What do reviewers say about the American Express Blue Cash Preferred card?

BestGuide rates the Amex Blue Cash Preferred a top-tier cash back card at 4.5/5.0, best for people whose spending aligns with its bonus categories, especially the 6% at U.S. supermarkets.

Is the American Express Blue Cash Preferred worth it?

For the right user, yes. Spending more than $132 per month at U.S. supermarkets earns 6% cash back that exceeds the $95 fee, and the 6% streaming and 3% gas and transit rewards add further value.

How does the American Express Blue Cash Preferred compare to the Gold card?

The Blue Cash Preferred is a cash back card focused on U.S. household spending such as groceries, gas, and streaming. The American Express Gold Card is a travel rewards card that earns Membership Rewards points, with high rates on dining worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets, but it carries a higher annual fee.

What is the annual fee for the Blue Cash Preferred card from American Express?

The Amex Blue Cash Preferred annual fee is $95, often $0 for the first year for new cardmembers.

Does the American Express Blue Cash Preferred have foreign transaction fees?

Yes. The foreign transaction fee is 2.7% of each transaction amount after conversion to U.S. dollars, which makes it a less-than-ideal option for purchases outside the United States.

Is the American Express Blue Cash Preferred card hard to get?

It generally requires a good to excellent credit history. While American Express does not publish a minimum credit score, applicants with a FICO score of 670 or higher typically have the best chance of approval.

What are the main American Express Blue Cash Preferred benefits?

Rewards: 6% on up to $6,000 per year at U.S. supermarkets, 6% on select U.S. streaming, 3% at U.S. gas stations and on transit, and 1% on everything else, plus car rental loss and damage insurance and a global assist hotline.

Is the American Express Blue Cash Preferred a metal card?

No. The Amex Blue Cash Preferred card is made from plastic. American Express offers metal cards such as the Gold and Platinum, but the Blue Cash Preferred is not one of them.

American Express Blue Cash Preferred Review 2026: Is It Worth It?

On this page13 sections

Ratings and complaints
Amex Blue Cash Preferred vs. competitors
Pricing
Step by step
the Amex Blue Cash Preferred value for the price
How Blue Cash Preferred rewards work
Fees, APR and the welcome offer
American Express legitimacy and complaints
Rules that protect you as a cardholder
Who should look elsewhere
What customers say
Alternatives
FAQ

Our verdict

The Blue Cash Preferred is worth its $95 fee (waived the first year) if your household spends roughly $200 or more a month at U.S. supermarkets, since 6% back on up to $6,000 a year can return up to $360 from groceries alone. The catches: Walmart, Target, Costco and other superstores and warehouse clubs earn only 1%, cash back comes as Reward Dollars rather than direct deposit, and the 2.7% foreign transaction fee makes it a poor travel card. American Express is a large, legitimate issuer, but its customer service record is mixed: the BBB rates the company F with 4,707 complaints in three years, and the CFPB logged 14,136 credit card complaints against it over the same period across all its cards.

Annual fee: $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95²
Rewards: 6% at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 a year (then 1%); 6% on select U.S. streaming subscriptions; 3% on transit and at U.S. gas stations; 1% on other purchases¹
Not supermarkets: Superstores, convenience stores, warehouse clubs and meal-kit delivery services earn 1%²
Welcome offer: Reward Dollars after $3,000 in purchases in the first 6 months; the amount varies by applicant and is shown when you apply (October 2026)²
Intro APR: 0% on purchases for 12 months and on balance transfers requested within 60 days, for 12 months; then 19.74% to 28.74% variable²
Other fees: Balance transfer $5 or 3%; cash advance $10 or 5% (28.99% APR); foreign transactions 2.7%; late or returned payment up to $40; penalty APR 29.99%²
Disney credit: Up to $10 a month ($120 a year) in statement credits for an enrolled Disney+, Hulu or ESPN subscription¹
Protections: Purchase protection up to $1,000 per item for 90 days; return protection up to $300 per item; extended warranty adds up to 1 year; secondary rental car coverage¹

Amex Blue Cash Preferred ratings and complaint records

BBB F American Express Company, not accredited; 4,707 complaints in the last 3 years across all products View source
CFPB complaints 14,136 Credit card complaints against American Express Company, October 2023 to October 2026, all cards; top issue: a problem with a purchase on your statement (3,928) View source
Trustpilot 1.3 out of 5 5,468 reviews for American Express overall; 81% one star; Amex has not replied to negative reviews View source

Pros

6% at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 a year, among the highest grocery rates
6% on select U.S. streaming and 3% on gas and transit
$0 annual fee the first year
0% intro APR for 12 months on purchases and balance transfers
Purchase, return and extended warranty protections

Cons

$95 annual fee from year two
Superstores and warehouse clubs such as Walmart, Target and Costco earn 1%
6% grocery rate stops after $6,000 a year
2.7% foreign transaction fee
Mixed customer service record for Amex overall

Best for: Households that spend about $200 or more a month at U.S. supermarkets and pay their balance in full.

Skip it if: You buy most groceries at Costco, Walmart or Target, travel abroad often, or carry a balance month to month.

Amex Blue Cash Preferred vs. competitors

Amex Blue Cash Preferred compared with competitors
Company	Annual fee	Grocery rewards	Intro APR	Foreign transaction fee	Next step
Amex Blue Cash Preferred	$0 first year, then $95	6% at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 a year	0% for 12 months, purchases and transfers	2.7%
Amex Blue Cash Everyday	$0	3% at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 a year	See Amex terms	2.7%
Capital One Savor	$0	3% at grocery stores, excluding superstores	0% for 12 months, purchases and transfers	None	Read review
Wells Fargo Active Cash	$0	2% on everything	0% for 12 months, purchases and transfers	3%	Read review

Credit cards we reviewed

Amex Blue Cash Preferred This review Best for: Households that spend about $200 or more a month at U.S. supermarkets and pay their balance in full.
Chase Freedom Unlimited Best for: People who spend a lot on restaurants and drugstores, want a long 0% intro period, or already have a Chase Sapphire card to pair it with.

Read review
Chase Sapphire Preferred Best for: People who spend regularly on dining, gas and online groceries, pay in full each month and want flexible travel points with solid trip insurance.

Read review
Discover it® Cash Back Best for: Organized spenders who will activate categories each quarter and want to double their first-year cash back.

Read review
Amex Gold Best for: People who spend heavily on dining and groceries, already use Uber or Grubhub, and redeem points for travel.

Read review
Capital One Venture Best for: People with strong credit who travel at least a few times a year and want one simple card that earns 2X miles everywhere, including abroad.

Read review
Capital One Quicksilver Best for: People with strong credit who want one simple cash back card with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees.

Read review
Capital One Savor Best for: People who spend heavily on restaurants, supermarkets, streaming and live events and want a no-fee card that also works abroad.

Read review

See all credit cards, ranked

Amex Blue Cash Preferred pricing at a glance

Blue Cash Preferred rates and fees, as listed October 2026²

Item	Cost
Annual fee	$0 the first year, then $95
Purchase APR	0% for 12 months, then 19.74% to 28.74% variable
Balance transfer APR	0% for 12 months on transfers requested within 60 days, then 19.74% to 28.74% variable
Balance transfer fee	$5 or 3%, whichever is greater
Cash advance	$10 or 5%, whichever is greater; 28.99% APR
Foreign transaction fee	2.7%
Late or returned payment	Up to $40
Penalty APR	29.99%

Variable APRs move with the Prime Rate and will not exceed 29.99%.

Amex Blue Cash Preferred, step by step

Check for preapproval
Amex says you can find out if you are approved without a hard credit check; the credit bureaus are contacted only if you accept the card.
Accept and meet the spend
See your personal welcome offer, then spend $3,000 in the first 6 months. The bonus posts 8 to 12 weeks after you hit it.
Use it at the right stores
Put groceries at supermarkets, streaming, gas and transit on the card. Warehouse clubs, superstores and meal kits earn 1%.
Enroll in the Disney credit
Enroll in your Amex account to get up to $10 a month back on Disney+, Hulu or ESPN.
Redeem Reward Dollars
Redeem as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout, where Amex says the value is the same.
Review before year two
The $95 fee starts in year two. If your grocery spending is low, ask about a product change to the no-fee Blue Cash Everyday.

the Amex Blue Cash Preferred value for the price

It comes down to grocery spending. Compared with a no-fee 2% card, the extra 4% on groceries covers the $95 fee once you spend about $2,375 a year, roughly $200 a month, at U.S. supermarkets. Compared with the no-fee Blue Cash Everyday, which pays 3%, you need about $3,170 a year, roughly $265 a month. These are our calculations from the published rates, and the 6% on streaming, 3% on gas and transit and the $120 Disney credit can lower the break-even point.

The math gets worse if you shop at warehouse clubs or superstores, which earn 1%, or if your grocery bill is above $6,000 a year, since everything past the cap also earns 1%. And any interest you pay quickly wipes out the rewards, so this card works best if you pay in full.

Checked the fees?Compare all

How Blue Cash Preferred rewards work

You earn cash back as Reward Dollars:

6% at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 a calendar year, then 1%
6% on select U.S. streaming subscriptions; Amex keeps the current list on its rewards page
3% on transit, including rideshare, taxis, parking, tolls, trains and buses (not airfare or car rentals)
3% at U.S. gas stations (not superstores or clubs that sell gas)
1% on everything else

Amex sorts purchases by the merchant’s code, so a store that looks like a grocery store may not count. Reward Dollars can be used as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout at the same value. There is no option on this card to transfer rewards to airlines or hotels.

Fees, APR and the welcome offer

The card costs $0 the first year and $95 a year after. New cardmembers get 0% on purchases for 12 months and on balance transfers requested within 60 days, then a variable 19.74% to 28.74% based on credit. Balance transfers cost $5 or 3%, whichever is more, and purchases abroad add 2.7%.

The welcome offer is paid in Reward Dollars after $3,000 in purchases in the first 6 months. Amex does not show one public amount; you see your offer when you apply, and card sites report offers in the $250 to $300 range. You may not get the bonus or if you have had this card, the Morgan Stanley version or earlier versions, or based on how many cards you have opened and closed.

What customers say about Amex Blue Cash Preferred

Recurring themes across the review sites and complaint records listed above, not individual quotes.

Common praise

High grocery and streaming rewards for families
Purchase, return and extended warranty protections
Easy statement credit redemption

Common complaints

Hard-to-reach or unhelpful customer service
Accounts or payments blocked without clear explanation
Sudden credit limit cuts
Disputes denied without a clear reason
Annual fees that feel too high for the value

American Express legitimacy and complaints

American Express National Bank issues the card, and Amex is one of the largest U.S. card issuers. Its complaint numbers are large partly because it has so many customers. The CFPB database shows 14,136 credit card complaints against American Express Company from October 2023 to October 2026, across all its cards; the most common issues were problems with a purchase on a statement, other terms and fees. The BBB rates the company F with 4,707 complaints in three years, and Trustpilot reviews are mostly one star, citing blocked accounts, credit limit cuts, denied disputes and slow service.

In January 2025 Amex agreed to pay more than $138 million to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York to resolve an investigation into sales practices, including inaccurate tax advice given to small business customers about two wire products. That case did not involve the Blue Cash Preferred.

Rules that protect you as a cardholder

Federal law gives you the right to dispute billing errors in writing within 60 days of the statement, and caps your liability for unauthorized charges. Card issuers must give 45 days’ notice before raising most rates or fees, and the 0% intro rate cannot end early unless you pay 60 days late. If Amex does not resolve a problem, you can file a complaint with the CFPB, which forwards it to the bank for a response.

Who should look elsewhere

If you buy groceries mainly at Costco, Sam’s Club, Walmart or Target, the 6% rate does not apply and a flat 2% card will likely earn more. If you travel abroad, the 2.7% foreign transaction fee adds up; Capital One Savor charges none. If you carry a balance after the intro period, a low-rate card will save more than any rewards card. And if you spend less than about $265 a month on groceries, the no-fee Blue Cash Everyday may come out ahead.

Still deciding?Compare all

Alternatives to Amex Blue Cash Preferred

Amex Blue Cash Everyday

No annual fee and 3% at U.S. supermarkets, U.S. online retail and U.S. gas stations, each on up to $6,000 a year; better if you spend less than about $265 a month on groceries.
Capital One Savor

No annual fee, 3% on groceries and dining, and no foreign transaction fee if you also travel abroad.

Read review
Wells Fargo Active Cash®

A flat 2% on everything with no fee, simpler if your spending is spread across many categories.

Read review
Amex Gold

Points instead of cash, 4x at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets, for heavy diners who travel and can use its credits.

Read review

See all credit cards, ranked

Amex Blue Cash Preferred reviews

Written by readers, read by our moderators, never edited by the company.

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Frequently asked questions

Is the Blue Cash Preferred worth the $95 annual fee?

Usually, if you spend about $200 or more a month at U.S. supermarkets and pay in full. Below about $265 a month, the no-fee Blue Cash Everyday can earn more after the fee, by our math.

Does Costco or Walmart count as a supermarket for the Blue Cash Preferred?

No. Amex's terms say superstores, warehouse clubs, convenience stores and meal-kit services are not supermarkets, so those purchases earn 1%.

What is the Blue Cash Preferred welcome offer?

It pays Reward Dollars after you spend $3,000 in the first 6 months. The amount varies by applicant and is shown when you apply.

What credit score do you need for the Blue Cash Preferred?

Amex does not publish a minimum. Rewards cards like this generally go to applicants with good to excellent credit, and Amex lets you check if you are approved without a hard inquiry.

Does the Blue Cash Preferred have a foreign transaction fee?

Yes, 2.7% of each purchase made abroad or in a foreign currency, so it is not a good card for international travel.

Which streaming services earn 6%?

Select U.S. streaming subscriptions on Amex's current provider list at americanexpress.com/rewards-info. Subscriptions billed through a third party, such as an app store, may not count.

How do I redeem Blue Cash Preferred cash back?

Rewards post as Reward Dollars that you can redeem as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout, at the same value either way.

What is the Blue Cash Preferred APR?

0% on purchases and balance transfers for 12 months, then 19.74% to 28.74% variable based on your credit, as listed October 2026. Cash advances are 28.99%.

What is the difference between Blue Cash Preferred and Blue Cash Everyday?

Preferred pays 6% at U.S. supermarkets and on select streaming for a $95 fee after year one. Everyday has no fee and pays 3% at U.S. supermarkets, U.S. online retail and U.S. gas stations, each on up to $6,000 a year.

Can I downgrade the Blue Cash Preferred to avoid the fee?

You can ask Amex for a product change to a no-fee card such as the Blue Cash Everyday. Changing cards rather than closing keeps the account history on your credit report.

Sources (8)

Facts on this page come from company websites, government agencies and regulators, checked on the dates shown. Editorial standards

American Express: Blue Cash Preferred Card (accessed October 12, 2026)
American Express: Blue Cash Preferred rates, fees and offer terms (accessed October 12, 2026)
American Express: Blue Cash Everyday Card (accessed October 12, 2026)
CFPB: Credit card complaints, American Express Company (accessed October 12, 2026)
BBB: American Express Company (accessed October 12, 2026)
Trustpilot: American Express reviews (accessed October 12, 2026)
U.S. Attorney's Office, EDNY: American Express agrees to pay more than $138 million (accessed October 12, 2026)
CFPB: Credit cards, consumer tools (accessed October 12, 2026)

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