Review: AMEX EveryDay vs Blue Cash Everyday

Both cards have a rewards program that is consistent throughout the year (there are no rotating categories to worry about).

The difference is in the details.

The American Express Blue Cash Everyday Card gives you cash back while the Amex EveryDay Card provides Membership Rewards points.

Keep reading to see the pros and cons of each card.

	Amex EveryDay	Blue Cash Everyday
	Earn 10,000 Membership Rewards® points after you use your new Card to make $1,000 in purchases in your first 3 months. - Learn more	$100 statement credit after you spend $1,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 3 months. - Learn more
	Interest Rates and Fees
Introductory APR for Purchases	0% introductory APR on Purchases for 12 months	0% introductory APR on Purchases for 12 months
Introductory APR for Balance Transfers	0% introductory APR on Balance Transfers for 12 months	0% introductory APR on Balance Transfers for 12 months
Purchase APR	13.99% to 23.99% Variable based on your creditworthiness and other factors	13.99% to 24.99% Variable based on your creditworthiness and other factors
Balance Transfers APR	13.99% to 23.99% Variable based on your creditworthiness and other factors	13.99% to 24.99% Variable based on your creditworthiness and other factors
Annual Fee	$0 annual fee	$0 annual fee
	See Rates & Fees	See Rates & Fees
	Benefits and Features
Cash Back		Cash Back Rewards: 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. Terms and limitations apply.
Points	Point Rewards: 2x points at US supermarkets, on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1x); 1x points on other purchases. Terms and limitations apply.
Bonus Reward Points	Bonus Reward Points: Use your Card 20 or more times on purchases in a billing period and earn 20% more points on those purchases less returns and credits. Terms and limitations apply.
Grocery	Grocery Rewards: 2x points at US supermarkets, on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1x). Terms and limitations apply.	Grocery Rewards: 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%). Terms and limitations apply
Gas		Gas Rewards: 2% cash back at U.S. gas stations. Terms and limitations apply
Airline Transfer Partners	Airline Transfer Partners: Airline transfer partners include Delta, Hawaiian Airlines, Aeromexico, Air Canada, Air France, Emirates, Cathay Pacific (Asia Miles), Virgin Atlantic, Singapore Airlines, Etihad, Alitalia, All Nippon Airways and more.

Why Either Amex EveryDay or Blue Cash Everyday Is Good

With either Amex EveryDay or Blue Cash Everyday, you get:

• No annual fee.

• An introductory 0% APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 12 months. After that, a variable APR. For the Blue Cash Everyday, the variable APR is currently 13.99% to 24.99%. For the Amex EveryDay, the variable APR is currently 13.99% to 23.99%.

Why Blue Cash Everyday Is Superior

Here is how the Blue Cash Everyday cash back works:

Blue Cash Everyday cardholders receive 3% cash back on purchases made at qualifying U.S. supermarkets, on up to $6,000 worth of purchases per year (then 1%); 2% at U.S. gas stations and select department stores; and 1% back on other purchases. Cash back comes in rewards dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit, turned into a gift card, or used to buy merchandise through the American Express website.

Here is why you may prefer Blue Cash Everyday over Amex EveryDay:

• You can earn $100 statement credit after you spend $1,000 in purchases on the card in the first 3 months.
  
• 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.
  
• 2% cash back at select department stores.
  
• The cash back rewards dollars can be applied to your statement as credit while the points you’d get with the Amex EveryDay transfer to statement credit at a lower rate.

To learn more about the $100 promotion, visit American Express' secure website.

Why Amex EveryDay Is Superior

Here is how Amex EveryDay Membership Rewards system works:

Earn 2x points at qualifying U.S. supermarkets, on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1x) and 1x points on other purchases.

But that's not all: if you make 20 or more purchases in a billing period, you get 20% more points on those purchases (less returns and credits).

While the points can be used for a statement credit or for gift cards, their best value. in our opinion. comes from redeeming them for airline miles and hotel points that are partnered with American Express.

Here is why you may prefer Amex EveryDay over Blue Cash Everyday:

• Intro offer: earn 10,000 Membership Rewards points when you spend $1,000 in the first 3 months of owning the card.
  
• You can transfer Membership Rewards points to over a dozen frequent travel programs associated with major carriers like Delta and JetBlue, or to hotel chains like Hilton, Best Western, and Starwood.

To learn more about the 10,000 bonus points promotion, visit American Express' secure website.

Keep in Mind

• Both cards have a foreign transaction fee of 2.7%, which applies to each purchase you make outside the country.
  
• Both rewards programs cap their high benefits on U.S. supermarket purchases at $6,000 in purchases a year, which averages to $115 a week. After reaching the limit, Blue Cash Everyday cash back goes to 1% for U.S. supermarket purchases and Amex EveryDay Membership Rewards goes to 1x points.
  
• Also note that American Express cards are generally not accepted as widely as Visa or MasterCard.

So, Should You Get Blue Cash Everyday or Amex Everyday?

Both cards have rewards programs, but in our opinion, it comes down to how you want your rewards. Blue Cash Everyday points can quickly be applied as statement credit or gift cards. There’s no complicated math involved.

Amex EveryDay’s points can be used as statement credit or for gift cards, but in our opinion, the best use of Membership Rewards points is to transfer them to airline and hotel partners. This makes Amex EveryDay the better choice for frequent travelers or for people who travel less frequently but always on the same airline or hotel. Amex EveryDay is also a good option for people who consistently make 20 or more purchases a month and can take advantage of the 20% point incentive.