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American Express offers plenty of travel-focused credit cards, particularly through its lineup of Membership Rewards-earning cards. However, Amex also issues some of the best cashback cards on the market.
With the pandemic continuing to disrupt travel, traditional miles and rewards points may not be as valuable to you as they were in the past. If you'd rather earn cash back on everyday expenses like supermarket spending, gas, or department store purchases, Amex has just launched two new offers that look more appealing than ever.
The cards we're focusing on in this post are the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express and Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express. We will dig into each card's welcome offers, bonus categories, and intro APR periods and help you determine which card best suits your needs.
Amex Blue Cash Cards at a Glance
| Card Details | Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express | Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express |
|---|---|---|
| Welcome Offer | Earn a $200 statement credit after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months. | Earn a $300 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months. |
| Bonus Categories | • 3% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%) • 2% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations and at select U.S. department stores • 1% Cash Back on other purchases • Cash back is issued as a statement credit. | • 6% Cash Back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions • 6% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%) • 3% Cash Back on transit including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more • 3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations • 1% Cash Back on other purchases • Cash back is issued as a statement credit. |
| Intro APRs | 0% on purchases for 15 months then a Variable rate of 13.99% - 23.99% - Rates & Fees | 0% on purchases for 12 months then a Variable rate of 13.99% - 23.99% - Rates & Fees |
| Annual Fee | $0 - Rates & Fees | $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $95. - Rates & Fees |
Welcome Offers
- Earn a $200 statement credit after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.
- Buy Now, Pay Later: Enjoy $0 plan fees when you use Plan It® to split up large purchases into monthly installments. Pay $0 plan fees on plans created during the first 15 months after account opening. Plans created after that will have a plan fee up to 1.33% of each purchase amount moved into a plan based on the plan duration, the APR that would otherwise apply to the purchase, and other factors.
- Low intro APR: 0% for 15 months on purchases from the date of account opening, then a variable rate, 13.99% to 23.99%.
- 3% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%).
- 2% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations and at select U.S. department stores.
- 1% Cash Back on other purchases.
- Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be easily redeemed for statement credits.
- No annual fee.
- Terms Apply.
- Rates & Fees
- 3% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%)
- 2% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations and at select U.S. department stores
- 1% back on other purchases
- Cash back is issued as a statement credit.
The Blue Cash Everyday currently offers a solid bonus of $200 statement credit after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months. New cardmembers can also take advantage of an intro APR of 0% on purchases for 15 months from the date of account opening, then a 13.99% - 23.99% Variable rate applies. (Rates & Fees)
The Blue Cash Preferred offers $300 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months. This offer also comes with an intro APR of 0% on purchases for 12 months then a Variable rate of 13.99% - 23.99%. (Rates & Fees)
If your goal is to avoid paying annual fees, the Blue Cash Everyday provides a top welcome offer without the ongoing cost. Plus, you get a longer intro APR period to pay down any balance incurred on the card.
Better Return on Spending With the Blue Cash Preferred
Of the two cards, the Blue Cash Preferred provides a better ongoing return if you spend enough on your card to justify the ongoing annual fee of $95.
- Earn a $300 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.
- $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.
- Buy Now, Pay Later: Enjoy $0 plan fees when you use Plan It® to split up large purchases into monthly installments. Pay $0 plan fees on plans created during the first 12 months after account opening. Plans created after that will have a plan fee up to 1.33% of each purchase amount moved into a plan based on the plan duration, the APR that would otherwise apply to the purchase, and other factors.
- Low intro APR: 0% for 12 months on purchases from the date of account opening, then a variable rate, 13.99% to 23.99%
- 6% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%).
- 6% Cash Back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions.
- 3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations and on transit (including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more).
- 1% Cash Back on other purchases.
- Cash Back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit.
- Terms Apply.
- Rates & Fees
- 6% Cash Back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions
- 6% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%)
- 3% Cash Back on transit including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more
- 3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations
- 1% Cash Back on other purchases
- Cash back is issued as a statement credit.
For example, let's say each month you spend roughly $30 on streaming services, $300 on groceries, $120 on gas, $50 on tolls and parking, and $100 at department stores, for a total of $600 per month.
If you charge these expenses to the Blue Cash Preferred, you’ll earn $310.80 cash back each year. If you charge these expenses to the Blue Cash Everyday instead, you’ll earn $170.40 each year.
After factoring in the ongoing $95 annual fee, the Blue Cash Preferred earns $215.80 vs. $170.40 for the Blue Cash Everyday. That's an additional $45.40 in savings every year you hold the card.
Leverage 0% Intro APR Offer for Larger Purchases
While the goal is always to pay your card off in full every month, an intro 0% APR on purchases is a great fallback option to finance larger purchases over the short term.
Rather than paying loan set up and broker fees, then paying interest on the purchase each month, you can finance a purchase using your 0% APR card and pay it back over the intro period without the fees or interest charges.
Both of the Blue Cash cards feature generous intro 0% APR offers. The Blue Cash Everyday provides up to 15 months and the Blue Cash Preferred up to 12 months before the regular variable interest rates (see table above) kick in on both cards.
If you pay the balance within the intro period, you won't pay interest on purchases made with either card.
Blue Cash Card Eligibility
As American Express issues both cards, the eligibility requirements are relatively straightforward. As long as you don't already hold the card (or have held it in the past), you should qualify for the bonus cashback, the intro APR periods, and any intro annual fee offer.
“The welcome offer, intro APRs, and intro plan fees are not available to applicants who have or have had this Card. We may also consider the number of American Express Cards you have opened and closed as well as other factors in making a decision on your welcome offer, intro APRs, and intro plan fee eligibility.”
There are no family restrictions on these cards. So, if you've held the Blue Cash Everyday in the past, you qualify for the Blue Cash Preferred (and vice versa) if you meet the rest of the eligibility requirements.
Our Take
The offers on the Blue Cash cards can provide much-needed cashback during one of the most expensive times of the year, taking some of the load off your hip pocket and returning cash to your wallet.
As long as you spend more than a couple of hundred dollars per month on essentials like gas and groceries, the Blue Cash Preferred will provide better value over the long term. That's true even after factoring in the ongoing $95 annual fee.
However, if you already have cards whose bonus categories overlap with the Blue Cash Preferred, or you really don't want to pay an annual fee, new cardmembers can earn a solid welcome bonus of $200 statement credit cash back on the Blue Cash Everyday and take advantage of a top intro APR on purchases.
For rates and fees of the cards mentioned in this post, please visit the following links: Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express (Rates & Fees), and Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express (Rates & Fees)
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Don’t care much for the redemption options since you are limited to either a statement credit or giftcards. Would prefer an actual cashback option
It is a fact that the pandemic will disrupt our travel plans for a long time to come.
And having the opportunity to choose between reward points or earning money back with everyday expenses is a fantastic experience.
Even better when we have two options for AMEX cards,
Blue Cash Everyday and Blue Cash Preferred with simple eligibility requirements.
I loved!
Nice additions, make sense to use those cards more often.
Amex has a great rewards program but in Argentina is really expensive to have one 🙁
A pair of very solid cards. Glad to see them getting a little love.
Really like the 6% cash back on groceries on the Blue Cash Preferred, but it still has some room for improvement here….the 6% isn’t valid at the big box stores (Sam’s Club, Costco and even Walmart) even when all you buy is groceries. I know this is a bit tricky for AMEX to figure out, but I get over half my groceries at these places. It is hard to justify the $95 annual fee with this “limitation” in place…..
I like this card. Simple and to the point vs a lot of the other card products out there these days.
I have the Blue Cash everyday and it’s ok. Having to redeem rewards in exactly $25 increments is a little dated when most cards today you can redeem as little as a penny if you really wanted to.
I appreciate the monthly spending example and seeing how much you come ahead using the Preferred after factoring in the AF. Very helpful stuff.
Obviously apply for business cards first to keep Chase 5/24 intact.
I have one of these cards in anticipation of the day when I don’t renew my Platinum card but not lose my earned points since Amex seems to keep dropping benefits, the most recent being their plan to not allow me to take a guest into the Centurion Lounge starting some time next year.
Yeah I need to sign up for that card. I signed up for the Platinum in May and now with the new benefits won’t be keeping it. I am going to look into the Morgan Stanley version though and see if I can get it for free.
Used to have one but not competitive for big spenders with The more expensive fee cards
Nice article and write up, Jess.
Still waiting on some improved offerings on the AmEx MR-generating Everyday and Everyday Preferred cards.
Have been following/watching them for ~21 months without seeing any changes in SUB or earnings categories.
If your main focus is cash back, that Blue Cash Preferred would be hard to beat with those 6% categories on groceries and select streaming services.
good analysis