Here is the short answer: if your household spends more than $265 per month at U.S. supermarkets, the Blue Cash Preferred pays for its $95 annual fee and then some. Below that number, the Blue Cash Everyday is the better choice. Let the math decide.
The Core Difference
Both cards earn Amex cash back at supermarkets, gas stations, and transit, but the rates and fee are different.
| Feature | Blue Cash Preferred | Blue Cash Everyday |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $95 (waived year 1) | $0 |
| U.S. supermarkets | 6% (cap: $6,000/yr) | 3% (cap: $6,000/yr) |
| Select U.S. streaming | 6% | 1% |
| U.S. gas stations | 3% (no cap) | 3% (cap: $6,000/yr) |
| U.S. transit | 3% | 1% |
| U.S. online retail | 1% | 3% (cap: $6,000/yr) |
| Everywhere else | 1% | 1% |
| Network | Amex | Amex |
| Rates verified | 2026-03-22 | 2026-05-10 |
How the Break-Even Works
The BCP earns 3 percentage points more on groceries than the BCE. To cover the $95 annual fee from grocery rewards alone, you need to spend at least $3,167 per year at U.S. supermarkets, which works out to $264 per month.
At $264/month in grocery spend:
- BCP earns $190 per year (6%)
- BCE earns $95 per year (3%)
- Difference: $95, which exactly covers the annual fee
Spend more than that and the Preferred wins by an increasing margin. Spend less and you are paying $95 for rewards you could get free.
Streaming sweetens the BCP case
The BCP earns 6% on eligible U.S. streaming services: Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, Spotify, Apple TV+, ESPN+, Max, and more than 25 others. The BCE earns 1% on streaming.
If your household pays $60/month in streaming subscriptions, the BCP earns $43.20 more per year on that spending alone. That lowers the grocery break-even significantly. You might only need $200/month in grocery spending for the BCP to pay off once streaming is factored in.
The Blue Cash Preferred
The BCP is built for households with regular, predictable grocery and streaming spend.
The 6% grocery rate applies at most traditional U.S. supermarkets: Kroger, Safeway, Whole Foods, Publix, Trader Joe’s, ALDI. It is capped at $6,000 per year; after that the rate drops to 1%. A household hitting that $6K cap earns $360 per year in grocery cash back alone.
Important exclusions: The 6% does not apply at Costco, Sam’s Club, BJ’s Wholesale, Walmart, or Target. Those retailers do not code as U.S. supermarkets. If most of your grocery shopping happens there, the 6% rate is effectively worthless.
3% at gas stations comes with no annual cap, which makes the BCP cleaner for high-mileage drivers than the BCE (which caps gas at $6,000/year).
Annual fee note: The first year’s $95 fee is waived, making year one an easy win regardless of your spending level.
Who this is NOT for: households who shop primarily at Costco or Walmart for groceries; anyone who rarely uses streaming services; budget-conscious cardholders who prefer zero ongoing fees.
The Blue Cash Everyday
The BCE is a strong no-fee card for households that want broad category coverage without a commitment fee.
Three 3% categories with separate $6,000 caps: groceries, gas stations, and U.S. online retail (Amazon, Chewy, Target.com, Best Buy online, and most purchases made on retailer websites). Each category has its own $6,000 annual limit, not a combined cap. A household that maxes all three earns $540 per year in cash back on $18,000 of spending, from a card with no annual fee.
The online retail angle is the BCE’s distinguishing feature. The BCP earns 1% on online retail, while the BCE earns 3%. For households doing significant shopping on Amazon or other online retailers, the BCE wins that category outright.
The BCE does NOT earn bonus rates on streaming (1% only). If you spend $60/month on Netflix, Spotify, and Disney+, you leave $43/year on the table compared to the BCP.
Who this is NOT for: heavy grocery spenders above $265/month; streaming-heavy households; anyone whose primary use case is supermarkets and who shops little online.
What Both Cards Share
- Both are Amex network cards. Amex acceptance is slightly narrower than Visa/Mastercard, so factor this in if you shop internationally or at merchants that do not accept Amex.
- Both earn cash back as statement credits, not transferable points
- Neither earns bonus rates at Costco, Sam’s Club, or Walmart
- Neither charges a foreign transaction fee
Quick Decision Guide
| Your situation | Best pick |
|---|---|
| Grocery spend above $265/month | Blue Cash Preferred |
| Grocery spend below $265/month | Blue Cash Everyday |
| Heavy streaming user ($50+/month) | Blue Cash Preferred |
| Heavy online shopper (Amazon, etc.) | Blue Cash Everyday |
| Prefer zero annual fee, no matter what | Blue Cash Everyday |
| Shop primarily at Costco or Walmart | Neither: consider Citi Custom Cash (5%) or a 2% flat card |
Bottom Line
The Blue Cash Preferred pays for itself for most households at $265 per month in supermarket spending, and streaming cash back makes the math even easier. The Blue Cash Everyday is the right call when your grocery spend is lighter, you do more online shopping, or you simply want a $0-fee card with solid all-around coverage. Both are strong cards in their lane; the only wrong answer is picking the one that does not match your actual spending.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Does the Blue Cash Preferred’s 6% apply at Whole Foods?
A: Yes. Whole Foods is classified as a U.S. supermarket and earns 6% on the BCP (up to $6,000/year). Note: when you pay via Amazon Pay at Whole Foods using the Amazon Prime Visa, that card earns 5% instead. The Whole Foods 5% from Amazon requires using Amazon Pay, not just any card.
Q: Does the Blue Cash Everyday’s 3% online retail include Amazon?
A: Yes. Amazon.com purchases typically code as U.S. online retail and earn 3% on the BCE (up to $6,000/year in the online retail category). The Amazon Prime Visa earns 5% at Amazon for Prime members, so Prime members will generally earn more at Amazon with that card specifically.
Q: Can I hold both the BCP and BCE at the same time?
A: Yes. American Express allows you to hold both cards simultaneously, and there is no restriction on earning welcome bonuses for both, provided you meet each card’s eligibility requirements at the time you apply.
Q: Which card is better for gas stations?
A: Both earn 3% at U.S. gas stations, but the BCP earns 3% with no annual cap while the BCE caps gas at $6,000/year. For typical drivers, the cap is not a practical concern. For high-mileage drivers spending more than $500/month on gas, the BCP has a structural advantage.
Q: Is the Blue Cash Preferred worth it if I already have the Amex Gold?
A: Possibly. The Amex Gold earns 4x Membership Rewards at U.S. supermarkets (uncapped), which is worth more than 6% cash back if you redeem MR at 2+ cents per point via transfer partners. If you primarily want simple cash back rather than travel rewards, the BCP is the cleaner choice. The two cards can complement each other: Gold for dining, BCP for streaming and gas (where the Gold earns 1x on both).