Is the Amex Blue Cash Preferred worth it?

The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express is one of the most solid earners in the mid-tier cash-back card bucket.

With a $0 introductory annual fee (then $95; see rates and fees), you’ll enjoy perks like monthly credits toward Disney+ and Equinox purchases, plus solid earning rates.

But is it worth paying $95 to keep it each year? Keep reading to find out.

Welcome offer

Right now, the Blue Cash Preferred is offering $250 cash back (via statement credit) after you spend $3,000 on purchases on your new card within the first six months of card membership.

That means that factoring in the $0 introductory annual fee (see rates and fees), your first three years plus change with the Blue Cash Preferred won’t cost you anything. All you have to do is hit that $3,000 spending threshold in your first six months, equating to $500 a month in purchases.

And that’s before you factor in the card’s other benefits.

Earning rates

The Blue Cash Preferred offers the following valuable earning rates:

• 6% back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions
• 6% back at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $6,000 per calendar year, then 1%)
• 3% back on transit (parking, tolls, ride-hailing apps, subway, etc.)
• 3% back at U.S. gas stations
• 1% back everywhere else

Cash back is received as Reward Dollars that can be redeemed for statement credits.

Putting aside the welcome offer, it’s likely that the 6% back at U.S. supermarkets alone would make up for most of the Blue Cash Preferred’s annual fee. For example, spending $50 weekly at supermarkets would net you $156 in cash back every year, more than making up for the annual fee.

Disney Bundle credit

With the Blue Cash Preferred, you can receive $7 back each month (up to $84 back annually) after spending $12.99 or more on an eligible subscription to The Disney Bundle — which includes Disney+, Hulu and ESPN+ — using your card (valid only at disneyplus.com, hulu.com or plus.espn.com in the U.S.).

If you’re already spending money on these services, it should be an easy switch to start paying with your Blue Cash Preferred, and you’ll receive a nice discount.

Equinox credit

Another monthly credit on the Blue Cash Preferred offers up to $10 (up to $120 annually) back when you use your card to pay for Equinox+ at equinoxplus.com. Note that enrollment is required in advance for some benefits.

Equinox+ is the gym’s premium at-home service, meaning this could be a valuable benefit even if you don’t have an Equinox gym near you.

Other benefits

The Blue Cash Preferred also offers several travel and shopping protections.

You can enjoy secondary rental car insurance when paying for the rental with your card, up to $50,000 of protection against theft or damage.*

The Global Assist Hotline offers medical, legal, financial and other emergency services coordination 24 hours a day, seven days a week when traveling more than 100 miles from home. This service provides coordination only, however, and you’ll be responsible for the costs of any third-party services you use.**

For purchases made with your card, you can enjoy an extra year on top of manufacturers’ warranties of five years or less, thanks to extended warranty protection. This coverage is limited to the amount paid for with your card — up to $10,000 and an annual limit of $50,000.^

You also can enjoy return protection, which covers items purchased in the last 90 days for which the merchant won’t accept a return. You can be refunded for the full purchase price (excluding shipping and handling costs) — up to $300 per item and up to $1,000 per year. This applies only to purchases in the U.S. or U.S. territories, however.

Purchase protection is another card benefit, which covers items purchased with your card in the last 90 days but that are damaged, stolen or lost. You can be covered for up to $1,000 per claim and up to $50,000 per year.^

*Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Not all vehicle types or rentals are covered, and geographic restrictions apply. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details. Policies are underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
**Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details. Cardmembers are responsible for the costs charged by third-party service providers.
#Eligibility and benefit levels vary by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details.
^Eligibility and benefit levels vary by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details. Policies are underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.

Bottom line

Between the Equinox and Disney credits, valuable earnings rates and helpful shopping and travel protections, most users will be able to extract plenty of value from the Blue Cash Preferred. And that’s before factoring in the welcome offer and introductory annual fee, which will essentially net you three-plus years of free card use. There’s a reason we think it’s one of the best cash-back cards on the market.

To learn more about the card, read our full review of the Blue Cash Preferred.

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Official application link: Blue Cash Preferred with $250 cash back after you spend $3,000 on purchases on your new card within the first six months of card membership.

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For rates and fees of the Blue Cash Preferred, click here.