Blue Cash Everyday® Card vs. Blue Cash Preferred® Card: An overview
Why you might want the Blue Cash Preferred Card
The Blue Cash Preferred Card is an ideal credit card for families who spend a lot on groceries, as it gives you 6% back on up to $6,000 in U.S. supermarket purchases every calendar year, plus 1% back on all eligible U.S. supermarket purchases above the $6,000 spending limit.
Blue Cash Preferred also offers 3% cash back on eligible transit expenses, including parking, tolls, taxi fares and bus fares, making it a great fit for commuters. Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout.
▶ Learn more: Blue Cash Preferred review
Why you might want the Blue Cash Everyday Card instead
The Blue Cash Everyday Card may be a better fit if you want to earn cash back on basic household expenses, such as U.S. streaming subscriptions and U.S. gas stations. It offers 3% back in both categories (on up to $6,000 spent per year, then 1%).
When you open a Blue Cash Everyday account, you also earn 3% back on your first $6,000 in U.S. supermarket expenses each calendar year, so the card is an especially good fit for users who spend at least $500 per month on groceries. Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout.
▶︎ Learn more: Blue Cash Everyday review
Does it make sense to have both cards?
It doesn’t make sense to have both American Express cards, as they offer many of the same benefits. For example, the Blue Cash Everyday Card and the Blue Cash Preferred Card both give you access to Amex Offers, Amex Experiences, the Global Assist® Hotline and a Disney Bundle credit.
Instead of getting both Amex cards, consider signing up for Blue Cash Preferred or Blue Cash Everyday and then getting a card with no annual spending limits in your favorite categories.
Blue Cash Everyday vs. Blue Cash Preferred: Welcome offer
Winner: Blue Cash Everyday
The Blue Cash Everyday has a slight edge as the best welcome offer, as its welcome bonus is $200 when you spend $2,000 on purchases in your first six months of membership. The Blue Cash Preferred Card has a $250 welcome bonus, but you have to spend $3,000 in your first six months of membership to earn it.
Blue Cash Everyday welcome offer: Spend $2,000 on purchases within six months of opening an account to earn a $200 statement credit.
Blue Cash Preferred welcome offer: Spend $3,000 on purchases within six months of opening an account to earn a $250 statement credit.
Blue Cash Everyday vs. Blue Cash Preferred: Rewards
Winner: Tie
Blue Cash Everyday vs. Blue Cash Preferred: Earning rewards
When comparing the rewards available with Blue Cash Preferred vs. Blue Cash Everyday, there’s no clear winner between these cash-back credit cards. Cash back on both cards is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed for a statement credit or at Amazon.com.
Blue Cash Preferred is the best fit if you frequently use ridesharing apps or public transportation, as it gives you 3% back on ridesharing fees, taxi fare, bus tickets, train tickets, tolls and parking.
Blue Cash Everyday is a better pick if you’re looking for a gas credit card as it gives you 3% cash back at eligible U.S. gas stations. Otherwise, the cards are pretty evenly matched.
Blue Cash Everyday:
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3% on the first $6,000 per year in purchases at U.S. supermarkets; 1% thereafter
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3% on the first $6,000 per year in U.S. online retail purchases; 1% thereafter
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3% on the first $6,000 per year in U.S. gas station purchases; 1% thereafter
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1% on all other eligible purchases
Blue Cash Preferred:
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6% on the first $6,000 per year in purchases at U.S. supermarkets; 1% thereafter
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6% on select U.S. streaming subscriptions
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3% on eligible transit expenses, including ridesharing fees, bus tickets, tax fares, train tickets, tolls and parking
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1% on all other eligible purchases
Blue Cash Everyday vs. Blue Cash Preferred: Redeeming rewards
In terms of rewards redemption methods when choosing the best credit card, there’s no clear winner, as both cards are American Express products.
You can redeem your Reward Dollars for a statement credit or use them to make purchases on Amazon.com. Note that statement credits don’t count toward the minimum payment due on your account.
Blue Cash Everyday vs. Blue Cash Preferred: Travel perks
Winner: Tie
The Blue Cash Everyday and Blue Cash Preferred cards have exactly the same travel benefits. With either card, you gain access to the Global Assist® Hotline, which is staffed by knowledgeable concierge professionals who can help you make travel plans or provide emergency assistance when you’re traveling more than 100 miles from home.
Both cards also come with car rental loss and damage insurance, which protects you if someone damages or steals your rental vehicle while you’re in a covered territory. To qualify for coverage, you must decline the collision damage waiver offered by the rental company. You must also use your Blue Cash Everyday Card or Blue Cash Preferred Card to cover the entire cost of the rental.
Note that this benefit isn’t available on vehicles rented in New Zealand, Italy and Australia.
*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.
Blue Cash Everyday vs. Blue Cash Preferred: Other benefits
Winner: Blue Cash Everyday
Like other rewards credit cards, Blue Cash Everyday and Blue Cash Preferred come with additional benefits to make life even sweeter. Blue Cash Everyday wins this category with more partner benefits overall.
Blue Cash Everyday
If you love to shop, you may benefit from the complimentary ShopRunner subscription that comes with the Blue Cash Everyday Card.
Blue Cash Everyday also comes with up to a $180 Home Chef credit, making it a good fit for anyone who wants to make more meals at home without having to do all the shopping and ingredient prep.
Additional benefits:
- Up to $84 Disney Bundle credit. Enrollment required. Terms apply.
- Purchase Protection: Covers eligible purchases made with the Blue Cash Everyday Card for up to 90 days from the purchase date; coverage applies to accidental damage and theft
- Complimentary ShopRunner membership, which comes with free 2-day shipping on eligible purchases. Enrollment required.
Blue Cash Preferred
Blue Cash Preferred comes with fewer benefits overall than Blue Cash Everyday.
Additional benefits:
- Up to $84 Disney Bundle credit. Enrollment required. Terms apply.
- Return Protection: If a merchant won’t take back an eligible item within 90 days of the original purchase date, you may qualify for Purchase Protection. This benefit refunds up to $300 per item, excluding shipping and handling, for a maximum of $1,000 in refunds per calendar year. You can’t use Purchase Protection unless you use your Blue Cash Preferred Card to make the purchase.
*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.
Blue Cash Everyday vs. Blue Cash Preferred: Rates and fees
Winner: Blue Cash Everyday
Blue Cash Everyday has a slight edge here, as it’s a no-annual-fee card. Additionally, it has a better introductory APR offer. With the Blue Cash Everyday card, you pay 0% on all purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 months of your membership. The Blue Cash Preferred Card only gives you 0% for 12 months after you open an account.
Blue Cash Everyday rates and fees:
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Annual fee: $0
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Balance transfer fee: $5 or 3% of the transaction amount, whichever is greater
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Cash advance fee: $10 or 5% of the cash advance, whichever is greater
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Foreign transaction fee: 2.7% per transaction
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Late payment fee: Up to $40
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Returned payment fee: Up to $40
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Introductory APR: 0% on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 months of account membership
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Regular APR: 19.24% to 29.99% variable
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Balance transfer APR: 19.24% to 29.99% variable
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Cash advance APR: 29.99% variable
- See rates and fees
Blue Cash Preferred rates and fees:
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Annual fee: $0 for the first year; $95 per year thereafter
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Balance transfer fee: $5 or 3% of the transaction amount, whichever is greater
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Cash advance fee: $10 or 5% of the cash advance, whichever is greater
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Foreign transaction fee: 2.7% per transaction
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Late payment fee: Up to $40
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Returned payment fee: Up to $40
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Introductory APR: 0% on purchases and balance transfers for the first 12 months of account membership
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Regular APR: 19.24% to 29.99% variable
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Balance transfer APR: 19.24% to 29.99% variable
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Cash advance APR: 29.99% variable
- See rates and fees
Blue Cash Everyday vs. Blue Cash Preferred: Eligibility
Winner: Tie
When comparing American Express Blue Cash Preferred vs. Everyday, both cards are reserved for consumers with good to excellent credit. Since they both have the same credit requirements, there’s no clear winner in this category.
▶︎ See more: Best credit cards for good credit
Should I get Blue Cash Everyday or Blue Cash Preferred?
You can’t go wrong with either card, but you should get the Blue Cash Everyday Card if you’d rather earn rewards on purchases at U.S. gas stations instead of transit expenses, or if you want to earn 3% back on your first $6,000 in U.S. online retail purchases each year (then 1%).
The Blue Cash Preferred Card is a better fit for users who spend a lot of time at home and are looking for a grocery credit card, as it gives you 6% cash back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions and 6% back on your first $6,000 in U.S. supermarket purchases each year, then 1%.
