Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express

This is one of the best offers from our partner American Express.

If you’re looking for great everyday savings without having to think too much about redemption values and category activations, the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express is a solid choice. It’s not the most flexible rewards card option, but if your spending aligns with its categories, it can make a great addition to your wallet.

Here are the details

If there were a credit card tailor-made for families on the go, this would be it. The Blue Cash Everyday offers 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (up to $6,000 annually, then 1%), 2% cash back at U.S. gas stations and select U.S. department stores and 1% on everything else. For those who spend big on groceries and gas, this no annual fee card can bring major value to your wallet.

This card’s accessible welcome offer adds to its cash back value, too. Spend $1,000 within the first three months of account opening and you can earn $150.

You can easily redeem cash back for a statement credit without worrying about points redemptions or maximizing value. People with good to excellent credit are those most likely to qualify.

Is this card right for you?

This card is best suited for families looking to save on everyday purchases.

If you want simple rewards that are a bit more tailored to your spending than flat cash back, this card can be a great fit. Do a bit of research into your past statements to ensure that the majority of your spending is on groceries and gas or at department stores. Otherwise, you may benefit more from a rotating category card like the Discover it® Cash Back * or a flat-rate cash back card like the Chase Freedom Unlimited®. If you surpass $6,000 in annual spending at U.S. supermarkets, you may also want to ensure you have another grocery rewards card to make up the difference. If you often travel outside of the U.S. then it’s also worth considering that this card charges a 2.7% foreign transaction fee (see rates and fees).

Debt consolidation is also an important consideration for many families, and this card can help you get started. There’s a 0% introductory APR on both purchases and balance transfers for 15 months from account opening. Make sure you have a plan to pay off your balance in full by the end of those 15 months, though, as the APR rises to a variable 12.99% – 23.99% afterward. You’ll pay 3% (or $5 minimum) for each balance you transfer to the Blue Cash Everyday (see rates and fees). If you pay late or miss a payment, you’ll incur a penalty fee of up to $40 and a higher penalty APR that lasts at least six months. ( see rates and fees)

If you held the average American’s credit card debt balance at $6,354, you could pay off your balance in full, plus fees, within the introductory period by making monthly payments of $436.31.

How much are the rewards worth

This card’s welcome bonus is a great way to jump-start your cash back earnings.

After you’ve secured the welcome bonus, you should maximize the 3% cash back category at U.S. supermarkets. You’re only able to earn the 3% rate on your first $6,000 in spending annually (then 1%), which means you can secure up to $180 each year in that category. That’s up to $330 in rewards your first year of ownership, before accounting for any additional spending in the 2% categories or the 1% you’ll earn after maxing out your U.S. supermarket earnings.

How to get the most value from this card

The best way to maximize this card’s value is by maxing out your spending in each category. Take full advantage of the 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets until you reach the $6,000 annual cap. Since the 2% cash back at U.S. gas stations and select U.S. department stores is unlimited, make sure you choose this card on each visit throughout the year.

If you’re really looking to cash in on cash back, you may want to pair this with another card that covers your other high-spending categories and also won’t charge an annual fee. Consider the U.S. Bank Cash+™ Visa Signature® Card*, which offers 5% cash back on your first $2,000 in eligible net purchases on your choice of two categories.

You should also take advantage of the perks and extra offers from American Express. These range from presale ticket access to roadside assistance and purchase protection. Make sure you read your card’s terms and benefits and keep up with any additional offers through your Amex account.

Bottom line

The Blue Cash Everyday card is a solid choice for anyone who wants a simple cash back card and can maximize rewards categories. With no annual fee and a fair welcome bonus, big spenders in grocery and gas categories will find great value in this card.

For rates and fees of the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express Card, please click here.

*The information about the U.S. Bank Cash+ Visa Signature Card and the Discover it Cash Backhas been collected independently by Bankrate.com. The card details have not been reviewed or approved by the card issuer.