Our Verdict
Rewards earned on the no annual fee Amex EveryDay® Credit Card* are just so-so, although you do get a 20% points boost for using the card 20 times or more per billing period. But the main benefits to this card are its intro APR offer and ability to earn Membership Rewards—a combo not often found. This makes the card potentially a good starter option for earning Membership Rewards and taking advantage of an interest-free window.
Pros
- Possible to earn 20% bonus on all points earned
- 2 Membership Rewards points per dollar on up to $6,000 spent annually at U.S. supermarkets (then 1 point per dollar)
- No annual fee
Cons
- 2.7% foreign transaction fee
- Spending cap on bonus points at grocery stores
- Requires 20 purchases per month to earn 20% bonus
Highlights
- Earn 10,000 membership rewards points after spending $2,000 in qualifying purchases in the first 6 months of card membership
- Earn 2 points per dollar spent on qualifying purchases at US supermarkets up to $6,000 per year (then 1 point)
- Earn 2 points for every dollar when you use your card to book your trip through American Express Travel
- Earn 1 point for every eligible dollar you spend on everything else
- You can use membership rewards points towards eligible charges you make on your card, such as retail, dining, entertainment and more
- Use your card 20 or more times on purchases in a billing period and earn 20% extra points on those purchases
Introduction
The American Express EveryDay card is Amex’s entry-level Membership Rewards card, with earnings of 2 Membership Rewards points per dollar at US supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1X), 2 points per dollar when using the card to book trips through American Express Travel and 1 point for every eligible dollar on everything else. Plus, use the card 20 or more times on purchases in a billing period and earn 20% extra points on those purchases. It also comes with a 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months, followed by a regular APR of 18.24% - 29.24% variable. A balance transfer fee of $5 or 3%, whichever is greater, applies. When it comes to earning power, the card isn’t as rewarding as some other options from Amex with annual fees. Nor does the card beat out non-Amex no annual fee cards in terms of earning ability. The card simply isn’t likely to be the best fit for most rewards-seekers. It may, however, appeal to those seeking a card with a 0% APR offer they can use long after the promo period expires. In that scenario, the EveryDay card shines.
Those who find this card intriguing should also consider the $95 annual fee Amex EveryDay® Preferred Credit Card*. While potential account openers should always make sure enough additional value can be obtained from a card to justify the fee, in this case it’s not difficult to see that the EveryDay Preferred is a superior card offering for those looking to earn rewards.
Quick Facts
- Earn 2 Membership Rewards points per dollar at US supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1X), 2 points per dollar when using the card to book trips through American Express Travel and 1 point for every eligible dollar on everything else. Plus, use the card 20 or more times on purchases in a billing period and earn 20% extra points on those purchases
- No annual fee
- A 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months, followed by a regular APR of 18.24% - 29.24% variable. A balance transfer fee of $5 or 3%, whichever is greater, applies
American Express EveryDay Credit Card Rewards
Earning Rewards
The American Express EveryDay card earns 2 Membership Rewards points per dollar at US supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1X), 2 points per dollar when using the card to book trips through American Express Travel and 1 point for every eligible dollar on everything else. Plus, use the card 20 or more times on purchases in a billing period and earn 20% extra points on those purchases.
This card also offers a welcome bonus: 10,000 points after spending $2,000 in qualifying purchases in the first 6 months of account opening.
Redeeming Rewards
American Express Membership Rewards are a flexible currency that can be redeemed in a variety of ways. Arguably the most valuable use for the points is to move them to Membership Rewards travel transfer partners including Delta and Hilton. When you transfer your Membership Rewards points to a different program, the points can be redeemed according to that program’s policies and redemption rates, so it’s best to understand what kind of redemptions are available before completing the transfers, as they cannot be reversed.
Membership Rewards points can also be redeemed for statement credits, redeemed through Amazon, redeemed for travel through Amex Travel and redeemed for gift cards.
As a general rule, the best value of Membership Rewards points can be found in transferring them to partners, followed by redemptions through Amex Travel. Redemptions for cash back, Amazon purchases and gift cards are typically worth less than a penny per point.
Rewards Potential
Forbes Advisor uses data from various government agencies to determine baseline income and spending averages across various categories. The 70th percentile of wage-earning households brings in $116,000 annually and has $36,177 in annual expenses that can reasonably be charged to credit cards.
Assuming the cardholder always makes at least 20 transactions on their American Express EveryDay Credit Card per month, they’ll be able to earn a significant 20% bonus. We’ll assume that the minimum requirement for the bonus is met.
At 2.4 Membership Rewards points per dollar spent (which includes the 20% bonus) on $6,692 yearly in groceries, this family would earn 16,060.8 Membership Rewards points on groceries alone. The family would earn 29,485 Membership Rewards points on other purchases.
The 45,545 Membership Rewards points can be used for gift cards or travel rewards, which can vary depending on where you purchase them from. By using transfer partners, the value of these points could be much higher. In addition, the card has a first-year welcome bonus that can be earned after meeting minimum spending requirements.
0% Introductory Rates
The American Express EveryDay card offers a 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months, followed by a regular APR of 18.24% - 29.24% variable. A balance transfer fee of $5 or 3%, whichever is greater, applies.
Other American Express EveryDay Credit Card Benefits
- Rental car insurance: Benefit from a secondary auto rental collision damage waiver when you pay for your car rental with your card.
- Amex Offers: Amex Offers may offer additional savings or bonus Membership Rewards points on purchases you’re already planning to make.
Fine Print
Interest Rates
- Regular APR: 18.24% - 29.24% variable
- Purchase intro APR: 0% intro APR for 15 months from the date of account opening
- Balance transfer intro APR: 0% intro APR for 15 months from the date of account opening
Fees
- Annual fee: $0
- Balance transfer fee: Either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
- Foreign purchase transaction fee: 2.7% of each transaction after conversion to US dollars
How the American Express EveryDay Credit Card Stacks Up
Amex EveryDay® Credit Card* vs. Citi Double Cash® Card
A more straightforward rewards card like the Citi Double Cash® Card offers 2% cash back on all purchases—1% when purchases are made and another 1% when they’re paid off. Furthermore, a card like the Citi Double Cash doesn’t complicate things when it comes time to redeem rewards, and it also doesn’t charge an annual fee.
It’s not likely that someone could come out ahead with the Amex EveryDay card on its own compared to the Citi Double Cash. The Amex EveryDay card is more likely to be a good supplement to other cards already in a wallet rather than as a standalone. Pairing it with the Citi Double Cash, though, will not yield much, if any additional benefit.
Amex EveryDay® Credit Card* vs. Chase Freedom Flex℠
The Chase Freedom Flex℠ earns 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in categories that rotate quarterly (requires activation), 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3% cash back on dining and drugstores and 1% cash back on all other purchases
The Chase Freedom Flex℠‘s huge earning potential means it’s likely that most will come out ahead with this card vs. the Amex EveryDay card. Even for those seeking Membership Rewards points, it’s likely that another Membership Rewards-earning card would be a better fit than the Amex EveryDay.
Amex EveryDay® Credit Card* vs. Amex EveryDay® Preferred Credit Card*
Those who are intrigued by the Amex EveryDay Card should consider the Amex EveryDay® Preferred Credit Card*. In exchange for the annual fee of $95 you’ll earn 3 points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets, on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1 point per dollar), 2 points per dollar on U.S. gas stations and eligible travel purchases like prepaid hotel stays, vacation packages and cruises booked through AmexTravel.com and 1 point per dollar on other eligible purchases. This card also has a 50% bonus on all points earned in the billing cycle when you use the card at least 30 times within that period.
To make it worth the Amex EveryDay Preferred’s annual fee, assuming a low value of 1 cent per Membership Reward point, a cardholder would need to earn an extra 9,500 points per year. If an account holder can max out the grocery category and earn the 50% bonus each month, they already come out ahead compared to putting the same purchases on the Amex EveryDay. And that doesn’t include the extra point per dollar on gas purchases and higher bonus on all non-category spending.
Read more: Best Credit Cards of 2024
Featured Partner Offers
Is the American Express EveryDay Credit Card for You?
The American Express EveryDay card is designed for consumers who don’t want to pay to own an American Express Membership Rewards card. However, this card is not likely to be the most rewarding option. Where this card could shine is for someone seeking an intro 0% APR offer on a rewards card or for an Amex customer who already has a stash of Membership Rewards points from a card with an annual fee but no longer wants to pay the carrying cost. Downgrading to the Amex EveryDay would allow the customer to retain Membership Rewards points without forking over a fee each year.
Methodology
Forbes Advisor considers a variety of criteria when assigning credit cards a rating. Cards are graded based on numerous factors, including:
- Annual fees
- Welcome bonus offers
- Ongoing earning rates
- Value of individual points or miles
- Included travel or merchant credits
- Additional cardholder benefits
Card features we expect cardholders to use the most often are weighted more heavily in our ratings. Altogether, the factors came together to provide a star rating for each individual card.
Read more: How Forbes Advisor Rates Credit Cards
*The information for the following card(s) has been collected independently by Forbes Advisor: Amex EveryDay® Credit Card, Amex EveryDay® Preferred Credit Card. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
