Independent comparison. Not affiliated with American Express.
Points or Cash Back for Your Groceries?
Updated 30 March 2026
Four similar Amex cards, one key question. Want transferable points? Choose the Everyday family. Want 6% cash back at supermarkets? Choose Blue Cash Preferred. Here is the math for both paths across all four cards.
The Four-Card Matrix
Amex Everyday
2x MR on groceries, 1x everything else. 20% bonus when you make 20+ transactions per month. No annual fee.
Everyday Preferred
3x MR on groceries, 2x gas, 1x everything else. 50% bonus when you make 30+ transactions per month. $95 annual fee.
Blue Cash Everyday
3% at US supermarkets (up to $6K/yr), 2% at gas stations, 2% at select department stores, 1% other. No annual fee.
Blue Cash Preferred
6% at US supermarkets (up to $6K/yr), 6% select streaming, 3% transit and gas, 1% other. $95 annual fee.
The Core Decision: Points or Cash Back
MR points can be worth 1.5 to 5+ cents each when transferred to airlines like ANA or Singapore Airlines. Cash back is worth exactly 1 cent per penny, always. If you travel internationally and transfer points to premium cabin flights, the Everyday cards offer higher potential value. If you want simplicity and guaranteed returns, Blue Cash cards are better.
Most families spending $500 per month on groceries should choose Blue Cash Preferred. The guaranteed $360 per year in grocery cash back (minus $95 fee = $265 net) beats the Everyday card unless you consistently redeem MR points at 2.5+ cents each through transfer partners.
The exception: if you already have an Amex Gold or Platinum card and pool MR points, the Everyday card at $0 annual fee is a free way to earn additional MR points on groceries that feed into your existing points strategy.
Blue Cash Preferred: The Grocery Champion
At $500 per month in groceries, $50 per month in streaming, and $200 per month in gas and transit, Blue Cash Preferred generates $468 per year in cash back. Subtract the $95 annual fee and you net $373 in pure profit. No other card matches 6% on groceries and 6% on streaming simultaneously.
Groceries ($500/mo)
$360/yr
6% on first $6K
Streaming ($50/mo)
$36/yr
6% on select services
Gas + Transit ($200/mo)
$72/yr
3% on both
Break-Even: BCP vs BCE
Blue Cash Everyday earns 3% on groceries with no fee. Blue Cash Preferred earns 6% on groceries with a $95 fee. The break-even calculation: $95 divided by (6% minus 3%) = $3,167 per year, or $264 per month in grocery spending.
| Monthly groceries | BCE (3%, no fee) | BCP (6%, $95 fee) | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| $200/mo | $72 | $49 | BCE |
| $264/mo | $95 | $95 | BCP |
| $300/mo | $108 | $121 | BCP |
| $400/mo | $144 | $193 | BCP |
| $500/mo | $180 | $265 | BCP |
At $264 per month in groceries, both cards earn the same net value. Above $264, BCP wins. Below $264, BCE wins.
The Streaming Bonus Most Sites Overlook
Blue Cash Preferred earns 6% on select US streaming services. At $50 per month in streaming subscriptions, that is $36 per year in passive cash back. This effectively reduces the $95 annual fee to $59. Combined with grocery and transit rewards, the fee becomes trivial.
Netflix
6% cash back
Disney+
6% cash back
Hulu
6% cash back
HBO Max
6% cash back
Spotify
6% cash back
Apple Music
6% cash back
Peacock
6% cash back
Paramount+
6% cash back
Amex Grocery Card Optimizer
Enter your monthly spending to see which of the four Amex everyday cards delivers the most value.
Monthly Spending
20+ triggers Everyday bonus, 30+ triggers Everyday Preferred bonus
Everyday
MR PointsRewards
$713
Fee
$0
Net value
$713
Blue Cash Preferred
Cash backRewards
$726
Fee
$95
Net value
$631
Everyday Preferred
MR PointsRewards
$711
Fee
$95
Net value
$616
Blue Cash Everyday
Cash backRewards
$474
Fee
$0
Net value
$474
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Amex Everyday and Blue Cash Preferred?
The fundamental difference is the reward currency. Amex Everyday earns Membership Rewards (MR) points that can be transferred to airlines and hotels for potentially high value. Blue Cash Preferred earns cash back at a fixed rate. For groceries specifically, Everyday earns 2x MR points while Blue Cash Preferred earns 6% cash back (up to $6,000 per year). At face value, BCP is better for groceries. But if you transfer MR points to premium airline partners, Everyday points can be worth 2 to 5 cents each, potentially exceeding the cash back value.
Is the $95 annual fee on Blue Cash Preferred worth it?
Yes, if you spend $264 or more per month at US supermarkets. The break-even calculation: Blue Cash Everyday earns 3% on groceries, BCP earns 6%. The 3% difference on $264 per month equals $95 per year, exactly covering the fee. Any grocery spending above $264 per month is pure profit on BCP versus BCE. At $500 per month in groceries, BCP nets $265 per year ($360 cash back minus $95 fee) versus BCE at $180 (3% of $6,000).
Which card is best for families that spend a lot on groceries?
Blue Cash Preferred is the best choice for most families. At $500 per month in groceries, you earn $360 per year in cash back minus the $95 fee equals $265 net value. The 6% rate is the highest available on any major credit card for supermarket purchases. The cap is $6,000 per year at 6%, then it drops to 1%, so families spending over $500 per month on groceries max out the bonus in 12 months.
What counts as a US supermarket for these Amex cards?
US supermarkets include grocery stores like Kroger, Publix, Safeway, Albertsons, and Whole Foods. Stores like Walmart, Target, and Costco do NOT count because they are coded as superstores or warehouse clubs, not supermarkets. Amazon Fresh also does not count. This is a common surprise for new cardholders. Check your Amex statement to see how a store is coded before relying on the grocery bonus.
Should I choose points or cash back?
Choose cash back (Blue Cash cards) if you want guaranteed, simple value with no research required. Choose points (Everyday cards) if you travel internationally and will transfer MR points to airline partners like ANA or Singapore Airlines, where points can be worth 3 to 5 cents each. Most families who do not actively optimize travel rewards should choose cash back for its simplicity and guaranteed value.
What about the streaming benefit on Blue Cash Preferred?
Blue Cash Preferred earns 6% on select US streaming services including Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, HBO Max, Spotify, Apple Music, and others. At $50 per month in streaming, that is $36 per year in cash back. This is passive earning that many comparison sites overlook but adds meaningful value for families with multiple streaming subscriptions.
Can I switch between Everyday and Blue Cash cards?
You can product-change within the same family. You can switch between Blue Cash Everyday and Blue Cash Preferred, or between Everyday and Everyday Preferred. You cannot switch between the points family (Everyday) and the cash-back family (Blue Cash) because they use different reward structures. Call Amex to request a product change.
What are the welcome bonuses?
Blue Cash Preferred typically offers $250 after spending $3,000 in the first 6 months. Blue Cash Everyday typically offers $200 after spending $2,000 in the first 6 months. Amex Everyday typically offers 10,000 MR points after $2,000 in spending. Everyday Preferred typically offers 15,000 MR points after $2,000 in spending. Welcome bonuses change periodically so check current offers before applying.