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

Updated: July 25, 2024

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Both the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express and the Discover it® Chrome offer appealing cash back rewards and introductory APRs, making them strong contenders for your wallet. If maximizing cash back on everyday purchases is your goal, the Blue Cash Everyday Card edges ahead with its higher cash back rates in key categories like supermarkets and gas stations.

But the Discover it Chrome is a strong choice for if you’re looking to transfer balances, thanks to its longer 0% APR period on balance transfers. While both cards boast a $0 annual fee and the same credit score requirements, the right card for you depends on whether you prioritize higher cash back or better balance transfer terms.

Credit Card logo for Blue Cash Everyday® Card From American Express
Blue Cash Everyday® Card From American Express
Credit Card logo for Discover it® Chrome
Discover it® Chrome
MoneyGeek Rating
3.7/ of 5
MoneyGeek Rating
3.7/ of 5

  • Regular APR
    19.24%–29.99% variable
    18.24% - 28.24% variable
    0% APR Offer
    0% for 15 months on purchases
    0% for 6 months on purchases
    Intro Offer
    Earn $200
    Cashback Match
    Rewards Summary
    Earn 1%–3% cash back
    Earn 1%–2% cash back
    Balance Transfer Offer
    0% for 15 months on balance transfers
    0% for 18 months on balance transfers
    Balance Transfer Fee
    Either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
    5% of the amount of each transfer after intro fee
    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 frequently shop at U.S. supermarkets, online retailers and gas stations. The card's higher cash back rates in these categories, coupled with a generous welcome offer, can maximize your rewards on everyday spending. Additionally, the introductory APR period can help with new purchases or balance transfers, though it's shorter than some competitors.

You might prefer the Discover it Chrome if you value simplicity and longer-term benefits. With no foreign transaction fees and a longer 0% APR offer on balance transfers, it's a solid choice if you travel or are looking to manage existing debt. While the cash back rewards are not as high as some cards, the lack of an annual fee and the cash back match in the first year are appealing features.

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 each aspect, such as the Blue Cash Everyday's supermarket rewards versus Discover it Chrome's dining perks, to guide your choice.

    discount icon

    Regular APR: Discover it Chrome

    The Discover it Chrome offers a slightly better regular APR range, starting at 18.24% and capping at 28.24%, compared with the Blue Cash Everyday's range of 19.24% to 29.99%.

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    Annual Fee: Tie

    Both the Blue Cash Everyday and the Discover it Chrome have no annual fee.

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    Introductory 0% APRs: Tie

    The Blue Cash Everyday offers 0% for 15 months on both purchases and balance transfers, with a balance transfer fee of either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.

    The Discover it Chrome provides 0% for six months on purchases and 18 months on balance transfers, with a balance transfer fee of 5% after the intro fee.

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    Rewards: Blue Cash Everyday

    The Blue Cash Everyday is better for rewards, offering 3% cash back on U.S. supermarkets, online retail purchases and gas stations, up to $6,000 per year in each category, then 1%. By contrast, Discover it Chrome offers 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter.

    Both cards allow for versatile redemption options, but the higher cash back rates of the Blue Cash Everyday make it more rewarding for specific spending categories.

    rewards icon

    Welcome Offers: Blue Cash Everyday

    The Blue Cash Everyday card outperforms with its welcome offer, providing a $200 statement credit after a $2,000 spend in the first six months, compared with Discover it Chrome's year-end cashback match.

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    Recommended Credit Score: Tie

    Both the Blue Cash Everyday and the Discover it Chrome require a recommended credit score range of 670 to 850, indicating they are equally accessible if you have good to excellent credit.

    autopay icon

    Penalties and Fees: Discover it Chrome

    The Discover it Chrome is better for penalties and fees, offering no late fee for the first offense and no foreign transaction fees, compared with the Blue Cash Everyday's up to $40 late fee and 2.7% foreign transaction fee.

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    Issuer Satisfaction: Blue Cash Everyday

    American Express outperforms Discover, with an issuer satisfaction rating of 5.0 compared with 4.5.

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    Other Features & Perks: Tie

    Both cards offer unique perks. 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 Chrome offers a first-year cashback match, free overnight card replacement and assistance with removing personal information from select websites.

Rewards Comparison

The Blue Cash Everyday offers a higher rewards rate on everyday essentials, with 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets, online retail purchases and gas stations, up to $6,000 per year in each category, then 1%. This makes it a strong option if you spend heavily in these areas.

By contrast, the Discover it Chrome provides 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter, with 1% on all other purchases. While its rewards rate is lower, the simplicity of the program and the first-year cashback match can be attractive if you prefer straightforward rewards without category tracking.

The table compares the rewards categories offered by each card.

Category
Blue Cash Everyday
Discover it Chrome

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

2% on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter

U.S. Restaurants

1%

2% on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter

U.S. Online Retail Purchases

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

1%

All Other Purchases

1%

1%

Redeeming Rewards

The Blue Cash Everyday allows redemptions as statement credits or for Amazon.com purchases, with the flexibility of no minimum redemption amounts and no expiration on cash back.

The Discover it Chrome offers a broader range of redemption options, including gift cards, charitable donations, and direct deposits, also without an expiration date on rewards. Both cards ensure that the rewards you earn remain available for use whenever you choose.

Methodology

MoneyGeek's ranking process assigns multiple scores to each credit card 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 Chrome

What are the cash back rewards for each card?
Do either of the cards have an annual fee?
Which card offers a better introductory APR period?
Are there foreign transaction fees for either card?
What is the welcome offer for each 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.
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