Which card has a lower annual fee, Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express or Target Mastercard?

The Target Mastercard has no annual fee, compared to $95 for the Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express.

Which card earns more cash back, Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express or Target Mastercard?

The Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express earns 1.0% base cash back, while the Target Mastercard earns 1.0%. The best choice depends on your spending habits. Use the calculator to see which card earns you more.

Is the Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express better than the Target Mastercard?

It depends on your spending. If you spend more on categories where the Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express offers higher rewards, it may be better. Use our calculator to compare based on your actual monthly spending.

Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express vs Target™ Mastercard®: Which Card Wins for Your Spending?

Which earns more for you?

Travel ($)

Dining ($)

Groceries ($)

Gas ($)

Special ($)

Other ($)

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 Target™ 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.

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Meet the Contenders

Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express

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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Target Mastercard

Strongest in dining at 2%. 5% off every Target purchase instantly at checkout, plus 2% on dining and gas and 1% elsewhere.

Annual fee: None Foreign fees: 3%

Perfect if: You want solid rewards without paying an annual fee.

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Head-to-Head Comparison

Feature	Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express	Target Mastercard
Annual Fee	$95	$0
Sign-Up Bonus	$300 after $3,000 spend in 6 months	None
Foreign Transaction Fee	2.7%	3%
Base Reward Rate	1.0%	1.0%
Travel Rewards	3%	1%
Dining Rewards	1%	2%
Groceries Rewards	6% (up to $6,000/yr)	1%
Gas Rewards	3%	2%
Key Benefits	6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets and streaming, 3% on transit and gas.	5% off every Target purchase instantly at checkout, plus 2% on dining and gas and 1% elsewhere.

The Verdict

Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express pulls ahead for travel, groceries, gas spending.

Target Mastercard wins on dining.

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.