Most of what I post is about points, lounges, and $1,400 hotel rooms. This is not that.
The Amex Blue Cash Everyday is a $0 annual fee cash back card. No transfer partners, no lounges, no credits you have to remember to use. You buy groceries, you get money back. That's it.
And honestly? That's why it's good. Not everyone wants to play the points game, and nobody should have to.
Full transparency: that's my referral link, and we can both earn rewards if you apply through it and get approved.
Why I got it
I got the Blue Cash Everyday mainly for one thing: 3% back on online purchases. That's a category most cards don't reward at all, and I buy a lot of stuff online.
It's been a keeper card ever since. I've kept it because I've genuinely been making good use of it, and with no annual fee, there's never a reason to cancel.
What you get
Cash back:
- 3% at U.S. supermarkets
- 3% on U.S. online retail purchases (yes, that includes the big online stores)
- 3% at U.S. gas stations
- Each 3% category is capped at $6,000 a year, then it drops to 1%
- 1% on everything else
Cash back comes as "Reward Dollars" that you redeem as a statement credit.
Extras:
- Up to $7 a month back on a Disney+, Hulu, or ESPN subscription paid with the card. That's $84 a year, which is kind of crazy for a free card.
I don't actually use the Disney credit, though. I don't have the bundle, and I would never pay for Hulu with ads. The ads are horrendous. But if you already pay for one of these, it's free money.
- 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers
What the internet says about it
If you spend any time in the credit card subreddits, the same takes about this card come up over and over. Here's the honest version of each:
"It's a solid, simple no-fee card." Agreed. Three useful categories at 3%, no fee, no homework. For someone who just wants their regular spending to pay them back a little, it's hard to beat.
"The $6,000 caps are low." True. That works out to $500 a month per category. If your family spends more than that on groceries, the 3% stops partway through the year.
"Costco, Walmart, and Target don't count." Also true. Amex's "supermarket" category leaves out warehouse clubs and big-box stores, so those purchases earn 1%. If most of your groceries come from Costco, this card loses a lot of its appeal.
"Just get the Blue Cash Preferred." Sometimes, yes. The Preferred pays 6% at U.S. supermarkets (same $6,000 cap) and costs $95 a year after the first year. The extra 3% covers the fee once you spend about $265 a month at U.S. supermarkets. Below that, the Everyday wins. Above that, the Preferred does.
"Don't use it abroad." Correct. It charges a foreign transaction fee, so leave it at home when you travel.
My rule, applied to a no-fee card
My rule for every card is the same: a benefit is only worth what you'd have spent anyway.
The nice thing about a no-fee card is that the math can't go negative. You're not trying to "earn back" an annual fee. Every 3% is pure upside on spending you were already doing.
Here's a simple example. These are made-up but realistic numbers, not my spending:
| Category | Monthly spend | Yearly cash back |
|---|---|---|
| Groceries | $400 | $144 |
| Online shopping | $150 | $54 |
| Gas | $150 | $54 |
| Total | $252 |
That's about $250 a year for doing nothing different, on a card that costs $0. If you already pay for Disney+ or Hulu, add up to $84 more.
Where it fits if you're into points
If you're deep in the points game like me, you might wonder why you'd bother. Fair question.
- I don't use it for much besides online shopping. My main grocery card is the Citi Custom Cash, which gives 5% back on your top spending category each billing cycle (up to $500). If you have the Amex Gold, that's another good home for groceries at 4x.
- But online retail at 3% is a category most travel cards don't reward, so the Blue Cash Everyday quietly picks that up. That's exactly the job it does for me.
- And a no-fee card is a great "never close it" card. It keeps your credit history long and your available credit high, which helps your credit score.
Who should get it
Get the Blue Cash Everyday if:
- You want cash back, not points, and you don't want to think about it
- It's your first or second card and you don't want an annual fee
- You buy groceries at regular supermarkets and shop online a lot
Get something else if:
- You spend more than about $265 a month at U.S. supermarkets. Look at the Blue Cash Preferred.
- Most of your groceries come from Costco, Walmart, or Target
- You want a card for travel. Start with the Sapphire Preferred instead.
The verdict
This card won't get you into a lounge or a fancy hotel. It's not supposed to. It's the financial equivalent of a good pair of socks: nobody posts about them, but you're glad you have them.
If you want simple cash back with no fee and no stress, this is it. Boring is underrated.
