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Amex Blue Cash Preferred vs Amex Blue Cash Everyday

Quick answer

Blue Cash Preferred is the clear winner for big spenders who can offset its $95 annual fee with grocery and streaming rewards. Everyday is best for low-spenders who want similar perks with no annual fee attached.

Our pick

Amex Blue Cash Preferred

The heavy grocery shopper's best friend

4.3★

Amex Blue Cash Everyday

Solid rewards, zero guilt about the annual fee

3.8★

Annual Fee

$95 (waived year 1)

U.S. Supermarkets Cash Back

6% (up to $6,000/yr)

3% (up to $6,000/yr)

U.S. Gas Stations Cash Back

U.S. Online Retail Cash Back

N/A

3% (up to $6,000/yr)

Streaming Subscriptions

6% on select services

No bonus

All Other Purchases

Welcome Offer

~$250 statement credit

~$200 statement credit

Intro APR on Purchases

0% for 12 months

0% for 15 months

Redemption Minimum

$25 in reward dollars

Foreign Transaction Fee

2.7%

Grocery Break-Even Point

~$3,167/yr in groceries

No fee to break even

Disney Bundle Credit

$7/mo back (offsets fee)

None

Amex Blue Cash Preferred

Welcome Offer★★★★½

Cash Back Rates★★★★★

Streaming Perks★★★★★

Annual Fee Value★★★½☆

Ease of Redemption★★★★☆

Everyday Usefulness★★★★☆

Amex Blue Cash Everyday

Welcome Offer★★★½☆

Cash Back Rates★★★½☆

Streaming Perks★★★☆☆

Annual Fee Value★★★★★

Ease of Redemption★★★★☆

Everyday Usefulness★★★½☆

Worth knowing

The Preferred's 6% grocery rate is one of the highest flat cash-back rates available on supermarket spending in the U.S.
At exactly $3,167/yr in grocery spend, the Preferred's extra rewards fully offset its $95 annual fee vs. the Everyday.
Both cards reward only at U.S. supermarkets — warehouse clubs like Costco and superstores like Walmart don't qualify.
The Everyday added a 3% online retail category in 2023, giving it a genuine edge for Amazon-heavy shoppers.
Neither card earns transferable points — cash back is issued as Reward Dollars, not Amex Membership Rewards.

If you spend $6,000/yr on groceries AND stream Netflix, Disney+, and Hulu, the Preferred essentially pays for itself twice over — your card is literally funding movie night.

If you want

You spend $300+ per month at U.S. supermarkets

6% back crushes the $95 fee fast and keeps padding your wallet all year.

→ Pick Amex Blue Cash Preferred

If you want

You rarely cook at home or keep grocery bills low

No annual fee means every dollar of cash back is pure profit, no math required.

→ Pick Amex Blue Cash Everyday

If you want

You do most non-grocery shopping online

The Everyday's 3% online retail bonus is a sleeper hit for e-commerce addicts.

→ Pick Amex Blue Cash Everyday