Blue Cash Everyday Card vs Blue Cash Preferred Card
Fees, rewards and real yearly value, side by side. Updated October 29, 2026.
Blue Cash Everyday Card
Estimated value every year on typical spending
$480/ year
Every year, after the annual fee. Year one adds a $200 welcome bonus: $680
Blue Cash Preferred Card
Estimated value every year on typical spending
$607/ year
Every year, after the annual fee. Year one adds a $300 welcome bonus: $907
The short answer
- On typical spending, the American Express Blue Cash Preferred Card comes out ahead: about $607 a year after its fee, against $480 for the American Express Blue Cash Everyday Card.
- The American Express Blue Cash Preferred Card earns more on groceries.
- The American Express Blue Cash Everyday Card costs $95 less a year to hold.
Side by side
| Blue Cash Everyday Card | Blue Cash Preferred Card | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $0 | $95 |
| Rewards | 3% cash back on eligible purchases at U.S. supermarkets, U.S. online retail purchases, and gas at U.S. gas stations, on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%) | 6% cash back on eligible purchases at U.S. supermarkets, on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%); 6% cash back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions |
| Welcome bonus | As High As $200 Cash Back after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership. | $300 Cash Back after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership. |
| Credits counted | $0/yr | $42/yr |
| Intro APR | 0% for the first 15 months | 0% for the first 12 months |
| Regular APR | 19.74% to 28.74% variable | 19.74% to 28.74% variable |
| Foreign transaction fee | 2.7% | 2.7% |
| Credit needed | Not specified | Good/Excellent |
Yearly rewards by category
| Category (monthly spend) | Blue Cash Everyday Card | Blue Cash Preferred Card |
|---|---|---|
| groceries ($500) | $180 | $360 |
| dining ($400) | $48 | $48 |
| gas ($200) | $72 | $72 |
| travel ($300) | $36 | $36 |
| everything else ($1,200) | $144 | $144 |
Yearly value is rewards plus credits you'd realistically use, minus the annual fee, on $2,600/month: $500 groceries, $400 dining, $200 gas, $300 travel, $1,200 everything else. Points use conservative cash values; store-only rewards count at half. How we rank · Use your own spending
Questions people ask
Which is better, the American Express Blue Cash Everyday Card or the American Express Blue Cash Preferred Card?
On typical spending the American Express Blue Cash Preferred Card is worth more: about $607 a year after its fee, against $480 for the American Express Blue Cash Everyday Card. Which is better for you depends on where you spend most; see the category answers below.
Which has the lower annual fee?
The American Express Blue Cash Everyday Card ($0 a year, against $95).
Which is better for groceries?
The American Express Blue Cash Preferred Card. On $500 a month of groceries it earns about $360 a year, against $180 with the American Express Blue Cash Everyday Card.
Put any two cards head to head.
Pick any cards, including ones you already hold, and compare them on your own spending.
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Card details are collected from issuer websites and were last refreshed October 29, 2026. Terms change often; confirm them with the issuer before you apply.