SIDE A
A
Citi · Visa
Costco Anywhere Visa Card by Citi
VS.
×
SIDE B
B
American Express · American Express
Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express
FILING
Head-to-Head · Plastic Quarterly
The Costco Anywhere Visa and Blue Cash Preferred target different spending patterns with fundamentally different economics. Costco Anywhere requires Costco membership (effectively $60-130/year) but offers stronger rewards on gas and dining without an explicit annual fee. Blue Cash Preferred charges $95 annually but dominates grocery and streaming categories and includes a $250 signup bonus and 12-month 0% intro APR. Your choice depends on whether you're a Costco member and how your spending breaks down between gas, groceries, and restaurants. If you spend $300/month on gas, Costco's 4% (up to the annual cap) is worth roughly $144/year after membership—a significant advantage. If you buy $400/month in groceries, Blue Cash's 6% ($288/year before the annual fee) pulls ahead even after paying $95. The Costco card is essentially free for members who benefit from its bonus categories. Blue Cash suits non-Costco shoppers with heavy grocery and streaming spend.
THE VERDICT
Our ruling.
“Choose Costco Anywhere if you're already a Costco member or plan to join. Choose Blue Cash Preferred if you don't have Costco membership, spend heavily on US groceries, or want purchase protection and introductory APR. For pure rewards value, Costco edges out Blue Cash for members because its membership fee often pays for itself through the rewards structure alone, while Blue Cash's $95 fee requires you to spend strategically to break even.”
CHOOSE A
Side A is for you if…
- 01You're a Costco member or willing to pay for membership—the card's rewards often exceed the membership cost for moderate to heavy Costco shoppers
- 02You fill up at gas stations regularly. The 4% back (capped at $7,000/year spend) is superior to Blue Cash's 3%, and Costco gas is often cheaper than competitors
- 03You eat out frequently. Three percent on restaurants beats Blue Cash's lack of dining rewards entirely
- 04You want zero annual fee beyond Costco membership, making it genuinely cost-free to carry
CHOOSE B
Side B is for you if…
- 01You don't have Costco membership and don't plan to join—you avoid the $60-130 annual cost entirely
- 02You buy groceries at regular US supermarkets. Six percent back (up to $6,000/year) generates $360 in rewards, easily covering the $95 fee
- 03You subscribe to streaming services like Netflix or Hulu. Six percent cash back on these subscriptions is a permanent bonus with no category cap
- 04You want purchase protection and a 0% intro APR period for 12 months, adding real financial flexibility
THE LEDGER
Side by side.
- ISSUER
- Citi
- American Express
- NETWORK
- Visa
- American Express
- ANNUAL FEE
- $0
- $95
- APR RANGE
- 20.49% – 20.49%
- 19.24% – 29.99%
- INTRO APR (PURCHASES)
- None
- 0% for 12 months
- INTRO APR (BALANCE TRANSFERS)
- None
- 0% for 12 months
- REWARDS TYPE
- cashback
- cashback
- REWARDS RATE
- 1% cash back on all purchases
- 1% cash back on all purchases
- SIGN-UP BONUS
- None
- $250 statement credit
- BONUS VALUE
- —
- $250
- MIN. CREDIT SCORE
- 700+
- 670+
- FOREIGN TRANSACTION FEE
- None
- Yes (3%)
A HIGHLIGHTS
Costco Anywhere Visa Card by Citi
- —4% back on gas including EV charging (up to $7,000/year)
- —3% back on restaurants and travel
- —2% back at Costco worldwide
- —No annual fee with Costco membership
- —Annual rewards certificate redeemable at Costco
B HIGHLIGHTS
Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express
- —6% cash back at US supermarkets (up to $6,000/year)
- —6% on select US streaming subscriptions
- —0% intro APR for 12 months on purchases and balance transfers
- —Return protection up to $300 per item
- —Purchase protection up to 90 days
QUESTIONS · ANSWERS
Frequently filed.
Yes. The cap equals $280 in maximum annual rewards at the 4% rate. Average US drivers spend $1,500-2,500 on gas yearly, so most people won't hit this limit. However, if you drive frequently or own multiple vehicles, you could max it out and lose the 4% rate on gas beyond that threshold. Blue Cash's 3% on gas has no cap but is lower, making Costco still better for heavy drivers within the limit.