Is the American Express® Blue Cash Preferred Worth the $95 Annual Fee?
Likely yes. On a typical budget the American Express® Blue Cash Preferred earns about $679 a year in rewards, which already clears the $95 fee with $584 to spare, before counting the $84 in credits. Heavier spenders come out further ahead.
Every credit, broken down
The American Express® Blue Cash Preferred offsets its fee with statement credits and benefits. Here is every one, with the most you can get from each per year. Remember that credits only count if you would have spent that money anyway, and some renew on a monthly or semi-annual schedule you have to use or lose.
| Credit or benefit | Up to |
|---|---|
| $84 Disney Bundle credit ($7/month) | $84 |
| Total stated value | $84 |
If you use all of it, that is $84 back against a $95 fee, leaving $11 of the fee for your rewards to make up.
What you earn on spending
Credits are only half the story; the card also earns rewards every time you swipe. On $29,160 of annual spending, the American Express® Blue Cash Preferred earns about $679 a year at a flat 1 cent per point. The figure below is based on a typical household budget. See the full category breakdown in our American Express® Blue Cash Preferred review, or run your own numbers in the rewards calculator.
The break-even
Add it up. The American Express® Blue Cash Preferred costs $95 a year. Its credits return up to $84, and everyday rewards add about $679. That is a net of $668 in your favor every year you hold it, before any welcome bonus. First-year holders also collect a welcome bonus worth about $300, pushing the first-year total to roughly $968.
Frequently asked questions
- Is the American Express® Blue Cash Preferred worth the annual fee?
- Likely yes. On a typical budget the American Express® Blue Cash Preferred earns about $679 a year in rewards, which already clears the $95 fee with $584 to spare, before counting the $84 in credits. Heavier spenders come out further ahead.
- How do you offset the American Express® Blue Cash Preferred annual fee?
- Use the statement credits first: the American Express® Blue Cash Preferred offers up to $84 a year, which knocks the effective cost down to about $11. Everyday rewards add roughly $679 more on a typical budget.
- Is there a no-annual-fee alternative to the American Express® Blue Cash Preferred?
- Yes. If you cannot clear the $95 fee, a no-fee card keeps every dollar of rewards as profit. See our ranked no-fee picks to compare.
