Disclosure: Emily & I get a commission for links on the blog. You don’t have to use our links, but we’re very grateful when you do. American Express is a Million Mile Secrets advertising partner.
Did you know you can get a 20% to 50% bonus “everyday?”
American Express has introduced new EveryDay cards, so let’s see if they make sense for you! I like the EveryDay card because it has no annual fee and is a great way to keep your Membership Rewards point active. I like the EveryDay Preferred card, because you could earn up to 1.5 Membership Rewards points per $1 spent!
Get Up to a 50% Bonus on EveryDay Purchases
American Express EveryDay Card
Link: American Express EveryDay
You get 10,000 American Express Membership Rewards points after spending $1,000 within 90 days.
The sign-up bonus is similar to the 10,000 point sign-up bonus on the Chase Freedom. The EveryDay card does NOT have an annual fee!
With the American Express EveryDay card you earn:
2X American Express Membership Rewards points per $1 spent at US supermarkets (up to $6,000 a year)
1X American Express Membership Rewards points per $1 spent elsewhere
As always, terms and conditions apply.
How to Get an Extra 20% Bonus
You get an extra 20% American Express Membership Rewards point bonus when you use your card 20 times before your billing statement closes, less returns and credits.
There is no minimum transaction amount required to get the 20% bonus. So you could put multiple small transactions on your card.
So you’re effectively earning:
2.4X American Express Membership Rewards points per $1 spent at US supermarkets (up to $6,000 a year)
1.2X American Express Membership Rewards points per $1 spent elsewhere
And American Express Membership Rewards points can be used to:
Travel using Pay with Points
Transfer to certain hotels
Transfer to certain airlines
Redeem for gift cards
Redeem for Amazon purchases
Membership Rewards Points Can Be Transferred to Certain Airlines
And because the American Express EveryDay card is a no-annual fee card, it’s a great card to keep for a long time to build your credit history.
And it will keep your Membership Rewards points active if you cancel a card which earns Membership Rewards points, such as an American Express Platinum card, Business Platinum card, or Mercedes-Benz Platinum card.
You Can Keep Your Membership Rewards Points Alive With the No-Annual Fee American Express EveryDay Card
How Does This Compare to the American Express Premier Rewards Gold Card?
With the American Express Premier Rewards Gold card, you earn:
2X American Express Membership Rewards points per $1 spent on groceries and gas within the US
3X American Express Membership Rewards points per $1 spent on airfare
15,000 American Express Membership Rewards points after spending $30,000 within a calendar year
As always, terms and limitations apply
But you pay a $175 annual fee!
There is no annual fee on the American Express EveryDay card. And for most folks, 2X American Express Membership Rewards points (2.4X if you have more than 20 transactions a month) on groceries from the American Express EveryDay card is a better value. Remember, the bonus does NOT apply to returns or credits.
What About the American Express Blue Cash Everyday Card?
The American Express Blue Cash Everyday card has no annual fee and earns:
3% cash back at supermarkets (up to $6,000 a year)
2% cash on gas
But you can NOT transfer those points to partner airlines and hotels like you can with the EveryDay card.
Blue Cash Everyday Points Can’t Get You A Hotel Room
EveryDay Preferred Credit Card
Link: American Express EveryDay Preferred
You get 15,000 American Express Membership Rewards points after spending $1,000 within 90 days. There is a $95 annual fee.
You get a larger sign-up bonus from the Chase Sapphire Preferred or the Barclays Arrival card. But you can earn more points from spending with the American Express EveryDay Preferred card!
You earn:
3X American Express Membership Rewards points per $1 spent at US supermarkets (up to $6,000 a year)
2X American Express Membership Rewards points per $1 spent at US gas stations
1X American Express Membership Rewards points per $1 spent elsewhere
How to Get a 50% Bonus
You get an extra 50% American Express Membership Rewards point bonus when you use your card 30 times during your billing statement closes. The 50% bonus does not apply to returns or credits. There is no minimum transaction amount for the 30 purchases.
So you’re effectively earning:
4.5X American Express Membership Rewards points per $1 spent at US Supermarkets (up to $6,000 a year)
3X American Express Membership Rewards per $1 spent at US gas stations
1.5X American Express Membership Rewards points per $1 spent elsewhere
Use Your American Express Everyday Preferred for Groceries & Gas
So the American Express Everyday Preferred is better for groceries and gas. That’s because you only get 2X American Express Membership Rewards points on groceries and gas from the Premier Rewards Gold card.
A Good Card for Groceries & Gas, But Not the Best…
And if you value American Express Membership Rewards points, the American Express Everyday Preferred is my favorite card for everyday spending. Because you earn 1.5X American Express Membership Rewards points on your everyday spending vs ~1 point on most other cards.
However, you have to use your card 30 times, less returns and credits, before your statement closes to get the 50% bonus which gives you 1.5 American Express Membership Rewards points per $1 spent. But that’s easy to do if you use it for everyday expenses.
Doesn’t the American Express Blue Cash Preferred Earn 6% on Groceries?
With the American Express Blue Cash Preferred you earn:
6% cash back per $1 spent at US supermarkets (up to $6,000)
3% cash back per $1 spent at gas stations and select department stores
But you CANNOT transfer the cash or points from the American Express Blue Cash Preferred to partner airlines and hotels like you can with the American Express EveryDay Preferred card. Although, you can use the cash to pay the airline or hotel.
So which do you choose at US supermarkets? 4.5 American Express Membership Rewards points (transferrable to certain airlines or hotels) or 6% cash back?
The American Express EveryDay Preferred card allows you to transfer your points to partner airlines and hotels.
Bottom Line
Don’t get the American Express EveryDay and American Express EveryDay Preferred cards for their sign-up bonuses. But get American Express EveryDay and American Express EveryDay Preferred card for everyday spending bonuses. Or to keep your Membership Rewards points active.
You earn American Express Membership Rewards points that are transferrable to partner airlines and hotels. And they are an easy way to keep your American Express Membership Rewards points from expiring.
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Comments
Would an authorized user's purchases count towards the 30 ... by SRob
@GrantA I think it is all purchases for that billing period ... by Michael
Do you get the 20-50% points bonus on all purchases after you ... by GrantA
I'll get interested when they come out with a reasonable ... by DaveS
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