Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
High cash back on groceries and streaming services
Updated October 20, 2026 · By the MoneyAtlas Editorial Team
Pros
High cash back rate on U.S. supermarket purchases: The 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (up to $6,000 per year, then 1%) is one of the highest rates available for this category, potentially yielding up to $360 in cash back annually
Excellent rewards on U.S. streaming services: The 6% cash back on select U.S. streaming services, with no spending cap, is ideal for cord-cutters and digital entertainment enthusiasts
Strong earnings on gas and transit: The 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations and on transit offers significant value for commuters and frequent drivers, with no spending cap
Cons
Annual fee of $95: While the fee can be offset by the card's rewards, it may be a deterrent for some, especially those with lower spending in the bonus categories
Cap on U.S. supermarket rewards: The 6% cash back rate at U.S. supermarkets is limited to $6,000 in purchases per year, which may be restrictive for larger families or high spenders
Foreign transaction fee: The 2.7% foreign transaction fee makes this card less suitable for international travel or purchases from foreign websites
Why we rate it 4.7/5
The top cash-back card for households spending about $265 or more a month at U.S. supermarkets. Lighter grocery shoppers do better with Blue Cash Everyday.
6% at U.S. supermarkets and on select U.S. streaming is about as high as cash back gets in those categories, with 3% on gas and transit. The $6,000 grocery cap limits big families.
The first year is free and the $95 fee pays for itself at roughly $265 a month in groceries. Lighter grocery spenders come out behind the no-fee Blue Cash Everyday.
Purchase and return protection, extended warranty, car rental coverage and a Disney streaming credit are useful, but there are no travel perks and a 2.7% foreign transaction fee.
Fixed categories with nothing to activate, and cash back redeems as a statement credit. The only thing to track is the $6,000 supermarket cap.
The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express is a cash back card designed for families and individuals who spend significantly on everyday purchases, particularly at U.S. supermarkets and on U.S. streaming services. It offers high cash-back rates across several popular spending categories, making it an attractive option for those looking to maximize rewards on daily expenses.
Is the Blue Cash Preferred Worth the Annual Fee?
Your first year costs nothing, because the annual fee is $0 for year one and $95 after that. From year two the question is simple: does the extra grocery cash back over the no-fee Blue Cash Everyday cover $95? Everyday pays 3% at U.S. supermarkets on the same $6,000 annual cap, so the Preferred's grocery edge is 3 percentage points on up to $6,000, or $180 a year at most.
Divide the fee by that gap and the break-even lands at about $3,170 a year at U.S. supermarkets, roughly $265 a month. Spend less and Everyday wins on groceries alone. Streaming pushes the math toward the Preferred (6% versus 1%), while Everyday's 3% on U.S. online retail pulls the other way if you buy a lot online.
Look at what happens past $500 a month: the gap stops growing, because both cards drop to 1% once you pass $6,000 a year. A family spending $1,500 a month on groceries gets the same $85 edge as one spending $500. Figures cover grocery cash back only and assume a full year at the $95 fee.
Key Features
- Rewards Structure:
- 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 services
- 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
- Welcome Offer:
- Annual Fee:
- Additional Benefits:
- , then
- Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance.
- Return Protection
- Purchase Protection
- Extended Warranty
Eligibility and Benefit level vary by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.
Rewards Program
Cash back is received as Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit. The minimum redemption is 25 Reward Dollars.
Rates and Fees
- Annual Fee:
- Purchase APR:
- Foreign Transaction Fee: 2.7% of each transaction after conversion to US dollars
- Late Payment Fee: Up to $40
- Returned Payment Fee: Up to $40
- Cash Advance Fee: Either $10 or 5% of the amount of each cash advance, whichever is greater
- See rates and fees
Who Is This Card For?
The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express is ideal for:
- Families or individuals who spend heavily at U.S. supermarkets
- Those who subscribe to multiple U.S. streaming services
- Commuters who spend significantly on gas and transit
- People who prefer cash back rewards over travel points
- Those who can comfortably offset the annual fee with their regular spending
Compare
Blue Cash Preferred vs. Blue Cash Everyday vs. Amex Gold
All three are American Express cards built around grocery spending, but they solve different problems. Blue Cash Everyday is the no-fee version: half the grocery rate, plus 3% on U.S. online retail and gas. The Preferred doubles the grocery rate and adds 6% on select streaming for $95 a year. The American Express Gold Card earns Membership Rewards points instead of cash, with 4X at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 a year, but its $325 annual fee only pays off if you use its dining credits and move points to travel partners. Amex publishes its own comparison of the Gold and Blue Cash Preferred if you want the issuer's framing.
Bottom Line
Pick the Blue Cash Preferred if your household spends more than about $265 a month at U.S. supermarkets and pays for a streaming service or two. The $0 first-year fee gives you a year to test that, and 6% on up to $6,000 of groceries is hard to beat among cash-back cards. If you mostly shop at warehouse clubs, travel abroad, or spend lightly on groceries, the fee buys you little and Blue Cash Everyday is the better fit.