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The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express bonus categories can help maximize everyday purchases. This rewards credit card is best known for earning up to 6% back (in the form of a statement credit) at U.S. supermarkets and on select U.S. streaming services and 3% back at U.S. gas stations. You can also earn rewards on transit. Plus, you can enjoy a card design with contactless payment technology.
Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.
The Blue Cash Preferred Card Bonus Categories
The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express offers four different bonus categories:
- 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets, up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%)
- Unlimited 6% cash back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions
- 3% cash back on transit, including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses, and more (no limit)
- Unlimited 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations
- 1% cash back on other purchases (no limit)
Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit.
Learn more: Cash Back Credit Cards
Streaming Services
Cardholders can also enjoy $7/month back in the form of a statement credit after spending $12.99 or more each month on an eligible The Disney Bundle package (which includes Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+) subscription with the Blue Cash Preferred Card. Enrollment required.
Additionally, it’s possible to earn an unlimited 6% back on over 20 U.S. streaming services. Some of the eligible platforms include Amazon Prime, Hulu, Netflix, Spotify, and Audible. This list is more extensive than other rewards credit cards.
If you’re looking for an excuse to cut the cable subscription, now is your chance.
Transit
However you commute to work, it’s more likely you can get 3% back on your commuting expenses. You still get an unlimited 3% back at U.S. gas stations.
It’s also possible to earn an unlimited 3% back on public transit, parking, and tolls. Even rideshares, including Lyft and Uber, earn 3% back.
While you still don’t earn bonus points on travel purchases like with travel credit cards, you save money on your day-to-day transit costs.
Terms apply.
Grocery Purchases
The first $6,000 spent annually at U.S. supermarkets earns 6% back. This is the card’s only purchase category that has an annual spending limit. All purchases above the $6,000 spend mark earn an unlimited 1% back until your next card anniversary. Maximizing the 6% bonus gives you $360 cash back each year.
However, note that purchases made at stores like Walmart and Target only earn 1% back on every purchase, including your groceries. Earning the 6% back means making purchases at eligible U.S. stores.
Related: Best Credit Cards For Groceries
Redeeming Purchase Rewards
The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express is a cash back credit card. Cash back comes in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit.
Unlike some of the better-known American Express credit cards that earn Membership Rewards points, these rewards can’t be transferred to airline partners or redeemed for travel rewards. If you’re looking for a travel rewards credit card, the Chase Sapphire Preferred or Capital One Venture are good cards that may fit your needs.
Card Design
The card design features the iconic Centurion that graces other high-end American Express credit cards.
But it’s not a metal credit card.
This card also has a contactless payment ability that lets you simply tap to pay for in-person purchases.
Welcome Bonus
The welcome bonus is the ability to earn a $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months. There is a $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95 (See Rates & Fees).
Like other American Express credit cards, this bonus is only awarded once per card. Previous cardholders who earned the Blue Cash Preferred welcome bonus cannot qualify to earn the bonus a second time.
Learn more: Cash Back Credit Cards
Additional Blue Cash Preferred Card Benefits
The American Express Blue Cash Preferred has several complimentary benefits that can save you money when shopping and traveling.
Shopping Benefits
Cardholders can also enjoy $0 intro plan fees when using Plan It® to split up large purchases into monthly installments. Pay $0 intro plan fees on plans created during the first 12 months from the date of account opening. Plans created after that will have a monthly plan fee of up to 1.33% of each eligible purchase amount moved into a plan based on the plan duration, the APR that would otherwise apply to the purchase, and other factors.
Enrollment required.
Travel Benefits
Nobody will mistake the Blue Cash Preferred as a credit card for travel rewards, but its travel protection benefits are competitive with other cashback credit cards.
You get secondary rental car collision damage waiver protection when declining the rental car agency insurance.
Terms apply.
Annual Fee
There is a $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95 (See Rates & Fees).
Summary
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express cardholders earn bonus points on more of the common day-to-day purchases, including streaming services and transit. Therefore, the Blue Cash Preferred continues to be one of the best credit cards for buying groceries. As mentioned previously, you earn 6% back on the first $6,000 spent annually on groceries, then 1%.
Learn more: Cash Back Credit Cards
Related:
- Best No Annual Fee Travel Credit Cards
- Best Credit Card Reviews
- The Best Credit Cards to Use For Medical Bills
For rates and fees of The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express, please click here.
