American Express is well known for its premium rewards cards and its wide range of awesome travel rewards programs. But your American Express credit cards are for more than just special occasions and business travel. There are quite a few excellent offers from American Express for cards that can help you save money and earn membership rewards points on those regular, everyday purchases like gas, groceries, and retail shopping.
Of course, the best American Express card for making everyday purchases will differ from one cardholder to the next. It all depends on your spending habits, preferences, and the kinds of rewards or benefits you prioritize.
If you’re really in the market for a great travel rewards card, jump to our look at the very best travel credit cards from American Express.
Otherwise, read on for a look at the AmEx credit cards designed for your everyday spending.
The Best American Express Cards for Everyday Purchases
Looking for benefits and rewards for everyday shopping? American Express offers a variety of cards that are both accessible and capable of returning tremendous value for use on everyday purchases.
American Express Everyday® Credit Card
As its name suggests, the American Express Everyday card is designed to offer reward dollars for card transactions on everyday purchases like groceries, household goods, and day to day spending needs. It is also noteworthy that the AmEx Everyday card is among several American Express cards with a reputation for accessibility, particularly in light of its $0 annual fee.
- Fees: No annual fee
- Features:
- 2x points for spending on up to $6000 at U.S. supermarkets per year, and 1x points on grocery store purchases that exceed that amount.
- 1x points on all other eligible purchases both online and in brick and mortar retail stores.
- 20% extra points if you use your card 20 or more times on purchases in a single monthly billing period.
- 0% introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months from the time of opening your account.
- Rewards: The AmEx “Pay With Points” program allows you to redeem your reward dollars for flights, gift cards, merchandise, and to help offset credit card charges.
Blue Cash Everyday® Card
If you’re looking for a way to earn cash back on your everyday expenses, the Blue Cash Everyday Card offers an amazing spectrum of rewards for things like grocery shopping, filling up at the pump, and shopping online. And without an annual fee, and a 0% introductory APR rate, the Blue Cash card is among the more affordable rewards cards available through American Express.
- Fees: No annual fee
- Features:
- 3% cash back for spending on up to $6000 in purchases at U.S. supermarkets over the course of a single year.
- 3% cash back for spending on up to $6000 in online purchases through U.S. based merchants over the course of a single year.
- 3% cash back for spending on up to $6000 at U.S. gas stations over the course of a single year.
- 1% cash back on all other eligible purchases
- 0% introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months from the time of account opening.
- Rewards: The Blue Cash card is great for everyday spending for you and your family members. American Express notes that you can accelerate your receipt of cash back points when you authorize additional cardholders on your account. This allows you to earn even more points when your family members or loved ones use these additional cards.
[Wondering how many American Express cards you can own at once. Check out our article to find out.]
AmEx Cash Magnet® Card
If your everyday life involves use of public transportation, rideshare, or some other form of paid travel, you know how much these daily expenses can add up. The AmEx Cash Magnet Card is designed to help you offset these daily expenses, along with other cash back benefits. With a low annual fee and a higher than average rate of cash back on groceries, this is a great card for daily commuters and busy parents.
- Fees: No annual fee in the first year; $95 per year after the first year.
- Features:
- Earn a statement credit of $250 when you spend $3,000 on purchases using your new card within the first 6 months of opening your account.
- 6% cash back for spending on up to $6,000 per year for groceries at U.S. supermarkets.
- 6% cash back for spending on select streaming subscriptions
- 3% cash back for spending on transit including taxis, rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses, and more.
- 3% cash back for spending on up to $6000 at U.S. gas stations over the course of a single year.
- 1% cash back on all other eligible purchases.
- 0% introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 12 months following account opening.
- Rewards: With the Magnet Card, your cash back reward dollars will appear as statement credits. And you can accelerate the pace at which you earn cash back dollars by adding other cardholders to your account. When your family members spend using these added cards, you’ll earn points at an even faster rate.
American Express® Gold Card
While the American Express Gold Card carries a higher annual fee than the other cards noted here, its generous combination of membership rewards and travel rewards makes it the perfect card for both everyday spending and special occasions.
- Annual Fee: $250
- Travel Benefits:
- 4x Membership Rewards points for spending on groceries at supermarkets for up to $25,000–an extremely generous spending limit–and 4x rewards for spending at restaurants worldwide.
- Various travel rewards including 3x points for flights booked directly through participating airlines or through Amex Travel.
- 1x Membership Rewards Points on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 dining credit for food delivery as well as use at select restaurants.
- American Express® Preferred Access, which offers access to premium seats for select cultural events, cultures, theater performance, and sporting events.
- American Express Experiences, which gives cardholders exclusive access to ticket presales and Card Member-only events in a city near you including Broadway shows, concert tours, family events, and more.
Keep In Mind…
The best American Express card for your everyday spending will depend on a number of factors, including your financial background, your spending habits, and your intended use of your card. Fortunately, as this article demonstrates, American Express does offer a variety of cards offering benefits packages in a wide range of spending categories.
The American Express Gold Card, for example, places an emphasis on dining, supermarket and travel rewards. By contrast, the Cash Magnet Card offers heightened rewards for daily commuters, whereas the Blue Cash card specializes in cash back on retail purchases in a wide range of categories.
Before you choose the right AmEx card, consider your typical spending patterns and look for the rewards or benefits that align best with your lifestyle. Take a closer look at the rewards rates, annual fees, introductory offers, and additional perks to determine which card would provide the most value based on your spending habits.
You’ll also want to keep in mind that terms, conditions, and limitations apply, and that rewards packages and benefits are subject to change. For instance, many welcome bonus rewards vary according to different promotional periods and offers. With this in mind, you’ll want to check for the most up to date information directly through the American Express website.
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So now that you’ve selected the best American Express Card for everyday purchases, you may be wondering where you can and can’t use your AmEx. To learn more, jump to our article which asks the question–where can American Express credit cards be used?