American Express® Blue Cash Preferred vs Capital One Savor
Side-by-side comparison
| American Express® Blue Cash Preferred | Capital One Savor | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $95 | No annual fee |
| Welcome offer | $300 statement credit | |
| Dining | 1x | 3x |
| Groceries | 6x | 3x |
| Gas | 3x | 1x |
| Travel | 1x | 1x |
| Streaming | 6x | 3x |
| Everything else | 1x | 1x |
| Est. yearly rewards* | $679 | $484 |
| Points type | Cash back only | Pools with Capital One → transferable |
| Network | Amex | Mastercard |
*Estimated yearly rewards on typical household spending, every point valued at a flat 1 cent. Verified July 2026. See your own numbers in the calculator.
Welcome bonus and value over time
| Over time | American Express® Blue Cash Preferred | Capital One Savor |
|---|---|---|
| Welcome bonus | $300 statement credit | $250 cash bonus |
| To earn it | $3,000 in 6 months | $500 in 3 months |
| Est. first-year value* | $968 | $734 |
| Est. ongoing value / yr* | $668 | $484 |
The American Express® Blue Cash Preferred wins on both fronts: it comes out ahead in year one on the welcome offer and stays ahead every year after. Short term or long, it is the stronger pick on the numbers.
*First-year value counts the welcome bonus, estimated rewards, and annual credits, minus the annual fee; ongoing value is a typical year after. Every point at a flat 1 cent.
Perks, credits, and redemptions
| Perks | American Express® Blue Cash Preferred | Capital One Savor |
|---|---|---|
| Lounge access | None | None |
| Annual credits | ~$84/yr (1 credits) | None |
| Points & redemptions | Cash back only | Transferable (paired with a premium card) |
On perks and redemptions, the American Express® Blue Cash Preferred carries the heavier credit stack (about $84 a year); the Capital One Savor earns transferable points with a higher redemption ceiling, while the other is capped nearer a flat cent. Weigh those against the fee, since credits and lounge access only count if you will actually use them.
Transfer partners and point value
Only the Capital One Savor earns transferable points. Its Capital One miles move to Air Canada, Avianca LifeMiles, Turkish, British Airways, and Emirates, where a point can be worth several cents on a premium-cabin redemption, far above its cash value. The American Express® Blue Cash Preferred pays flat cash back, worth about a cent, so its ceiling is nearer a penny per point no matter how you redeem.
Both reward everyday life, groceries, streaming, going out, but the Blue Cash Preferred pays a higher fixed grocery rate for a fee, while the Savor spreads 3% across more categories for free.
The Preferred’s 6% grocery is the best fixed supermarket rate anywhere, worth its fee if you spend enough on groceries. The Savor covers dining, entertainment, streaming, and groceries at 3% with no fee and can pool into Capital One miles. Grocery firepower vs free, broad lifestyle value.
Pros and cons
- 6% at U.S. supermarkets (up to $6,000/yr) and on select streaming
- 3% on gas and transit
- $0 first-year fee
- The highest fixed grocery rate available
- $95 fee after year one
- 6% grocery capped at $6,000/yr
- Only 1% on dining, where the Savor earns 3%
- Cash back only
- 3% on dining, entertainment, streaming, AND groceries
- No annual fee
- Rewards pool into transferable Venture miles if paired
- Covers a whole going-out, eating-in lifestyle for free
- 3% groceries trails the Preferred’s 6%
- 1% on gas and general spend
- Cash unless paired with a Venture
Where each one wins
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Groceries | Blue Cash Preferred | Fixed 6% vs the Savor’s 3%. |
| Dining & entertainment | Savor | 3% vs the Preferred’s 1%. |
| Streaming | Blue Cash Preferred | 6% vs the Savor’s 3%. |
| Annual fee | Savor | $0 vs $95 (after year one). |
| Reward flexibility | Savor | Can pool into transferable miles; the Preferred is cash-only. |
The verdict
If groceries are a big line in your budget, the Blue Cash Preferred earns more even after the fee, its 6% at supermarkets (up to $360/yr on the cap) plus 6% streaming beats the Savor’s 3%, and it’s the strongest grocery card on the market. For a grocery-heavy household, it pays for itself.
If you want a free card that rewards your whole lifestyle, the Savor is the better all-rounder, 3% on dining, entertainment, streaming, and groceries with no fee, plus the option to pool into transferable miles. The split: max out grocery spend and you want the Preferred; want broad, free, going-out value and you want the Savor. Lighter grocery budgets tip toward the free Savor.