Amex Blue Cash Everyday Review: Lucrative Cash-Back Rewards With No Annual Fee

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Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express

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Rates & Fees

• Our Rating 4/5 How our ratings work
• APR18.49% to 29.49% (Variable)
• Annual Fee$0
• Welcome Bonus $200Cash Bonus More Info

  Earn $200 back after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership. You will receive the $200 back in the form of a statement credit.

The Blue Cash Everyday Card is a great cash-back American Express card with no annual fee. It earns a solid 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets, on U.S. online retail purchases and at U.S. gas stations, on up to $6,000 per year.

A No-Annual-Fee Powerhouse From Amex

The Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express is a cash-back rewards card that offers a good balance of rewards and costs. It’s notable for a 3% cash-back rewards rate on bonus categories and no annual fee (see rates & fees). If you’re looking for a simple card to get cash back and earn a bonus on supermarket and gas categories, this card could fit your spending needs. Read more about the Amex Blue Cash Everyday card to decide if it deserves a coveted spot in your wallet (Terms Apply).

Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit.

Welcome Offer

After you’re approved for a new account, try to use the card right away to ensure you earn the welcome offer, worth an extra $200 in statement credits. To earn this welcome offer, you have to spend at least $2,000 on purchases using the card within the first six months. You will receive the $200 back in the form of a statement credit.

Earning Rewards

This credit card shouldn’t go to the back of the drawer after you earn the welcome offer. The card offers competitive rewards for everyday purchases, hence the “Everyday” name.

These are the primary rewards categories and rates for the Blue Cash Everyday credit card:

• 3% back at U.S. supermarkets up to $6,000 per year: After reaching $6,000, you’ll earn the standard 1% back. If you get the full $6,000 annual limit, you will earn $180 per year in reward from grocery purchases.
• 3% back on gas at U.S. gas stations up to $6,000 per year: After that, you'll earn 1% back in this category.
• 3% back on U.S. online retail purchases up to $6,000 per year: Similarly, you'll earn 1% back after reaching that amount.
• 1% back everywhere else: You’ll earn 1% back on all other eligible purchases, received as Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit.

Some cash-back cards with a higher “everything else” rewards rate may be worth considering as well. 1% back is somewhat standard as a base cash-back rate among cash-back cards with no annual fee, but some offer a little more, often without the bonuses for gas and groceries.

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Rewards Estimate Example

Let’s say you want to estimate your cash-back rewards. Plug your numbers into this example to get an idea of what you could earn. Check your budget or past credit card statements to see a breakdown of your spending.

For this example, assume your monthly spending is:

• $400 on groceries
• $150 on gas
• $100 on online retail purchases
• $1,200 on other purchases

Here’s how much you would earn per year:

• Groceries: $144 cash back
• Gas: $54 cash back
• Online retail: $36
• Everything else: $144 cash back
• Total: $378

While it likely won’t make or break your financial situation, who wouldn’t want an extra $300 or more per year? If you primarily use a debit card with no rewards, moving to a cash-back credit card offers several benefits, including getting paid for those regular trips to the store or your favorite online shopping website.

The rewards you earn from a cash-back card typically only make sense when you can keep your balance under control and pay off the card in full monthly. If you know your spending habits would lead to credit card debt you can’t afford to pay off, it may be best to stick with that debit card. Otherwise, cash-back rewards credit cards are a great way to boost your bank account.

Redeeming Rewards

Cash-back rewards are redeemed in the form of a statement credit. That means your cash-back rewards lower your credit card balance so you don’t owe as much in the future. A dollar is a dollar, so a statement credit is a reasonable and good way to redeem rewards. Cash back doesn’t count toward your minimum payment due.

When you're ready to redeem your rewards, you can open the Amex mobile app or head to AmericanExpress.com to log in and redeem. Rewards don’t expire as long as you keep the account open and in good standing.

If you expected to see a bonus in your balance and only earned the 1% rate, check the seller category. Every merchant has a spending category assigned and not all places that sell groceries count as grocery stores, for example. Superstores, convenience stores, warehouse clubs and meal-kit delivery services are not considered supermarkets for bonus purposes. Similarly, superstores, supermarkets and warehouse clubs that sell gasoline are not considered gas stations.

Benefits and Perks

No-annual-fee credit cards typically don’t have the same insurance and protections you get from cards with an annual fee requirement. The Amex Blue Cash Everyday has a few nice additions, but the benefits are not extremely compelling. Here are a few of them:

• $7 back per month on the Disney Bundle. Get $7 back each month after using your Blue Cash Everyday Card to spend $9.99 or more each month on an eligible subscription to the Disney Bundle, which is valid only with DisneyPlus.com, Hulu.com or Plus.espn.com in the U.S. Enrollment required.
• Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance¹: When you pay for your car rental entirely with the card, you can waive the rental company’s expensive daily insurance coverage and trust American Express to have your back. This coverage insures the car but adds no additional liability coverage, so you should still drive carefully.
• 24/7 Global Assist® Hotline²: When traveling at least 100 miles from home, you can call for help with basic emergencies, like a quick card replacement or referral to medical care. The hotline is free, but you have to pay for any costs charged by third parties.
• American Express Experiences: Access ticket presales and exclusive American Express member events through the American Express website. (I used this benefit to score great tickets to a Rolling Stones concert a few years ago.)

These are great benefits, notably the rental car insurance coverage and Disney Bundle credit. However, there are a couple of purchase coverage options this card is missing, like extended warranty protection and cellphone protection coverage. If those were added, this card would be more compelling.

Costs and Fees

This card has no annual fee but here are a few other fees to know with this card (see rates & fees):

• Cash advances: 5% of the transaction or $10, whichever is greater (see rates & fees). Because of the fee and higher interest rate for cash advances, it’s best to avoid them. Also, be aware that some gift card purchases or cryptocurrency account deposits may count as cash advances, so be careful when using the card to buy cash equivalents.
• Foreign transactions: If you travel outside of the United States regularly, this card may not be the best fit, as there’s a 2.7% foreign transaction fee (see rates & fees) added to each purchase not made in the United States in U.S. dollars. Many travel rewards cards come with no foreign transaction fee.
• Late payments: If you pay your bill late, you’ll owe up to a $40 fee (see rates & fees). It’s best to always pay on time regardless to help your credit and keep costs low. Automatic payments can help you avoid paying late.
• Returned payments: If your check or electronic payment is returned for insufficient funds, you’ll have to pay up to $40 (see rates & fees). Make sure you have enough cash in the bank when you make a payment.

Interest rates vary based on your credit history and current market conditions. Rates are variable and can change at any time. Late or returned payments may trigger a higher default interest rate for at least six months. But again, to emphasize how important it is, if you pay off the card in full every month by the due date, you never have to pay any interest.

American Express Blue Cash Everyday Alternatives

If you’re not completely sold, consider these Blue Cash Everyday alternatives, all with no annual fee and cash-back rewards:

Credit Card	Welcome Offer	Annual Fee	Rewards Rate	Learn More
Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express Learn More Rates & Fees	$200Cash Bonus More Info Earn $200 back after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership. You will receive the $200 back in the form of a statement credit.	$0	1% - 3%Cashback More Info Earn 3% cash back on groceries at U.S. supermarkets up to $6,000 each year (then 1%), 3% cash back on U.S. online retail purchases, on gas at U.S. gas stations, and finally 1% cash back on other eligible purchases. Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit.	Learn More Rates & Fees
Citi Custom Cash® Card Apply Now Rates & Fees	$200Cash Bonus More Info Earn $200 in cash back after you spend $1500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.	$0	1% - 5%Cashback More Info Earn 5% cash back on purchases in your top eligible spend category each billing cycle, up to the first $500 spent, 1% cash back thereafter. Also, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases. Special Travel Offer: Earn an additional 4% cash back on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked on Citi Travel℠ portal through 6/30/2026.	Apply Now Rates & Fees
Chase Freedom Unlimited® Apply Now	1.5%Extra Cash Back More Info Earn an extra 1.5% on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) — worth up to $300 cash back. That’s 6.5% on travel purchased through Chase TravelSM, 4.5% on dining and drugstores, and 3% on all other purchases.	$0	1.5% - 5%Cashback More Info Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase TravelSM, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 1.5% on all other purchases	Apply Now

Is the Blue Cash Everyday Worth It?

For fans of cash back with no annual fee, the Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express could be a good fit. The opportunity to earn 3% back at U.S. supermarkets, on gas at U.S. gas stations and on U.S. online retail purchases, plus the ability to earn a $200 welcome offer in the form of a statement credit for new users—is a great way to earn cash back where you may already spend most.

However, if you’re looking to maximize your rewards, you may even want to combine two or more cards to get the best bonus rates possible. But if you prefer to keep it simple with an easy-to-use cash-back card from a reputable credit card company, the Blue Cash Everyday card might be a good choice.

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Disclosures

_{For rates and fees of The Blue Cash Everyday^® Card from American Express, please visit https://www.americanexpress.com/us/credit-cards/card-application/apply/prospect/terms/blue-cash-everyday-credit-card/25330-10-0#FeeTable}

¹ _{Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance can provide coverage up to $50,000 for theft of or damage to most rental vehicles when you use your eligible Card to reserve and pay for the entire eligible vehicle rental and decline the collision damage waiver or similar option offered by the Commercial Car Rental Company. This product provides secondary coverage and does not include liability coverage. Not all vehicle types or rentals are covered. Geographic restrictions apply. 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. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.}

² _{You can rely on Global Assist Hotline 24 hours a day / 7 days a week for medical, legal, financial, or other select emergency coordination and assistance services while traveling more than 100 miles away from your home. Third-party service costs may be your responsibility. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Card Members are responsible for the costs charged by third-party service providers.}