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The American Express Blue Cash Preferred card scored 4 out of 5, based on our review methodology. The company scored best in features and benefits for its above-average cashback rewards on US groceries, streaming services and gas stations.
It scored the lowest in user experience for a website that can sometimes feel overwhelming and complains of challenges in using and canceling American Express cards.
In the sections below, we look at the scores we gave in each review category.
The APR for the Amex Express Blue Cash Preferred can be anywhere from 18.24% to 29.24%, so there's a chance you may have a purchase APR that's above the current average of 21.47%.
The card doesn't have an over-limit fee, and the balance transfer fee of 3% or $5.00, whichever is greater, is on the lower end of transfer fees. You're also looking at a $10.00 or 5% of each cash advance.
There's also a 2.7% foreign transaction fee—other cards may have no fees. While there is a $95 annual fee, here's the kicker: the annual fee is waived the first year you open an account. So if you want to give the American Express Blue Cash Preferred a whirl and see how it goes the first 12 months, you can do so without having to pay the yearly fee.
The sign-up bonus is $300 if you spend $3,000 within the first six months of being a card member, which breaks down to $500 a month. Another notable feature? There's the option to scoop up a 0% intro offer for the first year. So, the first year of the no-interest, no-annual fee period can be a great opportunity to test out the card.
The standout feature of the American Express Blue Cash Preferred card is that you can earn 6% cash back on US supermarkets, up to $6,000 each year (then it kicks over to 1%). You can also earn 6% cash back on streaming subscriptions, 3% at gas stations, and 1% cash back on all other purchases.
You can offset the $95 annual fee and make the most of the card if you spend a lot on groceries at supermarkets and streaming subscriptions. On top of that, as there's no unlimited 3% cash back on US gas stations, it could be a good card if you travel a lot for work or enjoy road trips.
Beyond the cashback, the card features up to $84 annual credit on the Disney Bundle streaming subscription, car rental insurance, and purchase protection of up to $1,000 per incident and $50,000 per year. Return protection isn't as robust but definitely a nice-to-have ($300 per item, and a maximum of $1,000 a year). road-tripping.
Your American Express Cash Preferred card is protected in several ways, and we're impressed by Amex's multi-pronged approach.
For one, built-in fraud protection includes chip technology and a 4-digit CID. Amex uses machine learning to spot fraud. Regarding online security, encryption technology and automatic timeouts help secure sensitive data.
American Express, as a whole, gives you the choice to opt into fraud alerts. You can get an email or text message when there's irregular account activity, card-not-present transactions, cash advances, foreign transactions, and purchases over $100.
The American Express website easily provides detailed information about the card, including rates and fees, benefits and rewards, and terms. However, while the site contains a lot of information about the cards and best practices, it can be hard to navigate. For example, you'll need to do a search to locate basic information, such as Amex's live chat feature for cardholders.
The Amex app tells a different tale based on user reviews. The Amex app on Google Play has 3.9 out of 5 stars, based on 42,300 reviews and 10 million downloads. The Amex app on the AppStore has 4.9 out of 5 stars, based on 3.9 million reviews. Cardholders seem to like how easy the app is to use, but they voice frustrations with canceling cards and cancellation fees.
American Express cardholders can reach out to the customer service team via phone or live chat. If you're a potential customer interested in applying for a card, the customer service team is available seven days a week during business hours.
Giving a ring to the customer service team, we got a hold of a live rep within minutes. We had our general questions answered about applying for a card. One thing we wish existed was a chatbot option for potential applicants. Unfortunately, the only way to reach out to someone is through the phone or snail mail.
If you already have a credit card with American Express, you'll be happy to find that its customer service is readily available 24/7. Plus, the response times are quick. You can reach American Express by phone (1-800-528-4800), live chat or by sending something in the mail.
When we tried reaching out to them:
We connected with a live rep within minutes.
The live agent was friendly and offered general information about their suite of credit cards.
If you would like to try out the live chat, it's only available to current cardholders.
Curious, potential card members can give American Express a ring 7 days, 8 am to 11 pm EST via phone (1-888-297-1244).
When we reached to them via the phone:
We got a hold of a human within several minutes.
The live rep answered the few questions we had about cash back, credit scores, and the financial criteria for qualifying for the card.
American Express, as a credit card company, has a 1.4 Trustpilot score and 1.11 BBB score.
Reddit users have mixed reviews about the American Express Blue Cash Preferred. They say it is great for large households and families that spend a fair amount each year on groceries or US streaming subscriptions. One might be better off offsetting the fees when using the card across multiple categories.
On the flip side, depending on one's spending habits and preferences, other cash-back cards might be a better fit. It all boils down to what you'll use the card for and doing some simple math to make sure the card will be worth it.
"For families with kids living at home, [the Amex Blue Cash Preferred] is a go-to recommendation," says Steve Zakeji, a CFP® at Flatirons Wealth Management. "It's Easily worth the $95 annual fee as long as you spend that $6000 a year on groceries. But you're not going to hit that grocery mark, I wouldn't carry it."
Amex Blue Cash Preferred | Amex Gold | |
Annual fee | $0 the first year, $95 | $325 |
Base rewards | 6% cash back on groceries (up to $6,000 per year), 6% cash back on select streaming services, 3% cash back on gas, and 1% on everything else | 4% cash back on restaurants worldwide (up to $50,000 per year), 4% cash back on U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 per year) 3% cash back on flight, 2% cash back on prepaid hotels, 1% cash back on everything else |
APR | Variable 18.24% to 29.24% | Variable 20.24% to 28.24% |
Sign-on bonus | $250 cash back if you spend $2,000 within the first 6 months | Up to 100,000 points if you spend $6,000 within the first 6 months |
We analyzed and rated credit cards in the following categories. Here's how our review process works:
Rates and fees: We carefully examined the main credit card rates, such as the purchase and promotional APR. We also assessed the main fees, such as the annual fee, balance transfer fee, foreign transaction fee, late fee, and over-limit fee.
Features and benefits: We consider features and perks that would stand out. This includes benefits such as ancillary benefits and a rewards structure. The base rewards program, sign-on bonus, travel, and entertainment perks are also folded in.
Security: Other considerations included security measures like fraud detection services, sophisticated security measures, and card freezes. Other ways to protect sensitive card and personal data—think card alerts—are also part of our analysis.
User experience: User experience isn't just about the website and app navigation. We also considered the ease of the application process, how quickly you receive your card, the ease of using your card and making the most of its features and benefits, and how easy it is to close your account.
Customer service: We compare the credit card issuer's Trustpilot score, and BBB rates, its competitors, and industry averages. We also factored in the company's different customer service channels (i.e., telephone, chat, and email) and tested response times and quality of experience.
We give the credit card a score in each category a one to a five—with one being the lowest and five being the highest. To reach our final Editor's score, we take the average of the category scores. Credit cards that score high are considered for our list of best credit cards in their respective category. You can read more in our full credit card methodology.
To offset the annual fee, you'll want to make the most of the cash-back categories, where you can earn 3% to 6% and scoop up any other additional benefits that make sense with your everyday spending. This means being mindful of your household spending habits.
You'll want to pay close attention to the card's benefits and limits, says Zakeji. "Because once you spend $6,000 on groceries with the AmEx Blue Cash Preferred, you stop getting 6% and only get 1% cashback until the end of the year," he says. "Then you start over again on January 1st. So it probably makes sense to use another card for those last few months of the year."
The average credit limit for Amex Blue Preferred cardholders is $11,901, and $10,000 is the most common. Your credit limit depends on several factors, such as your creditworthiness, credit utilization, income, and larger economic trends and market conditions. If you get prequalified for the Blue Preferred card by Amex, it might include your estimated credit limit.
No, like most credit cards, the Amex Blue Cash Preferred is made of plastic.
To qualify for the Amex Express Blue Preferred card, you'll need a good to excellent credit score. This seems to be the standard score requirement for a decent credit card. Besides credit, other criteria, such as your income and credit utilization, are factored in.
