Capital One Savor vs. Amex Blue Cash Preferred: Which Is Better in 2026?

Blue Cash Preferred® Card Breakdown

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The Blue Cash Preferred earns 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%) and 6% on select U.S. streaming subscriptions. It earns 3% on transit, which includes taxis, rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, and buses, plus 3% at U.S. gas stations and 1% on other purchases.

The card also offers up to $120 a year (up to $10 a month) in Disney streaming statement credits after enrollment. Cash back arrives as Reward Dollars, which you redeem as a statement credit. Current fees for the card appear in the card details above.

^{Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.}

Savor vs. Blue Cash Preferred: How They Compare

Bonus Categories

The two cards overlap on groceries and streaming but split everywhere else. The Savor pays 3% on dining and entertainment, two categories the Blue Cash Preferred doesn't bonus.

The Blue Cash Preferred pays more at U.S. supermarkets (6% on up to $6,000 a year, then 1%) and on select U.S. streaming subscriptions (6% versus 3%). It also rewards commuting with 3% on transit and at U.S. gas stations.

Fees

The Savor has no annual fee. For the Blue Cash Preferred, see the card details above for current fees, then check whether its higher supermarket and streaming rates would outearn that cost on your budget.

Redemption

Savor cash back can be redeemed for any amount, and rewards don't expire for the life of the account. Blue Cash Preferred cash back is earned as Reward Dollars that you redeem as a statement credit.

Using the Cards Abroad

The Savor charges no foreign transaction fee. The Blue Cash Preferred charges a foreign transaction fee (check the card's terms for the current rate), so the Savor is the better card to pack for a trip outside the U.S.

Compare Cards With Kudos

Kudos can show you which card fits your actual spending. You can test drive a card with your real transactions to see a category-by-category rewards projection before you apply.

Once you carry both cards, the Kudos Chrome extension autofills your best card at checkout, so supermarket runs and dinner bills each land on the card that earns more.

Kudos Premium adds automatic offer activation: when you visit the American Express site, it activates eligible offers for your Blue Cash Preferred® Card for you, then reminds you at checkout. It also works with Chase, Citi, Bank of America and Wells Fargo offers if you carry cards from those issuers.

Who Should Choose the Capital One Savor?

The Savor fits people whose spending centers on restaurants, concerts, movies, sporting events, and streaming, with regular grocery store trips. With no annual fee and no foreign transaction fee, it also works well on vacation.

It's the lower-risk pick if you aren't sure your supermarket spending would cover an annual fee. Read our full Capital One Savor review for more detail.

Who Should Choose the Blue Cash Preferred® Card?

The Blue Cash Preferred suits households with large U.S. supermarket bills, especially those that come close to the $6,000 annual cap on the 6% rate. Streaming subscribers and commuters who pay for transit, rideshare, tolls, or gas also get strong returns.

Our Blue Cash Preferred review walks through the card's benefits in more depth.

Alternatives to Consider

If neither card matches your budget, two other options are worth a look. The American Express® Gold Card earns Membership Rewards® points at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets, and the card details below show its current fees.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is a travel rewards card with a $95 annual fee that earns Chase Ultimate Rewards® points on dining, travel, and more.

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^{Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.}

Tips for Application Success

Before You Apply

• Check your credit. Capital One lists the Savor for applicants with excellent credit, and premium rewards cards generally go to applicants with strong credit.
• Map your categories. Add up a typical month of dining, entertainment, supermarket, streaming, and transit spending to see which card earns more for you.
• Read the welcome offer terms. Welcome offers require a minimum spend within a set period after account opening, and they change over time.

Application Strategy

• Plan to meet any minimum spend with purchases you would make anyway.
• Capital One lets you check your eligibility and see offers with no impact to your credit score before you apply.
• If you're declined, ask the issuer for the reason before applying elsewhere.

Our Methodology

We evaluate nearly 3,000 credit cards across the U.S. market, far more than the roughly 150 cards commonly featured on sites that focus only on products tied to affiliate commissions. Our goal is to give you a complete, unbiased view of the market so you can decide with confidence.

Our editorial team checks card details against issuer sources. You can also explore the full dataset yourself in our card explorer, which includes thousands of cards, more than 95% of which do not pay us commissions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which card is better for streaming services?

The Blue Cash Preferred earns 6% on select U.S. streaming subscriptions, while the Savor earns 3% on popular streaming services. If streaming is a big line item, the Amex card earns more on it.

Which card is better for groceries?

The Blue Cash Preferred earns 6% at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 a year, then 1%. The Savor earns 3% at grocery stores with no cap, excluding superstores like Walmart and Target, so it earns more on supermarket spending above that $6,000 cap.

Can I have both the Savor and the Blue Cash Preferred?

Yes. They come from different issuers, Capital One and American Express, so you can apply for each separately, though approval is never guaranteed. Many households use the Blue Cash Preferred at supermarkets and the Savor for dining and entertainment.

Does either card charge foreign transaction fees?

The Savor has no foreign transaction fee. The Blue Cash Preferred charges a foreign transaction fee; check the card's terms for the current rate.