead, you’ll earn $240 each year.
After factoring in the ongoing $95 annual fee, the Blue Cash Preferred earns $217 vs. $240 for the Blue Cash Everyday. While it's likely your expenses will differ from those we've listed above, plenty of cardholders will now find themselves better off holding the Blue Cash Everyday over its premium stablemate.
It's also worth pointing out that Blue Cash Everyday holders can now take advantage of some new annual credits that can add an additional layer of value if you already use these services or intend to in the future. As part of its recent refresh, the Blue Cash Everyday received 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. Eligible subscriptions include Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+. Enrollment is required for select Amex benefits.
Leverage 0% Intro APR Offer for Larger Purchases
While the goal is always to pay your card off in full every month, an intro 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, 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 (see table above) 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.
Take Advantage of 0% Balance Transfer Offers on Blue Cash Cards
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 19.24% - 29.99%. 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 recently re-launched its balance transfer offer, with a 0% on balance transfers for 12 months then a Variable rate of 19.24% - 29.99%. You'll pay a balance transfer fee of Either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater. (Rates & Fees)
It's great to see the balance transfer offer back on these cards following a lengthy hiatus, but compared to the best balance transfer cards, you can wind up paying a significant fee upfront courtesy of the balance transfer fee. (Rates & Fees)
Blue Cash Card Eligibility
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 intro 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. So, if you've held the Blue Cash Everyday in the past, you qualify for the Blue Cash Preferred (and vice versa) if you meet the rest of the eligibility requirements.
Our Take
The offers on the Blue Cash cards can provide a timely cashback boost, taking some of the load off your hip pocket and returning cash to your wallet.
As long as you spend more than a couple of hundred dollars per month on essentials like gas and groceries, it's worth running the numbers to see which of these cards is going to give you a better return on spending.
If you already have cards whose bonus categories overlap with the Blue Cash Preferred, or you really don't want to pay an annual fee, new cardmembers can earn a solid welcome offer of $200 back in statement credits on the Blue Cash Everyday and take advantage of some top intro APR offers.
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