Meet the Contenders
Strongest in groceries at 6% (up to $6,000/yr).
6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets and streaming, 3% on transit and gas.
Annual fee: $95
Sign-up bonus: $300 after $3,000 spend in 6 months
Foreign fees: 2.7%
Perfect if: Your monthly spending stays within the bonus cap for maximum value.
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Strongest in dining at 3%.
5x points on travel through Chase Travel, 3x on dining and online groceries, 2x on other travel.
Annual fee: $95
Sign-up bonus: 100,000 points after $5,000 spend in 3 months
Foreign fees: 0%
Perfect if: You want a strong rewards rate with no spending caps to worry about.
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The Verdict
Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express pulls ahead for
travel, groceries, gas spending.
Chase Sapphire Preferred Card wins on
dining.
Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express carries $120/year in credits (mostly tied to specific merchants or bookings), while Chase Sapphire Preferred Card carries $100/year in credits (mostly tied to specific merchants or bookings).
Those only count if you’d actually use them. Worth checking against your own habits before treating them as a discount on the fee.
Not sure which fits your life? Enter your spending below and we’ll do the math. The calculator ranks purely on rewards minus the full annual fee, so credits and perks are yours to judge.