Editor’s Note: This is a recurring post, updated regularly with new information and offers.
The Amex EveryDay® Credit Card from American Express is a solid card for novice travelers who can’t yet justify the annual fee. This is a solid option for anyone looking for a card without an annual fee. While the earning rate and other benefits are nothing to write home about, it does offer full access to the popular membership rewards program. Card Rating*: ⭐⭐⭐
*Card rating Based on the opinion of TPG’s editors and not influenced by the card issuer.
I remember the thrill of getting my first travel credit card, getting the welcome bonus and using it to book my first award flight redemption. Growing up in a family that didn’t believe in credit cards, it was the first time I saw firsthand how the right card could help me see and do things my budget wouldn’t otherwise accommodate. He also introduced me to the industry which would one day lead me to join this amazing TPG team.
Starter travel rewards cards like the Amex EveryDay® Credit Card, while not as attractive as the big name cards, have the power to show beginners what they can do with some strategic card spending. It has no annual fee and no recommendation either Credit score 670 no.
With that in mind, let’s move on to the introduction card for Amex’s Membership Rewards program.
Information for the Amex Everyday Card is independently collected by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Amex Everyday
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Amex Everyday Welcome Offer
Right now, you’ll earn 10,000 bonus points after you make $2,000 in purchases in the first six months. According to TPG’s June 2024 valuation, the bonus is worth $200, on par with similar no-annual-fee cards. At best, this is a modest offer, but it’s easy to achieve and can give you a good start on earning with the card.
Keep in mind that American Express has a once-per-card-lifetime limit on welcome bonuses. In particular, you can only get the bonus if you have never held the card before. That means you want to make sure you hit the bonus the first time because you won’t be able to in the future.
Related: Best welcome offers this month
Amex Everyday Benefits
This is a starter credit card, so it doesn’t offer many benefits. However, two key advantages give this card a leg up on its competition.
Unlike most no-annual-fee cards, Amex Everyday gives you full access to the Membership Rewards program and all the value that comes with it. That means you don’t even need another Amex card to take advantage of the issuer’s transfer partners. While you may not have an attractive earning structure with this card, you are earning some of the most valuable points available.
Plus, like all Amex Membership Rewards cards, you’ll get free two-day shipping on eligible ShopRunner orders, access to the Global Assist Hotline and car rental loss and damage insurance. Registration is required for select benefits.
Related: The Ultimate Guide to Amex Membership Rewards
Earn points on Amex everyday
You’ll earn 2 points per dollar on travel booked through Amex Travel and 1 point per dollar on your first $6,000 spent at US supermarkets each year (1 point per dollar thereafter) and 1 point per dollar on everything else. That’s not a particularly attractive earning rate, but if you max out the supermarket bonus category alone, that’s $240 worth of rewards over the course of the year.
You will get a unique 20% bonus on all spend when you make 20 or more purchases in a month. Assuming you hit that threshold each month, you’ll earn 2.4 points per dollar on Amex travel and supermarket spend (a nice 4.8% return) and 1.2 points per dollar (2.4% return) on everyday spend, based on TPG valuations.
Related: Best Grocery Credit Cards
Redeem points on Amex everyday
With Membership Rewards, you can get a lot of value from every point.
You’ll earn 1 percent per point when you redeem points directly for airfare on Amex Travel, and less than 1 percent when redeeming for hotel rooms.
While you can use your points for cash back, Amazon purchases, gift cards and more, you’ll ultimately get the best value when you redeem your points for travel. In particular, you can maximize your points by using Amex’s airline and hotel transfer partners (see below).
Transferring rewards to Amex daily
TPG’s June 2024 valuation puts Membership Rewards points at 2 cents each, thanks largely to the program’s airline and hotel transfer partners. It includes at least one helpful option in every major airline alliance (Skyteam, Star Alliance and Oneworld).
Transferring your points to an appropriate airline or hotel program is usually the best way to maximize the value of your Membership Rewards points.
TPG Managing Editor Matt Moffitt likes to transfer and redeem his Membership Rewards points by taking advantage of the transfer bonus. He particularly likes to transfer his points to Iberia Plus for lie-flat seats in Madrid.
Related: Best Ways to Use Your Membership Rewards Points
Which cards compete with Amex Everyday?
There’s no shortage of competing cards with annual fees of $100 or less.
- If you want more Amex benefits: The Amex EveryDay® Preferred Credit Card has an annual fee of $95 and also earns Membership Rewards points. Also, if you make 30 or more transactions in a billing cycle, you’ll get a 50% boost on your earnings. For more information, read our full review of Everyday Preferred.
- If you prefer the chase: Go for the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. It earns 2 points per dollar spent on travel and 3 points per dollar spent on dining, and both categories are very loosely defined. And the bonus categories on this card don’t overlap with the Amex Everyday Preferred, so you shouldn’t treat these cards as mutually exclusive. For more information, read our full review of Sapphire Preferred.
- If you choose cash back: see in Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express (see rates and fees). You’ll earn 6% cash back at US supermarkets (up to $6,000 per year, 1% thereafter), 6% cash back on select US streaming services, 3% cash back at US gas stations, 3% cash back on transportation and 1% everywhere else. back. Cash back is earned in the form of reward dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout. For more information, read our full review of Blue Cash Preferred.
For additional options, check out our full list of the best travel cards.
Information for the Amex Everyday Preferred Card has been independently collected by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Related: Amex Everyday Vs. Amex Everyday Preferred: Which should be in your wallet?
Is Amex Everyday Worth It?
Overall, this isn’t a bad travel card for beginners in the points world as you’re earning valuable membership rewards on eligible travel and supermarket purchases without paying an annual fee. While there are other starter cards with higher earning rates, the rewards you get aren’t as valuable unless you combine those cards with higher-tier cards.
Bottom line
If you’re looking to get started with travel rewards, you could do a lot worse than the Amex Everyday Card.
You can’t go wrong with Amex Membership Rewards cards, as they are some of the most valuable points on the market, and this is a perfect introduction to that program.
Related: Best No-Annual-Fee Credit Cards
For Preferred Blue Cash rates and fees, click here.