Dedicated comparison page

Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express vs Citi Premier Card

Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express vs Citi Premier Card on Luminxo. Compare annual fees, rewards, welcome offers, credit requirements, and who each card is best for.

Lowest annual feeBlue Cash Preferred Card from American Express$95
Highest reward rateBlue Cash Preferred Card from American Express1.0%
Lowest starting credit rangeBlue Cash Preferred Card from American Express700+

Quick Take

Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express

by American Express

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Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express is a cashback card from American Express with a $95 annual fee, $350 back after $3,000 in 6 months, and good to excellent credit.

Best for: People focused on cashback rewards who can justify a $95 annual fee and who typically have good to excellent credit.

  • 6% on Groceries
  • $350 back after $3,000 in 6 months
  • Foreign transaction fee: 2.7%
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Citi Premier Card

by Citi

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Citi Premier Card is a travel card from Citi with a $95 annual fee, 60,000 points after $4,000 in 3 months, and good to excellent credit.

Best for: People focused on travel rewards who can justify a $95 annual fee and who typically have good to excellent credit.

  • 3% on Travel
  • 60,000 points after $4,000 in 3 months
  • No foreign transaction fee
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Side-by-Side Facts

MetricBlue Cash Preferred Card from American ExpressCiti Premier Card
Annual Fee$95$95
Reward Rate1.0%1.0%
Signup Bonus$350 back after $3,000 in 6 months60,000 points after $4,000 in 3 months
Foreign Transaction Fee2.7%None
Recommended CreditGood to excellent creditGood to excellent credit
Rewards SummaryEarn elevated rewards with 6% on Groceries, 6% on Streaming and 3% on Gas, plus 1% on other purchases.Earn elevated rewards with 3% on Dining, 3% on Gas and 3% on Groceries, plus 1% on other purchases.

Who Should Pick Which Card?

Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express

Its strongest earning category is Groceries at 6%, backed by 1% on general spending.

Best for: People focused on cashback rewards who can justify a $95 annual fee and who typically have good to excellent credit.

Pros

  • $350 back after $3,000 in 6 months
  • Potentially worthwhile if you use the card enough to cover the $95 annual fee
  • Earns 6% on Groceries
  • Earns 6% on Streaming

Tradeoffs

  • Annual fee of $95 means you need ongoing value from the card
  • Foreign transaction fee of 2.7% can hurt value abroad
  • Typically requires good to excellent credit
  • Base rewards on non-bonus spending are relatively modest

Citi Premier Card

Its strongest earning category is Travel at 3%, backed by 1% on general spending. It also avoids foreign transaction fees.

Best for: People focused on travel rewards who can justify a $95 annual fee and who typically have good to excellent credit.

Pros

  • 60,000 points after $4,000 in 3 months
  • Potentially worthwhile if you use the card enough to cover the $95 annual fee
  • Earns 3% on Travel
  • Earns 3% on Dining

Tradeoffs

  • Annual fee of $95 means you need ongoing value from the card
  • Typically requires good to excellent credit
  • Signup bonus requires $4000 in spending within 3 months
  • Base rewards on non-bonus spending are relatively modest

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the main difference between Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express and Citi Premier Card?

The biggest tradeoffs are annual fee, reward concentration, and the level of credit usually needed to qualify. This page compares those inputs directly so you can choose the card that fits your spending and tolerance for annual fees.

Which card is easier to qualify for?

Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express has the lowest published starting credit range in this comparison at 700.

Which card has the lowest annual fee?

Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express has the lowest annual fee in this comparison at $95.