Credit score needed for american express blue cash preferred

Many or all of the products here are from our partners that pay us a commission. It’s how we make money. But our editorial integrity ensures our experts’ opinions aren’t influenced by compensation. Terms may apply to offers listed on this page.

The cash back rewards on the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express are about as impressive as it gets. It earns a staggering 6% back at U.S. supermarkets ($6,000 annual spending cap), as well as 3% back on transit and at U.S. gas stations. Terms apply. New cardholders can also score a sizable welcome offer. Find out more about this card's features and see how much it can save you in our Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express review.

Credit score needed for american express blue cash preferred

Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.

Credit Score:
Good/Excellent (670-850) Info IconCircle with letter I in it. Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.

Intro APR

Purchases: 0%, 12 months

Balance Transfers: 0%, 12 months

Regular APR

16.99%-27.99% Variable

Rewards Info IconCircle with letter I in it. 6% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%). 6% Cash Back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions. 3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations and on transit (including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more). 1% Cash Back on other purchases.

1% - 6% cash back

Annual Fee

$0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.

Welcome Offer Info IconCircle with letter I in it. Earn a $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.

$250 statement credit

  • The U.S. supermarkets and U.S. gas stations rewards are clear standouts, in addition to a big welcome offer and a nice 0% intro APR offer.

    • Big welcome offer
    • U.S. supermarkets rewards
    • U.S. gas stations rewards
    • Streaming subscription rewards

    • Annual fee
    • Foreign transaction fee

    • Earn a $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.
    • $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.
    • Buy Now, Pay Later: Enjoy $0 intro plan fees when you use Plan It® to split up large purchases into monthly installments. Pay $0 intro plan fees on plans created during the first 12 months after account opening. Plans created after that will have a monthly plan fee up to 1.33% of each eligible purchase amount moved into a plan based on the plan duration, the APR that would otherwise apply to the purchase, and other factors.
    • Low intro APR: 0% for 12 months on purchases from the date of account opening, then a variable rate, 16.99% to 27.99%
    • 6% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%).
    • 6% Cash Back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions.
    • 3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations and on transit (including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more).
    • 1% Cash Back on other purchases.
    • Thinking about getting The Disney Bundle, which includes Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+? Your decision made easy with $7/month back in the form of a statement credit after you spend $13.99 or more each month on an eligible subscription with your Blue Cash Preferred Card. Enrollment required.
    • Cash Back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit.
    • Terms Apply.

This credit card is a good fit for: Consumers who spend quite a bit on groceries and gas. Families are well suited to get the most value from this credit card's bonus categories.

Top perks

The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express has a great lineup of popular credit card benefits.

Up to 6% cash back

This card has stellar cash back rates, as you earn:

  • 6% back at U.S. supermarkets, capped at $6,000 per calendar year
  • 6% back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions
  • 3% back at U.S. gas stations
  • 3% cash back on transit including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses, and more
  • 1% back on other purchases
  • Terms apply

A 6% cash back rate is among the highest we've seen from any credit card. What makes it even better is that you can earn that on groceries, one of the biggest monthly expenses for most consumers. With that and its gas, streaming, and transit rewards, this card can help you save quite a bit on everyday purchases.

See more cards offering big rewards: Best Cash Back Credit Cards

0% intro APR offer

The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express has a full-featured lineup of perks, including a long 0% intro APR offer of 12 months for purchases and balance transfers. A go-to 16.99%-27.99% Variable rate applies after the intro period.

$250 welcome offer

You can earn $250 in statement credits when you spend $3,000 in purchases on your card within the first six months. As far as cash back cards are concerned, this is one of the biggest welcome bonuses we've seen, and most other cards only give you 90 days to reach your spending requirement. Terms apply.

Find more valuable bonuses: Best Sign-Up Bonus Credit Cards

Travel and purchase protections

American Express cards typically include a nice list of complimentary protections that cover eligible purchases. This one is no exception. It offers:

  • Rental car insurance*
  • Purchase protection**
  • Return protection***
  • Extended warranty**

Terms apply.

$120 annual Equinox credit

This card offers up to $120 back annually, in $10 monthly statement credits, for an Equinox+ membership. To receive the benefit, you must enroll in your American Express card account. Terms apply.

Equinox+ is a fitness app with at-home workouts that normally costs $39.99 per month. If you've been interested in signing up, then the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express can save you $10 per month on a membership.

Related: Read The Ascent's guide to the Best American Express Credit Cards.

Alternatives to consider

  • If you don't want to pay an annual fee: This card's no annual fee alternative is the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express. It earns a respectable 3% back on U.S. supermarket spending and 3% back at U.S. gas stations (both categories are capped on up to $6,000 spending per year). Terms apply (see rates and fees).
  • If you spend more on dining and entertainment: The Capital One® Savor® Cash Rewards Credit Card earns 4% back in both those categories, plus another 3% back at grocery stores. And those are all unlimited rates, so there's no spending cap on how much bonus cash you can earn. Though it has an annual fee, it's the ideal card for consumers who dine out more than at home.

Read more: Best Gas and Groceries Credit Cards

As of Oct. 10, 2022

Credit score needed for american express blue cash preferred

Credit score needed for american express blue cash preferred

Credit score needed for american express blue cash preferred

Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express

Capital One® Savor® Cash Rewards Credit Card

Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.

5.00 stars

Info IconCircle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor

Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.

4.50 stars

Info IconCircle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor

Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.

4.50 stars

Info IconCircle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor

Apply Now for Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express

On American Express' Secure Website.

Terms apply

Apply Now for Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express

On American Express' Secure Website.

Terms apply

Read Review

Read Full Review

Rates & Fees Rates & Fees

Credit Rating Requirement:

Good/Excellent (670-850) Info IconCircle with letter I in it. Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.

Credit Rating Requirement:

Good/Excellent (670-850) Info IconCircle with letter I in it. Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.

Credit Rating Requirement:

Good/Excellent (670-850) Info IconCircle with letter I in it. Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.

Welcome Offer: Welcome Offer info Earn a $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.

$250 statement credit

Welcome Offer: Welcome Offer info Earn a $200 statement credit after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.

$200

Welcome Offer: Welcome Offer info $300 cash bonus after you spend $3,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening

$300

Rewards Program: Info IconCircle with letter I in it. 6% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%). 6% Cash Back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions. 3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations and on transit (including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more). 1% Cash Back on other purchases.

1% - 6% cash back

Rewards Program: Info IconCircle with letter I in it. 3% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%. 3% Cash Back on U.S. online retail purchases, on up to $6,000 per year, then 1%. 3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations, on up to $6,000 per year, then 1%.

1% - 3% cash back

Rewards Program: Info IconCircle with letter I in it. Earn unlimited 4% cash back on dining, entertainment, and for popular streaming services, earn 3% at grocery stores and 1% on all other purchases.

1% - 4% cash back

Intro APR:

Purchases: 0%, 12 months

Balance Transfers: 0%, 12 months

Intro APR:

Purchases: 0%, 15 months

Balance Transfers: 0%, 15 months

Intro APR:

Purchases: N/A

Balance Transfers: N/A

Regular APR:

16.99%-27.99% Variable

Regular APR:

16.99%-27.99% Variable

Regular APR:

17.49% - 25.49%, variable

Annual Fee:

$0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.

Annual Fee:

$0

Annual Fee:

$95

Highlights:

  • Earn a $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.
  • $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.
  • Buy Now, Pay Later: Enjoy $0 intro plan fees when you use Plan It® to split up large purchases into monthly installments. Pay $0 intro plan fees on plans created during the first 12 months after account opening. Plans created after that will have a monthly plan fee up to 1.33% of each eligible purchase amount moved into a plan based on the plan duration, the APR that would otherwise apply to the purchase, and other factors.
  • Low intro APR: 0% for 12 months on purchases from the date of account opening, then a variable rate, 16.99% to 27.99%
  • 6% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%).
  • 6% Cash Back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions.
  • 3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations and on transit (including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more).
  • 1% Cash Back on other purchases.
  • Thinking about getting The Disney Bundle, which includes Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+? Your decision made easy with $7/month back in the form of a statement credit after you spend $13.99 or more each month on an eligible subscription with your Blue Cash Preferred Card. Enrollment required.
  • Cash Back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit.
  • Terms Apply.

Highlights:

  • Earn a $200 statement credit after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.
  • No Annual Fee.
  • Balance Transfer is back! Enjoy 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months from the date of account opening. After that, 16.99% to 27.99% variable APR.
  • 3% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%.
  • New! 3% Cash Back on U.S. online retail purchases, on up to $6,000 per year, then 1%.
  • 3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations, on up to $6,000 per year, then 1%.
  • Get $7 back each month after using your Blue Cash Everyday® Card to spend $13.99 or more each month on an eligible subscription to The Disney Bundle, which includes Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+. Enrollment required.
  • Terms Apply.

Highlights:

  • Earn a one-time $300 cash bonus after you spend $3,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening
  • Earn unlimited 4% cash back on dining, entertainment, and for popular streaming services, earn 3% at grocery stores and 1% on all other purchases.
  • No rotating categories or sign-ups needed to earn cash rewards; plus cash back won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how much you can earn
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • Capital One cardholders get access to premium experiences in dining, entertainment and more

Apply Now for Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express

On American Express' Secure Website.

Terms apply

Apply Now for Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express

On American Express' Secure Website.

Terms apply

Show More Show Less

What could be improved

Although it has fantastic perks, the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express also has a couple drawbacks worth mentioning.

Annual fee

The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express has no annual fee for the first year, but you'll pay $95 per year after that (see rates and fees). The cash rewards this card offers can easily make up for that annual fee. For example, if you spend $6,000 at U.S. supermarkets per year, you'll earn $360 from that alone.

Do your own math to make sure the benefits of this card are worth the cost. If you aren't a big spender, a no-annual-fee credit card may work better for you.

RELATED: Best No Annual Fee Credit Cards

Foreign transaction fee

The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express charges a 2.7% foreign transaction fee. This fee applies to purchases made in a foreign currency or with foreign merchants (see rates and fees).

Between the card's foreign transaction fee and the fact that most of its bonus categories are only valid with U.S.-based businesses, you probably wouldn't want to use it as a travel card.

Find the best credit card for your needs

Compare credit card rewards, fees, APRs, and more using our side-by-side comparison tool.

Credit score needed for american express blue cash preferred

Suggested credit score

A FICO® Score of 670 or higher is best when applying for the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express. As one of the top rewards credit cards, it's targeted at consumers who have credit scores in the good credit to excellent credit range.

American Express uses several factors to evaluate your creditworthiness. Your credit score isn't the only thing that's important, but it does play a large role.

Boost your chances: How to Increase Your Credit Score

Is the Amex Blue Cash Preferred worth it?

After the first year, your annual fee will be $95 for the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express. But when you consider its benefits and its sky-high cash back rates, this card easily justifies the cost for most people.

Here's a hypothetical example of how much you could earn with this card per year:

Category Cash-Back Rate Spending Annual Earnings
U.S. Supermarkets 6% up to $6,000 per year $500 per month $360
Select U.S. Streaming Subscriptions 6% $20 per month $14
U.S. Gas Stations 3% $200 per month $72
Transit 3% $100 per month $36
Other Eligible Spending 1% $800 per month $96

With a reasonable spending total of $1,620 per month, you'd earn at least $578 cash back each year. After subtracting the annual fee, you're still coming out $483 ahead.

It's worth noting that you need to have high spending in this card's bonus categories to take advantage of its rewards. If you don't, you're better off going through other credit card reviews to find one that works more with your spending habits.

LEARN MORE: A Complete Guide to Amex Blue Cash Preferred Benefits

The Amex Blue Cash Preferred is right for you if:

You spend at least $350 per month across its bonus categories and you want to earn cash back rewards. Here are the most common situations where the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express would be one of the best credit cards to add to your wallet:

  • You're looking for a card that offers big rewards for a reasonable annual fee.
  • You spend a lot on groceries, gas, streaming services, and/or transit expenses.
  • You'd like a solid card with travel and purchase protections

Learn more: Best Rewards Credit Cards

FAQs

  • American Express determines your credit limit after submitting an application and assessing your financial details, such as credit score, debt-to-income ratio, and spending habits, among other factors. Accordingly, an applicant won't know their credit limit unless applying first.

    That said, the card is intended for people with good credit and our research has shown the average credit limit for people with credit scores of 661 and higher ranges from $5,209 to $9,543.

  • Applicants should aim for good to excellent credit, or a credit score of at least 670.

  • No. While a prestigious card with premium rewards that match some perks offered with luxury cards, it's not made of metal.

What credit score is needed for Amex Blue Cash?

Is the Amex Blue Cash Everyday hard to get? The Amex Blue Cash Everyday card is hard to get because applicants need to have a score of 670 or higher to be approved for the card. However, you'll have a better chance of being approved for the card if you have at least a very good FICO score (740 to 799).

How do you qualify for Blue Cash Preferred?

You'll need good to excellent credit to qualify for the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express. Generally speaking, this is defined as a credit score of 690 or better. But a credit score alone isn't enough to qualify for any credit card.

What is the easiest Amex card to be approved for?

Easiest American Express Cards to Get.
Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express..
The Amex EveryDay® Credit Card from American Express..
Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card..
Hilton Honors American Express Card..

Is Blue Cash Preferred Card worth it?

The Blue Cash Preferred card's $95 annual fee is easily worth it if you frequently spend within its bonus categories. Simply spending $132 per month at U.S. supermarkets (at least $1,584 per year in your 6 percent cash back category) alone will recoup the cost of your annual fee.