In a Nutshell
The Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express and the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express both offer bonus cash back on common purchases. Either could be a good choice, but the best card for you may depend on how much you usually spend at supermarkets and gas stations.This offer is no longer available on our site: Chase Freedom Flex℠
There’s no clear winner when it comes to these two cash back cards from American Express, so figuring out which might be best for you depends on your spending habits.
Rewards credit cards can offer cardholders a variety of earning opportunities.
Cash back cards like the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express and the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express have tiered rewards programs, with different cash back rewards rates depending on where you’re making purchases.
If the bonus categories align with your regular purchases, a tiered-rewards program could be a good fit. Alternatively, there are cash back cards that offer a flat rewards rate on every purchase — a no-hassle structure that may appeal to some.
These two American Express cash back credit cards offer similar bonus cash back opportunities, interest rates and benefits, but they have different annual fees and rewards rates. So which is best?
At a glance: Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express vs. Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
| Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express | Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $0 | $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95 |
| Welcome bonus | Earn $200 as a statement credit after making $2,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of card membership. | $250 statement credit after making $3,000 in eligible purchases within the first 6 months of card membership. |
| Rewards | 3% cash back on up to $6,000 in purchases at U.S. supermarkets each year (then 1%) 3% cash back on up to $6,000 in purchases at U.S. online retailers each year (then 1%) 3% cash back on up to $6,000 in purchases at U.S. gas station each year (then 1%) 1% cash back on all other eligible purchases | 6% cash back on up to $6,000 in purchases at U.S. supermarkets each year (then 1%) 6% cash back on select U.S. streaming subscription 3% cash back on purchases at U.S. gas stations 3% cash back on transit (including taxis/rideshares, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more) 1% cash back on all other eligible purchases |
| Other cardholder benefits | Car rental insurance Free enrollment in ShopRunner | Car rental insurance Return protection Free enrollment in ShopRunner |
- Best for welcome bonus: Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
- Best for rewards points: Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
- Best for card benefits: Tie
- Best for annual fee: Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express
- Heads up: What to consider when applying for a cash back card
- Bottom line: Which card is right for you?
Best for welcome bonus: Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
When comparing welcome bonuses between the cards, the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express edges just slightly ahead with $250 in statement credits when you make at least $3,000 worth of eligible purchases within your first 6 months as a cardholder.
The Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express comes with a welcome bonus: You can earn $200 in statement credits when you make at least $2,000 worth of purchases within your first 6 months as a cardholder.
Best for rewards points: Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
Both cards offer bonus cash back on purchases at U.S. supermarkets and gas stations. American Express has examples of eligible merchants that you can review.
But the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express wins this category, because it offers 6% back at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $6,000 worth of purchases annually, then 1%) and 3% back at U.S. gas stations. The Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express offers 3% at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $6,000 worth of purchases annually, then 1%) and 3% at U.S. gas stations (on up to $6,000 worth of purchases annually, then 1%).
You can also get 1% cash back on all other eligible purchases.
If you’re looking for additional rewards categories, the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express also offers 6% cash back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions and 3% cash back on transit (including taxis/rideshares, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more).
Best for card benefits: Tie
The Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express and the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express share some cardholder benefits, including …
- Car rental insurance: Secondary coverage (i.e., secondary to your personal auto policy, if you have one) for damage to or theft of eligible rental vehicles.
- Free ShopRunner membership: Enroll in complimentary membership to ShopRunner, which gives you free two-day shipping on eligible purchases at more than 100 online stores.
Best for annual fee: Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express
The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express has an annual fee: $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95, whereas the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express has a $0 annual fee.
The latter is the clear winner here, but don’t count out the former just yet. Paying the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express annual fee could be worth it if you usually spend enough at U.S. supermarkets and U.S. gas stations to earn rewards that offset that cost.
Heads up: What to consider when applying for a cash back card
A cash back card could be a good option if you don’t want to deal with miles or points programs. But even if you earn a similar number of points or miles per $1 spent on purchases, travel rewards cards can offer potentially more-valuable rewards because you can redeem your miles or points for otherwise-costly flights or hotel stays.
Also, consider how and when you can redeem your cash back. With these American Express cards, you can redeem your rewards for statement credits or at Amazon.com checkout.
Bottom line: Which card is right for you?
In the battle between the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express and the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express, it all comes down to the bonus cash back versus the cost of the annual fee.
The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express offers more rewards-earning potential. But it can take a lot of cash back to offset the annual fee: $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.
To figure out which card is best for you, estimate how much you spend on the bonus categories and see if the rewards you’ll earn outweigh the annual fee.
Undecided? 2 no-annual-fee cash back cards to consider
| Best flat-rate cash back card | Citi Double Cash® Card |
| Best rotating category cash back card | Chase Freedom Flex℠ |
Citi Double Cash® Card
The Citi Double Cash® Card is a no-hassle, flat-rate cash back card. You can earn 2% cash back on purchases — 1% when you buy and another 1% when you pay for those purchases.
Chase Freedom Flex℠
The Chase Freedom Flex℠ features a rotating list of bonus rewards categories. You can earn 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate — which can add up to $300 in cash back rewards each year in bonus categories alone. You’ll also earn 5% cash back on travel booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards, 3% at restaurants, 3% on drugstore purchases and 1% cash back on all other eligible purchases.