Review of the Amex EveryDay Preferred Credit Card: Earn Amex points on groceries and fuel

Overview of the Amex EveryDay Preferred Card

The Amex EveryDay® Preferred Credit Card from American Express is a great primary choice, allowing you to earn valuable Membership Rewards points. You’ll receive bonus rewards on every dollar spent at U.S. supermarkets (up to $6,000 annually; then 1 point per dollar) and at U.S. gas stations. While this card offers an attractive rewards program, it is often overshadowed by other American Express offerings. Card Rating*: ⭐⭐⭐

*The card rating reflects the views of TPG's editors and is not swayed by the card issuer.

If you want to participate in the Membership Rewards program without incurring a hefty annual fee, consider the American Express Amex EveryDay Preferred Credit Card.

The card comes with a $95 annual fee and a suggested credit score of 670.

Here’s what you should know to determine if this card fits your financial needs.

The details for the Amex EveryDay Preferred Card have been gathered independently by Dinogo. The information on this page has not been reviewed or endorsed by the card issuer.

Advantages and disadvantages of the Amex EveryDay Preferred

Welcome offer for Amex EveryDay Preferred

The current welcome bonus for the Amex EveryDay Preferred is 15,000 points after spending $2,000 within the first six months of card membership. This is the typical offer for this card.

As per TPG's September 2024 valuations, Membership Rewards points hold a value of 2 cents each, which means this bonus is equivalent to $300.

While this welcome bonus is relatively modest for a card with a $95 annual fee, the spending threshold to earn it is lower than many mid-tier cards.

Remember that American Express allows you to earn the welcome bonus on each of its credit cards once in a lifetime. If you’ve previously received a bonus for this card, you won’t qualify for it again.

American Express may also take other factors into account when assessing your eligibility for the welcome offer.

Benefits of the Amex EveryDay Preferred

True to its name, this card is designed for everyday use, and its benefits reflect that — you'll enjoy Amex's standard range of card protections, but not much more.

You won't receive any premium travel benefits, such as airport lounge access, but you will have travel protections like secondary car rental insurance* should your trip not go as planned.

As I will explain further below, the card’s most notable feature is its capacity to earn additional points after completing a specific number of transactions. Beyond that, it's challenging to find benefits that justify its $95 annual fee.

Enrollment is necessary for certain benefits; terms apply.

Earning points with the Amex EveryDay Preferred

The Amex EveryDay Preferred truly excels in its category spending bonuses. You can earn 3 points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets (up to $6,000 annually; then 1 point per dollar), 2 points per dollar at U.S. gas stations, and 1 point per dollar on all other purchases.

If you make 30 or more purchases during a billing cycle with the card, you'll earn 50% more points on all those transactions (excluding returns and credits). Terms apply.

If you reach that threshold, your earning rates will effectively increase to 4.5 points per dollar (9% return)* on U.S. supermarket purchases (up to $6,000 per year), 3 points per dollar (6% return)* on purchases at U.S. gas stations, and 1.5 points per dollar (3% return)* on all other spending, which is fantastic.

Very few cards available can rival that earning rate for U.S. supermarket purchases.

*Earning rates based on TPG's September 2024 valuations

Redeeming points with the Amex EveryDay Preferred

You can use your Amex points for cash back, purchases on Amazon, Uber rides, gift cards, and more.

However, we do not recommend any of these redemption options. Typically, you’ll maximize the value of your Amex points by transferring them to a travel partner (see below).

Transferring points with the Amex EveryDay Preferred

The Membership Rewards points you accumulate with this card can be transferred to various airline and hotel partners, including Air Canada Aeroplan, Avianca LifeMiles, British Airways Executive Club, Delta SkyMiles, and Marriott Bonvoy.

The airline partners include at least one valuable choice in every major airline alliance — SkyTeam, Star Alliance, and Oneworld — enabling you to follow in the footsteps of TPG credit cards editor Emily Thompson and book flights with points on nearly any airline.

For example, if you want to fly American Airlines business class to Europe, you could transfer points to Etihad Guest and secure a ticket for 50,000 points each way. Amex also frequently offers transfer bonuses, allowing you to potentially increase the value of your points even further.

What cards are in competition with the Amex EveryDay Preferred?

There are plenty of credit cards available on the market with annual fees of $100 or less.

• If you want a card with no annual fee: Consider the Amex EveryDay® Credit Card from American Express. It offers 2 transferable Membership Rewards points at U.S. supermarkets (up to $6,000 in purchases annually; then 1 point per dollar) and 1 point per dollar on all other purchases. For more details, check out our full review of the Amex EveryDay.
• If you're a Chase fan: Opt for the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. This card earns 2 points per dollar spent on all travel not booked through Chase Travel℠ and 3 points per dollar on dining, with those categories being broadly defined. The Sapphire Preferred also offers more perks to justify its $95 annual fee. To learn more, read our full review of the Chase Sapphire Preferred.
• If you prefer cash back: Consider the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express. It gives you 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (up to $6,000 per year, then 1% thereafter), 6% back on select U.S. streaming services, 3% back at U.S. gas stations, 3% back on transit, and 1% back on everything else. Cash back is provided as Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout. For more details, read our full review of the Blue Cash Preferred.

For more options, take a look at our full list of the best travel cards.

The information regarding the Amex EveryDay has been gathered independently by Dinogo. The details about the card on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Is the Amex EveryDay Preferred worth it?

The Amex EveryDay Preferred is an excellent option for those who frequently make monthly purchases. While it may lack the high-end perks of premium cards, it offers valuable category bonuses for everyday spending that can accelerate your travel plans. Just remember to reach 30 transactions each month to qualify for the 50% bonus.

Conclusion

If you want an affordable way to accumulate Membership Rewards points, the Amex EveryDay Preferred is a solid choice. The 50% bonus for exceeding 30 purchases in a billing cycle rewards you for regular use of the card.

If you think you might struggle to meet the monthly transaction requirement for the 50% bonus, another card might suit you better.