U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards vs. AmEx Blue Cash Preferred: In a 6% Slugfest, Versatility Wins

When it comes to cash-back credit cards, it’s rare to see a rewards rate as high as 6% cash back. But both the U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards® Visa Signature® Card and the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express earn that enviable amount on select purchases.

That gives both cards the potential to be the one you reach for often.

The U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards® Visa Signature® Card earns 6% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined spending per quarter at two eligible retailers of your choice (from a list of 24, see below); 3% cash back on up to $1,500 per quarter in one “everyday” category of your choice (including gas and EV charging stations, wholesale clubs, and bills and utilities); and 1.5% cash back on everything else. It charges an annual fee of $0 intro for the first year, then $95.

The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express earns 6% cash back* at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 in spending per year, 6% back on select U.S. streaming services, 3% back at U.S. gas stations and on transit, and 1% on all other purchases. It has a $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95. Terms apply (see rates and fees).

Ultimately, you have more flexibility with the U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards® Visa Signature® Card, since you can earn 6% back at a wider variety of retailers. Eligible merchants are some of the biggest in the world, including Amazon.com, Target, Walmart, Ikea, Home Depot, Macy’s and more. However, there’s still a lot to love about the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express, so it can come down to where you spend money the most. Here’s how to decide which card is right for you.

» MORE: Full review of the U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards® Visa Signature® Card

» MORE: Full review of the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express

The two cards at a glance

Why the U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards® Visa Signature® Card comes out ahead

The increased flexibility of the U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards® Visa Signature® Card gives you more control over where you earn the most cash back.

6% cash back at a variety of major merchants

Fixing up your home or filling up your cart at a superstore like Target or Walmart can cost a lot, so the ability to pick merchants where you know you’ll spend big bucks is a helpful feature of the U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards® Visa Signature® Card. If you spend around $500 a month at one of the card’s eligible retailers, you can earn up to $360 back per year.

Since you can switch your merchants quarterly, you can plan around anticipated spending. Perhaps you’ll choose a home improvement store one quarter for renovations, for example, and then choose a furniture store later on once you’re ready to decorate your new space. The key is being able — and willing — to track all of that.

» SEE: How to make the most of the U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards Card

» MORE: NerdWallet's best credit cards for groceries

Practical ways to earn 3% cash back

In addition to selecting two merchants each quarter to earn 6% back, you also choose one “everyday” category where you’ll earn 3% cash back on up to $1,500 in spending per quarter. Those categories include gas and electric vehicle charging stations, wholesale clubs, bills and utilities — all potentially useful areas to save some money.

» MORE: NerdWallet's best gas credit cards

A higher base rewards rate

With tiered bonus cash-back cards, it’s common for all purchases outside of the bonus categories to earn just 1% cash back, but the U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards® Visa Signature® Card earns 1.5% back, which is a nice touch.

Why you might prefer the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express

The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express puts more parameters around its bonus categories, but if they match your spending, it’s an easier card to manage.

Greater simplicity

With the U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards® Visa Signature® Card, you need to pick your 6% and 3% merchants and categories quarterly, or else you’ll only earn the base rate of 1.5% back. Not only is that an extra task to complete, but you may not always be able to predict which merchant will capture much of your spending for the next three months. Plus, merchants are subject to change, which can throw a wrench into your plans. The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express sticks to the same categories, so you can earn a high cash-back rate without the added work.

Annual, not quarterly, spending caps

The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express has an annual $6,000 spending cap on earning 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (and, conveniently, no other caps in its other bonus categories). Terms apply. That gives you more wiggle room compared with a quarterly spending cap, even if $1,500 a quarter adds up to the same $6,000 per year.

Cash back on all kinds of commuting

The U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards® Visa Signature® Card earns 3% back on gas and EV charging, but what if your commute involves, say, driving to a train station, paying to park and then hopping on public transportation? The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express will earn 3% cash back on more ways to get around, including gas, trains, buses, taxis and ridesharing services, parking, tolls and more. Terms apply.

» MORE: NerdWallet’s best cards for transit and commuting

Which card should you get?

The U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards® Visa Signature® Card offers more ways to earn a generous amount of cash back. If you don’t mind a card with a little extra effort and the list of eligible merchants includes some of your favorites, you can certainly put this card to work for you.

But if groceries are a large part of your budget anyway, and you’d prefer an easier card to manage, the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express is a worthy contender.

» MORE: U.S. Bank Shopper Cash Rewards vs. store cards: When 5% beats 6%