American Express, a leading credit card issuer, offers a variety of credit cards with different color combinations. Among their lineup, there are several cards with the "Blue" label. In this article, we will delve into two of American Express's Blue cards—the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express and the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express. We'll explore the advantages and disadvantages of each, helping you determine which card suits your needs best.
Blue Cash Preferred and Blue Cash Everyday Welcome Bonus Offers
The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express presents a straightforward welcome bonus offer. Spend $3,000 on your new card within the first six months of account opening, and you'll receive a $250 statement credit. Notably, this offer comes with an introductory annual fee of $0 for the first year, followed by $95.
On the other hand, the Amex Blue Cash Everyday Card offers an introductory bonus of a $200 statement credit when you spend $2,000 on your new card during the first six months of card membership. This is a standard offer for a cash-back card with no annual fee.
Amex Blue Cash Credit Card Benefits and Rewards
As cash-back credit cards, both the Amex Blue Cash Preferred Card and the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express focus on rewarding your spending. While they lack some of the extra perks found in high-annual-fee travel credit cards, they do offer distinct benefits.
Besides the annual fees—the Amex Blue Cash Preferred Card has an annual fee of $0 for the first year, then $95, while the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express has no annual fee—the key differences between the two cards lie in their bonus cash back categories and statement credits.
Earning Cash Back
The Amex Blue Cash Preferred Card stands out with its 6% cash back on groceries for the first $6,000 spent at U.S. supermarkets each calendar year (then 1%). Additionally, it offers 6% cash back on select U.S. streaming services, also up to $6,000 annually, and 3% cash back on transit and gas at U.S. gas stations with no cap. All other purchases earn 1% cash back in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit.
If your family spends at least $6,000 on groceries annually, you'll maximize the 6% cash back and more than offset the annual fee. You'd earn $360 in cash back compared to $180 with the Blue Cash Everyday® Card. However, keep in mind that the 6% cash back on groceries is capped at $6,000 per year, so if you exceed this limit, you might consider using a different card for those purchases.
The Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express also offers bonus cash back at U.S. supermarkets and gas stations, but at lower rates and with a cap on gas. You'll earn 3% back on the first $6,000 spent at U.S. supermarkets each calendar year (then 1%) and 3% back on gas at U.S. gas stations (on the first $6,000 spent in purchases at U.S. supermarkets each calendar year, then 1%). Additionally, it provides 3% back on the first $6,000 spent on U.S. online retail purchases (then 1% back) and 1% cash back on all other spending. Your choice between the two cards should depend on where you spend most and whether paying an annual fee for 3% more cash back at U.S. supermarkets and gas stations is worthwhile to you.
Card Benefits
Both cards offer statement credits for select purchases. The Amex Blue Cash Preferred Card provides up to $120 back each year (up to $10 each month) on an Equinox+ membership when you use your card for the purchase. Equinox+ offers a digital workout subscription for yoga, running, SoulCycle, and more, costing $40 per month. This statement credit reduces your out-of-pocket cost to $30. Moreover, you can get up to $7 back each month (up to $84 annually) when you use your card to pay at least $9.99 per month for the Disney Bundle, including Hulu, Disney+, and ESPN+.
The Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express also offers two statement credits, including the same Disney Bundle credit as the Amex Blue Cash Preferred Card. Additionally, you can receive up to $15 in monthly statement credits when you use your card to pay for a Home Chef meal kit subscription.
When choosing between these two cards, consider whether you value these services, as the statement credits can influence your decision. Remember to enroll your card via the Amex website to ensure you don't miss out on these benefits.
Both cards share minor benefits such as car rental loss and damage insurance, fraud protection, access to Amex's Global Assist Hotline, and exclusive access to ticket presales and Amex cardmember-only events.
Which Amex Blue Cash Card Is Right for You?
To determine the right card for you, evaluate your specific spending patterns. If you're already tracking your monthly spending, review your spreadsheet or tracking tool. If you don't have exact numbers, estimate your monthly spending on groceries, gas, transit, online retail purchases, and streaming services. Subtract the annual fee from the Amex Blue Cash Preferred Card (after the first year) and add the welcome bonus offer.
If you spend at least $500 per month on groceries and plan to use one of these cards for your U.S. supermarket spending, the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express is the better choice. The extra cash back will more than compensate for the annual fee, and the other bonus categories (streaming services, gas stations, and transit) will provide even more cash back.
On the other hand, the Amex Blue Cash Everyday Card may be preferable if you won't spend the full $6,000 at U.S. supermarkets. You'll need to spend at least $3,167 at U.S. supermarkets to offset the annual fee of the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express with the higher cash-back rate. Moreover, the Amex Blue Cash Everyday Card shines by offering 3% back on up to $6,000 spent on U.S. online retail purchases each year (then 1%). If this is a significant spending category for you, it could affect your decision.
Keep in mind that there are numerous other cash-back cards available, so it's possible that the best card for you may be a different one altogether.
Amex Blue Cash Preferred vs. Blue Cash Everyday: The Biggest Differences
While both the Amex Blue Cash Everyday Card and the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express are cash-back credit cards, they differ significantly:
Annual Fee: The Amex Blue Cash Everyday Card has no annual fee, while the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express has an introductory annual fee of $0 for the first year, then $95.
Welcome Bonus Offer: The cards have different welcome offers, with the Amex Blue Cash Preferred Card offering a $250 statement credit after spending $3,000 in purchases within the first six months, and the Blue Cash Everyday Card offering a $200 statement credit after spending $2,000 in purchases within the first six months.
Cash Back at U.S. Supermarkets: Both cards offer cash back at U.S. supermarkets on the first $6,000 spent each calendar year, but the Blue Cash Preferred Card offers a higher rate.
Cash Back on Everything Else: Both cards offer cash back on other categories, with varying rates.
Introductory APR Offer: The introductory APR offers on the two cards differ slightly in terms and lengths.
In conclusion, the choice between the Amex Blue Cash Preferred Card and the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express should be based on your spending habits and priorities. Consider your typical expenses and how they align with the benefits and fees of each card to make an informed decision.