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Fortune
Fortune
Coryanne Hicks

Looking for an everyday cash back credit card?

American Express Blue Everyday credit card over a yellow background with green abstract shapes. (Credit: Photo illustration by Fortune; Original photo by American Express)

Why we like this card: The Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express is a strong contender in the no annual fee cash back category with 3% cash back on groceries, online shopping, and gas.

Pros

  • $0 annual fee
  • 0% introductory APR for the first 15 months from the date of account opening (after that, the variable APR will be 19.24%–29.99%)
  • 3% cash back on groceries at U.S. supermarkets, U.S. online retail and gas purchases, on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%)

Cons

  • 3% cash back only for the first $6,000 spent in each category per year
  • Rewards can only be redeemed as a statement credit
  • Charges foreign transaction fee

Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express: Overview

APR

  • Intro: 0% introductory APR for the first 15 months from the date of account opening (after that, the variable APR will be 19.24%–29.99%)
  • Purchase: 19.24%–29.99% Variable
  • Balance transfer: 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 15 months from the date of account opening on requests within 60 days of account opening (after that, the variable APR will be 19.24%–29.99%) with a fee of $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
  • Cash advance: 29.99% with a fee of $10 or 5% of the amount of each cash advance, whichever is greater
  • Penalty: up to $40 for late or returned payments

Annual fee: $0

Foreign transaction fee: 2.7% of each transaction after conversion to U.S. dollars 

Plan It fee: Up to 1.33% of each purchase moved into the plan

The Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express truly is a solid everyday card. With 3% back on big spending categories plus no annual fee, it's a card to consider for regular purchases. Rewards aren't unlimited, however. If you spend more than $6,000 per year in the top earnings categories, you may want to look for a card without reward caps.

To view rates and fees of the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express , see this page.

Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express: Rewards

The Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express gives 3% back in three categories: U.S. supermarkets, online retail purchases, and gas stations. These categories  can add up to substantial rewards, but the card comes with some limitations. 

For instance, you only earn 3% back on the first $6,000 in purchases per each category each year. After that, cash back drops to 1% back on additional purchases. The rewards categories are also limited. U.S. supermarkets do not include warehouse clubs or convenience stores, for example, and gas sold by superstores, supermarkets, or warehouse clubs doesn't qualify for the 3% cash-back tier.

On the upside, there’s $0 annual fee to make up for, so every dollar of cash back savings reduces your overall cost.

Does the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express offer a bonus?

New cardmembers can earn $200 statement credit after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new card within the first 6 months. You'll receive your bonus as a statement credit applied eight to 12 weeks after you reach the spending threshold.

How to redeem Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express rewards

There's only one way to redeem your rewards from your Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express : as a statement credit. You can redeem rewards in any dollar amount but will still need to make the minimum required monthly payment. For instance, if your balance is $500 and you have a $35 minimum payment, you’ll only want to redeem $465 in rewards since you can’t avoid the minimum monthly payment.

Additional benefits

There’s more to this card than just its cash-back feature. The Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express also comes with the following benefits:

  • $84 Disney Bundle Credit: Earn up to $7 statement credit each month (up to $84 back annually) after spending $12.99 or more each month on an eligible subscription to The Disney Bundle which includes DisneyPlus.com, Hulu.com, or Plus.espn.com using your Blue Cash Everyday® Card. Enrollment required.
  • $180 Home Chef Credit: Earn up to $15 per month in statement credits when you purchase Home Chef meal solutions online at HomeChef.com with your enrolled Blue Cash Everyday Card (up to $180). Enrollment required.
  • Rental car loss and damage insurance: Rental cars paid for entirely with your American Express are automatically covered for damage to or theft of the car in a covered territory.
  • Global Assist hotline: Get 24/7 emergency assistance and coordination whenever you're more than 100 miles from home.
  • Send & Split: Send money and split purchases directly from the Amex App with another Venmo or PayPal user.
  • Pay It: Break purchases less than $100 into pay-as-you-go increments through the Amex App—and still earn rewards.
  • Plan It: Split up purchases of $100 or more into monthly installments for a fixed finance fee of up to 1.33% of the amount in the plan.
  • ShopRunner: Get free 2-day shipping on eligible purchases through ShopRunner.
  • American Express Experiences: Access cardmember-only events at AmericanExpress.cm/entertainment.

Is the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express right for you?

The Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express has a lot going for it; $0 annual fee coupled with 3% rewards on top categories like supermarkets, gas stations, and online shopping can net big rewards for some spenders. However, those rewards are capped at $180 per category per year and can only be redeemed as a statement credit. After that, you'll get only 1% back on future purchases.

You might consider a different card if you prefer more flexibility in reward redemption options or feel like the $6,000 per-category reward limit will be too constraining. Other cash-back cards offer unlimited rewards, so you always earn high rewards no matter how much you spend.

Credit cards similar to the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express

The Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express is a great option for a $0 annual fee cash-back rewards card, but it's not the only card out there. You might be able to find another cash-back card that's a better fit for your spending habits.

Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card vs. Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express

The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card is another no annual fee cash-back reward card, but it doesn't cap how much you can earn. You get 2% back on all purchases all the time, making it a great choice if you don't like to worry about tracking rewards categories.

The Wells Fargo card also offers far more redemption options than the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express. Wells Fargo rewards can be redeemed for statement credits, gift cards, new purchases, or as cash either online, over the phone, or at a Wells Fargo ATM if you have a Wells Fargo debit or ATM card. You can also apply rewards towards any outstanding loans you have with Wells Fargo.

Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express vs. Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express

For an even higher rewards rate, consider the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express. With it, you get 6% back at U.S. supermarkets and select streaming services. You'll only get that 6% back on the first $6,000 you spend at supermarkets each year, but it's still double what you could get with the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express.

The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express also pays 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations and on transit (including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more) and comes with many of the same additional benefits as the Blue Cash Everyday® Card.

The catch? There's a $95 annual fee with the Blue Cash Preferred® Card, which could eat into your net rewards. You're also only able to redeem rewards as statement credits.

To view rates and fees of the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express, see this page.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Amex Blue Cash Everyday® Card good for?

The Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express is best for purchases at U.S. supermarkets and gas stations and online shopping, where you'll earn 3% cash back on the first $6,000 you spend in each category each year. All other purchases earn 1% cash back.

What is the credit limit on the American Express Blue Cash Everyday® Card?

The credit limit on the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express will vary from person to person. Lenders consider various factors when determining a person's credit limit, including credit score and history, income and expenses, debt-to-income ratio and the limit on other credit cards.

Does the American Express Blue Cash Everyday® Card have an annual fee?

No, the American Express Blue Cash Everyday® Card does not have an annual fee.


Please note that card details are accurate as of the publish date but are subject to change at any time at the issuer’s discretion. Before applying, please contact the card issuer to verify rates, fees, and benefits.

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.

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