The American Express Blue Card is a popular choice for those looking for a no-annual-fee credit card with rewards and benefits.
It offers 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 in combined purchases per year, and 1% cash back on all other purchases.
One of the standout features of the card is its generous rewards rate, making it a great option for families and individuals who spend a lot on groceries.
In addition to its rewards program, the card also offers a $0 foreign transaction fee and a 25% points bonus when redeemed for air travel through Amex Travel.
Quick Facts
The American Express Blue card offers a great rewards program, but let's get straight to the facts.
The Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express offers a 3% cashback rate at U.S. supermarkets, U.S. gas stations, and U.S. online retailers up to $6,000 in purchases per calendar year in each category.
You can earn a $200 statement credit after spending $2,000 on purchases within the first 6 months with the welcome offer.
The card has an annual fee of $0 (rates and fees).
Here are the rewards categories and their corresponding cashback rates:
Card Benefits and Features
The Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express offers a range of benefits that make it a great choice for everyday spending.
You'll earn 3% cash back on U.S. supermarkets, online retail purchases, and gas stations, up to $6,000 per year, then 1%. This is one of the highest rewards rates you'll find on these types of purchases for a no-annual-fee card.
The card also comes with a large welcome offer: a $200 statement credit after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.
Here are some key benefits and features of the Blue Cash Everyday Card:
Purchase Protection
Purchase Protection is a valuable feature that offers up to 90 days of coverage for eligible purchases made with your card. This means you're protected against damage or theft, giving you peace of mind.
You can receive coverage for purchases up to $1,000, and the total maximum coverage per eligible card is $50,000.
Best with Intro APR
If you're looking to make a major purchase and pay it off over time, the Amex Blue Cash Everyday Card is a great option. It offers a 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months from account opening.
You can take advantage of this intro APR to make a purchase, like an appliance or an engagement ring, and earn cash back on the purchase, which you can put right towards paying it off. After the intro period, the APR reverts to 18.24% - 29.24% Variable.
The card also offers statement credits that can help offset the cost of certain subscriptions. For example, you can get a $7 monthly credit when paying for a Disney Bundle subscription costing $9.99 or more with your card, which is up to $84 in annual value.
Here are some other benefits to consider:
- $7 monthly credit when paying for a Disney Bundle subscription costing $9.99 or more with your card.
- $15 monthly credit toward a Home Chef subscription.
Earning on Every Purchase
You'll earn 1% cash-back on every purchase you make, regardless of the category.
This means that even if you're not shopping at U.S. supermarkets, online retailers, or gas stations, you'll still earn rewards on your everyday purchases.
The cash-back rewards are deposited into your account after your monthly statement closes.
The Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express offers a straightforward rewards structure, making it easy to earn cash-back on every purchase.
Here's a breakdown of the rewards categories and their corresponding cash-back rates:
Every purchase you make counts towards earning rewards, making the Blue Cash Everyday Card a great option for those who want a hassle-free rewards experience.
Who Should Get?
If you're looking for a credit card with no annual fee, the Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express could be a great option. You can earn significant rewards on everyday spending without breaking the bank.
The card offers some valuable benefits, including Disney+ and Home Chef credits. These perks can add up to a lot of value over time.
If you don't want to deal with the hassle of earning enough rewards to cancel out an annual fee, this card is a good choice. You can focus on using it for everyday purchases without worrying about whether it's "worth it."
For example, if you're always on the go, a travel credit card might be a better fit. These cards often come with annual fees, but they also offer more valuable perks like travel insurance and airport lounge access.
Alternatives and Comparison
The American Express Blue Card has some great alternatives to consider. The Citi Double Cash Card offers a similar cashback rewards structure, earning 2% cashback on all purchases.
If you're looking for a card with no annual fee, the Bank of America Cash Rewards credit card is a good option, offering 3% cashback on gas and 2% cashback at grocery stores.
The Chase Freedom Unlimited Card also offers a cashback rewards structure, earning 3% cashback on all purchases in your first year up to $20,000 spent, and 1.5% cashback on all other purchases.
Compare the
If you're looking for alternatives to the Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express, there are several options to consider. The Capital One Entertainment card offers 8% cashback on Capital One Entertainment purchases, making it a great choice for those who frequently attend events or purchase tickets online.
Some other cards worth exploring include the Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards credit card and the Citi Custom Cash Card. Both of these cards offer 3% cashback in specific categories, with the Bank of America card offering 2% cashback at grocery stores and wholesale clubs.
The Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express is another option to consider. This card offers 6% cashback at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, making it a great choice for those who do a lot of grocery shopping.
Here's a comparison of these cards:
Ultimately, the best card for you will depend on your individual spending habits and preferences. Be sure to carefully review the terms and conditions of each card before making a decision.
Hard to Get?
The Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express requires good to excellent credit for approval. This means if your credit score is below this level, you'll need to take steps to improve it before applying.
Improving your credit score can take time, but it's worth the effort. A good credit score can open doors to better credit cards and other financial opportunities.
The Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express is a great option for those with good to excellent credit, offering rewards and benefits that can save you money. However, if your credit score isn't up to par, you'll need to look elsewhere.
Take the time to review your credit report and work on building your credit score. This will give you a better chance of getting approved for the Blue Cash Everyday Card or other credit cards in the future.
Rewards and Redemption
Rewards are earned on the American Express Blue Cash Everyday card in the form of cash-back based on a percentage of your total purchase, deposited into your account after your monthly statement closes.
You can earn cash-back on every purchase, even outside of the bonus categories, which will still earn 1% cash-back.
Reward Dollars are worth $1 apiece when redeemed for statement credits, gift cards, and merchandise, and can only be redeemed in multiples of $25.
To redeem your rewards, log in to your online account and select "Use Reward Dollars", then choose a redemption option and the amount of reward dollars you'd like to redeem.
$180 Home Chef Credit
The $180 Home Chef Credit is a great perk for Blue Cash Everyday Card holders. You can receive up to $15 in statement credits every month when you use your card to buy a Home Chef subscription.
Enrollment is required to take advantage of this credit, and shipping is only available in the contiguous U.S. This means you'll need to sign up for the Home Chef subscription through your card account online.
To get the most out of this credit, be sure to spend more than $9.99 per month on your Home Chef subscription. This will help you earn the maximum $15 in statement credits each month.
By redeeming your rewards, you can put the $180 credit towards your Home Chef subscription over the course of 12 months. This can help offset the cost of meal planning and grocery delivery.
Remember, this credit is subject to auto-renewal, so be sure to review your subscription details regularly to avoid any surprises.
Earning Rewards
Earning Rewards is a great way to maximize your spending power, and the Amex Blue Cash Everyday card makes it easy to do so. You can earn cash-back Reward Dollars on every purchase, with a base rate of 1%.
Every purchase you make, even outside of the bonus categories, will still be earning 1% cash-back. This means you can earn rewards on all your daily expenses, from groceries to gas.
To give you a better idea of how this works, let's break down the earning potential:
The cash-back Reward Dollars are deposited into your account after your monthly statement closes, so you can easily track your earnings. With a no-annual-fee card, you can enjoy the benefits of earning rewards without any extra costs.
Redeeming Rewards
You can only redeem Blue Cash Everyday rewards in multiples of $25, and the minimum you can request is $25. This means you can't redeem a partial amount, so make sure you have enough Reward Dollars to cover the amount you want to redeem.
One of the best things about redeeming rewards on the Amex Blue Cash Everyday card is that you can get a statement credit, which will directly reduce your outstanding balance. This can be a huge help if you're trying to pay off your credit card balance.
You can also redeem your rewards for gift cards or merchandise, but be aware that this option may not be the best value compared to a statement credit. In fact, the Reward Dollars are worth $1 apiece when redeemed for statement credits, gift cards, or merchandise, so it's essential to weigh the pros and cons before making a decision.
Here are the ways to redeem your Blue Cash Everyday rewards:
- Statement credits: Request a statement credit online and get a direct reduction in your outstanding balance.
- Gift cards: Redeem your rewards for gift cards, but be aware that this option may not be the best value.
- Merchandise: Redeem your rewards for merchandise, but again, this option may not be the best value.
Remember, you can only redeem your rewards in multiples of $25, and the minimum you can request is $25.
Fees and Drawbacks
The Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express has some drawbacks to consider. The card's bonus categories are capped at $6,000 spent per year in each category, which translates to $500 in spending per month per category.
This limit can be reached quickly if you spend a lot of money online, buying groceries or filling up on gas. You can earn $180 per category and $540 in total by reaching the cap on each category, but it's essential to be aware of this limitation.
If you're a frequent traveler, you'll also want to note that the elevated rewards rates only apply to U.S. supermarket and gas station locations and online retailers in the U.S. This means you won't earn the higher rewards rate on purchases made outside the U.S.
No Annual Fee
The No Annual Fee perk is a big plus for some cardholders. The Amex Blue Cash Everyday card doesn't have an annual fee, so you can keep the card as long as you want to build your credit history.
For Higher Rates
If you're willing to pay an annual fee, there are some cards that can offer higher rewards rates. The Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express has a moderate annual fee of $95 after the first year, but it also offers higher rewards rates.
The card's rewards rate is 6% cashback on purchases at U.S. supermarkets, up to $6,000 per year, and on select streaming services. This can add up quickly, especially if you regularly shop at U.S. supermarkets or stream your favorite shows.
Additionally, the card offers 3% cashback on U.S. gas station and transit purchases, which can be a nice bonus for frequent travelers or commuters.
To make the most of this card, crunch the numbers to see if you'll earn enough rewards to cancel out the cost of the annual fee.
Drawbacks
The Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express has some notable drawbacks to consider. The card's bonus categories are capped at $6,000 spent per year in each category, which translates to $500 in spending per month per category.
This limit might not be a concern for casual users, but if you spend a lot online or on groceries, you could hit the category maximums quickly. On the other hand, if you have a significant grocery budget, you might be better off with the American Express Gold Card, which offers a $25,000 annual limit on its bonus for U.S. supermarket purchases.
If you plan to travel overseas, you'll be subject to a foreign transaction fee of 2.7% of each transaction after conversion to US dollars. This fee applies to purchases from foreign websites, even if you're inside the U.S. when you make the purchase.
For travelers, it's worth considering a no-annual-fee card like the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card, which offers 1.25 Miles per dollar on every purchase, every day.
Here are some key drawbacks to keep in mind:
- Limit on higher rewards rate: $6,000 spent per year in each category
- Bonus categories apply to U.S. purchases only
- Foreign transaction fees: 2.7% of each transaction after conversion to US dollars
Charge Inquiry
The Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express is not a charge card. It's a credit card with a variable APR ranging from 18.24% to 29.24% based on your creditworthiness.
You can carry a balance from one month to the next, but you'll owe interest on the unpaid balance each month after your intro APR on purchases expires.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the American Express Blue Card hard to get?
The American Express Blue Card has a relatively high credit score requirement of at least 700 for approval. If you have good credit, you may have a good chance of getting approved for this card.
What is the credit limit on a blue card American Express?
The average credit limit for the Blue Card from American Express is $11,828, with $10,000 being the most common. Check your eligibility and learn more about this card's benefits and features.
What is the blue cash everyday card from American Express?
The Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express offers cash back rewards on everyday purchases with no annual fee, including 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets and online retailers. Earn up to $6,000 in annual rewards in these categories before cash back rates drop to 1%.
What is the credit limit on American Express Blue cash?
The average credit limit for American Express Blue Cash is $11,825, with $10,000 being the most common. Check your eligibility and learn more about this card's benefits and terms.
What credit score do I need for an American Express blue cash card?
To apply for the American Express Blue Cash Preferred card, aim for a credit score of at least 670, but 700+ for the best approval chances. Good credit is essential for this card.
Sources
- https://erika.com/blue-cash-everyday-card-from-american-express-review/
- https://www.businessinsider.com/personal-finance/credit-cards/best-american-express-cards
- https://upgradedpoints.com/credit-cards/reviews/blue-cash-everyday-card-american-express/benefits/
- https://www.lendingtree.com/credit-cards/review/blue-cash-everyday-american-express/
- https://wallethub.com/answers/cc/how-does-the-american-express-blue-cash-work-2140748531/
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