Card database → Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express vs PenFed Platinum Rewards
Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express vs PenFed Platinum Rewards
Printed earn rates valued in cents per dollar, side by side — the same math the Credit Upside engine runs on every charge. Card data verified 2026-09-02.
| Category | Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express | PenFed Platinum Rewards |
|---|---|---|
| Dining | 1.0¢/$ (1%) | 2.6¢/$ (3x) |
| Groceries | 6.0¢/$ (6%) | 2.6¢/$ (3x) |
| Gas | 3.0¢/$ (3%) | 4.3¢/$ (5x) |
| Travel | 1.0¢/$ (1%) | 0.9¢/$ (1x) |
| Flights | 1.0¢/$ (1%) | 0.9¢/$ (1x) |
| Hotels | 1.0¢/$ (1%) | 0.9¢/$ (1x) |
| Streaming | 6.0¢/$ (6%) | 2.6¢/$ (3x) |
| Online retail | 1.0¢/$ (1%) | 0.9¢/$ (1x) |
| Transit | 3.0¢/$ (3%) | 0.9¢/$ (1x) |
| EV charging | 1.0¢/$ (1%) | 4.3¢/$ (5x) |
| Everything else | 1.0¢/$ (1%) | 0.9¢/$ (1x) |
| Annual fee | $95 | None |
| Statement credits (max/yr) | $120 | — |
| Foreign transaction fee | 3% | None |
| Signup bonus | 30,000 after $3,000/6mo | 15,000 after $1,500/3mo |
Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express wins more of the everyday categories (8 of 11), but PenFed Platinum Rewards costs $95 less per year — which card earns more depends entirely on where YOUR money goes.
Point values are Credit Upside's maintained mid-range estimates (PenFed points at 0.85¢). Caps, rotating categories and credit usage change the real answer — the app applies all of them to your actual statement.