Amex Blue Cash Preferred: rewards, fees and who it fits
What it earns
Annual fee: $0 introductory first year, then $95
| Earn | Where to use it |
|---|---|
| 6% | U.S. supermarketsFirst $6,000 per calendar year, then 1%. Superstores and warehouse clubs excluded. |
| 6% | Select U.S. streamingOnly qualifying services; bundled or third-party billing may not qualify. |
| 3% | TransitEligible rideshares, trains, parking, tolls and other transit. |
| 3% | U.S. gas stationsWarehouse-club fuel and superstores excluded. |
| 1% | Everything elseNo category cap listed; eligible purchases only. |
Standard purchase rates, checked Sep 23, 2026. Issuer terms (opens in a new tab). Limited-time bonuses are separate.
TL;DR
- Best to compare when groceries are a big monthly expense.
- The 6% supermarket rate stops at $6,000 each year.
- It is not a no-fee card after the introductory year.
New here? How to read these guides
Start with the earning table and TL;DR. Then check who the card fits, a spending example and how to redeem. Compare the live offer before applying.
- Cash back
- A percentage back on eligible spending. 3% on $100 = $3.
- Points / miles
- 2X means 2 points per $1 spent. It does not automatically mean 2% back. Each program has different redemption values.
- Welcome bonus / SUB
- Extra rewards for meeting an offer's spending requirement by its deadline. SUB means sign-up bonus.
- Churning
- Opening cards for welcome bonuses. Start with one card you can manage, not a pile of applications. Fees, interest and overspending can erase the upside.
- Transfer
- Moving rewards to an airline or hotel program. Often a one-way move.
The first rule: pay your statement balance in full. Interest can wipe out the rewards.
Who this card is for
Fits supermarket-heavy spending with some streaming and transit. Compare Everyday if your grocery total is low or mostly at excluded stores.
What that earns in real life
Illustration: $500 monthly at eligible supermarkets is $6,000 yearly, earning $360. After the ongoing $95 fee, that leaves $265 before other rewards. At 3%, the same spend earns $180 on Everyday.
How to use the rewards
Redeem Reward Dollars for statement credits. This is cash back, not points you can transfer to airlines.
Before you apply
Ignore the first-year waiver when deciding whether to keep it long term. Use spending you already do in the math. Check the live offer, streaming eligibility and foreign-transaction fee before travel.
Only spend what you can pay off in full. A welcome bonus is not worth interest or purchases you didn’t need.
Pay your statement balance in full. Interest can cost more than the rewards you earn.
Quick questions
Does Amex Blue Cash Preferred earn cash back or points?
It earns Cash back in Reward Dollars. These are not transferable travel points.
What is the Amex Blue Cash Preferred annual fee?
$0 introductory first year, then $95. Compare the ongoing cost with benefits you will actually use, not the advertised total.
Which supermarkets count for Blue Cash Preferred's 6%?
Amex lists ALDI, Trader Joe's, Whole Foods and Stop & Shop among its U.S. supermarket examples. It excludes Walmart, Target, warehouse clubs, convenience stores and meal-kit services. The list is not exhaustive, and a store's merchant coding decides whether a purchase qualifies. The 6% rate ends after $6,000 in eligible supermarket spending each calendar year.
Sources & what to double-check
Published Sep 13, 2026. Reviewed Sep 23, 2026. Offers can change.
- Amex Blue Cash Preferred: official rewards and terms (opens in a new tab)
- Amex: U.S. supermarket examples and exclusions (opens in a new tab)
- Current application offer, fees and welcome-bonus eligibility.
- Category definitions, exclusions and credit enrollment requirements.
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