Amex EveryDay Credit Card vs. Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express
The Amex EveryDay® Credit Card is no longer taking new applicants as of September 2024, although existing cardholders can still use the card. Those interested in the Amex EveryDay® Credit Card here can check out other cash back credit cards offered by American Express.
Key takeaways
- The Amex EveryDay® Credit Card earns Membership Rewards points, while the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express earns cash back in the form of Reward Dollars.
- The Blue Cash Everyday Card offers a better rewards rate overall and has more spending categories to choose from.
- While the Amex EveryDay Credit Card is discontinued, the card can still be worth holding onto for those who want to earn boosted travel rewards.
When comparing the [capi_name card_name=”Amex EveryDay Credit Card” pid=”6437″]* and Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express, there are a number of factors to consider — such as rewards rate, redemption options, welcome bonuses and the spending categories that garner boosted rewards. If you or your family spend a lot on groceries each month, then both cards are good options.
According to our analysis, the Blue Cash Everyday Card beats the Amex EveryDay in most situations. It offers more rewards at U.S. supermarkets, U.S. gas stations and on U.S. online retail purchases — three useful bonus categories for the average household.
However, if rewards in these categories aren’t as important to you as getting boosted rewards for travel redemption, then the Amex EveryDay card comes out on top. This card gives you the option to redeem points at higher values for certain travel spending.
In the end, this decision will likely come down to whether you want a straight cash back card or a no-annual-fee option for earning travel rewards. Let’s take a look at other features that could help you decide between these two rewards credit cards.
Card details at a glance
| Amex EveryDay® Credit Card* | Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express |
|
|---|---|---|
| Welcome bonus | N/A |
|
| Rewards rate |
|
|
| Intro APR | N/A |
(balance transfers must be requested within 60 days of account opening) Either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater. 20.24%-29.24% Variable |
| Annual fee | $0 | $0 |
Amex EveryDay Credit Card vs. Blue Cash Everyday Card highlights
Both of these American Express cards offer similar perks and benefits, but there are differences that could make either card better for one type of spender over the other. We’ll dissect the finer points of both cards so that you can figure out which one suits your spending habits better.
Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express
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Since the Amex EveryDay Credit Card is no longer available, there’s no welcome offer for new cardholders.
Previously, it offered 10,000 Membership Rewards points if you spent $2,000 on purchases within the first six months of opening your account. These points don’t expire and offer an estimated value of 2.0 cents each when transferred to a high value Amex travel partner, according to Bankrate valuations, which would make this offer worth about $200. However, 10,000 Membership Rewards points were only worth $60 when redeemed for statement credit.
In contrast, the Blue Cash Everyday Card offers a $200 statement credit after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new card within the first six months. It’s a straightforward welcome bonus that gives you better value than the Membership Rewards points, making the Blue Cash Everyday the winner in this category.
Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express
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The biggest difference between the Blue Cash Everyday and Amex EveryDay is that the Blue Cash card earns cash back in the form of Reward Dollars, which can be redeemed as statement credits. Meanwhile, the Amex EveryDay earns American Express Membership Rewards points.
Though some might see Membership Rewards points as more valuable, the Blue Cash Everyday Card still wins based on the varied nature of its boosted rewards categories, which fit well within the spending habits of average households:
- Earn 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets, 3% cash back on U.S. online retail purchases, 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations, on eligible purchases for each category on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%).
- Earn 1% cash back on all other eligible purchases.
The Amex EveryDay, on the other hand, offers:
- 2x points at U.S. supermarkets, on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1x)
- 1x points on other purchases
The Blue Cash Everyday may not earn rewards on travel purchases but it outpaces the Amex Everyday in other categories and, therefore, wins our rewards rate category.
Intro APR winner
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The Blue Cash Everyday come with an introductory 0 percent annual percentage rate (APR) offer on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 months after opening your account (20.24%-29.24% Variable APR thereafter). Keep in mind that balance transfers must be requested within the first 60 days after account opening to qualify for the intro APR on either card. Each card also comes with a balance transfer fee of 3 percent with a $5 minimum.
Since the Amex Everyday is discontinued, it no longer has an intro APR offer for new cardholders. That said, there are other cards that offer a similar intro APR offer while having a lower ongoing APR, such as the Citi Custom Cash® Card*.
Learn more: Citi Custom Cash vs. Amex Blue Cash Preferred
Tie
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Neither card charges an annual fee, so they tie in this category.
Which card earns more rewards?
To determine your rewards potential for either card, it’s best to look at a spending example. You can always adjust the dollar amounts to match your particular spending habits. Keep in mind, too, that the rewards you’re earning are different: One earns straight cash back, the other earns points that can be redeemed for cash back, but not at a great redemption rate.
Amex EveryDay vs. Blue Cash Everyday spending example
American Express Membership Rewards points can be worth anywhere from around 0.5 cents to about 2 cents per point, and they’re redeemable for travel, gift cards, shopping and more, though your best redemption rate is going to come through transferring points to Amex travel partners. Amex Reward Dollars are treated like cash back and can be redeemed as statement credits.
If you spend $1,500 every quarter on both cards for their U.S. supermarkets category, you’d max out their $6,000 spending caps. Doing so would earn you 12,000 Membership Rewards points with the Amex EveryDay, which would be worth $72 when redeemed as a statement credit since Membership Rewards points are only worth .6 cents each when redeemed for cash back. But that same spending is worth $180 in cash back with the Blue Cash Everyday since you earn Reward Dollars, which are treated the same as regular cash back, at a higher percentage rate for each purchase.
The Blue Cash Everyday gives you more categories in which to earn boosted rewards. Plus, it has a better redemption rate for cash back. So, if cash back is your goal, the Blue Cash Everyday will earn quite a lot more.
But how might a more balanced budget compare? Here’s what you’d earn in either currency if you spent $1,500 per quarter on your card when split between spending categories:
| Spending categories | Amount spent per quarter | Amex Everyday Card points earned | Blue Cash Everyday cash back earned |
|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. supermarkets | $600 | 1,200 points | $18 |
| U.S. gas stations | $450 | 450 points | $13.50 |
| Amex Travel portal | $200 | 400 points | $2 |
| Miscellaneous | $250 | 250 points | $2.50 |
| Total | $1,500 | 2,300 points | $36 |
With this budget, you’d earn 9,200 points a year with the Amex EveryDay, which would be worth about $55 as a statement credit. On the other hand, you’d earn $144 with the Blue Cash Everyday.
In nearly every spending example, the Blue Cash Everyday comes out on top when you’re strictly looking at these cards for their cash back rewards value. However, the Amex EveryDay is best thought of as a travel rewards card; it’s possible to use it as a cash back card, but be aware the redemption value will fall short. But if you’re looking for a card that offers stronger rewards rates on everyday spending categories, the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express may be a better fit.
Why should you get the Amex EveryDay Credit Card?
Unfortunately, American Express has discontinued the Amex EveryDay card, so it’s unavailable to new cardholders. However, there are a few features that correct cardholders can take advantage of, especially if you want a travel credit card for beginners.
Why should you get the Amex Blue Cash Everyday Card?
The Blue Cash Everyday Card is a solid cash back card. It offers more bonus categories in which to earn boosted rewards than Amex EveryDay does, and, most importantly, you can redeem those rewards for cash back at a value of 1:1. Plus, cash back rewards are simpler than a points system overall.
One downside is that you can’t convert Reward Dollars into Membership Rewards points and redeem them for travel; this truly is a pure cash back card. There’s also a 2.7% of each transaction after conversion to US dollars. for all purchases abroad. But if you don’t travel much, these factors likely won’t be cons for you.
The bottom line
Both the Amex EveryDay and Blue Cash Everyday can help you to earn rewards on purchases you make at U.S. supermarkets, but due to the Amex EveryDay’s lack of availabilty, the Blue Cash Everyday is the clear winner. If earning rewards at U.S. gas stations and on U.S. online retail purchases is important to you as well, the Blue Cash Everyday card should be your pick. Furthermore, if cash back is your rewards goal, Blue Cash Everyday should always come out ahead. However, if you’re looking for travel rewards, it may be better to invest in a travel credit card.
Either way, you should choose the credit card that matches up with your spending habits and financial objectives. This approach will help you to maximize your chosen card’s value.
For rates and fees of the Blue Cash Everyday Card, please click here.
*Information about The Amex EveryDay® Credit Card and Citi Custom Cash Card has been collected independently by Bankrate. The card details have not been reviewed or approved by the issuer.
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