AmEx EveryDay vs. AmEx EveryDay Preferred: Preferred Wins By a Hair

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If you want to build up your stash of American Express Membership Rewards points without feeling like you have to join a country club to do so, two options provide a way in without a sky-high annual fee:

• The Amex EveryDay® Credit Card: $0 annual fee.

• The Amex EveryDay® Preferred Credit Card from American Express: $95 annual fee.

• Terms apply.

Similarly named and designed, these cards also come with some similar features: elevated rewards on groceries and travel, as well as other extras that encourage you to reach for these cards every day. And for those looking to play in the Membership Rewards space, annual fees only go up from here.

But if you care more about earning high rates, you can do better than either one, especially among cards that earn cash back instead of points, often for no annual fee. And cash back, of course, is the most flexible reward of all.

Still, Membership Rewards points are also pretty flexible. And while redemption values can vary widely depending on what you choose — statement credit, for example, gives you a value of only 0.6 cent per point — in some cases, you can snag point values far higher than that, especially for certain travel redemptions.

If that piques your interest and you're looking to keep costs low, here’s how to decide which AmEx EveryDay card is right for you.

» MORE: NerdWallet's picks for best credit cards

How they compare at a glance

For its $95 annual fee, The Amex EveryDay® Preferred Credit Card from American Express offers a few more perks than the $0-annual-fee Amex EveryDay® Credit Card, like return protection. Terms apply. Plus, it has higher point-earning potential.

On balance, the Amex EveryDay® Credit Card just doesn't compete well on that score.

Here’s how the cards stack up.

» MORE: Review of the Amex EveryDay® Credit Card

» MORE: Review of The Amex EveryDay® Preferred Credit Card from American Express

» MORE: Which American Express card is right for you?

Why The Amex EveryDay® Preferred Credit Card from American Express is better for most people

Larger welcome offer

Earn 15,000 Membership Reward® points after you use your new card to make $1,000 in purchases within the first 3 months. Terms Apply. Depending on how you decide to redeem it, that could get you $150 in value or perhaps more.

More robust rewards

With either card, you can max out the bonus rewards at U.S. supermarkets by spending $500 a month in that category. But The Amex EveryDay® Preferred Credit Card from American Express offers you an extra point per $1 on that spending (up to the $6,000 cap), so maxing out that offer would net you 6,000 more points per year — which could translate to an extra $30 to $60 more in redemption value.

The Amex EveryDay® Preferred Credit Card from American Express also offers bonus rewards at U.S. gas stations, while its lower-tier sibling card doesn't. Terms apply.

» SEE: Best AmEx credit cards right now

More bonus points for loyalty

Use The Amex EveryDay® Preferred Credit Card from American Express at least 30 times in a billing cycle and earn 50% more points. Terms apply. That means that if you use your card roughly once per day, each purchase could end up earning you 1.5 to 4.5 points per $1, which are good rates indeed.

The Amex EveryDay® Credit Card also offers a points bonus that may be easier to hit but is less valuable: You'll earn 20% more points if you use your card at least 20 times in a billing cycle

Recourse if you need a refund

If a merchant won’t let you return a purchase, The Amex EveryDay® Preferred Credit Card from American Express can help if it’s within 90 days of the date you bought the item. Get a refund for eligible purchases of up to $300 per item (up to $1,000 per calendar year). Terms apply.

The Amex EveryDay® Credit Card doesn’t include return protection as a benefit.

» LEARN: Which credit cards cover purchase protection?

Who might prefer the Amex EveryDay® Credit Card

No annual fee

There's simply no other $0-annual-fee credit card that can snag you Membership Rewards points. Otherwise, if you want in, entry will cost you.

That alone may make the Amex EveryDay® Credit Card desirable, especially since it comes with the same key benefit of all Membership Rewards-earning cards: the ability to transfer points to multiple travel partners, possibly allowing you to snag some good deals.

Ultimately, though, any number of other no-annual-fee travel credit cards offer higher rewards rates and more generous welcome bonuses.

More attainable bonus rewards

If you're able to take advantage of the 50% point bonus on The Amex EveryDay® Preferred Credit Card from American Express, the rewards will outweigh the annual for most people. But if you don't plan on using your new credit card 30 times in the average month, you might be better off opting for the Amex EveryDay® Credit Card. Its bonus is 20%, which will earn you a lower rewards rate. But you'll earn it if

Longer 0% intro APR period on purchases

The card does offer an intro 0% APR on purchases for 15 months, and then the ongoing APR of 12.99% - 23.99% Variable APR. Terms apply. That's a decent window of time for financing a purchase — and longer than what its more upscale cousin offers.

» MORE: NerdWallet's best 0% APR credit cards

Alternative cards

If you're open to cash back instead of Membership Rewards, the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express earns an industry-leading 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 in spending per year (then 1% back); 6% back on select U.S. streaming service subscriptions; 3% back on eligible transit and at U.S. gas stations; and 1% back on other purchases. The annual fee is $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95..

If you want to avoid an annual fee, consider its no-annual-fee sibling the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express. It earns 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets, U.S. gas stations and U.S. online retail purchases. You'll earn this elevated rate on up to $6,000 in purchases in each category. After that you'll get 1% back. You'll also earn 1% back on all other purchases. Terms apply (see rates and fees).

Which card should you get?

If you're looking for a low-cost entry into Membership Rewards, both cards will do the job. But most people will fare better with The Amex EveryDay® Preferred Credit Card from American Express. Its higher rate on grocery shopping and gas stations, plus the chance to score an extra 50% in rewards gives you the potential to earn more, even with the annual fee. But if you're not partial to earning Membership Rewards, picking a cash back card with more robust reward categories is still the best option.

» MORE: Best tricks for using Membership Rewards

All information about the Amex EveryDay® Credit Card has been collected independently by NerdWallet. The Amex EveryDay® Credit Card is no longer available through NerdWallet. All information about The Amex EveryDay® Preferred Credit Card from American Express has been collected independently by NerdWallet. The Amex EveryDay® Preferred Credit Card from American Express is no longer available through NerdWallet.