American Express® Blue Cash Preferred vs U.S. Bank Cash+®

American Express® Blue Cash Preferred
VS
U.S. Bank Cash+®
By Bryce Casson, Founder · Cardocrat · Updated June 2026
The short answer: The American Express® Blue Cash Preferred delivers a bit more value for most spenders, but choose the U.S. Bank Cash+® if you spend more on dining, gas.

Side-by-side comparison

American Express® Blue Cash PreferredU.S. Bank Cash+®
Annual fee$95No annual fee
Welcome offer$300 statement credit$250 rewards bonus
Dining1x2x
Groceries6x2x
Gas3x5x
Travel1x5x
Streaming6x5x
Everything else1x1x
Est. yearly rewards*$679$564
Points typeCash back onlyCash back only
NetworkAmexVisa

*Estimated yearly rewards on typical household spending, every point valued at a flat 1 cent. Verified June 2026. See your own numbers in the calculator.

The verdict

On a typical year of household spending, the American Express® Blue Cash Preferred earns about $679 a year in rewards and the U.S. Bank Cash+® about $564, 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 U.S. Bank Cash+® has no annual fee, so its rewards are all profit. Counting rewards, fees, and any credits, the American Express® Blue Cash Preferred delivers more total value, about $62 a year more for a typical spender, mostly because it earns more where you spend most, on groceries and streaming. Neither leans on transferable points, so the deciding factors are the welcome offer, the card network, and which everyday perks you will actually use. 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, streaming. Pick the U.S. Bank Cash+® if your spending leans toward dining, gas, travel.

Read the full reviews

Frequently asked questions

Is the American Express® Blue Cash Preferred or the U.S. Bank Cash+® better?
On typical household spending, the American Express® Blue Cash Preferred comes out ahead after its annual fee, by roughly $62 a year with every point valued at a flat 1 cent. But the U.S. Bank Cash+® can be the better fit if your spending lines up with its stronger categories. Run both through the Cardocrat calculator to see your own numbers.
Can I have both the American Express® Blue Cash Preferred and the U.S. Bank Cash+®?
In most cases yes, as long as you meet each issuer's approval rules (for example Chase's 5/24 rule). Many people hold complementary cards to cover more bonus categories, then pool or redeem the rewards together where the program allows.
Which has the better welcome bonus, the American Express® Blue Cash Preferred or the U.S. Bank Cash+®?
As of June 2026, the American Express® Blue Cash Preferred offers $300 statement credit and the U.S. Bank Cash+® offers $250 rewards bonus. Welcome offers change often, so confirm the current offer on each card's page before applying.
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