Amex EveryDay Card 2026: The forgotten no-fee Amex MR earner
Amex EveryDay Preferred at $95/year offers 4.5x at US supermarkets when you make 30 purchases per cycle. The no-fee EveryDay version offers 2x at supermarkets. Both transfer 1:1 to MR partners.
- EveryDay (no-fee): 20+ transactions = 20% bonus. Effective: 2.4x supermarkets, 1.2x other.
- EveryDay Preferred: 30+ transactions = 50% bonus. Effective: 4.5x supermarkets, 3x gas, 1.5x other.
- Update (July 2026):
- EveryDay (no-fee):
Amex EveryDay is the often-overlooked entry-level Amex Membership Rewards card. The no-fee EveryDay version offers 2x at US supermarkets ($6,000/year cap). The $95-fee EveryDay Preferred offers 4.5x at US supermarkets ($6,000/year cap) when you make 30+ transactions per cycle. Both transfer 1:1 to MR partners. For Amex-anchored points travelers wanting to add MR earning without premium card fees, EveryDay is the cleanest path.
Update (July 2026): American Express closed the EveryDay and EveryDay Preferred cards to new applicants on September 25, 2024. Existing cardholders keep their accounts and benefits, but these cards can no longer be applied for and have no current welcome offer. If you want a no-fee Membership Rewards card today, the Blue Business Plus (for business spending) or pairing a Chase or Capital One card with a transferable-points account are the closest live alternatives.
The two EveryDay cards
| Card | Annual fee | Earn structure |
|---|---|---|
| Amex EveryDay (no-fee) | \$0 | 2x at US supermarkets (\$6k/year cap), 1x other; 20% bonus on 20+ transactions |
| Amex EveryDay Preferred | \$95 | 3x at US supermarkets (\$6k/year cap), 2x at gas, 1x other; 50% bonus on 30+ transactions |
The transaction bonus
The unique mechanic on EveryDay cards: making 20+ transactions (no-fee) or 30+ transactions (Preferred) per statement cycle triggers a bonus on all earnings:
- EveryDay (no-fee): 20+ transactions = 20% bonus. Effective: 2.4x supermarkets, 1.2x other.
- EveryDay Preferred: 30+ transactions = 50% bonus. Effective: 4.5x supermarkets, 3x gas, 1.5x other.
For travelers who make 20-30+ transactions per cycle (which is easy with daily spending — coffee, groceries, gas, dining), this bonus is essentially automatic.
The math example: EveryDay Preferred with the 50% bonus
Spending profile in year 1:
- $6,000 at US supermarkets × 4.5x = 27,000 MR/year
- $3,000 at gas × 3x = 9,000 MR/year
- $10,000 in other spending × 1.5x = 15,000 MR/year
- Total: 51,000 MR/year on $19,000 in spending
Combined with sign-up bonus (typically 10,000-25,000 MR), the EveryDay Preferred produces 60,000-75,000 MR in year 1 at $95 fee.
The Amex EveryDay vs Amex Gold comparison
| Feature | EveryDay Preferred (\$95) | Amex Gold (\$325) |
|---|---|---|
| US supermarkets | 4.5x (with 30-tx bonus) | 4x (no transaction requirement) |
| Cap on supermarkets | \$6,000/year | \$25,000/year |
| Dining | 1.5x (with bonus) | 4x (no cap) |
| Gas | 3x (with bonus) | 1x |
| Statement credits | None | \$324/year nominal (Uber + dining) |
For pure supermarket optimization, EveryDay Preferred at \$95 produces slightly more rate (4.5x vs 4x) but at a much lower cap (\$6k vs \$25k). For households with heavy supermarket + dining spending, Amex Gold dominates. For households with lighter grocery spending and gas spending, EveryDay Preferred is the cleaner pick.
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The Amex MR family stack
For Amex-anchored points travelers, the family of cards stacks well:
- EveryDay (no-fee): Anchor for transferable MR at \$0 fee
- EveryDay Preferred (\$95): Mid-tier with strong supermarket + gas earning
- Gold (\$325): Premium dining + groceries
- Platinum (\$895): Travel + lounges + transfer-partner anchor
All earn the same Amex Membership Rewards. Holding multiple cards combines the earning rates without compounding fees beyond cards held. Most Amex-anchored travelers hold Gold + Platinum at minimum; adding EveryDay Preferred extends supermarket optimization and strong gas earning.
The decision matrix
| Profile | Best card |
|---|---|
| No-fee preference + occasional supermarket spend | EveryDay (no fee, 2.4x supermarkets with bonus) |
| \$200-\$500/month at supermarkets | EveryDay Preferred (\$95 fee, 4.5x with bonus) |
| \$500+/month at supermarkets + dining | Amex Gold (\$325 fee, 4x without cap requirements) |
| Already holds Gold + Platinum | Add EveryDay Preferred for gas optimization (3x with bonus) |
Bottom line
Amex EveryDay Preferred at \$95/year is the often-overlooked mid-tier Amex MR earner. The 30-transaction bonus elevating earnings to 4.5x supermarkets and 3x gas is automatic for most cardholders making daily purchases. For Amex-anchored points travelers with moderate supermarket spending, this is a strong addition to the Gold + Platinum stack. For households with heavier grocery + dining spending, Amex Gold remains the dominant single card.
Compare Amex MR cards on Pointify →
Last verified by the Pointify research team on May 1, 2026, against current Amex EveryDay and EveryDay Preferred card terms. Annual fees, bonus thresholds, and earning caps may shift; verify with Amex before applying.
About the author
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The Pointify team analyzes loyalty programs, fare data, and booking strategies across 300+ airlines and major award programs. Our goal: help you get maximum value from every point and mile.
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