Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express vs. Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express: Editorial reviews
What we think of the Blue Cash Everyday® Card
The Blue Cash Everyday® Card is a solid choice if you want to earn cash back on everyday household expenses without paying an annual fee (see rates and fees). You’ll earn 3% back on U.S. gas stations and U.S. supermarkets (on up to $6,000 per year in each category, then 1%), making it a versatile card for people who spend in various categories.
Plus, you can earn 3% cash back on up to $6,000 of U.S. online retail purchases (then 1%), which is especially valuable with the rise of online shopping. If you’re looking for a no-annual-fee card that covers multiple spending areas, the Blue Cash Everyday® Card offers steady rewards without an annual commitment.
What we think of the Blue Cash Preferred® Card
The Blue Cash Preferred® Card is great for people who spend a lot on groceries and streaming services, earning 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (up to $6,000 per year, then 1%) and 6% on select U.S. streaming subscriptions. You also earn 3% back on transit costs, like ridesharing, tolls and public transport, which is a big help for commuters.
But keep in mind, there’s a $95 annual fee ($0 intro the first year, see rates and fees) which might put off some people who don’t spend enough in these categories to make it worth it. However, if you’re a frequent grocery shopper and a heavy streamer, the Blue Cash Preferred® Card can really pay off, even with the fee.
Where Blue Cash Everyday® wins
No annual fee
The most obvious advantage of the Blue Cash Everyday® Card is its lack of an annual fee. This makes it better for budget-conscious users or those who don’t spend enough in certain categories to justify paying a fee.
On the other hand, the Blue Cash Preferred® Card has a $95 annual fee after the first year, so the Everyday® version is ideal for people who don’t spend a lot regularly.
Online retail rewards
The Blue Cash Everyday® Card offers 3% cash back on U.S. online retail purchases (up to $6,000 per year, then 1%), a feature the Preferred® Card lacks. For those who make a significant number of online purchases, this reward can be a strong draw.
Additionally, Blue Cash Everyday® has the benefit of a complimentary ShopRunner membership, which comes with free 2-day shipping on eligible purchases, a perk not on the Preferred. Enrollment required.
Where Blue Cash Preferred® wins
Higher grocery rewards
The Blue Cash Preferred® Card shines with its 6% back on U.S. supermarket purchases (up to $6,000 per year, then 1%). This is double the 3% that the Blue Cash Everyday® offers (up to $6,000 per year, then 1%).
For families or individuals who spend heavily on groceries, the extra 3% can make a significant difference in annual savings.
Transit and gas station benefits
Blue Cash Preferred® offers 3% back at U.S. gas stations and on transit expenses, including rideshares, taxis, and public transportation, which is ideal for frequent commuters.
The Blue Cash Everyday® also offers 3% back at U.S. gas stations, but it has a cap on those rewards. You’ll only earn 3% back on the first $6,000 spent in this category yearly, then rewards drop to 1%.
Streaming service benefits
Blue Cash Preferred and Everyday offer up to $84 annually in statement credits for the Disney Bundle. Enrollment required. However, the Blue Cash Preferred® Card has the added benefit of 6% cash back on select U.S. streaming services. The Blue Cash Everyday card doesn’t boast this same category.
If your family spends a lot on streaming services, rewards in this extra category can add up quickly.
Where there’s no clear winner
Rewards redemption
Both cards offer similar options for redeeming rewards. With either card, cash back is earned via Reward Dollars, which can be redeemed for statement credits or used at checkout on Amazon.com. Neither card offers a clear advantage in terms of redemption flexibility. Note that statement credits don’t count toward the minimum payment due on your account.
Travel perks
The Blue Cash Everyday and Blue Cash Preferred cards have 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 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 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® and Blue Cash Preferred®: Rewards
Welcome bonus
The Blue Cash Everyday® Card offers a $200 statement credit after spending $2,000 in the first six months, whereas the Blue Cash Preferred® offers a $250 bonus after spending $3,000 in the same timeframe.
While the Preferred’s welcome bonus is higher, it also requires more spending to unlock, making the Everyday® Card more appealing for those with lower initial expenses.
Earning rewards
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:
- 3% on the first $6,000 per year in purchases at U.S. supermarkets; 1% thereafter
- 3% on the first $6,000 per year in U.S. online retail purchases; 1% thereafter
- 3% on the first $6,000 per year in U.S. gas station purchases; 1% thereafter
- 1% on all other eligible purchases
Blue Cash Preferred:
- 6% on the first $6,000 per year in purchases at U.S. supermarkets; 1% thereafter
- 6% on select U.S. streaming subscriptions
- 3% on eligible transit expenses, including ridesharing fees, bus tickets, tax fares, train tickets, tolls and parking
- 1% on all other eligible purchases
Which is better, Blue Cash Everyday® or Blue Cash Preferred®?
The choice between these two cards boils down to your spending habits. If you want a card with no annual fee that provides decent rewards across a range of categories, the Blue Cash Everyday® Card is the better option. However, if you spend heavily on groceries and streaming services and don’t mind the $95 annual fee ($0 intro fee for the first year), the Blue Cash Preferred® Card could offer greater long-term value.
We prefer the Blue Cash Preferred® Card, primarily due to its significantly higher reward rate at U.S. supermarkets, but we also understand the hesitancy to pay an annual fee.
Does it make sense to have both Blue Cash Everyday® and Blue Cash Preferred®?
It generally doesn’t make sense to carry both cards, as their rewards overlap significantly. Instead, choose one based on your spending habits. If you are looking for a way to further maximize rewards, consider pairing one of these cards with another that offers more rewards in categories like dining or travel.
