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Home / Cards / Card comparisons / Amex Blue Cash Everyday vs. Amex Blue Cash Preferred

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Card comparisons

Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express vs. Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express

A side-by-side look at annual fee bands, rewards style, credit range, foreign transaction fees, pros, cons and gotchas, using only the card facts we've checked on each issuer's site. We don't list welcome offers or APRs because they change often.

Card details last reviewed October 2, 2026. Confirm everything on the issuer site. Our editorial policy.

Advertising disclosure: We may earn a commission from some links on this site, but the card links here currently go straight to issuer sites (no affiliate links). We aim to recommend products based on fit for common spending patterns and responsible use—not solely on payout size. Affiliate disclosure.

Side by side

Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American ExpressBlue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
IssuerAmexAmex
NetworkAmexAmex
Card typeCategory bonus (grocery, dining, gas & more)Category bonus (grocery, dining, gas & more)
Card forPersonalPersonal
Annual fee band$0$1–$99
First-year offers vary. Confirm the current fee on the issuer site.
Welcome offerCheck issuerCheck issuer
APR and any intro APRCheck issuerCheck issuer
Credit typically targetedGood, ExcellentGood, Excellent
Rewards typeCash backCash back
How it earnsElevated cash back at US supermarkets (lower than Preferred) plus other everyday categories.High cash back at US supermarkets and select streaming, plus other elevated categories. Caps apply.
Foreign transaction feeYesYes
Bonus category capsYesYes
FeaturesGroceriesGroceries, Streaming
Pros
  • Grocery earn with no annual fee
  • Simple cash back
  • Among the strongest grocery earn in the starter set
  • Streaming bonus
  • Cash back is easy to value
Cons
  • Lower grocery rate than the fee-based version
  • Amex acceptance gaps
  • Annual fee
  • Supermarket cap limits value for very large grocery budgets
  • Amex acceptance gaps
Watch out for
  • Grocery rate is lower than the Blue Cash Preferred.
  • Amex is not accepted everywhere.
  • Bonus categories have annual spending caps, and a foreign transaction fee applies.
  • US supermarket bonus has an annual spending cap.
  • Amex is not accepted everywhere.
  • Foreign transaction fee applies, so it is a weak choice abroad.
Last reviewedOctober 2, 2026October 2, 2026
LinksDetails
View on issuer site		Details
View on issuer site

Who should pick which

By the Credit Cards for Rewards editorial team · How we evaluate cards

Same family, one decision: pay an annual fee or not. Blue Cash Everyday has no annual fee and a lower US supermarket rate, while Blue Cash Preferred asks for a fee in the $1–$99 band in exchange for higher supermarket earn plus select streaming.

Pick the Amex Blue Cash Everyday if…

  • Your grocery spending is moderate.
  • You want cash back with no annual fee at all.
  • You're still testing whether a grocery-focused card fits your budget.

Pick the Amex Blue Cash Preferred if…

  • Your supermarket spending is large enough that the higher rate outweighs the fee; run that math with your own numbers.
  • You pay for streaming services.
  • You've checked the current fee and any offers with the issuer.

Bottom line

Both carry spending caps, a foreign transaction fee and Amex acceptance gaps. Very large grocery budgets also hit the Preferred's supermarket cap, so the case for paying the fee has a ceiling.

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