Blue from American Express Card: Pros, Cons, and Expert Analysis

Blue from American Express is a premium rewards credit card that offers a unique set of benefits and features. It's designed for individuals who want to earn points on everyday purchases and enjoy exclusive travel perks.

One of the standout features of Blue from American Express is its rewards program, which allows cardholders to earn 1x point on most purchases, with the option to earn 2x points in select categories. This is a more straightforward rewards structure compared to some other premium credit cards.

Cardholders can redeem their points for travel, gift cards, or other rewards, giving them flexibility in how they use their points.

The Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express offers a range of benefits and features that make it a great choice for everyday spending. You'll earn 6% cashback on purchases at U.S. supermarkets, up to $6,000 per year, and 3% on U.S. gas station and transit purchases.

One of the standout benefits is the car rental loss and damage insurance, which provides up to $50,000 of protection against theft or damage to a rental vehicle. This can be a huge money-saver on car rentals.

You'll also get access to a Global Assist Hotline, which offers 24/7 medical, legal, financial, and select emergency coordination and assistance services when you're more than 100 miles from home. However, you'll be responsible for any costs charged by third-party service providers.

The card also offers a Pay It Plan It feature, which allows you to quickly make payments for purchases under $100 throughout the month, and split qualifying purchases of $100 or more into monthly payments with a fixed monthly fee.

Here are some of the key benefits and features of the Blue Cash Preferred Card:

Overall, the Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express is a great choice for everyday spending, with its high cashback rates and valuable benefits.

The Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express offers a rewards program that's straightforward and easy to understand. You'll earn rewards in the form of Reward Dollars, which are not the same as Amex points and can't be converted to them.

You can earn 3% cash back on certain purchases, including U.S. supermarkets, gas stations, and online retail purchases. These categories are broad and include major retailers like Amazon.com and Walmart.com.

Here are the specific bonus categories and their earning rates:

You won't earn bonus rewards on certain types of online purchases, such as airline tickets, concert tickets, food delivery platforms, and more.

To get the most out of your Blue from American Express card, keep your account open until you've redeemed all rewards. This will ensure you don't miss out on any cash back.

You'll want to leave the card at home while traveling internationally, as you'll incur a 2.7-percent foreign transaction fee on every purchase. This can add up quickly.

To avoid paying above-average interest, pay your balance in full every month. This will save you money in the long run.

You can redeem your reward dollars for statement credits in any amount with no redemption minimum. This gives you flexibility in how you use your cash back.

The Blue from American Express card charges a high APR, with its lowest rate being 24.24 percent variable, which is close to the average APR for a credit card designed for someone with bad credit.

Be careful with cash advances, as they come with an even steeper APR, and a 2.7-percent foreign transaction fee can add up quickly.

You'll also want to watch out for hefty charges for late or returned payments, which can be avoided by using your credit line wisely.

For new purchases and balance transfers, you'll get a 0% intro APR for 15 months from account opening, but be aware that the 18.24% - 29.24% Variable rate will take effect after that.

To be eligible for the Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express, you typically need a good to excellent credit score, specifically a FICO score of 670 or higher. This is the minimum standard, but Amex considers your full financial profile when making a decision.

Consistent income and proof of financial responsibility can also help you establish your creditworthiness. This means that your credit history, income stability, and other factors are all taken into account.

While the Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express has many benefits, it also has a few drawbacks.

To be eligible for the Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express, you typically need a good to excellent credit score, which is a FICO score of 670 or higher. This credit score is a significant factor in determining your creditworthiness.

Applicants need to have a consistent income and proof of financial responsibility to increase their chances of being approved. Consistent income is essential for making timely payments on your credit card.

Your full financial profile is considered when evaluating eligibility, so having a good credit history and managing your debt responsibly can also help establish your creditworthiness.

The Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express has some drawbacks to consider.

One of the main drawbacks is that it has a few limitations, such as a lower cash back rate on certain purchases.

The card has a relatively low cash back rate on gas purchases, which may not be ideal for frequent drivers.

The card also has a rotating category system, where the cash back rate on certain categories changes every quarter.

The Blue Cash Everyday Card has a limited sign-up bonus, which may not be as attractive to some users.