AmEx Blue Cash Priority Perks Over Daily

Food expenses are one of the largest items in the budget of many households. It only makes sense to maximize the reward points you earn from shopping at grocery stores.

Some bonus credit cards earn the same amount of reward no matter where you spend, while others get a bonus in certain categories, and spending on groceries is a bonus category on many different cards. The two most popular grocery bonus cards are American Express Blue Cash Everyday® Card and American Express Blue Cash Preferred® Card.

While they appear similar at first glance, they have slightly different remuneration rates and annual fees, allowing them to be tailored to a particular type of consumer. We compare Blue Cash Everyday and Blue Cash Preferred to see which card is right for you.

Map details

Card	Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express	American Express Blue Cash Preferred Card
Awards	3% cashback at US supermarkets (up to $6,000 per year for purchases, then 1%) 3% cashback at US gas stations (up to $6,000 per year on purchases, then 1%) 3% cashback on online purchases in the US (up to $6,000 per year on purchases, then 1%) 1% cashback on regular purchases Terms apply	6% cashback at US supermarkets (up to $6,000 on purchases per year, then 1%) 6% cashback on select US streaming subscriptions 3% cashback at gas stations in the USA and in transit 1% cashback on regular purchases Terms apply
Annual fee	$0	$95 ($0 entry fee first year)
Welcome Bonus	$200 credit statement if you spend $2,000 within the first 6 months.	$250 credit statement if you spend $3,000 within the first 6 months.
April Opening Offer	0% APR in the beginning on new purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 months after account opening (from 16.99% to 27.99% thereafter)	0% APR at the outset on both new purchases and balance transfers for the first 12 months after account opening (from 16.99% to 27.99% thereafter)

Amex Blue Cash Everyday vs. Amex Blue Cash Preferred

Welcome offer

Winner: Blue Cash Preferred

Blue Cash Preferred is the clear winner here, with a welcome offer that’s $50 higher than the Blue Cash Everyday card. Even with the annual fee for Blue Cash Preferred, you will still come out ahead in the first year. Note that spending requirements are slightly higher for Blue Cash Preferred, but easily manage a six-month time frame (divided equally up to $500 per month).

Interest rate

Winner: Blue Cash Preferred

The Blue Cash Preferred card was again the winner for a higher reward rate. The two cards have very similar bonus categories, but Blue Cash Preferred simply offers higher rates. The only category in which Blue Cash Everyday has an advantage is the bonus cash back rate at US online stores, including department stores, clothing stores, and supermarkets (such as Amazon.com). However, Blue Cash Preferred still wins with an unlimited 6% cashback on select US streaming subscriptions. With consumers spending more on streaming now than ever (April Morning Consult survey showed 38% of US respondents spend at least $31 a month), that 6% could prove to be very lucrative.

Keep in mind, however, that you will have to spend at least $3,200 per year on products at the higher rate to offset the $95 annual Blue Cash Preferred fee. This annual expense is the break-even point where Blue Cash Preferred’s higher rate of return (6 percent compared to Blue Cash Everyday’s 3 percent) offsets its annual fee.

Annual fee

Winner: Blue Cash Everyday

If you spend significantly less than the average household on groceries (about $5,259 per year in 2021), you may not earn enough rewards to offset your current $95 annual Blue Cash Preferred card fee. In this case, it may make sense to use Amex Blue Cash Everyday without an annual fee.

April Opening Offer

Winner: Blue Cash Everyday

While both cards offer introductory 0 percent annual periods, the Blue Cash Everyday card offer is slightly longer (15 months compared to 12). Because these cards offer the same regular APR and zero interest on new purchases and balance transfers, the only real determining factor for a winner is a longer start period.

Depending on your specific financial situation—whether you’re looking to buy a new living room unit, or if you’ve built up a small debt on an old high-interest card, for example—that extra three months can make a big difference to you.

What card should you get?

While Blue Cash Preferred has a higher reward rate on most expenses, it also has a $95 annual fee. You will want to analyze your own expenses to decide if the increased fee is worth the annual fee. However, Blue Cash Everyday packs a decent punch in the grocery category, though it will also appeal to online shopping fanatics.

• If you spend more than $3,200 per year on groceriesA: If you’re spending more than $267 a month at the supermarket, you might be better off with Blue Cash Preferred. At $3,200 a year, your 6% cashback will be double the earnings you get with Blue Cash Everyday ($192 vs. $96 cashback).
• If you spend less on groceriesA: If you spend significantly less than the average household on groceries or have other good earning cards at grocery stores, you may not earn enough rewards to offset your current $95 annual Blue Cash Preferred fee. In this case, the lower cashback rate as well as the other bonus categories at Blue Cash Everyday should come in handy.
• If you are looking for a longer 0% APR initial periodA: While both cards offer 0 percent APR introductory periods, 15 months on Blue Cash Everyday is a bit longer. For most debts or major purchases, 15 months should be enough to resolve your payments.

bottom line

When comparing only Blue Cash Everyday and Blue Cash Preferred, Blue Cash Preferred is the clear winner.

For most consumers (those who spend at least $267 a month in US supermarkets), Blue Cash Preferred will get you more money back, even with the $95 annual fee. However, if you can’t handle the yearly bill, Blue Cash Everyday is still a good grocery card.

You can also sign up for Blue Cash Preferred to get a higher welcome bonus. This bonus more than makes up for the annual fee, and after one year, you will be able to weigh up whether you want to continue with Blue Cash Preferred or request a product change to Blue Cash Everyday.

Dan Miller is a freelance writer and founder of PointsWithACrew.com, a website that helps families travel for free or cheap. His home is in Cincinnati, but he tries to travel the world as much as possible with his wife and six children.