The American Express® Blue Cash Preferred® Card is a premium cashback credit card that offers exceptional rewards for everyday spending, particularly for families and individuals who frequently shop for groceries, make streaming service subscriptions, or pay for transit.
This card provides high cashback rates in multiple categories, allowing users to maximize their rewards on purchases that matter most to them.
About American Express
Founded in 1850, American Express (often referred to as Amex) is one of the most recognized financial services companies globally, known for offering premium credit cards, payment solutions, and travel services.
American Express has built a reputation for high-quality customer service, offering a variety of rewards programs, and providing valuable benefits to cardholders, including exclusive events, travel perks, and purchase protections.
Who Is This Card For?
The American Express® Blue Cash Preferred® Card is an excellent choice for a variety of consumers, especially those who want to earn generous rewards for their everyday purchases. It is particularly suited for:
- Families: With the 6% cashback on groceries (on the first $6,000 spent annually) and 3% cashback on transit and streaming services, this card is perfect for families who frequently shop at supermarkets, use ride-sharing services, and subscribe to streaming platforms.
- Frequent Shoppers: If you do most of your shopping at supermarkets and spend a lot on online retail or streaming subscriptions, the Blue Cash Preferred® Card provides an opportunity to earn high cashback on those purchases.
- Transactors: The card offers valuable cashback on transit expenses, such as commuting, train rides, and gas, making it ideal for individuals who have regular transit expenses.
- Consumers Seeking a Sign-Up Bonus: New cardholders can earn a welcome bonus after meeting the required spend within the first few months. This bonus can significantly boost your rewards.
- People Seeking Flexibility in Rewards: The American Express® Blue Cash Preferred® Card offers a straightforward cashback program, making it a good choice for those who prefer cashback over points or travel rewards.
Card Benefits
The American Express® Blue Cash Preferred® Card offers a range of significant benefits that provide excellent value for users who want to earn cashback. Here are some of the key benefits:
- 6% Cashback at U.S. Supermarkets: Cardholders earn an outstanding 6% cashback on U.S. supermarket purchases, up to $6,000 per year (then 1%). This is one of the highest cashback rates for grocery spending available among credit cards. It’s perfect for individuals or families who spend regularly on groceries.
- 3% Cashback on U.S. Online Retail Purchases, Transit, and Select Streaming Services: This card offers 3% cashback on popular online retailers, transit purchases (such as subway and bus rides, taxis, or ride-sharing services), and select U.S. streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, and Disney+. These categories are useful for individuals who have recurring payments and make frequent purchases in these areas.
- 1% Cashback on Other Purchases: While not as high as the 6% and 3% categories, the 1% cashback on all other purchases still offers a good return on everyday spending. It allows cardholders to earn rewards on every purchase without worrying about category limitations.
- Welcome Bonus: New cardholders can earn a welcome bonus after spending a certain amount within the first few months of card ownership. This bonus provides a significant boost to the rewards program, allowing cardholders to earn extra cashback early on.
- No Annual Fee for the First Year: The Blue Cash Preferred® Card has an annual fee, but it is waived for the first year, making it an even more attractive option for new cardholders who want to try out the card before committing to the fee.
Additional Benefits
In addition to the core rewards and benefits mentioned above, the American Express® Blue Cash Preferred® Card comes with several other valuable perks:
- Exclusive Access to Events: Cardholders have access to exclusive concerts, sports events, and dining experiences through the American Express Entertainment Access program.
- Premium Travel Perks: While this card doesn’t offer extensive travel benefits like some premium Amex cards, it still provides useful benefits for travelers, including no foreign transaction fees, car rental loss and damage insurance, and travel accident insurance.
- Personalized Alerts and Spending Tools: Through the American Express mobile app, users can access tools to track spending, set alerts, and manage budgeting, helping them stay on top of their finances.
Fees and charges
Late Payment: Up to $40;
Returned payment: Up to $40;
● Introductory APR: 0% for 12 billing cycles;
● Standard APR: 18.24% - 29.24%;
● Balance Transfer Fee: either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer;
● Cash Advance: either $10 or 5% of the amount of each cash advance.
Expert review
The American Express Blue Cash Preferred® Card is an excellent choice for those seeking high rewards on everyday purchases.
It offers 6% cash back on groceries (up to $6,000 per year), 3% on transit and 1% on other purchases.
While it comes with a $95 annual fee, the high cash-back rate makes it worthwhile for families and frequent shoppers.
However, there is a foreign transaction fee and the 6% cash back limit may not suit all users.
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+Positive points
- 6% cash back: Earn 6% cash back on groceries (up to $6,000 per year).
- 3% cash back: Get 3% cash back on transit purchases, including taxis, trains, and parking.
- No limit on cash back: Receive unlimited cash back on all eligible purchases after the cap is reached.
- Introductory APR: Enjoy 0% intro APR on purchases for the first 12 months.
- Welcome offer: Earn a $250 statement credit after spending $3,000 in the first 6 months.
- Negative points
- $95 annual fee: There is an annual fee, which may not be ideal for those looking for a fee-free card.
- Foreign transaction fee: There is a 2.7% foreign transaction fee, making it less ideal for international use.
- Cash back limit: The 6% cash back on groceries is capped at $6,000 per year, which may not be enough for larger families or heavy shoppers.