As High As $300 Cash Back. Find Out Your Offer. You may be eligible for as high as $300 cash back after spending $3,000 in purchases on your new Card in the first 6 months. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Cash back is received as Reward Dollars, redeemable for statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout. Terms Apply
Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
As high as $300 Bonus Points
Our Mission
At Daily Drop, our mission is simple: to help you explore the world affordably and experience life-changing travel by maximizing miles and points. Our team of travel and credit card experts is here to help you make decisions about which cards belong in your wallet. Based on your travel goals, we offer unbiased advice to help you make the best choices. Keep in mind that our suggestions require responsible credit card use.
Rating Methodology
Here at Daily Drop, we score credit cards using a proprietary formula based on dozens of metrics across six key categories: annual fee, welcome offer, rewards rates, redemption value, benefits & perks, and travel protections. Higher scores indicate better overall value.
We net the annual fee against statement credits you'll likely use and focus on a welcome offer's true return on spending (ROI) rather than just the headline number. We value rewards by their actual worth in cents per point, which is why flexible, transferable points typically score highest. APR is not a standalone scoring category because we recommend paying in full to maximize points and miles, but an intro 0% APR counts as a perk.
Our reviews are editorial and experience-driven. Our team has earned and redeemed millions of miles and points and tested these cards around the world. After all, we would not be Daily Drop if we were not practicing what we preach.
Read our full methodology for more information.
Our Take
McKay MoffittThis card is honestly tough to beat when it comes to spending on groceries. Or, if you stream everything under the sun, it's good for that, also. With solid cash back at U.S. supermarkets and streaming platforms, the Blue Cash Preferred racks up rewards very quickly. I've known people to get this card, pay the low annual fee, earn hundreds of dollars back just on groceries. If you like high earning rates and can handle the small fee, the Blue Cash Preferred is perfect for cash back on that everyday spend.
Comparable Cards
Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.
Pros & Cons
Pros
Solid cashback on everyday purchases
Valuable welcome offer
Access to American Express Offers, which comes with extra savings and discounts on purchases
Cons
Cashback rate is capped for U.S. supermarket spending, and after reaching the limit, the cashback rate is lower
Limited international acceptance compared to Visa and Mastercard
Rewards Summary
6% cash-back at U.S. supermarkets, on up to $6,000 in spending per year (then 1%)
6% cash-back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions
3% cash-back at eligible U.S. gas stations
3% cash-back on transit (including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses, and more)
1% cash-back on other purchases
Additional Benefits
- Apply and find out your welcome offer. As High As $300 cash back* after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply, and if approved: 1. Find out your offer amount 2. Accept the Card with your offer 3. Spend $3,000 in 6 months 4. Receive the cash back. *Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed for a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout.
- $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.
- Enjoy 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 12 months from the date of account opening. After that, your APR will be a variable APR of 19.49%-28.49%.
- Plan It®: Buy now, pay later with Plan It. Split purchases of $100 or more into equal monthly installments with a fixed fee so you don’t have the pressure of paying all at once. Simply select the purchase in your online account or the American Express® App to see your plan options. Plus, you’ll still earn rewards on purchases the way you usually do.
- Earn 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in eligible purchases (then 1%), 6% cash back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions, 3% cash back at eligible U.S. gas stations and on transit (including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more) purchases and 1% cash back on other purchases. Cash Back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit and at Amazon.com checkout.
- Get up to a $10 monthly statement credit after using your enrolled Blue Cash Preferred® Card for a subscription purchase, including a bundle subscription purchase, at DisneyPlus.com, Hulu.com, or Stream.ESPN.com U.S. websites. Subject to auto-renewal.
- Terms Apply.
How to make the most of your Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
[.dontreco] We don’t recommend: Forgetting to redeem your rewards [.dontreco]
While the rewards are straightforward, make sure to regularly check your cash back balance and redeem it as needed. It's easy to let it accumulate without taking advantage of it.
[.sometimesreco] We sometimes recommend: Using it for Amazon purchases [.sometimesreco]
With the option to use cash back at checkout, the Blue Cash Preferred is a great option for your Amazon purchases.
[.alwaysreco] We always recommend: Using it for everyday purchases like groceries and gas [.alwaysreco]
Because of its great cash-back rates, use the Blue Cash Preferred for all your day-to-day spending. It's an effortless way to earn consistent rewards.
Offer History
Offer Dates
Offer Details
- Current Offer since Feb 2026As High As $300 Cash Back. Find Out Your Offer. You may be eligible for as high as $300 cash back after spending $3,000 in purchases on your new Card in the first 6 months. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Cash back is received as Reward Dollars, redeemable for statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout. Terms Apply.
- Oct 2022 through Feb 2026Earn $250 Back after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
- Jun 2022 through Oct 2022Earn $350 Back after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
- Sep 2021 through Jun 2022Earn $300 Back after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership. Introductory APR and introductory Buy Now, Pay Later Plan It® Fees.
- May 2021 through Sep 2021Earn $150 Back after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership. Plus, earn 20% back on Amazon in first 6 months — up to $200 back.
- Feb 2021 through May 2021Earn $300 Back after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
- Dec 2020 through Feb 2021Earn $250 Back after you spend $1,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.
- Oct 2020 through Dec 2020Earn $300 Back after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
- May 2019 through Oct 2020Earn $250 Back after you spend $1,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.
Who Should Get The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express?
1. The Grocery Store Regular
If your weekly Trader Joe’s or Whole Foods haul is the highlight of your routine (guilty!), this card is perfect for you. Just spending $500 a month at U.S. supermarkets gets you $360 back a year (which takes care of the annual fee). And if you're filling up your tank to get to said grocery stores, even better. From filling your gas tank to paying for subways, buses, or Ubers, solid cash back on transit and gas adds up quickly. It’s one of the only cards that includes transit.
2. The Streamer
Stream Netflix, Disney+, Spotify, HBO Max, Hulu? That 6% cash back on streaming adds up super fast. While other cards come with credits for those platforms, this card still puts cash back in your wallet. That said, this card is a great place to start.
Who Should Not Get The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express?
If your grocery spending is under $250 per month or you rarely pay for streaming, it’s probably not worth the fee. Also, if you're looking for flight credits or hotel points, I'd look elsewhere. This is a cash back card before anything else.
Recommended Credit
The recommended credit score for the Blue Cash Preferred is good. But again, if you’re in a decent place with your credit and feel you are ready for a new card, don’t let the fear of being rejected keep you from applying. And generally speaking, this is a beginner card. It should help you build up your portfolio when used responsibly.
Daily Drop credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is Amex Gold better than Blue Cash Preferred for groceries?
If you spend a lot on groceries and want flexible points instead of cash back, the Amex Gold usually wins out.
Can I upgrade my Blue Cash Preferred to American Express® Gold Card?
You cannot upgrade from the Blue Cash Preferred to the Amex Gold directly. Since the Amex Gold is a charge card (not a credit card), you’d need to apply for it separately.
Does the Blue Cash Preferred have foreign transaction fees?
Yes, there’s a 2.7% foreign transaction fee, so it’s not the best pick for spending abroad.
Can I downgrade my Amex Blue Cash preferred to Everyday?
Yes you can, and many people downgrade to the no fee Blue Cash Everyday to avoid the fee while keeping their open account.
Our Experts
For American Express products listed in this page, Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.
Editorial disclaimer: opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. Information was last updated Jul 3, 2026.