Amex Blue Cash Everyday review: Earn bonus cash back for regular household spending — with no annual fee

Signing up for credit cards through partner links earns us a commission. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Here’s our full advertising policy: How we make money.

Update: One or more card offers in this post are no longer available. Check our Hot Deals for the latest offers.

With 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $6,000 in purchases per year, then 1%) and 2% cash back at U.S. gas stations and select U.S. department stores, the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express is a good pick for folks who spend a lot in these categories but don’t want an annual fee (see rates and fees).

But if you are new to miles and points, there are better options to consider. Here’s our review of the Amex Blue Cash Everyday to help you decide if it’s worth applying for.

Amex Blue Cash Everyday review

Current offer

Earn a $200 statement credit after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new card within the first six months of card membership.

Benefits and perks

Along with the welcome bonus, you’ll earn:

• 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (up to $6,000 in purchases per year, then 1%)
• 2% cash back at U.S. gas stations and select U.S. department stores
• 1% cash back on everything else
• Terms Apply

That means you’ll earn even more cash back if you frequently use the card at U.S. supermarkets, U.S. gas stations and select U.S. department stores. Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed for statement credits.

You’ll also get perks like free two-day shipping from over 140 online stores with a complimentary ShopRunner membership, extended warranty protection, return protection and more. Plus you’ll be eligible for money-saving discounts through Amex Offers, which can save you hundreds per year. (enrollment required)

How to redeem your cash back

While there are many variants to the best cashback credit cards (you can read our post on how cash back works to learn more), this card earns pure cash back. You’ll be able to redeem your rewards as a statement credit toward your card balance.

Is the annual fee worth it?

This card has no annual fee. That’s impressive, considering it’s got higher return rates on select purchases than many cards with an annual fee.

It is worth noting, however, that the card does incur a 2.7% foreign transaction fee (see rates and fees), so it isn’t a good option to use overseas.

Who is the Amex Blue Cash Everyday for?

For many of us, paying for gas and groceries each month is a big, regular expense. If this is your situation and you are looking for a good cash-back rewards credit card with no annual fee, the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express may be right for you.

Just remember, American Express limits intro bonuses to once per lifetime, so if you have ever had the Amex Blue Cash Everyday Card in the past, you are not eligible to receive the welcome bonus again.

It’s also worth considering your Chase 5/24 status given Chase’s strict approval rules. If you’re new to this hobby, there are other more valuable travel credit cards out there that are worth applying for first.

Insider tips

If you spend a decent amount at U.S. supermarkets every year, you might want to consider the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express instead.

The Amex Blue Cash Preferred is similar to the Amex Blue Cash Everyday, except that it has a $95 annual fee (see rates and fees). And you’ll earn more bonus cash back in the same categories as the Amex Blue Cash Everyday.

The Amex Blue Cash Preferred has a welcome bonus of a $350 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new card within the first six months of card membership. The card also has higher earning rates at U.S. supermarkets, U.S. gas stations and select U.S. department stores:

• 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (up to $6,000 in purchases per year, then 1%)
• 6% cash back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions
• 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations and on transit
• 1% cash back on other purchases
• Terms Apply

Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed for statement credits.

It’s not hard to earn enough cash back to cover the $95 annual fee and still come out ahead.

On the other hand, if you do little or no spending in these bonus categories, you may be better off with a cash-back card like the Citi® Double Cash Card, which offers 2% cash back (1% cash back when you make the purchase and another 1% cash back when you pay at least the minimum payment). The information for the Citi Double Cash Card has been collected independently by Million Mile Secrets. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Or you could consider a card like the Chase Freedom®, which offers 5 points per dollar on rotating bonus categories each quarter (up to $1,500), or the Chase Freedom Unlimited®, which offers unlimited 1.5% cash back on purchases.

The information for the Chase Freedom has been collected independently by Million Mile Secrets. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Bottom line

If you are looking for a cash-back credit card with no annual fee, the Amex Blue Cash Everyday Card may be right for you. You’ll earn 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets, which is the best-earning rate available for a no-annual-fee card.

If you have a lot of spending at U.S. supermarkets, U.S. gas stations, on transit and select U.S. streaming subscriptions, you may be better off with the Amex Blue Cash Preferred card. If you have little to no spending in these categories, consider another card that has a higher earning rate for all purchases, like the Chase Freedom Unlimited.

Folks who are new to miles and points should consider other cards first, especially if you are looking for a big bonus or if you are interested in any Chase cards.

For rates and fees of the Blue Cash Preferred Card, please click here.

For rates and fees of the Blue Cash Everyday Card, please click here.