Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express review: Solid rewards with no annual fee

Advertiser disclosure: Content provided by Bankrate.com. Fox and its content partners earn compensation from the affiliate companies below. This content doesn’t include all available offers, and compensation may impact how and where links appear in the content.

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.

The Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express is an aptly named card that rewards you for some of the most common everyday purchases. With a practical suite of rewards categories, there’s a reason the Blue Cash Everyday is always in the conversation about the best cash back credit cards.

But are there better options for a cash back card for everyday purchases? It depends on your lifestyle, but the Blue Cash Everyday’s spending caps limit its usefulness for some. Many users would earn more cash back with the upgraded version of the card, the Blue Cash Preferred® from American Express.

How the Amex Blue Cash Everyday Card works

The Blue Cash Everyday offers:

• 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (up to $6,000 per year, then 1%)
• 3% cash back on U.S. online retail purchases (up to $6,000 per year, then 1%)
• 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations (up to $6,000 per year, then 1%)
• 1% cash back on other purchases

The elevated 3% rate applies to the first $6,000 spent in each of those categories annually, and once you hit that maximum, those purchases earn the standard cash back rate that all other purchases earn — just 1%.

While it’s marketed as a cash back card, The Amex Blue Cash Everyday earns cash back in the form of “Reward Dollars.” These can be redeemed as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout.

Blue Cash Everyday Card rewards

This card’s bonus categories will be useful for the average person. Before applying, though, be sure you know each bonus category’s restrictions. American Express offers detailed insight into its rewards category definitions online.

U.S. supermarkets

You can’t control inflation, but one way to counter rising costs is to earn cash back on necessary purchases. The Blue Cash Everyday earns 3% cash back on the first $6,000 spent at U.S. supermarkets each year, then 1%.

One important callout: Wholesale clubs like Costco and superstores like Walmart and Target do not count as supermarkets to Amex. Groceries purchased from these kinds of stores will earn the standard 1% cash back rate.

It's a good rate for a no-annual-fee card, helping to offset rising grocery bills for most households. However, to maximize your rewards, be aware of the exclusions.

U.S. gas stations

Go on, take the road trip. With this card, you’ll earn 3% cash back on every fill-up at a U.S. gas station (up to $6,000 annually, then 1%). Again, superstores, supermarkets, and wholesale clubs selling gasoline do not count as gas stations or award the boosted cash back rate.

It's an excellent deal for most users, as few cards offer this high rate on gas without an annual fee, and the spending cap is generous for average consumers.

U.S. online retail purchases

Rewards for groceries and gas are common in the world of cash back, but the Blue Cash Everyday’s third rewards category is pretty unique. Cardholders earn 3% cash back on the first $6,000 spent on U.S. online retail purchases annually. After that spending limit is met, purchases in this category earn 1% cash back.

This category can be lucrative for many, but it’s important not to confuse “online retail purchases” with all online purchases. To earn the higher cash back rate in this category, a purchase must be made on a website or app from a U.S. retail merchant that sells physical goods directly to consumers.

While it excludes certain online purchases, such as groceries, takeout, and digital services, it covers a wide range of retailers, making it a valuable and uncommon reward category for online shoppers.

Redeeming rewards

Blue Cash Everyday rewards are collected as Reward Dollars, which can be redeemed as statement credits or for Amazon.com purchases. One Reward Dollar equals $1, simplifying your redemption choices.

For example, $6,000 spent at U.S. supermarkets earns $180 in Reward Dollars, which can be used to lower your statement balance by $180. You can also use Reward Dollars to make purchases on Amazon.com by linking your Amex account to your Amazon account. You can use Reward Dollars to cover part or all of your Amazon purchases.

While redemption is straightforward, the card lacks a direct bank deposit option for cash back, which many other cash back cards offer.

Blue Cash Everyday Card benefits

Welcome bonus

Currently, you can earn a $200 statement credit after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new card within the first six months.

This bonus is higher than the typical amount offered by many cash back cards, but the spending requirement is also higher. However, at less than $350 per month over six months, it’s achievable for most without overspending.

Additional perks

Aside from the cash back offerings, Blue Cash Everyday offers additional perks such as shopping credits and protections, travel insurance, payment flexibility, and more. Overall, the benefits are nice but pretty run-of-the-mill.

The additional perks likely won’t be make-or-break for whether this card makes sense to carry, but they’re nice extras to have. The streaming credits are useful if you already subscribe to those services, and the intro APR offer is helpful for those eyeing a large purchase.

Intro APR and Plan It® offer

This card gives you the option to pay down debt or finance a large purchase interest-free for a limited number of months with its intro APR offer. New cardholders can get 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months from the date of account opening, then a variable APR of 19.24% to 29.99% (see rates and fees).

Note that balance transfers incur a fee of $5 or 3% of the transfer, whichever is greater. New cardholders can also take advantage of $0 Buy Now, Pay Later intro Plan It fees on plans created during the first 15 months of opening an account. After that, Plan It plans will have a fixed monthly fee of up to 1.33% of each purchase.

Card benefits

• Disney Bundle credit: Get a $7 monthly statement credit after using your enrolled Blue Cash Everyday Card to spend $9.99 or more each month on a subscription to the Disney Bundle. This credit is valid only at DisneyPlus.com, Hulu.com, or Plus.espn.com in the U.S., and your subscription is subject to auto-renewal.
• Home Chef credit: Get up to $15 in statement credits back per month after you use your enrolled Blue Cash Everyday Card to purchase a Home Chef subscription. Shipping is only available in the contiguous U.S., and subscriptions are subject to auto-renewal.
• ShopRunner: Get free two-day shipping on eligible items at 100+ online stores with a free subscription to ShopRunner.
• Purchase protection: Covered purchases are protected from accidental damage and theft for up to 90 days from the purchase date. Limits apply.
• Plan It®: Buy now, pay later without using a third-party app. With Plan It®, you can split eligible purchases of $100 or more into equal monthly installments with a fixed fee rather than paying interest on a carried balance.
• Car rental loss and damage insurance: When you use your card to reserve and pay for an entire car rental and decline the collision damage waiver from the rental company, you can be covered for damage or theft in a covered territory.
• Send and Split®: You can split your Amex purchases directly from the Amex App with any other Venmo or PayPal user.
• American Express Experiences: Get exclusive access to ticket presales for sporting events, concerts, Broadway shows, and more. Plus, get the invite to Amex cardmember-only events.

Blue Cash Everyday Card fees and charges

The Blue Cash Everyday charges no annual fee (see rates and fees). This is a fair tradeoff for the $6,000 limits on the 3% cash back categories, but it’s an attractive quality for the fee-averse person.

The Blue Cash Everyday charges a variable APR of 19.24% to 29.99% on purchases and balance transfers, based on your creditworthiness (see rates and fees). Cash advances have an APR of 29.99%. These APRs are standard for rewards credit cards, but don’t be fooled. A 20%+ interest rate is extremely high and can make even a small debt balance grow to an unmanageable size.

Luckily, if you pay your entire statement balance on time every month (and avoid cash advances), you’ll avoid paying interest entirely. If you think there’s even a chance you might not be able to pay your credit card balance in full each month, you should prioritize finding a low-interest credit card.

The Blue Cash Everyday’s other fees are fairly standard and avoidable if you spend wisely and pay your bills on time. The main one to watch out for is the foreign transaction fee — not all cards charge those, so if you’re looking for a card to use abroad, look elsewhere.

How the Blue Cash Everyday Card compares

Who should consider the Blue Cash Everyday Card?

The ideal Blue Cash Everyday cardholder is a budget-conscious shopper who wants to earn rewards on the everyday purchases they’re already making without paying an annual fee. If you cook at home often, drive often, and frequently make purchases with online retailers like Amazon, this card is a great option.

On the flip side, if you don’t frequently spend in this card’s categories, you’re better off with a different card. If you’re not spending much with online retailers, you might want to consider the Blue Cash Preferred or the SavorOne, which applies cash back to a wider variety of categories.

How we rated this card

Every card review we publish undergoes a rigorous editorial process to ensure accuracy and objectivity. Learn more about our methodology here.

Here are some of the factors that influenced this card’s overall score:

• Rewards: The Blue Cash Everyday offers a solid rewards structure for everyday purchases. While competitive, the spending caps limit its potential for high spenders.
• Redemption flexibility: Cash back can be redeemed as statement credits or for purchases on Amazon.com. While straightforward, these options are somewhat limited compared to some other cash back cards.
• Annual fee: The Blue Cash Everyday charges no annual fee, making it an excellent option for budget-conscious consumers looking to maximize rewards without an extra cost.
• Benefits: The card offers a good mix of perks, including statement credits for the Disney bundle and Home Chef, car rental coverage, ShopRunner benefits, instant card number, and payment flexibility. These are solid benefits, especially for a no-annual-fee card, though fairly standard in the industry.
• Welcome bonus: This card's welcome bonus is a great feature. While the spending threshold is somewhat higher than similar cards, the extended timeframe makes it more achievable for most users.
• Rates and other fees: While it is always recommended to pay your balance in full to avoid paying interest, the card’s APR is in line with competitors.

The bottom line

The Blue Cash Everyday is a fan favorite for a reason: Its useful bonus categories and lack of an annual fee make it valuable and worry-free for most people. However, its spending caps limit how much you can earn at the higher cash back rate, so it’s not the best option for cash back maximizers. Plus, the upgraded version of the card, the Blue Cash Preferred® from American Express, offers higher cash back on U.S. supermarket purchases.

*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.

Editorial disclosure: Opinions expressed are author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included in the post.