Amex Blue Cash Everyday Card vs. Amex Blue Cash Preferred Card [Detailed Comparison]

You make a lot of purchases as part of your daily life, whether it’s filling up your gas tank, buying socks, or stopping to pick up a few items at the supermarket.

What if all of the everyday purchases you’re making could earn rewards? At the end of the month, you’d be sitting with extra useful cash in your pocket. You’d also have the option to let the cash accumulate or apply it to your monthly credit card statement. This scenario can easily be executed — earnings on everyday purchases can be automatic and result in tangible rewards.

If you’re spending a lot at supermarkets, gas stations, online retailers, or on transit and streaming services, the American Express credit cards we’re talking about today could match up with your spending patterns and be worth considering.

Let’s compare 2 popular cards that do well at rewarding everyday purchases. The Blue Cash Everyday^® Card from American Express and the Blue Cash Preferred^® Card from American Express are designed specifically for this task.

If you’re spending a lot on everyday purchases and not currently earning rewards, you’ll be especially interested in hearing about how these cards work.

Amex Blue Cash Everyday Card vs. Amex Blue Cash Preferred Card — Overview

These 2 cards have a lot of similarities in their bonus-earning categories, redemption options, and additional benefits.

However, let’s look closer at how these cards stack up in a side-by-side comparison:

Bottom Line: When we compare these 2 cards, we immediately see a difference in bonus category earning levels. The Amex Blue Cash Preferred card stands out earning much more on supermarkets and streaming services, but you’ll pay an annual fee to receive these greater earnings. Still, if you maximize the spending on groceries alone, you’ll easily offset that fee and come out ahead.

Introductory Welcome Bonuses

Introductory welcome bonuses can jump-start your cash-back earnings. To earn the welcome bonus offered on each of these cards, you need to meet minimum spending requirements within the first few months after card approval:

Earnings Reward Dollars

Both the Amex Blue Cash Everyday card and the Amex Blue Cash Preferred card earn cash-back in the form of Blue Cash Reward Dollars. When you spend on your card, the applicable earnings percentage for that purchase category is applied, and earned cash-back is deposited into your Reward Dollars account for later redemption.

Here’s a look at how the cards compare in the earning categories:

It’s clear that the Amex Blue Cash Preferred card is the winner when comparing bonus category earnings. If you focus on supermarket purchases alone, you’ll see the potential for double the earnings over the Amex Blue Cash Everyday card.

While the Amex Blue Cash Preferred card charges an annual fee, you would need to spend $1,584 in 6% cash-back categories on the Amex Blue Cash Preferred card each calendar year to offset the current annual fee. This may be something to consider when deciding between an annual fee card compared to a no-annual-fee card.

If you prefer to not pay an annual fee, all of the cash-back you earn on the Amex Blue Cash Everyday card turns into cash-back earned on purchases you’re already making.

Bottom Line: There are no losers in this credit card battle. Either card could be a winning choice depending on your preference of paying (or not paying) an annual fee and how bonus category earnings match up with your personal spending mix. 

Redeeming Reward Dollars

Cash-back Blue Cash Reward Dollars earned on either card can easily be redeemed for statement credits. This means you can wipe out any purchase you make with your cash-back funds.

There is a requirement that redemptions must be made in $25 increments.

In addition to redeeming cash rewards for statement credits, cardholders have the option to purchase merchandise or gift cards. However, these options may not deliver good value for your rewards.

Travel Benefits and Protections

You can count on both the Amex Blue Cash Everyday card and the Amex Blue Cash Preferred card to offer some of the same travel benefits.

These common benefits include:

Secondary Car Rental Insurance

Reserve and pay for your rental car with your eligible card, decline the rental agency’s collision damage waiver (CDW) or loss damage waiver (LDW) coverage, and receive protection for theft, damage, and loss of use charges. Coverage is secondary to other insurance, which means you must file a claim with your own insurance first.

Access to Amex Premium Car Rental Protection

American Express Premium Car Rental Protection is available to cardholders for a flat fee of $12.25 to $24.95 depending on your chosen coverages. The fee covers the entire rental period, up to 42 consecutive days, and includes primary protection for your rental car.

Best Rate Hotel Guarantee

Book a qualifying prepaid hotel with Amex Travel and if you find the same room advertised for less, you could receive the difference.

Global Assist Hotline

Receive assistance 24/7 while traveling more than 100 miles from your residence. Get help with English-speaking doctor referrals, translators, legal or other medical referrals, emergency transportation, and more. Cardholders are responsible for the actual cost of services, but referral assistance is provided complimentary.

Shopping Benefits and Protections

Both the Amex Blue Cash Everyday card and the Amex Blue Cash Preferred card deliver a long list of shopping benefits that can save you money and provide additional protections that cover eligible items purchased with either card.

Here are some of the shopping benefits and protections you’ll find on both cards.

Amex Offers

Receive online Amex Offers that can be utilized for savings on select purchases. Savings can be significant — up to hundreds, even thousands of dollars per year on everything from utilities, retailers, travel, and services.

American Express Car Purchasing Program

Cardholders receive a discount when purchasing a new vehicle from participating dealerships. You will also be able to charge at least $2,000 of the purchase price on your card.

ShopRunner Membership

Receive 2-day free shipping and free returns with your complimentary ShopRunner membership. Receive special offers and shopping privileges at dozens of retailers. Normally, a ShopRunner membership costs $79 annually.

Purchase Protection

Purchase an eligible item with your card and get theft and damage protection for 90 days from the purchase date. Coverage limits are $1,000 per covered item and up to $50,000 per calendar year.

Amex Blue Cash Preferred Card — Additional Coverages

Extended Warranty

When an eligible item is purchased with your Amex Blue Cash Preferred card, you will receive 1 additional year added to the manufacturer’s warranty of 5 years or less. Coverage limits are $10,000 per item and up to $50,000 per calendar year.

Return Protection

Purchase an eligible item entirely with your card and receive up to $300 if the merchant will not accept a return within 90 days of the purchase date. Coverage is limited to $1,000 maximum per card account per calendar year.

Statement Credits

Both the Amex Blue Cash Everyday card and Amex Blue Cash Preferred card offer a statement credit benefit on The Disney Bundle, which could net you up to $84 in value every year:

• The Disney Bundle — Use your card to spend at least $12.99 per month on an eligible Disney Bundle subscription, which includes Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+, and receive a $7 statement credit each month. Enrollment is required.

Amex Blue Cash Everyday Card

The Amex Blue Cash Everyday card comes with 1 additional monthly statement credit perk that can really add to the value of the card, especially considering the lack of an annual fee.

• Home Chef — Use your card to order online from Home Chef and receive up to $15 back each month (up to $180 annually). Enrollment is required.

Amex Blue Cash Preferred Card

The Amex Blue Cash Preferred also offers up to $120 in additional value through its Equinox+ benefit:

• Equinox+ Credit — Use your card to earn $10 in statement credits each month on membership fees for a stand-alone monthly membership to the Equinox+ app, up to $120 annually.

Annual Fees and Additional Users

Annual Fees

As with the cards’ benefits, these cards also vary in annual fees. The Amex Blue Cash Everyday card has an annual fee of $0 and the Amex Blue Cash Preferred card has an annual fee of $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.

It’s important to consider the annual fee, along with the card’s benefits, to determine which card might be right for your wallet.

Additional Users

Adding an authorized user to your card helps you earn more rewards faster. There is no charge to add additional users to either the Amex Blue Cash Everyday card (rates and fees) or Amex Blue Cash Preferred card (rates and fees).

Alternative Cards for Everyday Purchases

While the Amex Blue Cash Everyday card and the Amex Blue Cash Preferred card could either serve as a productive addition for earning rewards on your everyday purchases, you should also check out these 2 additional options:

American Express^® Gold Card

Everyday spenders can enjoy earning cash-back at U.S. supermarkets, restaurants, and travel with the Amex Gold card.

In addition to bonus category earnings, the card earns valuable Membership Rewards points that can be redeemed for travel or transferred to one of the Amex transfer partners for even greater potential value.

You’ll also receive up to $10 in monthly dining credits, as well as many other benefits with the Amex Gold card.

Chase Freedom Unlimited^®

The Freedom Unlimited card makes a perfect choice to ensure you’re always earning rewards, regardless of the purchase category.

Final Thoughts

Comparing the Amex Blue Cash Everyday card to the Amex Blue Cash Preferred card boils down to simple math.

If you spend $6,000 on groceries in a calendar year, you’re going to earn $360 in cash-back rewards on the Amex Blue Cash Preferred Card. You will earn just $180 on the Amex Blue Cash Everyday card for the same level of spending ($6,000 x 3%). Even after paying the annual fee on the Amex Blue Cash Preferred card, you’re still ahead by $265.

If your spending mix is different, or at lower levels, and you are averse to paying an annual fee, the Amex Blue Cash Everyday card can still deliver value.

As we mentioned earlier, there are no losers with these 2 cards, there’s just a little math involved to determine which one is a better fit for your situation.

If you’re a frequent traveler, the cards will not live up to the role a travel rewards card needs to play. Both cards charge foreign transaction fees, do not offer flexible travel redemption options, and do not earn elevated rewards on travel purchases.

One of these 2 cards could be a perfect match for your everyday purchasing card, but if you’re looking for a travel rewards card, there will be better options.

For the car rental collision damage coverage benefit of the Blue Cash Everyday^® Card from American Express and Blue Cash Preferred^® Card from American Express, car rental loss and damage insurance can provide coverage up to $50,000 for theft of or damage to most rental vehicles when you use your eligible card to reserve and pay for the entire eligible vehicle rental and decline the collision damage waiver or similar option offered by the commercial car rental company. This product provides secondary coverage and does not include liability coverage. Not all vehicle types or rentals are covered. Geographic restrictions apply. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.

For the purchase protection benefit of the Blue Cash Everyday^® Card from American Express and Blue Cash Preferred^® Card from American Express, purchase protection is an embedded benefit of your card membership and requires no enrollment. It can help protect covered purchases made on your eligible card when they’re accidentally damaged, stolen, or lost, for up to 90 days from the covered purchase date. The coverage is limited up to $10,000 per occurrence, up to $50,000 per card member account per calendar year. Coverage limits apply. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.

For the Global Assist Hotline benefit of the Blue Cash Everyday^® Card from American Express and Blue Cash Preferred^® Card from American Express, you can rely on the Global Assist Hotline 24 hours a day / 7 days a week for medical, legal, financial or other select emergency coordination and assistance services while traveling more than 100 miles away from your home. Third-party service costs may be your responsibility. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Card members may be responsible for the costs charged by third-party service providers.

For the extended warranty benefit of the Blue Cash Preferred^® Card from American Express, when an American Express^® card member charges a covered purchase to an eligible card, extended warranty can provide up to one extra year added to the original manufacturer’s warranty. Applies to warranties of five (5) years or less. Coverage is up to the actual amount charged to your card for the item up to a maximum of $10,000; not to exceed $50,000 per card member account per calendar year. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. 

For the return protection benefit of the Blue Cash Preferred^® Card from American Express, eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details.

The information regarding the Chase Freedom Unlimited^® was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.

For rates and fees of the Blue Cash Everyday^® from American Express, click here.
For rates and fees of the Blue Cash Preferred^® Card from American Express, click here.
For rates and fees of the American Express^® Gold Card, click here.