Monthly spending. We rank on rewards minus the full annual fee, so statement credits and perks are listed separately and never counted for you.
Choosing between the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express ($95/yr) and the Sam's Club Mastercard® (no annual fee) comes down to where you spend most. Both cards can deliver real value. Let’s break it down, then run your numbers to find the winner.
Strongest in groceries at 6% (up to $6,000/yr). 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets and streaming, 3% on transit and gas.
Perfect if: Your monthly spending stays within the bonus cap for maximum value.
Apply NowStrongest in gas at 5% (up to $6,000/yr). 5% on gas and EV charging (first $6,000/yr), 3% on dining and takeout, 1% elsewhere. Warehouse purchases earn 1% unless you hold a Plus membership.
Perfect if: You want solid rewards without paying an annual fee.
Apply Now| Feature | Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express | Sam's Club Mastercard |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Fee | $95 | $0 |
| Sign-Up Bonus | $300 after $3,000 spend in 6 months | $30 after $30 spend in 1 months |
| Foreign Transaction Fee | 2.7% | 0% |
| Base Reward Rate | 1.0% | 1.0% |
| Travel Rewards | 3% | 1% |
| Dining Rewards | 1% | 3% |
| Groceries Rewards | 6% (up to $6,000/yr) | 1% |
| Gas Rewards | 3% | 5% (up to $6,000/yr) |
| Rates with conditions not counted in the rows above |
None |
3% at Sam's Club with Plus Earns 3% on Sam's Club purchases only with a Plus membership, which costs more than the base Club tier. Club members earn 1% there, and groceries bought anywhere else earn 1%. |
| Key Benefits | 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets and streaming, 3% on transit and gas. | 5% on gas and EV charging (first $6,000/yr), 3% on dining and takeout, 1% elsewhere. Warehouse purchases earn 1% unless you hold a Plus membership. |
Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express pulls ahead for travel, groceries spending.
Sam's Club Mastercard wins on dining, gas.
The $95/year fee difference means Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express needs to earn about that much more in rewards to justify its cost.
Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express carries $120/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.