American Express Blue Cash Everyday vs American Express Blue Cash Preferred
On an illustrative household's spending, American Express Blue Cash Preferred comes out about $80 a year ahead once both annual fees are paid.
The short version
- Over a year: Blue Cash Everyday nets $457 and Blue Cash Preferred nets $537, after fees of none and $95 a year.
- Where it flips: Below about $1,196 a month of spending, Blue Cash Everyday comes out ahead; above it, Blue Cash Preferred does.
- Category by category: Blue Cash Everyday earns more on 1, Blue Cash Preferred on 5 — the table below. Pick by where most of your money goes.
- What they pay in: both earn Cash Back, so the rates compare directly.
Priced on a household spending $2,205 a month on a card — the assumption, in full. Credits, perks and welcome offers are not priced; each card's page lists them.
Where each one earns more
| Spending on | Blue Cash Everyday per $100 |
Blue Cash Preferred per $100 | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Groceries | $3.00 3% |
$6.00 6% |
Blue Cash Preferred |
| Online Shopping | $3.00 3% |
$1.00 base rate |
Blue Cash Everyday |
| Streaming | $1.00 base rate |
$6.00 6% |
Blue Cash Preferred |
| Rideshare & Taxis | $1.00 base rate |
$3.00 3% |
Blue Cash Preferred |
| Public Transit | $1.00 base rate |
$3.00 3% |
Blue Cash Preferred |
| Parking & Tolls | $1.00 base rate |
$3.00 3% |
Blue Cash Preferred |
Only categories where the two differ and at least one pays a bonus, plus everything else. No rotating or chosen categories are switched on, and a rate that needs the issuer's travel portal is not counted.
Side by side
| Blue Cash Everyday | Blue Cash Preferred | |
|---|---|---|
| Issuer | American Express | American Express |
| Annual fee | none | $95 a year |
| Foreign transaction fee | 2.7% | 2.7% |
| Earns | Cash Back | Cash Back |
| A year, before the fee | $457 | $632 |
| A year, after the fee | $457 | $537 |
| Rates checked | 2026-08 | 2026-08 |
Each card on its own
- American Express Blue Cash Everyday — every rate, where it ranks, what the issuer lists besides rewards
- American Express Blue Cash Preferred — every rate, where it ranks, what the issuer lists besides rewards
- Every cash back card, ranked
- Which card adds the most to your own wallet
Carry both? Use the right one.
Cardful picks between them at every checkout, store by store.