American Express Blue Cash Preferred Benefits: A Comprehensive Review

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The American Express Blue Cash Preferred card offers an impressive array of benefits that make it a top choice for cashback enthusiasts.

This card provides a generous 6% cashback on groceries, making it a great option for frequent shoppers.

One of the standout features of this card is its high cashback rewards rate on groceries, with no rotating categories or spending limits.

With no annual fee for the first year, and a $95 annual fee thereafter, this card is an affordable option for those who want to maximize their rewards earnings.

The Blue Cash Preferred card also offers a 3% cashback rate on gas, making it a great choice for drivers.

Benefits

The Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express offers some standard benefits that you might expect from a premium credit card. Extended warranties, rental car insurance, Global Assist, and purchase protection are all included.

These benefits can provide peace of mind and help protect your investments.

The card also comes with access to Amex-affiliated events, which can be a fun perk for cardholders.

You can find more details on these benefits, including eligibility and terms, on the American Express website.

Earning & Redeeming Points

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The Amex Blue Cash Preferred Card is a powerhouse when it comes to earning cash back. Its everyday earning rates are unmatched, and beneficial for nearly everyone in some way.

You'll earn 6% cash back on U.S. supermarket purchases, up to $6,000 a year, then 1% for additional U.S. supermarket spending. This equates to $360 back in your pocket every year on your weekly groceries.

The card also offers 6% cash back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions, including popular services like Netflix, Spotify, Hulu, and more. This can add up to two free months of these services a year, which is not too shabby.

Another highlight of the Blue Cash Preferred's earning rates is its 3% cash back on transit and U.S. gas stations. The transit category is broad, covering everything from trains and buses to toll fees and taxis.

There's no cap on the 3% earnings, so the more you use your car, the train, the ferry, or pay for parking, the more you'll get back. This is a generous decision, as many other credit cards opt for just one or the other bonus category.

Here are some of the eligible streaming services that earn 6% cash back:

  • Amazon Music Unlimited
  • iHeartRadio
  • Showtime
  • Apple Music
  • Kindle Unlimited
  • Sling TV
  • Apple TV+
  • Luminary
  • SiriusXM Streaming and Satellite
  • Audible
  • MLB.TV
  • Spotify
  • DirecTV Stream
  • NBA League Pass
  • Stitcher
  • Disney+
  • Netflix
  • TIDAL Music
  • YouTube Music Premium
  • YouTube Premium
  • HBO Max
  • Paramount+
  • Peacock
  • Hulu
  • Prime Video

Fees and Charges

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The Amex Blue Cash Preferred Card has a few fees you should be aware of. The annual fee is $0 intro for the first year, then $95, but it's worth it if your spending aligns with the card's bonus categories.

Most fees are avoidable if you pay your balance off in full each month. There's a late payment fee to consider, as well as fees for returned payments and cash advances.

The intro APR is 0% for 12 months on purchases and balance transfers from the date of account opening. This can be a great perk, but it's essential to pay off your balance before the intro period ends to avoid high interest rates.

The regular APR is 18.24% - 29.24% Variable, which is higher than some other cards. This means you'll pay more in interest if you don't pay off your balance in full each month.

Here are the key fees to keep in mind:

  • Balance transfer fee: $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
  • Foreign transaction fee: 2.7% of each transaction after conversion to U.S. dollars

Keep in mind that the Amex Blue Cash Preferred Card is not a good choice for international purchases due to the foreign transaction fee.

Rewards and Bonuses

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The American Express Blue Cash Preferred Card offers an impressive rewards program. You can earn 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1% cash back thereafter.

The card also offers 6% cash back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions, with no spending cap. This includes popular services like Spotify, Apple Music, and SiriusXM.

Additionally, you'll earn 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations and on transit, including taxis, rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, and buses. Other purchases earn 1% cash back.

Here are the details of the rewards program:

The card also offers a welcome bonus of a $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your new card within the first six months.

Offers

The Amex Offers program is a great perk of the Amex Blue Cash Preferred Card, offering cash back or bonus points when shopping with specific retailers and travel brands. You can view your available offers by logging into your card account and scrolling down.

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Eligibility for these offers is limited, and enrollment is required in the Amex Offers section of your account before redeeming. This means you need to opt-in to each offer separately to receive the rewards.

Here are some of the benefits you can expect from the Amex Offers program:

  • Cash back or bonus points on purchases with specific retailers and travel brands
  • View available offers by logging into your card account
  • Enrollment required for each offer before redeeming

The Amex Blue Cash Preferred Card also comes with a welcome bonus of a $250 statement credit after spending $3,000 in eligible purchases within the first six months from account opening. This offer is a great way to sweeten the deal, especially considering the card's annual fee of $95 after the first year.

The card's rewards structure is straightforward, offering:

  • 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%)
  • 6% cash back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions
  • 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations
  • 3% cash back on transit (including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more)
  • 1% cash back on other purchases

Bonus Streaming

If you pay for streaming services, you're in luck - this card offers 6% cash back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions.

One-third of consumers pay $100 or more per month on subscriptions, according to a recent survey by The Motley Fool Motley Fool Money.

Discover It Back

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The Discover it Cash Back card offers an Unlimited Cashback Match for new cardmembers, which means Discover will automatically match all the cash back you've earned at the end of your first year.

This could turn $150 cash back into $300, making it a valuable bonus for heavy spenders. You can earn a larger bonus by spending more.

However, the card's categories change each quarter, so they may not always match up with your spending.

Protection and Security

Having a credit card with purchase protection can give you peace of mind, especially when buying expensive items.

You can get reimbursed up to $1,000 per purchase and up to 90 days from the purchase date if an eligible item you bought with the Amex Blue Cash Preferred Card is stolen or damaged.

This protection is a valuable perk that can save you a lot of money in case something goes wrong with your purchase.

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You can get coverage up to $1,000 per claim, and up to $50,000 per account per calendar year if an eligible item you bought is accidentally damaged or stolen within 90 days of purchase.

Using this benefit even one time could make the annual fee worth it for potentially several years.

This is especially true if you're prone to buying expensive items that you don't want to lose or damage.

Compare to Similar

The American Express Blue Cash Preferred benefits are impressive, but how do they stack up against similar cash-back cards? Let's break it down.

The Blue Cash Preferred Card was compared to other cash-back cards with a similar annual fee as part of Personal Finance Insider's review process. This means you can trust that the benefits are well-rounded and competitive.

To earn significant cash back, the Blue Cash Preferred Card makes it easy to earn rewards in its bonus categories, including U.S. supermarket purchases, U.S. streaming subscriptions, transit, and U.S. gas stations.

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The card's benefits go beyond rewards, with perks like an intro APR on purchases and a valuable welcome offer.

The annual fee of the Blue Cash Preferred Card is $95, but it makes sense given its selection of perks and bonus categories for earning rewards.

Here's a comparison of the Blue Cash Preferred Card to other similar cards:

If you spend a good amount on U.S. supermarket purchases, U.S. streaming subscriptions, transit, or U.S. gas stations, the Blue Cash Preferred Card is likely a good choice. Just make sure you spend enough in the bonus categories to recoup the annual fee after the first year.

In fact, if you spend about $1,580 on groceries alone, you'll have paid for the card's annual fee once the intro period ends.

Broaden your view: Good American

Features and Details

The Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express offers a range of benefits, including a $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95. This annual fee can be recouped if you spend at least $1,585 on purchases eligible for 6% cash back.

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You can earn a $250 statement credit after spending $3,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months. Additionally, the card offers a cash back reward rate of 1%-6%, with higher rates available for specific categories such as U.S. supermarkets, select U.S. streaming subscriptions, transit, and U.S. gas stations.

Here are the cash back categories and rates:

  • 6% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%).
  • 6% Cash Back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions.
  • 3% Cash Back on transit including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more.
  • 3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations
  • 1% Cash Back on other purchases

Extending Manufacturer's Warranty

Extending Manufacturer's Warranty can be a lifesaver for big ticket items. You can get up to an extra year added to an original manufacturer's warranty of 5 years or less.

Using your Amex Blue Cash Preferred card for certain purchases can trigger this benefit. This is especially useful for electronics or appliances that can be expensive to repair or replace.

The total warranty coverage you can get is up to 7 years. That's a significant increase in protection for your purchases.

Offer Details:

The Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express offers a range of rewards and benefits that make it a valuable addition to your wallet. You can earn a $250 statement credit after spending $3,000 in eligible purchases within the first 6 months.

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The card's rewards structure is designed to help you save money on everyday expenses. For example, you can earn 6% cash back on U.S. supermarket purchases up to $6,000 per year, and 3% cash back on transit, gas stations, and select streaming subscriptions.

Here are the specific rewards categories and rates:

  • 6% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%).
  • 6% Cash Back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions.
  • 3% Cash Back on transit including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more.
  • 3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations
  • 1% Cash Back on other purchases

The card also offers a "Buy Now, Pay Later" feature, which allows you to split up large purchases into monthly installments with $0 intro plan fees for the first 12 months.

Conclusion and Decision

The American Express Blue Cash Preferred card is a great option for those who want to earn cash back on their purchases. You'll get a $300 statement credit after spending $3,000 in the first six months.

One of the key benefits of this card is its cash back rewards structure. Specifically, you'll earn 6% cash back on groceries and 3% on gas.

The card also comes with some valuable protections, including return and purchase protections. This can be a huge relief if you ever need to return or replace an item.

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For a relatively low annual fee of $95, this card offers a lot of value. Plus, you'll get access to Amex Offers, which can provide even more rewards and discounts.

Overall, the American Express Blue Cash Preferred card is a solid choice for those who want to earn cash back and enjoy some extra benefits.

Teresa Halvorson

Senior Writer

Teresa Halvorson is a skilled writer with a passion for financial journalism. Her expertise lies in breaking down complex topics into engaging, easy-to-understand content. With a keen eye for detail, Teresa has successfully covered a range of article categories, including currency exchange rates and foreign exchange rates.

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