American Express Blue Cash Preferred vs Green Card
Both are American Express cards. Here is every spend category, ranked by what each card actually returns.
Everything else
- Green Card 1.6% 1x base rate
- Blue Cash Preferred 1.0% 1% base rate
Dining
- Green Card 4.8% 3x
- Blue Cash Preferred 1.0% 1% base rate
Groceries
- Blue Cash Preferred 6.0% 6%, capped
- Green Card 1.6% 1x base rate
Gas
- Blue Cash Preferred 3.0% 3%
- Green Card 1.6% 1x base rate
Ground transportation
- Blue Cash Preferred 3.0% 3%
- Green Card 1.6% 1x base rate
Streaming
- Blue Cash Preferred 6.0% 6%
- Green Card 1.6% 1x base rate
Flights
- Green Card 4.8% 3x
- Blue Cash Preferred 1.0% 1% base rate
Hotels
- Green Card 4.8% 3x
- Blue Cash Preferred 1.0% 1% base rate
Public transit
- Green Card 4.8% 3x
- Blue Cash Preferred 3.0% 3%
Rideshare & taxis
- Green Card 4.8% 3x
- Blue Cash Preferred 3.0% 3%
Tolls
- Green Card 4.8% 3x
- Blue Cash Preferred 3.0% 3%
What the numbers are doing
Blue Cash Preferred's 6% on groceries runs out: it applies to the first $6,000 of groceries spend a year, and everything past that earns 1%.
Green Card tops everything else at 1.6% only because this table values its points at 1.6 cents each. Value them at one cent and Blue Cash Preferred wins that category instead.
The table is earn rate only — annual fees are not netted out of it. These cards charge Blue Cash Preferred $95 and Green Card $150 a year, so a thin lead in one category may not cover the difference.
| Category | Best card |
|---|---|
| Everything else | Green Card1.6% |
| Dining | Green Card4.8% |
| Groceries | Blue Cash Preferred6.0% |
| Gas | Blue Cash Preferred3.0% |
| Ground transportation | Blue Cash Preferred3.0% |
| Streaming | Blue Cash Preferred6.0% |
| Flights | Green Card4.8% |
| Hotels | Green Card4.8% |
| Public transit | Green Card4.8% |
| Rideshare & taxis | Green Card4.8% |
| Tolls | Green Card4.8% |
Content preview. Apple Wallet controls the layout; visible categories vary by device. Categories that rank the same as Everything else are left off; every other category is in pass details.
Every category, every card
Everything else
- Green Card — 1.6%
- Blue Cash Preferred — 1.0%
Dining
- Green Card — 4.8%
- Blue Cash Preferred — 1.0%
Groceries
- Blue Cash Preferred — 6.0%
- Green Card — 1.6%
Gas
- Blue Cash Preferred — 3.0%
- Green Card — 1.6%
Ground transportation
- Blue Cash Preferred — 3.0%
- Green Card — 1.6%
Streaming
- Blue Cash Preferred — 6.0%
- Green Card — 1.6%
Flights
- Green Card — 4.8%
- Blue Cash Preferred — 1.0%
Hotels
- Green Card — 4.8%
- Blue Cash Preferred — 1.0%
Public transit
- Green Card — 4.8%
- Blue Cash Preferred — 3.0%
Rideshare & taxis
- Green Card — 4.8%
- Blue Cash Preferred — 3.0%
Tolls
- Green Card — 4.8%
- Blue Cash Preferred — 3.0%
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