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3. Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express review: Great for family nights

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711

member reviews

3.7

Rating: 3.7 out of 5.

Editors’ Take: This card offers high cash back rates on groceries, gas and streaming services. For people who frequently spend in these categories, the card lives up to its promise, with easy potential for rewards to outweigh the annual fee. 

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Great for maximizing grocery rewards

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Annual fee: $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95

The average credit score for members who have matched with this card or similar cards is 701

The average credit limit for members who have matched with this card or similar cards is $12,172

Explore more about this card:

• Pros and cons
• In-depth Editorial review

Here’s the average credit limit of members who matched their Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express or similar cards.

% of members by credit limit range

The average credit limit for members who have matched with this card or similar cards is $12,172, with $10,000 being the most common.

Here’s the average credit score of members who matched their Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express or similar cards.

% of members by credit score range

The average credit score for members who have matched with this card or similar cards is 701, with 760 being the most common. Note this is just one of the deciding factors when it comes to getting approved.

This content is curated by Intuit Credit Karma’s Editorial team using data from members who were approved for this card or similar cards, or who self-matched this card or similar cards. Intuit Credit Karma receives compensation from third-party advertisers, but that doesn’t affect our editors’ opinions. Our third-party advertisers don’t review, approve or endorse this content. Information about financial products not offered on Credit Karma is collected independently. Our content is accurate to the best of our knowledge when posted.

Member stats

Updated daily

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27.4%

Average credit utilization (or what percent of the card’s credit limit is being used) of members who matched with this card or similar cards.

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42 years

Average age of members who matched this card or similar cards.

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$107,051

Average annual income of members who matched this card or similar cards. Note: Income may be estimated for some members by Credit Karma and may differ from members’ actual incomes.

Pros and cons

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High cash back rewards in common categories

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Strong welcome bonus

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Low intro APR on purchases and balance transfers

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Cash back limit and exclusions on bonus categories

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Annual fee after the first year

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Foreign transaction fee: 2.7%

Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express review

Updated July 24, 2025

This date may not reflect recent changes in individual terms.

Written by: Tim Devaney

Is the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express worth it?

With its generous cash back rates in select categories, the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express is a strong choice for people who frequently cook at home, subscribe to popular streaming services or commute regularly by car or public transportation.

You’ll earn a generous 6% back on up to $6,000 spent at U.S. supermarkets each year (then 1%), and you’ll also earn 6% back on select U.S. streaming services. Plus, you’ll earn 3% back on U.S. gas station and transit purchases, and 1% back on everything else.

If you spend a lot at supermarkets or on streaming and transit, the rewards on this card can add up quickly. But if you eat out a lot or regularly grocery shop at a warehouse club, another cash back credit card may be a better option.

Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express at a glance

• Annual fee: $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95
• Welcome bonus: $250 statement credit if you spend $3,000 on eligible purchases during the first 6 months from your account opening
• Standout benefit: Excellent cash back rate for groceries in the U.S. (6% on up to $6,000 spent in purchases, then 1%)
• Standout rewards rate: 6% cash back at select U.S. streaming services
• Baseline rewards rate: 1% cash back on other purchases

Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express best perks and features

High cash back rates on groceries, streaming services, transit and gas

The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express allows you to earn Reward Dollars, which can be redeemed for a statement credit or used when checking out at Amazon.com.

Some of the most appealing cash back rates include:

• Groceries: 6% cash back on up to $6,000 you spend each year on purchases at U.S. supermarkets (1% back after that).
• Digital subscriptions: 6% cash back on select U.S. streaming services, including popular services like Netflix, Hulu, Spotify, Apple Music, ESPN+ and Kindle Unlimited.
• Transit and gas: 3% cash back on transit (including taxis, trains, buses, tolls, rideshares and parking) as well as 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations. It’s worth noting that the 3% cash back on transit does not apply to purchases such airfare, cruises or car rentals.

The welcome bonus can jump-start your cash back

The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express comes with a $250 statement credit if you spend $3,000on eligible purchases during the first 6 months from your account opening. This welcome bonus could bolter your cash back earned quickly.

0% intro APR offer

The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express offers a 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 12 months from account opening. After this introductory period, a variable regular APR of 20.24% - 29.24% applies on both. To make the most of the intro APR and avoid interest charges, it’s a good idea to pay off your balance before the 12-month period expires.

For balance transfers to qualify for the introductory rate, the transfer request must be submitted within the first 60 days of account opening. A balance transfer fee applies for all balance transfers: Either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.

What are the drawbacks of the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express?

Cash back limit and exclusions on bonus categories

The 6% cash back rate for groceries is exceptional, but that rate applies only to the first $6,000 you spend at U.S. supermarkets per year. For those who spend more, this limits potential rewards. It’s also important to note that U.S. supermarkets don’t include warehouse clubs like Costco or superstores like Walmart.

Annual fee could be cost-prohibitive

The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express comes with a $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95 after that. If you don’t spend a lot on groceries, streaming services, gas or public transportation, there may be other cards that would be more valuable to you.

Foreign transaction fee

The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express charges a foreign transaction fee of 2.7%. It’s important to note that this can apply both to purchases made while traveling internationally and to online transactions with foreign merchants.

So, if you’re planning a big international trip or often purchase goods from foreign merchants, a card with no foreign transaction fee might be a better bet.

How to redeem reward dollars for the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express

With the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express, cardholders earn cash back in the form Rewards Dollars  redeemable for a statement credit or when checking out at Amazon.com.

Other cards to consider

• Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express: This card is a great option for grocery shoppers who don’t want to pay an annual fee.
• Capital One® Savor® Cash Rewards Credit Card: If you eat out a lot instead of cooking at home, this card could be a good option.
• American Express® Gold Card: If you spend a lot on groceries and don’t mind a higher annual fee, this card offers a higher cap on grocery spending and allows you to accumulate Membership Rewards^® points.

Looking at these aspects of the card helps us determine whether we’d recommend it to our members.

FAQs about the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express

*Approval Odds are not a guarantee of approval. Credit Karma determines Approval Odds by comparing your credit profile to other Credit Karma members who were approved for the card shown, or whether you meet certain criteria determined by the lender. Of course, there’s no such thing as a sure thing, but knowing your Approval Odds may help you narrow down your choices. For example, you may not be approved because you don’t meet the lender’s “ability to pay standard” after they verify your income and employment; or, you already have the maximum number of accounts with that specific lender.