Last Updated on February 29, 2024 by Archie Biggs
Best for Long Term Value, Groceries & Cash Back
More cash back, where it counts
Earn $250 back after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership. You will receive the $250 back in the form of a statement credit
Card Details
- 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% for 12 months on purchases from the date of account opening, then a variable rate, 19.24% to 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 and on transit (including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more).
- 1% Cash Back on other purchases.
- Get $7 back each month after using your Blue Cash Preferred Card to spend $12.99 or more each month on an eligible subscription to The Disney Bundle, which includes Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+. Enrollment required.
- Terms Apply.
- Select “Apply Now” to learn more about the product features, terms and conditions
- View Rates and Fees
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express Details
Intro Offer | Rewards Rate | Regular APR | Annual Fee | Credit Needed |
---|---|---|---|---|
Earn a $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months. |
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 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
|
19.24% – 29.99% (Variable) | Annual fee$0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95 | Good, Excellent |
How the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express Card Stacks Up
Pros
Cons
Boundless Long-Term Value
The base reward program of this card proves to be a treasure trove of benefits, particularly for those seeking long-term value. Its uber-lucrative nature allows holders to accrue impressive rewards over time, fueling a sustainable approach to smart spending.
A Balanced Start
Unique to this card is its enticing 0 percent introductory APR offer on purchases and balance transfers for the first 12 months. This allows you to ease into your spending habits, making considerable purchases without worrying about excessive interest rates
Exclusions Limit Earnings
While the card has numerous benefits, it’s important to note that purchases at wholesale clubs, superstores, and specialty stores, like bakeries and farmer’s markets, fall outside the scope of the card’s U.S. supermarket bonus category. This unfortunately limits the scope of your potential rewards.
Redemption Restrictions
Regrettably, the card does not allow the redemption of your cashback earnings as a direct deposit or check. This limitation can impede your flexibility to utilize your rewards as you deem fit.
Earnings on Everyday Expenditure
A distinctive advantage is the tiered cashback provided on everyday necessities such as groceries, gas, transit, and even your favorite streaming subscriptions. This facility is the epitome of the card’s philosophy – Earn while you spend.
The Assurance of Protection
Offering strong purchase protection, return protection, and extended warranty benefits, this card goes beyond just financial rewards, it also offers peace of mind. It stands as a sturdy shield against potential losses or defects, providing a remarkable safety net for your purchases.
Consider the Annual Fee
After the first year, the card imposes a $95 annual fee. For those who are particularly cost-conscious, this annual fee may become a factor to consider when assessing the long-term value of the card.
Supermarket Bonus Cap
While the 6% bonus at U.S. supermarkets is appealing, it’s worth mentioning that this is capped to $6,000 in annual purchases, then reduced to 1%. This cap might limit the value you can extract from this bonus.
Bottom Line
Savor the grandeur of a 6% monetary dividend at U.S. food marts (restricted to $6,000 annual expenditure, subsequent to which, the return diminishes to 1%), coupled with certain U.S. streaming services, and a further, not insignificant, 3% on fuel and public transit expenditure in the United States. Mundane purchases yield a modest 1% return, yet the true marvel is the $250 fiscal reduction post a spend of $3,000 within half a year.
Despite the prevailing annual levy post the inaugural year, the Blue Cash Preferred card indisputably features as a prime choice for familial finances. It sweetens the ordeal of lengthy drives and protracted school pick-ups through a magnanimous return on fuel expenditures and an unrivalled rate of return at U.S. grocers.
Households allocating substantial segments of their monthly disbursements on edibles, fuel or commute would indeed laud the generous reward rate offered by the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express. An annual fee of $95 does exist ($0 introductory annual fee in the initial year), yet it is readily recuperated through a handful of grocery excursions.
The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express ranks among the top cashback credit cards, easily justifying its annual fee from the second year onwards. It’s particularly suited for individuals with a credit score north of 700, spending generously at U.S. supermarkets, U.S. streaming platforms, transit, and U.S. fuel stations.
Presenting one of the finest cashback reward structures, the Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express excels in optimizing returns on everyday outlays such as groceries, fuel, and select U.S. streaming subscriptions. The card, notwithstanding its $95 annual charge – a potential setback for frugal spenders – pays for itself for those making substantial purchases. The fee is waived for the initial year, offering ample opportunity to balance the cost through the earned cashback.
Regardless of your spending preferences, the Blue Cash Preferred Card justifies its cost. The $250 fiscal reduction for new customers spending $3,000 in six months and subsequent bonus rewards as statement credits easily cover the fixed cost for those who settle the bill every month. Consequently, Blue Cash Preferred embodies an elite rewards card providing the prestige of owning an Amex.
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