American Express® Blue Cash Preferred vs Capital One SavorOne
Side-by-side comparison
| American Express® Blue Cash Preferred | Capital One SavorOne | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $95 | $39 |
| Welcome offer | $300 statement credit | No current offer |
| 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 August 2026. See your own numbers in the calculator.
Welcome bonus and value over time
| Over time | American Express® Blue Cash Preferred | Capital One SavorOne |
|---|---|---|
| Welcome bonus | $300 statement credit | None |
| To earn it | $3,000 in 6 months | No minimum spend |
| Est. first-year value* | $968 | $445 |
| Est. ongoing value / yr* | $668 | $445 |
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 SavorOne |
|---|---|---|
| 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 SavorOne 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 SavorOne 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.
The verdict
On a typical year of household spending, the American Express® Blue Cash Preferred earns about $679 a year in rewards and the Capital One SavorOne about $484, valuing every point at a flat 1 cent. The American Express® Blue Cash Preferred charges $95, but carries about $84 in annual statement credits that offset it for anyone who uses them. The Capital One SavorOne charges $39, which you clear through its rewards and perks. Counting rewards, fees, and any credits, the American Express® Blue Cash Preferred delivers more total value, about $182 a year more for a typical spender, mostly because it earns more where you spend most, on groceries and gas. The bigger difference is the ceiling: the Capital One SavorOne earns points you can move to travel partners for outsized value, while the American Express® Blue Cash Preferred pays plain cash back. Favor the Capital One SavorOne if you will use travel transfers, the American Express® Blue Cash Preferred if you want simplicity. On the sign-up bonus, the American Express® Blue Cash Preferred currently has the larger welcome offer. A welcome bonus is a one-time event, so weigh it apart from the ongoing rewards.
Pick the American Express® Blue Cash Preferred if your spending leans toward groceries, gas, streaming. Pick the Capital One SavorOne if your spending leans toward dining.