Executive Summary: Top Cards
American Express offers some of the best cash back cards available, each designed for different spending habits and money goals. Picking the right one can help you earn significant value from your everyday purchases. To help you understand your options, we’ve summarized our findings in a quick overview. This gives you a fast look at the top choices, helping you quickly find the card that fits your lifestyle or identify which one you’d like to learn more about in our detailed reviews.
| Card Name | Key Cash Back Categories | Annual Fee | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Cash Preferred® Card | 6% at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $6,000 per year), 6% on select U.S. streaming, 3% on transit & U.S. gas stations | $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95. | Families and commuters maximizing everyday spending. |
| Blue Cash Everyday® Card | 3% at U.S. supermarkets, U.S. online retail, & U.S. gas stations (on up to $6,000 per year in each category) | $0 | Solid rewards on daily essentials with no annual fee. |
| Cash Magnet® Card | Unlimited 1.5% cash back on all eligible purchases. | $0 | Simplicity seekers who want a single, flat-rate rewards card. |
While these are our top picks for the best amex cash back cards, it’s worth noting that the rewards landscape includes more than just cash back. For some, a travel rewards card like the American Express Platinum Card might be a better fit. We will explore this important decision between cash back and travel points later in this guide.
Our Top Picks for 2025
- Blue Cash Preferred® Card: Best for maximizing rewards on everyday spending.
- Blue Cash Everyday® Card: Best for solid cash back with no annual fee.
- Cash Magnet® Card: Best for simple, flat-rate cash back on all purchases.
Deep Dive: Card Reviews
Understanding the details of each american express cash back card is important for making the right choice. Here, we break down the rewards, fees, and special benefits of our top three selections to give you the clarity you need.
Blue Cash Preferred® Card
The Blue Cash Preferred card is a strong choice for anyone who spends a lot on groceries, commuting, and digital entertainment. It offers some of the highest cash back rates available in these common spending areas.
Rewards: Groceries and More
The rewards structure is designed to give maximum value on daily essentials. Cardholders earn:
* 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%.
* 6% cash back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions.
* 3% cash back on transit, including taxis, rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, and buses.
* 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations.
* 1% cash back on all other eligible purchases.
Welcome Offer & Fee
Currently, new cardholders can earn a $250 statement credit after spending $3,000 in purchases on their new Card within the first 6 months. The card has a $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then a $95 annual fee after that. (Offers are subject to change).
Notable Benefits
Beyond the high cash back rates, the card includes valuable perks:
* Amex Offers: Access to targeted discounts and statement credits at various merchants.
* Plan It®: A Buy Now, Pay Later feature that lets you split up large purchases into fixed monthly payments with a fee.
* Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance: Secondary coverage for eligible rental vehicles.
* Global Assist® Hotline: 24/7 assistance for travel, legal, and medical emergencies when you’re more than 100 miles from home.
Is It Worth the Fee?
The main question for this card is whether the rewards earned will be more than the $95 annual fee (after the first year). The break-even point is fairly easy to calculate. To cover the $95 fee with the 6% grocery rewards alone, you would need to spend about $1,584 on groceries per year, or about $132 per month. For most households, this spending amount is easily reached, making the annual fee a worthwhile investment for good returns.
Pros & Cons
- Pros:
- Industry-leading 6% cash back on U.S. supermarkets and streaming.
- Strong 3% rewards on transit and U.S. gas stations.
- Valuable welcome offer.
- Cons:
- $95 annual fee after the first year.
- The 6% grocery rate is capped at $6,000 in spending per year.
- Requires good to excellent credit for approval.
Blue Cash Everyday® Card
The Blue Cash Everyday card is the no-annual-fee version of the Preferred card. It offers a simplified yet strong rewards structure that appeals to those who want good cash back on essentials without paying an annual fee.
Rewards: Everyday Categories
This card provides a solid boost in popular spending areas, making it a useful tool for daily use. Cardholders earn:
* 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%.
* 3% cash back on U.S. online retail purchases, on up to $6,000 per year, then 1%.
* 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations, on up to $6,000 per year, then 1%.
* 1% cash back on all other eligible purchases.
Welcome Offer & Fee
New cardholders can currently earn a $200 statement credit after spending $2,000 in purchases on their new Card within the first 6 months. A key feature of this american express cash back card is its $0 annual fee. (Offers are subject to change).
Key Perks
The Blue Cash Everyday card shares many of the same benefits as its premium version, ensuring a quality experience:
* Access to Amex Offers.
* Plan It® feature for flexible payments.
* Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance.
* A unique benefit: Up to a $7 monthly statement credit for The Disney Bundle subscription (enrollment required).
Who Should Choose It?
This card is ideal for individuals or families who want better-than-flat-rate rewards on groceries, online shopping, and gas but prefer to avoid an annual fee. It’s an excellent entry-level Amex card that still delivers significant value. If your spending at U.S. supermarkets is below about $3,200 per year, this card is mathematically a better choice than the Blue Cash Preferred.
Pros & Cons
- Pros:
- $0 annual fee.
- Competitive 3% cash back in three popular categories.
- Helpful credits for services like The Disney Bundle.
- Cons:
- Lower cash back rates compared to the Blue Cash Preferred.
- Bonus categories have a combined $6,000 annual spending cap for each category.
American Express Cash Magnet® Card
For those who find tracking spending categories annoying, the American Express Cash Magnet Card offers a refreshingly simple approach: a solid, flat cash back rate on every single purchase, with no caps or categories to remember.
Rewards: Unlimited Flat-Rate
The beauty of this card lies in its simplicity. The rewards structure is as straightforward as it gets:
* Unlimited 1.5% cash back on all eligible purchases.
There are no rotating categories, no spending caps, and no need to activate special offers to earn your primary reward.
Welcome Offer & Fee
New cardholders can currently earn a $200 statement credit after they spend $2,000 in purchases on their new Card within the first 6 months. This card has a $0 annual fee. (Offers are subject to change).
Core Benefits
As with other Amex cards, the Cash Magnet comes with a suite of useful features:
* Plan It® for managing large purchases.
* Amex Offers for additional earning opportunities.
* Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance.
* Global Assist® Hotline.
When Does Flat-Rate Make Sense?
A flat-rate card is a perfect fit for a few types of spenders. First, it’s for the minimalist who wants one card for everything without the mental effort of optimizing categories. Second, it’s an excellent backup card. If you already have a card that maximizes groceries and gas, the Cash Magnet can serve as your “everything else” card, ensuring you earn more than a base 1% on all other spending.
Pros & Cons
- Pros:
- $0 annual fee.
- Simple, unlimited 1.5% cash back on everything.
- No need to track or activate spending categories.
- Cons:
- The 1.5% rate is lower than the bonus categories on other cards.
- Large spenders in specific categories (like groceries) will earn more with a tiered card.
Maximizing Your Amex Cash Back
Owning an amex cash back card is just the first step. To truly get the most value, you need to think strategically. Moving from a passive earner to an active maximizer can significantly increase your returns. Here is our insider’s guide to making your card work harder for you.
Strategy 1: The “Stacking” Method
One of the most powerful and often underused features of the Amex ecosystem is Amex Offers. These are targeted digital coupons available in your online account or app that provide extra statement credits or bonus points at specific merchants. The key is to “stack” these offers with your card’s existing rewards.
For example, imagine you have the Blue Cash Preferred Card. You log into your Amex app and see an offer for “10% back on your purchase at a specific supermarket chain,” which you add to your card. When you then shop at that store, you not only earn your standard 6% cash back on groceries, but you also get the additional 10% back as a statement credit from the Amex Offer. This transforms a great return into an exceptional one.
From personal experience, the process is seamless. Finding and adding offers takes just a few taps in the app. The satisfaction comes a few days after the purchase when you see separate line items for your standard cash back and the Amex Offer statement credit, confirming your successful stack.
Strategy 2: The Two-Card System
While one card can be good, two can be a powerhouse. A common and highly effective strategy is to pair a high-yield category card with a reliable flat-rate card. This ensures you are optimizing every dollar you spend.
A classic pairing is the Blue Cash Preferred and the Cash Magnet Card. You would use the Blue Cash Preferred for all U.S. supermarket, select streaming, transit, and U.S. gas station purchases to earn 6% and 3% back. For every other purchase—from your doctor’s co-pay to a new piece of furniture—you would use the Cash Magnet Card to earn a solid 1.5% back. This system eliminates the low-value 1% “everything else” category, boosting your overall cash back rate significantly compared to using just one card.
Strategy 3: Understanding the Caps
Many of the best rewards rates come with a catch: a spending cap. For both the Blue Cash Preferred and Blue Cash Everyday cards, the elevated rewards at U.S. supermarkets are limited to the first $6,000 spent per calendar year. After you hit that cap, the reward rate drops to 1%.
It is important to be aware of and track this cap to avoid disappointment. American Express makes this relatively easy. When you log into your online account, you can navigate to your rewards summary. There is often a tracker that shows how much you have spent toward your bonus category caps. Keeping an eye on this, especially in the latter half of the year, allows you to know when you’ve used up the bonus and might want to switch to a different card for that category until the cap resets on January 1st. This small bit of attention ensures you’re always earning at the highest possible rate.
Cash Back vs. Travel Points
Choosing a rewards card isn’t just about comparing different amex cashback cards; it’s about choosing a rewards philosophy. The two main paths are cash back and travel points. Understanding which one fits your lifestyle is perhaps the most important decision you’ll make. The primary alternative to an Amex cash back card is a Membership Rewards points-earning card, with the American Express Platinum Card being the flagship example.
| Feature | Amex Cash Back Card (Blue Cash Preferred) | American Express Platinum Card |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Reward | Cash back (as Reward Dollars) on everyday spending. | Membership Rewards points, primarily on flights and hotels. |
| Best For | Individuals and families focused on real savings on daily expenses like groceries, gas, and streaming. | Frequent travelers who can use luxury travel perks and maximize point transfers. |
| Reward Redemption | Simple and direct. Redeem Reward Dollars for a statement credit. | Complex but potentially high-value. Transfer points to airline/hotel partners for premium cabin flights or hotel stays. |
| Key Perks | High rewards rates in common categories, Amex Offers, Plan It®. | Extensive platinum card benefits: airport lounge access, hotel elite status, annual airline fee credits, and more. |
| Annual Fee | $95 ($0 intro for the first year) | $695 |
| Simplicity vs. Maximization | High simplicity. The value of a Reward Dollar is fixed and easy to understand. | High maximization potential. Requires effort to learn transfer partners and find award availability to get outsized value. |
Choose an Amex Cash Back Card if…
A cash back card is the right choice for you if your priorities are clarity and immediate value. You should choose this path if:
* You value simplicity and real rewards that directly reduce your bill.
* Your primary spending is concentrated in everyday categories like U.S. supermarkets, gas, and online shopping.
* You prefer not to spend time learning about airline alliances, point valuations, and award charts.
* You want a straightforward way to get value from your spending without a high annual fee.
Consider the American Express Platinum Card if…
The American Express Platinum Card is a tool for a specific type of user. While its rewards may seem abstract, they can be incredibly valuable in the right hands. Consider this card if:
* You are a frequent traveler who will consistently use the extensive platinum card benefits like access to Centurion Lounges and other airport lounges.
* You enjoy the process of maximizing point values by transferring them to airline and hotel partners for luxury travel experiences.
* Your spending can offset the high annual fee through the card’s various statement credits (e.g., airline fee credit, Uber Cash, Saks Fifth Avenue credit).
* You value premium travel perks like hotel elite status (Hilton Honors Gold, Marriott Bonvoy Gold) and comprehensive travel insurance.
A common question is about amex platinum cash back. While you can technically redeem Membership Rewards points for statement credits, this is a poor use of your points. The redemption rate is typically low, around 0.6 cents per point. This means that a card earning 1.5% cash back is a far better cash back tool than the Platinum Card, which is designed and optimized for high-value travel redemptions.
The Essentials: How to Apply and Redeem
Once you’ve decided on the right card, the next steps are straightforward. We’ll walk you through the process of applying for your card and, most importantly, how to access the rewards you earn.
Applying for Your Card
Applying for an American Express card is a simple online process. Here are the general steps:
1. Check your credit score. Amex cards typically require good to excellent credit (generally a score of 670 or higher).
2. Visit the official American Express website and navigate to the page for the card you’ve chosen.
3. Click “Apply Now” and fill out the application form. You will need to provide personal information, including your name, address, Social Security number, and total annual income.
4. Review your information and submit the application. In many cases, you will receive a decision within minutes.
Understanding and Redeeming
American Express makes the redemption process clear and user-friendly. Cash back earned on cards like the Blue Cash family and Cash Magnet is collected in the form of “Reward Dollars.”
These Reward Dollars can be redeemed for a statement credit, which directly reduces your account balance. This is the most common and straightforward way to use your cash back. To do this, follow these steps:
1. Log in to your account on the American Express website or through the Amex mobile app.
2. Navigate to the “Rewards & Benefits” or “Membership” section.
3. Look for an option like “Use Reward Dollars” or “Redeem Rewards.”
4. Select “Redeem for Statement Credit.” You will see your available Reward Dollars balance.
5. Enter the amount you wish to redeem and confirm.
It’s important to note that you can only redeem Reward Dollars in increments of $25. This is a key piece of information; you must have at least 25 Reward Dollars in your account before you can make a redemption. The statement credit typically appears on your account within 2-3 business days.
Final Verdict: Which Card?
After reviewing the options, strategies, and philosophies, the choice comes down to which american express cash back card best reflects your personal spending and financial priorities.
For the ultimate optimizer whose budget includes significant spending on groceries, streaming, and commuting, the Blue Cash Preferred® Card is the clear winner. Provided you can use its high-earning categories to easily outweigh the annual fee, no other card in the Amex lineup offers such a powerful return on everyday expenses.
If you’re seeking strong rewards in similar categories but are firmly against paying an annual fee, the Blue Cash Everyday® Card offers a fantastic and flexible alternative. It strikes a perfect balance between earning valuable rewards and maintaining simplicity, making it an ideal choice for many.
Finally, for those who value simplicity above all and want a single, reliable card for every purchase without having to think about categories, the American Express Cash Magnet® Card delivers. Its straightforward flat-rate rewards structure provides consistent and predictable value on all your spending.
Ultimately, choosing the right card is a personal decision, but by aligning your spending habits with the right card’s strengths, you can ensure you’re turning everyday expenses into meaningful rewards.
