Citi Premier vs Amex Blue Cash Preferred
Side-by-side comparison across fees, rewards, welcome bonuses, and eligibility.
EXPRESS
Amex Blue Cash Preferred wins 2-1. Suburban families with kids — best US-supermarket card. Citi Premier is still the right call if travel + dining + groceries combined — broader 3x than sapphire preferred..
Side-by-side
| Criterion | Citi Premier | Amex Blue Cash Preferred |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | = $95 | = $95 |
| Joining fee | = None | = None |
| Top reward rate | · 3% (travel) | 6% (shopping) |
| Base reward rate | = 1% | = 1% |
| Forex markup | No FX fee | · 2.7% |
| Welcome bonus | = 60,000 ThankYou points after $4,000 in 3 months | = $250 statement credit after $3,000 in 6 months |
| Fee waiver threshold | = No waiver | = No waiver |
| Min income | = — | = — |
| Min credit score | = 700 | = 700 |
| Editorial rating | · 4.4/5 | 4.5/5 |
Benefits compared
Citi Premier
- 3x ThankYou points on travel (incl. gas)
- 3x on dining
- 3x on supermarkets
- Transferable to 16 airline partners
- $100 annual hotel credit
- No foreign transaction fees
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
FAQ
›Citi Premier vs Amex Blue Cash Preferred: which is better?
Amex Blue Cash Preferred wins on more dimensions (2 vs 1). 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 Citi Premier for its best categories, Amex Blue Cash Preferred for its best categories. Just watch the combined annual fees against your spend.
›Which one has the better welcome bonus?
Citi Premier: 60,000 ThankYou points after $4,000 in 3 months. Amex Blue Cash Preferred: $250 statement credit after $3,000 in 6 months.