$300 statement credit
Families with high grocery and streaming spending where 6% back easily covers the annual fee.
The Amex Blue Cash Preferred is the strongest cash-back card available for households that spend heavily at U.S. supermarkets. You earn 6% back on up to $6,000 per year in U.S. supermarket purchases — that cap alone can net you $360 annually — plus 6% on select U.S. streaming subscriptions (Netflix, Hulu, Spotify, Disney+, ESPN+, and more), 3% on U.S. gas stations and transit, and 1% everywhere else. A Disney Bundle credit of up to $10 per month ($120 per year) makes the streaming category even more tangible.
The math on the annual fee is straightforward. The $95 fee kicks in after year one, which is waived. If you spend $500 per month at the grocery store, the 6% rate earns $360 per year versus $180 on the no-fee Blue Cash Everyday. That $180 difference more than covers the $95 annual fee with room to spare. Add streaming credit value and gas cash back and most households land well ahead.
You should get this card if you have a family, cook at home regularly, and stream one or more services. The welcome bonus is currently $300 after $3,000 in six months — an achievable bar for most households and among the stronger offers this card has historically provided. The first-year fee waiver makes year one essentially free money.
You should skip it if your grocery spending is low or inconsistent, you buy most groceries at warehouse clubs like Costco or Walmart (which do not qualify as U.S. supermarkets), or you want points that transfer to airlines. Cash back here means statement credits or Amazon checkout balance only — there is no path to award flights.
The closest alternative is the no-fee Blue Cash Everyday, which gives up the higher rates but eliminates the annual fee entirely. If you want to carry just one card and travel matters, the Amex Gold at $325 earns 4x MR points at restaurants and supermarkets with a path to airline transfers. Amex lifetime language applies: you can only collect this welcome bonus once, so do not apply casually. The card earns Reward Dollars, not Membership Rewards, so there is no transfer value.
Amex lifetime language applies: you can only earn the welcome bonus once per lifetime on this card. Annual fee is waived for the first year, then $95.
Cashback Match — all cash back doubled at end of year 1
Annual Fee: $0
175,000 Membership Rewards points
Annual Fee: $895
150,000 bonus points (limited time)
Annual Fee: $795
Cashback Match end of first year
Annual Fee: $0
$150 cash back (15,000 points)
Annual Fee: $0
No welcome bonus
Annual Fee: $0 first year, then $99
Miles Match — all miles doubled at end of year 1
Annual Fee: $0
100,000 Membership Rewards points
Annual Fee: $325
80,000 bonus miles
Annual Fee: $0 intro first year, then $150
70,000 bonus miles
Annual Fee: $0 intro first year, then $150
75,000 American Airlines miles
Annual Fee: $0 intro first year, then $99
80,000 Hilton Honors points
Annual Fee: $0
130,000 Hilton Honors points
Annual Fee: $150
175,000 IHG One Rewards points
Annual Fee: $99
200,000 Membership Rewards points
Annual Fee: $375
Cashback Match at end of first year
Annual Fee: $0
300,000 Membership Rewards points
Annual Fee: $895