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finder.com’s rating: 4.3 / 5
★★★★★
$300
Welcome offer
Up to 6%
Cash back
$0
Annual fee
for the first year ($95 thereafter)
0%
Intro purchase APR
for the first 12 months (then 13.99% to 23.99% variable)
Annual fee | $0 intro annual fee for the first year ($95 thereafter) |
---|---|
Welcome Offer | $300 after spending $3,000 in the first 6 months |
Rewards | 6% on select US streaming services, 3% on transit and US gas stations, 6% at US supermarkets on up to $6,000 annually, then 1% after that and on all other purchases |
Purchase APR | 0% intro for the first 12 months (then 13.99% to 23.99% variable) |
Balance transfer APR | N/A |
Recommended minimum credit score | 670 |
Issuer | American Express |
Review by
Kliment Dukovski is a credit cards writer. He's written over 600 articles to help readers find and compare the best credit cards. Kliment has also written on money transfers, home loans and more. Previously, he ghostwrote guides and articles on foreign exchange, stock market trading and cryptocurrencies.
To apply for the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express, you’ll just need to do the following:
Almost anyone can take advantage of this card’s earning categories. However, the spending cap on supermarkets along with the inclusion of streaming, gas and transit for rewards means this card will best fit your average-sized family.
This card is also a great fit for solo or duo-city dwellers who can take advantage of both the supermarket earnings as well as the transit earnings.
While most could benefit from the Blue Cash Preferred considering it’s excellent rewards on everyday purchases, the card may not be right for you if you’ve got an especially large family or find that you spend well beyond $6,000 in a given year. If that’s the case, you might want to consider a rewards card without a spending cap. This card also isn’t the best choice for travel enthusiasts as it only earns rewards on local transit such as buses and taxis.
There’s a lot of competition in the everyday rewards space, so here’s a breakdown of the Blue Cash Preferred vs. two similar cards to give you a sense of how the Blue Cash Preferred stacks up.
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
★★★★★
Rates & feesGo to site |
---|
Minimum credit score 670 |
Annual fee $0 intro annual fee for the first year ($95 thereafter) |
Purchase APR 0% intro for the first 12 months (then 13.99% to 23.99% variable) |
Balance transfer APR N/A |
Rewards 6% on select US streaming services, 3% on transit and US gas stations, 6% at US supermarkets on up to $6,000 annually, then 1% after that and on all other purchases |
Welcome offer $300 after spending $3,000 in the first 6 months |
Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express
★★★★★
Rates & feesGo to site |
---|
Minimum credit score 670 |
Annual fee $0 |
Purchase APR 0% intro for the first 15 months (then 13.99% to 23.99% variable) |
Balance transfer APR N/A |
Rewards 2% at US gas stations and select US department stores, 3% at US supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year, then 1% after that and on all other purchases |
Welcome offer $200 after spending $1,000 in the first 3 months |
Chase Freedom Unlimited®
★★★★★
Rates & feesGo to site |
---|
Minimum credit score 670 |
Annual fee $0 |
Purchase APR 0% intro for the first 15 months (then 14.99% to 23.74% variable) |
Balance transfer APR 14.99% to 23.74% variable |
Rewards 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase, 5% on Lyft, 3% on dining and drugstores and 1.5% on all other purchases |
Welcome offer $200 after spending $500 in the first 3 months |
Compare even more credit cards
Here’s a quick example of the kind of cashback you might in a month earn using the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express, assuming some common spending values.
Category | Spending | Cashback earned |
---|---|---|
US supermarkets (6% on up to $6,000 annually) | $800 | $48 |
Gas and transit (3%) | $200 | $6 |
Streaming services (6%) | $50 | $3 |
Other purchases (1%) | 2,000 | $20 |
Total cashback in one month = $77
As of February 2021, American Express sports an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau and has been accredited since 1948. It has received 3,331 customer complaints, all of which the provider has addressed and closed out.
Trustpilot rates the provider a bit lower with a 2.0 out of 5.0. A majority of the negative customer reviews on the site mention American Express customer service as the primary pain point.
Users on social media, such as Reddit, tend to praise this card for the large earning rate and solid customer service American Express offers. Those less satisfied with the card point to grocery store and gas station restrictions as a big point to watch out for — especially if you often shop at stores like Target and Walmart.
Amex makes it easy to make the most out of your Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express so long as you spend it on the right categories. Here are a few quick tips for maximizing rewards using the card:
If you’re looking for a superb cashback card designed for the modern day family, look no further than the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express. While there are other grocery and gas cashback cards out there, none offer a 6% rate like Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express. The raw earning power of this card across a variety of categories and flexible welcome offer make it a great choice for families who want a rewards card.
If you’re looking for more than just cash back on your rewards card, however, compare your other plenty of rewards card options to find one that best fits your finanical needs.
Current supported streaming services include:
Editorial Note: Any opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer.
Images: AmericanExpress.com
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