How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.If you’re in the market for a no-annual-fee cash back* card that offers generous rewards on everyday purchases, you should look at the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express. This card is well worth it for customers who frequently spend on its bonus categories or want interest-free financing.
It offers a higher-than-average cash back rate on U.S. supermarkets purchases, U.S. online purchases and U.S. gas stations purchases. Plus, new cardholders can also earn a substantial welcome offer. Rewards are easily redeemed for statement credits or at Amazon.com checkout.
And for those who need extra time paying off purchases, the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express has a generous intro APR: 0% on purchases for 15 months and 0% on balance transfers for 15 months (then a 20.24%-29.24% Variable APR applies).
Still, there are downsides to this card as well. Only purchases within the U.S. qualify for bonus cash back*, and the 3% rewards are limited to the first $6,000 you spend in each category. In addition, the card charges a 2.7% of each transaction after conversion to US dollars. So you should think twice about bringing it with you on vacation.
Intro Purchase APR
0% on purchases for 15 months
Regular Purchase APR
20.24%-29.24% Variable
Intro BT APR
0% on balance transfers for 15 months
Regular BT APR
20.24%-29.24% Variable
Annual Fee
$0
Cash Advance Fee
Either $10 or 5% of the amount of each cash advance, whichever is greater.
Foreign Transaction Fee
2.7% of each transaction after conversion to US dollars.
Balance Transfer Fee
Either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
Rewards on everyday purchases
The Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express offers bonus cash back* on purchases that most households use on a regular basis. You’ll get 3% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%. 3% Cash Back on U.S. online retail purchases, on up to $6,000 per year, then 1%. 3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations, on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%. 1% cash back on other purchases. Terms apply.
This is one of the highest rewards rates you’ll find on U.S. supermarket and U.S gas purchases for a no-annual-fee card. However, if you’re willing to pay an annual fee, you’ll find even more rewarding cards for U.S. supermarket purchases, including the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express (see rates & fees).
Large welcome offer
Many credit cards with no annual fee have a small welcome offer — or no bonus at all. With the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express, you can earn a $200 statement credit after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months. This bonus opportunity is larger than normal and has a relatively easy spending hurdle to meet ($333.33 per month).
Long intro APR
Having a long intro APR offer provides extra time to repay your balance before being charged interest. With this card, you get an APR offer on balance transfers as well as on new purchases. Cardholders receive an intro APR of 0% on purchases for 15 months and an intro APR of 0% on balance transfers for 15 months. Once the promotional period ends, a regular 20.24%-29.24% Variable APR will apply to any unpaid portion of the balance.
This promo APR provides you with more than a year to pay off your balance transfers while eliminating high-interest debt — that’s longer than the average introductory period (which we’ve found to be around 12 months). Plus, all new purchases avoid interest charges during the promo period too.
$0 annual fee
The Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express has a $0 annual fee, and it earns cash back* rewards on everyday purchases and includes valuable benefits that make it worthwhile beyond the intro APR offer.
Limit on higher rewards rate
The card’s bonus categories are capped at $6,000 spent per year in each category — U.S. supermarkets, U.S. gas stations and online purchases in the U.S. That amounts to $500 in spending per month per category. Keep in mind, though, that this is a generous limit — you can earn $180 per category and $540 in total by the reaching cap on each category. That’s a huge amount of cash back* from a no annual fee card.
Nonetheless, if you spend a lot of money online, buying groceries or filling up on gas, you could hit the category maximums quickly. But 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.
Bonus categories apply to U.S. purchases only
Another downside is that the elevated rewards rates only apply to U.S. supermarket and gas station locations and online retailers in the U.S.
For travelers planning to go overseas, the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card could be an ideal choice for a $0-annual-fee card (see rates & fees). It offers 1.25 Miles per dollar on every purchase, every day; 5 Miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. And as for foreign transaction fees, there are none (see rates & fees).
Foreign transaction fees
If you use the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express to make purchases outside the U.S., you’ll be subject to a foreign transaction fee of 2.7% of each transaction after conversion to US dollars.
If, however, you’re hoping to earn rewards on gas purchases abroad, the Wells Fargo Autograph® Card is a good $0-annual-fee alternative that doesn’t charge a foreign transaction fee.
While the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express is a solid option, it’s not the best option for everyone. Here are a few alternatives that may be a better fit for your lifestyle and spending habits.
The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express also gives you elevated rewards rates on U.S. supermarket and U.S. gas station spending, but at a much higher rate and with additional bonus categories. Cardholders earn 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. Terms apply. Like the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express, the cash back that you earn is redeemable for statement credits or at Amazon.com checkout.
On the downside, it charges a $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95. But even with the annual fee, it’s still the better option for cardholders who spend a lot on groceries — spending more than $3,167 per year on groceries (just $264 per month) at U.S. supermarkets earns you more with the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express.
If your monthly spending varies, the Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card could be a better choice, as it lets you choose your own bonus category. It earns 3% cash back in the category of your choice. 2% cash back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs for the first $2,500 in combined choice category/grocery store/wholesale club quarterly purchases. 1% cash back on all other purchases. Bank of America customers with higher bank and investment balances may even qualify for up to 75% more cash back with Preferred Rewards.
This card also includes a $200 online cash rewards bonus after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening. Plus, it’s a better option for financing a purchase or transferring a balance. You’ll get a 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days and 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases (followed by a 18.24% - 28.24% Variable APR).
If you’re looking for a $0-annual-fee card that you’ll strictly use for grocery purchases, the Citi Custom Cash® Card is the better way to go.
The Citi Custom Cash® Card offers robust cash back rewards on the highest eligible spending category each month. You’ll earn 5% cash back on purchases in your top eligible spend category each billing cycle, up to the first $500 spent, 1% cash back thereafter. Also, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases. The 5% category includes grocery and gas purchases, beating the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express‘s bonus on these two categories.
However, the card has one major downside: The 5% bonus is limited to $500 monthly ($6,000 per year total), and you only earn 1% on most other purchases. If you’re searching for a card that you can use for a variety of everyday purchases, you’re better off with the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express.
| Credit Cards | Our Ratings | Welcome Offer | Rewards Rate | Annual Fee | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express
|
Earn a $200 statement credit after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months. | 3% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%. 3% Cash Back on U.S. online retail purchases, on up to $6,000 per year, then 1%. 3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations, on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%. 1% cash back on other purchases. Terms apply. | $0 | ||
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
|
Earn a $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months. | Earn 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. Terms apply. | $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95. | ||
Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card
 Apply Now
on Bank Of America's secure site |
$200 online cash rewards bonus after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening | 3% cash back in the category of your choice. 2% cash back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs for the first $2,500 in combined choice category/grocery store/wholesale club quarterly purchases. 1% cash back on all other purchases. | $0 |
Apply Now
on Bank Of America's secure site |
|
Citi Custom Cash® Card*
|
Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back. | Earn 5% cash back on purchases in your top eligible spend category each billing cycle, up to the first $500 spent, 1% cash back thereafter. Also, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases. | $0 |
The Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express is a good option for grocery shoppers who want to earn a generous amount of cash back* while paying a $0 annual fee.
But if you want to earn an even higher cash back* rate at U.S. supermarkets and U.S. gas stations, as well as select streaming services and transit, the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express may be a better fit — especially if you plan to earn enough to cover the annual fee each year.
Yes, if you make purchases while traveling outside the U.S., American Express charges a foreign transaction fee of 2.7% of each transaction after conversion to US dollars. This fee will also apply to purchases from foreign websites, even if you’re inside the U.S. when you make that purchase.
No, the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express is a credit card with a 20.24%-29.24% Variable APR, based on your creditworthiness and other factors as determined at the time you open your account. You can carry a balance from one month to the next. However, you’ll owe interest on the unpaid balance each month once your intro APR on purchases expires.
The Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express requires good / excellent credit for approval. If your score is below this level, take steps to improve your credit score before you apply.
To see rates & fees for American Express cards mentioned on this page, visit the links provided below:
For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the benefits may be provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply
The information related to the Wells Fargo Autograph® Card and Citi Custom Cash® Card has been independently collected by LendingTree and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication. Terms apply.
The content above is not provided by any issuer. Any opinions expressed are those of LendingTree alone and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any issuer. The offers and/or promotions mentioned above may have changed, expired, or are no longer available. Check the issuer's website for more details.
