The Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express is one of the best rewards cards for people who spend a lot of money on groceries and gas each year, and there are a few reasons why.
Not only does it have no annual fee, cardholders also enjoy competitive points redemption rates across a variety of everyday categories and can quickly earn a generous welcome offer. Plus, points can be easily redeemed for statement credits, allowing you to take advantage of cash back to significantly reduce your credit card bill.
If you’re looking for a card that gives you the most rewards on everyday purchases like grocery store and gas station purchases, read on to find out why the Blue Cash Everyday Card is a great choice.
Why Blue Cash Everyday is a winner for gas and groceries
If you’re looking for the best credit card for gas and groceries, the Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express might be at the top of your list. This card earns 3 percent cash back on purchases at U.S. supermarkets, U.S. gas stations, and U.S. online retailers (on up to $6,000 in purchases per year in each category, 1 percent thereafter), and 1 percent cash back on all other purchases. If the majority of your spending is on gas, groceries, and online shopping, it makes sense to have a credit card that offers high rewards on these purchases.
With this rate of return in mind, even modest gas or grocery expenses like the following examples can help you secure a steady income each year.
| Expense Categories | Annual Expenses | Earn cashback |
|---|---|---|
| supermarket | $5,700 | $171 |
| Gas station | $2,500 | $75 |
| Online Retail | $3,000 | $90 |
| others | $1,500 | $15 |
| Annual total: | $12,700 | $351 |
While the $6,000 spending limit at gas stations, supermarkets, and online shopping may seem like a negative, keep in mind that you’d need to spend at least $500 per month in each category to reach that spending limit. On the plus side, the cash back you earn with this card can be redeemed for statement credits, meaning the rewards can be used directly to save on your bill, saving you between 1 percent and 3 percent on everything you buy with the card.
Gas Rewards
According to a 2023 J.D. Power report, the average American spends about $150 to $200 a month on filling up with gas. And if gas costs eat into your pocket at the rate of $200 a month, using Blue Cash Everyday for gas purchases, which offers 3% cash back on up to $6,000 in annual spend, will give you $72 in cash back every year, which is on par with some of the top gas rewards cards.
Supermarket Benefits
Even after inflation settles, you may still be battling rising monthly grocery bills. With Blue Cash Everyday, you can earn 3% extra rewards on up to $6,000 in grocery purchases per year. If you spend $475 on groceries each month, your annual total will be just under the $6,000 spending limit, earning you $171 in cash back each year.
Online Shopping Benefits
Like gas and groceries, Blue Cash Everyday earns enhanced rewards on online shopping purchases: 3% cash back on up to $6,000 in purchases per year (1% thereafter). Since so many things can be purchased online these days, including groceries, this online shopping category can apply to anything you need if you’re interested in earning groceries outside of U.S. supermarkets.
Welcome Offer
The card also comes with a welcome offer worth $200: Earn a $200 statement credit after you spend $2,000 on purchases with your new Blue Cash Everyday card within the first six months, and get even more value out of that spending when you shop at U.S. supermarkets, gas stations and U.S. online retail categories.
Home Chef Credit
The Blue Cash Everyday card also comes with up to $180 in Home Chef credits, awarded in $15 increments each month. Home Chef delivers meal kits containing fresh ingredients, recipe cards and instructions for cooking healthy, family-friendly meals at home on a recurring basis. Sign-up is required to receive this benefit, and meal kit deliveries are only available in the US (subject to auto-renewal).
This credit helps make the Blue Cash Everyday card more valuable when it comes to feeding your family. Sure, you can earn solid points on spending at U.S. supermarkets, but sometimes you just want someone else to plan your meals for you. That’s where the Home Chef credit comes in.
Disney bundle credits (for watching movies at home)
If you’re used to grocery shopping rather than eating out, a movie night at home might not be unusual. Blue Cash Everyday offers savings when you use Disney Bundle credits. Cardholders will receive an $84 statement credit, which will be applied in $7 increments each month (terms apply). You’ll need to sign up for an account to be eligible for the statement credit, but it could translate into some pretty impressive savings on streaming services.
Introductory APR Offer
The Blue Cash Everyday card also offers new customers a 0 percent introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months, followed by a variable APR ranging from 19.24 percent to 29.99 percent. Cardholders aren’t required to take advantage of this offer, but it’s always nice to have time during this period to pay off big expenses without worrying about accruing additional interest.
Is the Blue Cash Everyday a better card for gas and grocery shopping than the Blue Cash Preferred?
The Blue Cash Everyday isn’t the only American Express credit card that offers rewards on gas and supermarket purchases. Another option is the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express, which has a fee but offers better cash back rates at U.S. supermarkets. Learn more:
- Earn 6% cash back on up to $6,000 in annual spending at U.S. supermarkets
- Earn 6% cash back on select US streaming subscriptions
- Earn 3% cash back at gas stations and transit stations in the US
- Earn 1% cash back on other eligible purchases
- Get a $250 welcome offer after you spend $3,000 in the first 6 months
- 0 percent introductory APR for 12 months on purchases and balance transfers, then 19.24 percent to 29.99 percent variable APR.
So which card is better? It all depends on your spending and your willingness to pay the annual fee. If you’re not sure, Bankrate has a rigorous comparison of the Blue Cash Everyday and Blue Cash Preferred.
Conclusion
Earning big rewards points on groceries and gas can help ease your budget, and the Blue Cash Everyday Card makes that process super easy, thanks in part to its great rewards rate, but also thanks to its $0 annual fee and 0 introductory APR.
That said, there are other cards out there that can earn you generous rewards on groceries, gas, and the regular purchases that most households make, and the Blue Cash Everyday Card is definitely worth considering, but be sure to check out the other top cash back credit cards before you decide.
