Blue Cash Everyday® Card From American Express
vs. Discover it® Cash Back Card

Updated: July 25, 2024

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Both the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express and the Discover it® Cash Back Card offer enticing cash back rewards and no annual fee, making them strong contenders for your wallet. The Discover it Cash Back edges ahead with its balance transfer benefits, but the Blue Cash Everyday Card's consistent cash back at supermarkets, online retailers, and gas stations makes it a compelling choice for everyday spenders.

The Discover it Cash Back Card's rotating categories could be more lucrative if you maximize the 5% cash back offer. But the Blue Cash Everyday Card's straightforward rewards structure and welcome offer might be more appealing if you prefer simplicity and immediate benefits.

Credit Card logo for Blue Cash Everyday® Card From American Express
Blue Cash Everyday® Card From American Express
Credit Card logo for Discover it® Cash Back Card
Discover it® Cash Back Card
MoneyGeek Rating
3.7/ of 5
Rates & Fees
MoneyGeek Rating
3.7/ of 5
Rates & Fees
  • Regular APR
    19.24%–29.99% variable
    18.24%–28.24% variable
    0% APR Offer
    0% for 15 months on purchases
    0% intro APR for 15 months
    Intro Offer
    Earn $200
    Matches cash back earned at the end of the first 12 months
    Rewards Summary
    Earn 1%–3% cash back
    Earn 1%–5% cash back
    Balance Transfer Offer
    0% for 15 months on balance transfers
    0% intro APR for 15 months
    Balance Transfer Fee
    Either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
    3% intro balance transfer fee, up to 5% fee on future balance transfers (see terms)
    Annual Fee
    $0
    $0
    Recommended Credit
    670–850 (Good to Excellent)
    670–850 (Good to Excellent)
    Penalty APR
    29.99% variable, can last over six months
    None
    Not sure?

Which Card Is Better for You?

You might prefer the Blue Cash Everyday if you value consistent rewards in everyday spending categories like U.S. supermarkets, online retail and gas stations. With a $200 welcome offer and special perks like credits for The Disney Bundle and Home Chef, this card is tailored for routine budget-conscious spenders.

You might prefer the Discover it Cash Back if you're adept at maximizing rewards in rotating categories and won't miss activating them each quarter. The first-year cash back match can significantly boost your rewards, making it a strong contender if you plan their spending around the bonus categories.

Head-to-Head Comparison: Card Details and Features

Evaluating features like APRs, fees, credit requirements, rewards and introductory offers will clarify which card is for you. This section breaks down these aspects, offering insights like the Blue Cash Everyday's supermarket cash back versus Discover it Cash Back's rotating categories.

    discount icon

    Regular APR: Discover it Cash Back

    The Discover it Cash Back offers a better regular APR range, starting at 17.24% and capping at 28.24% variable, compared with the Blue Cash Everyday's 19.24 to 29.99% variable.

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    Annual Fee: Tie

    Both the Blue Cash Everyday and the Discover it Cash Back cards have no annual fee, making them equally appealing if you're looking to avoid extra costs.

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    Introductory 0% APRs: Tie

    Both the Blue Cash Everyday and Discover it Cash Back offer a 0% introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months, making them equally attractive if you’re looking to make a large purchase or transfer balances.

    But the Blue Cash Everyday charges a 3% fee (or $5, whichever is greater) on balance transfers, while the Discover it Cash Back starts with a 3% intro fee, then up to 5% on future transfers. Considering the duration and the slight difference in balance transfer fees, the overall value of the introductory 0% APR offer is comparable between the two cards.

    coins icon

    Rewards: Discover it Cash Back

    The Discover it Cash Back is better for rewards, offering 5% cash back on rotating categories each quarter upon activation, on up to $1,500 in purchases, then 1%. Discover also matches all cash back earned at the end of the first year with no cap, potentially doubling the rewards for the first year.

    rewards icon

    Welcome Offers: Blue Cash Everyday

    The Blue Cash Everyday has a more valuable welcome offer, providing a $200 statement credit after a $2,000 spend in the first six months, compared to the Discover it Cash Back Card's cash back match at the end of the first year.

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    Recommended Credit Score: Tie

    Both the Blue Cash Everyday and the Discover it Cash Back cater to individuals with credit scores ranging from 670 to 850, indicating a good to excellent credit requirement.

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    Penalties and Fees: Discover it Cash Back

    The Discover it Cash Back is better for penalties and fees, offering no foreign transaction fees and no penalty APR. Additionally, the first late payment fee is waived, contrasting with the Blue Cash Everyday's up to $40 late fee, 2.7% foreign transaction fee and a 29.99% variable penalty APR.

    points icon

    Issuer Satisfaction: Blue Cash Everyday

    American Express leads in issuer satisfaction with a rating of 5.0, compared with the Discover's rating of 4.5.

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    Other Features & Perks: Tie

    Both cards offer unique perks, catering to different preferences. The Blue Cash Everyday provides up to $15 back on Home Chef subscriptions and a $7 statement credit for The Disney Bundle. The Discover it Cash Back offers a year-end cashback match, free FICO score access, and no foreign transaction fees.

Rewards Comparison

The Blue Cash Everyday edges out with a higher expected reward value and a consistent cash back rate on essential categories like U.S. supermarkets, online retail purchases and gas stations. Its straightforward rewards structure without rotating categories makes it a strong contender for those who value simplicity and predictability in their rewards.

On the other hand, the Discover it Cash Back card shines with its 5% cash back in rotating categories, which can be highly rewarding if your spending aligns with those categories and you're diligent about activation each quarter. While the Discover it Cash Back may require more effort to maximize rewards, it could outperform the Blue Cash Everyday in specific categories throughout the year.

If you enjoy optimizing your rewards, the Discover it Cash Back card's rotating categories can offer significant value. Current and upcoming categories can be found on Discover's website, ensuring cardholders can plan their spending to take full advantage of the 5% cash back offer.

Below is a table of bonus categories for both cards to help you compare at a glance.

Category
Blue Cash Everyday
Discover it Cash Back

U.S. Supermarkets

3% for the first $6,000 annually/1% thereafter

1%

U.S. Gas Stations

3% for the first $6,000 annually/1% thereafter

1%

U.S. Online Retail Purchases

3% for the first $6,000 annually/1% thereafter

1%

Quarterly Categories

N/A

5% for the first $1,500 quarterly/1% thereafter

All Other Purchases

1%

1%

Redeeming Rewards

Redemption is straightforward with either card. With the Blue Cash Everyday, your cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or on Amazon.com at checkout, with no minimum amount required. Importantly, your cash back does not expire, providing peace of mind for long-term accumulation.

The Discover it Cash Back offers a variety of redemption options, including gift cards, donations, and direct deposit. Like the Blue Cash Everyday, there's no minimum to redeem. However, although rewards don't expire, they will be forfeited if the account is closed or inactive for 18 months.

Methodology

MoneyGeek evaluates credit cards like the Blue Cash Everyday and Discover it Cash Back using a tailored scoring system for various use cases. This approach ensures that the score reflects the card's performance in the scenario where it provides the most value.

For cash back cards, the primary factors we consider are the effective reward rate and the return on investment for offers. These elements — along with annual fees, introductory purchase rates and issuer satisfaction — contribute to a card's overall score. For a detailed understanding of our process, you can review our ranking methodology.

FAQ: Blue Cash Everyday vs. Discover it Cash Back

What are the cash back rewards for each card?
Do either of the cards have an annual fee?
What are the introductory offers for these cards?
How do the APRs compare between the two cards?
Are there foreign transaction fees for either card?

For rates and fees of the Blue Cash Everyday® Card From American Express, please click here.

About Doug Milnes, CFA

Doug Milnes, CFA headshot

Doug Milnes is a CFA charter holder with over 10 years of experience in corporate finance and the Head of Credit Cards at MoneyGeek. Formerly, he performed valuations for Duff and Phelps and financial planning and analysis for various companies. His analysis has been cited by U.S. News and World Report, The Hill, the Los Angeles Times, The New York Times and many other outlets.

Milnes holds a master’s degree in data science from Northwestern University. He geeks out on helping people feel on top of their credit card use, from managing debt to optimizing rewards.

*Rates, fees or bonuses may vary or include specific stipulations. The content on this page is accurate as of the posting/last updated date; however, some of the offers mentioned may have expired. We recommend visiting the card issuer’s website for the most up-to-date information available.
Editorial Disclosure: Opinions, reviews, analyses and recommendations are the author’s alone and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. Learn more about our editorial policies and expert editorial team.
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