Updated 30 March 2026
Blue Cash Everyday vs Blue Cash Preferred
The pure cash-back comparison. No points to decode. Just percentages, fees, and which card puts more dollars back for your spending pattern.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
| Category | Blue Cash Everyday | Blue Cash Preferred | Advantage |
|---|---|---|---|
| US supermarkets | 3% | 6% (up to $6K) | BCP +3% |
| Select streaming | 0% | 6% | BCP +6% |
| US gas stations | 2% | 3% | BCP +1% |
| Transit (rideshare, trains) | 1% | 3% | BCP +2% |
| Select department stores | 2% | 1% | BCE +1% |
| Everything else | 1% | 1% | Tie |
| Annual fee | $0 | $95 | BCE |
Annual Rewards at Three Spending Levels
Low spender
$200 groceries, $100 gas, $30 streaming, $50 transit, $1000 other /mo
Winner: BCP by $23/yr
Moderate spender
$400 groceries, $150 gas, $50 streaming, $100 transit, $2000 other /mo
Winner: BCP by $127/yr
High spender
$500 groceries, $200 gas, $80 streaming, $150 transit, $3000 other /mo
Winner: BCP by $203/yr
The Verdict
Blue Cash Preferred wins for families spending $265 or more per month on groceries, which includes the majority of American households. The 6% grocery rate combined with 6% streaming and 3% gas and transit creates enough bonus earning to justify the $95 fee with room to spare.
Blue Cash Everyday wins for lighter spenders, single-person households, or people who shop primarily at Costco or Walmart (which do not code as supermarkets and would not earn the grocery bonus on either card).
Frequently Asked Questions
At what grocery spending does BCP break even versus BCE?
BCP breaks even at $264 per month in grocery spending. Below $264, BCE (3% no fee) nets more. Above $264, BCP (6% minus $95 fee) nets more. At $500 per month, BCP wins by $85 per year on groceries alone, before factoring in BCP's bonus on streaming, transit, and gas.
Does Blue Cash Everyday earn anything on gas?
Yes. Blue Cash Everyday earns 2% at US gas stations. Blue Cash Preferred earns 3% on gas and transit. The gas difference is small: at $150 per month, BCE earns $36 per year versus BCP at $54. The $18 annual gas difference alone does not justify the $95 fee, but combined with grocery and streaming bonuses, BCP's overall value is higher for moderate spenders.
Which Blue Cash card is better for online shopping?
Neither has a bonus for online shopping. Both earn 1% on purchases that are not in bonus categories. For online shopping rewards, consider pairing either Blue Cash card with a flat-rate 2% card like Citi Double Cash or a 5% rotating category card like Chase Freedom Flex (which sometimes features online shopping).