The American Express Blue Cash and Blue Sky credit cards represent some of the best rewards cards available. These cards offer everything from 0% APR introductory rates on purchases, to great travel rewards, to as much as 6% cash back on purchases. Which card is best for you depends on your financial goals and objectives.
So let’s review each card, starting with Consumer Report’s pick for one of the best cash back rewards cards available, Blue Cash from American Express.
Blue Cash Everyday from American Express
Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express is THE best cash back rewards credit card available today. If you are looking for cash back rebates from a card, this is the card of choice, and one selected by Consumer Reports this year as a top credit card.
The card comes in two versions. The standard version has no annual fee and offers the following cash back rewards structure:
- Earn 100 Reward Dollars after you make $1,000 in purchases in the first three months of Cardmembership.
- Earn Cash Back: 3% at US supermarkets, up to $6,000 per year in purchases, 2% at US gas stations & select US dept stores, 1% on other purchases. Terms and limitations apply.
- Simple and Straightforward: With the Blue Cash Everyday Card, you can start earning cash back. No rotating reward categories. No enrollment required.
- Simple and Straightforward: With the Blue Cash Everyday Card, you can start earning cash back. No rotating reward categories. No enrollment required.
- No annual fee, 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months. After that, your APR will be a variable rate, currently 12.99%-21.99% with flexibility to pay over time.
- Terms and Restrictions Apply.
With the preferred version of the card, there is a $75 annual fee, but the rewards increase significantly:
- Earn 150 Reward Dollars after you make $1,000 in purchases in the first three months of Cardmembership.
- Earn Cash Back: 6% US supermarkets up to $6,000 per year in purchases, 3% US gas stations & select US dept stores, 1% other purchases. Terms and limitations apply.
- Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit.
- Simple and Straightforward: With the Blue Cash Preferred Card, you can start earning cash back. No rotating reward categories. No enrollment required.
- Terms and Restrictions Apply.
Which card is best for your depends on how you use the card. If it is your primary cash back card that you’ll use for everyday shopping, I think the preferred card is the clear winner.
Blue Sky from American Express
Blue Sky from American Express® is the travel rewards card that gives you 1 point for every dollar spent with no black out dates or travel restrictions. Points can be redeemed for airline tickets, hotels, car rental, and more. Here are the details:
- Welcome Bonus: earn 7,500 points after you spend $1,000 within the first 3 months of Cardmembership - redeemable for a $100 statement credit.
- Flexible Ways to Earn: earn 1 point for virtually every dollar you spend on eligible purchases.
- Unlimited Travel Options: Travel with any airline, hotel, cruise, car rental and travel package - with no blackout dates.
- Flexible Bill Payments: pay your bill all at once or over time.
- No annual membership fee and 0% into APR on purchases for the first 12 months, after that, your APR will be a variable rate, currently 17.24%- 22.24%.
- Terms and Restrictions Apply.
When you are evaluating credit card offers, please make sure to read the terms and conditions on the credit card issuer’s website, as they may have changed since the information was last updated on this site.
Disclaimer: This content is not provided or commissioned by American Express. Opinions expressed here are author’s alone, not those of American Express, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by American Express. This site may be compensated through American Express Affiliate Program.
Rob Berger
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Published or updated October 2, 2012.
{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
I’ve been eyeing the Blue Cash card for a long time now but I don’t think I can charge enough in a year to get to the highest reward tier level. People have been telling me to look at the Chase Freedom card instead.
American Express Blue Cash is the card I switched to and it is quite a good card. The only problem is that I find merchants accepting AMEX less frequently due to its higher merchant fees. The best best is to have 2 cash back cards – one from visa and one from amex!
It’s easy to charge up thousands of dollars on the Blue Cash card… The trick is to use it on all your transactions if possible and then pay the entire balance at the end of each month. I charge up at least $2,000 each month, I’m already earning the maximum cash back by the 4th month…
I enrolled for an American Express Business Acct. Card at my local Costco store recently and have searched for the Internet American Express site which will enable me to monitor my charges on the card daily (or for charges made on the card if my card is stolen or the account number is used by an unauthorized person illegally). I did not find any site for reporting a lost card in the material I received or the limitations covered in that event.
Will you send me the answers to these questions or point out where I can find this information. Thank you.
Donald L. Knaub
dontod51@sbcglobal.net
Donald, I access all of my Amex accounts via americanexpress.com. I assume you can access the Costco Amex from the same website.
It looks like this card is remarkable. Surely a lot of people would instantly want to have their own card because of the numerous features that the card has.
American Express has been a constant favorite by most cardholders. They deliver fast and efficient banking transactions and at the same time offer deals that would satisfy their long list of clientele.