Editorial disclosure: CardRewards.ai is an independent comparison service. Card data comes from issuers' published terms; data as of September 27, 2026. Card issuers do not influence our rankings or content.
Annual fees: Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express $95/yr, Rakuten American Express Card $0/yr. Strongest bonus categories: Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express on streaming, Rakuten American Express Card on dining.
Card data as of September 27, 2026.
American Express
First Electronic Bank
Annual Fee
Welcome Bonus
| Category | Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express | Rakuten American Express Card |
|---|---|---|
| Grocery Stores | 6X | 2X |
The Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express wins in 4 of 5 categories. The Rakuten American Express Card leads in 1. 1 more category depend on booking channel or caps.
Streaming
Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express earns 6X vs 1X
Transit
Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express earns 3X vs 1X
Gas Stations
Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express earns 3X vs 1X
Grocery Stores
Depends: up to $6,000/yr
Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express earns 6X when conditions are met; Rakuten American Express Card earns 2X (2X without restrictions)
Ridesharing
Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express earns 3X vs 1X
Dining
Rakuten American Express Card earns 2X vs 1X
Modeled net value (bonus categories at unconditional rates, caps applied). Spend mix: dining 15%, groceries 15%, gas 10%, travel 10%, everything else 50%. Statement credits use the same recurring usable estimates as each card's detail page; first-year-only credits count in year one only. Welcome offers valued at each card's program rate shown on this page.
Both scenarios favor the Rakuten American Express Card on net value (rewards, usable credits, fees, and welcome offer).
Both scenarios favor the Rakuten American Express Card on net value (rewards, usable credits, fees, and welcome offer).
Published annual fees: Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express $95/yr, Rakuten American Express Card $0/yr — a $95 difference before welcome offers and credits.
| Streaming | 6X | 1X |
| Gas Stations | 3X | 1X |
| Ridesharing | 3X | 1X |
| Transit | 3X | 1X |
| Dining | 1X | 2X |
Network
Key Benefits
Pros
Cons
| Scenario | Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express | Rakuten American Express Card | Ongoing winner | Year-one winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Light spender: $1,000/month | Rewards: $144 Credits (our usable estimate): $96 − Annual fee ($95) Ongoing: $145 Year one: $240 | Rewards: $234 Credits (our usable estimate): $0 − Annual fee ($0) Ongoing: $234 Year one: $334 | Rakuten American Express Card | Rakuten American Express Card |
| Heavy spender: $4,000/month | Rewards: $576 Credits (our usable estimate): $96 − Annual fee ($95) Ongoing: $577 Year one: $672 | Rewards: $936 Credits (our usable estimate): $0 − Annual fee ($0) Ongoing: $936 Year one: $1,036 | Rakuten American Express Card | Rakuten American Express Card |
The Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express costs $95/yr — that's $95 more than the Rakuten American Express Card (no annual fee). To justify that gap, you need to extract at least $95 in annual value from the card's higher earn rates and benefits.
Bottom line: Use the year-one vs ongoing table for modeled earn value at your spend level. The $95 fee gap means the Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express needs roughly $95 more in annual rewards (or credits you will use) to break even on streaming and grocery stores and everyday spend.
Get the Rakuten American Express Card if you:
Editorial disclosure: CardRewards.ai is an independent comparison service. Card data comes from issuers' published terms; data as of September 27, 2026. Card issuers do not influence our rankings or content.
