Amex Blue Cash Preferred vs Capital One Spark Cash Plus
Side-by-side comparison across fees, rewards, welcome bonuses, and eligibility.
EXPRESS
Amex Blue Cash Preferred wins 3-2. Suburban families with kids — best US-supermarket card. Capital One Spark Cash Plus is still the right call if high-spend small business — 2% flat with $1,200 welcome..
Side-by-side
| Criterion | Amex Blue Cash Preferred | Capital One Spark Cash Plus |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $95 | · $150 |
| Joining fee | = None | = None |
| Top reward rate | 6% (shopping) | · 2% (general) |
| Base reward rate | · 1% | 2% |
| Forex markup | · 2.7% | No FX fee |
| Welcome bonus | = $250 statement credit after $3,000 in 6 months | = $1,200 cash bonus after $30,000 spend in first 3 months |
| Fee waiver threshold | = No waiver | = No waiver |
| Min income | = — | = — |
| Min credit score | 700 | · 720 |
| Editorial rating | = 4.5/5 | = 4.5/5 |
Benefits compared
Amex Blue Cash Preferred
- 6% cashback on US supermarkets (up to $6K/year, then 1%)
- 6% on streaming subscriptions
- 3% on US gas stations + transit
- 1% on everything else
- 0% intro APR for 12 months
Capital One Spark Cash Plus
- Unlimited 2% cashback on every purchase
- 5% on hotels and rental cars via Capital One Travel
- No preset spending limit
- Annual fee refund of $150 if you spend $150K/year
- No foreign transaction fees
FAQ
›Amex Blue Cash Preferred vs Capital One Spark Cash Plus: which is better?
Amex Blue Cash Preferred wins on more dimensions (3 vs 2). But the right answer depends on your specific spending pattern — see the calculator below.
›Can I get both?
Yes — if your credit profile supports it, holding both is the optimal play. Use Amex Blue Cash Preferred for its best categories, Capital One Spark Cash Plus for its best categories. Just watch the combined annual fees against your spend.
›Which one has the better welcome bonus?
Amex Blue Cash Preferred: $250 statement credit after $3,000 in 6 months. Capital One Spark Cash Plus: $1,200 cash bonus after $30,000 spend in first 3 months.