Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express vs Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card
Both cards cost $0/yr. The Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express leads on gas stations; the Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card on everyday spending.
Card data as of November 13, 2026.
Blue Cash Everyday Card from American ExpressAmerican Express · No annual fee
Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit CardBank of America · No annual fee
Overview
- Annual fee
- Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express$0Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card$0
- Welcome offerCurrent public offer
- Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express$200 cash backBank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card$250 cash back
- Rewards
- Blue Cash Everyday Card from American ExpressCash backBank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit CardCash back
- Foreign transaction fee
- Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express2.7%LowestBank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card3%
- Network
- Blue Cash Everyday Card from American ExpressAmerican ExpressBank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit CardVisa Signature
Earn ratesPer $1 spent
- Gas Stations
- Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express3%HighestBank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card1.5%
- Grocery Stores
- Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express3%HighestBank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card1.5%
- Online Shopping
- Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express3%HighestBank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card1.5%
- Department Stores
- Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express2%HighestBank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card1.5%
- Everything else
- Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express1%Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card1.5%Highest
Statement creditsAs the issuer states them · — means none on record
- Entertainment & streaming
- Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express
- $7/mo Disney+ · $7 monthly
Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card— - Other credits
- Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express—Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card
- 3% balance transfer fee
- 0% APR 15 months
Perks & access— means none on record
- Other perks
- Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express
- Amex Offers
- Early access to concerts and events
- 24/7 global travel assistance
Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card- No annual fee
Protections & insuranceLimits where published · — means none on record
- Rental car
- Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express
- Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance
Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card— - Purchase & returns
- Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express
- Up to $1,000 per item against damage or theft
Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card— - Other protections
- Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express
- Zero liability protection on fraudulent charges
Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card—
Pros & cons
- Pros
- Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express
- No annual fee with solid category rewards
- 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets up to $6,000/year ($180 max annual value)
- Up to $84/year Disney Bundle credit for streaming subscriptions
- 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases (3 months longer than Preferred)
- As high as $200 cash back welcome offer after $2,000 spend in 6 months (offers vary)
Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card- Unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases
- No annual fee
- $250 welcome bonus after $1,000 spend
- 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers
- No category tracking required
- Cons
- Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express
- 3% grocery rate is half of Blue Cash Preferred's 6%
- 2.7% foreign transaction fee makes it unsuitable for travel
- 3% rates on gas and online retail are capped at $6,000/year each
- 1% back on non-category purchases is below average
- $6,000 annual cap on grocery bonus limits heavy spenders
Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card- 3% foreign transaction fee
- Flat 1.5% rate, no bonus categories
- Lower earning rate than category-specific cards in bonus areas
- No premium perks or travel benefits
Expert Analysis
The Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express and Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card are two of the most popular cards in their category, and choosing between them comes down to which rewards structure better matches your spending. Both deliver strong value, but in meaningfully different ways.
The Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express's strongest category is Grocery Stores at 3X, while the Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card leads with 1.5X on All Purchases Ongoing. Overall, the Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express wins in more bonus categories (4 vs 1) — so the better choice depends on where you spend the most.
Both cards carry a $0/yr annual fee, so the decision comes down purely to rewards structure and benefits — there's no fee math to worry about.
Key Differences
- Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express earns 3X on Grocery Stores vs 1.5X for the other
- Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express earns 3X on Online Shopping vs 1.5X for the other
- Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express earns 2X on Gas Stations vs 1.5X for the other
- Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card has a higher base earn rate (1.5X vs 1X on non-bonus spending)
- Different networks: Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express is AMEX, Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card is VISA
Spending Scenarios
Which card wins in real-world spending situations?
$600/month on grocery stores
Blue Cash Everyday Card from American ExpressBlue Cash Everyday Card from American Express earns 3X vs 1.5X. Over a year, that's 21,600 vs 10,800 points — a 10,800-point advantage.
$200/month on online shopping
Blue Cash Everyday Card from American ExpressBlue Cash Everyday Card from American Express earns 3X vs 1.5X. Over a year, that's 7,200 vs 3,600 points — a 3,600-point advantage.
$200/month on all purchases ongoing
Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit CardBank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card earns 1.5X vs 1X. Over a year, that's 3,600 vs 2,400 points — a 1,200-point advantage.
Who Should Get Which?
Get the Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express if:
The Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express is ideal for cardholders who prioritize spending heavily on grocery stores and online shopping. At $0/yr, it delivers strong no-fee value for its target audience.
Get the Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card if:
The Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card is ideal for cardholders who prioritize spending heavily on all purchases ongoing and earning more on everyday purchases. At $0/yr, it delivers strong no-fee value for its target audience.
Upgrade & Downgrade Path
These cards are from different issuers, so switching between them requires a new application. Many rewards enthusiasts hold both to maximize earn rates across different spending categories — the annual fee total may be worth it if you're actively using both cards' bonus categories.
Consider which card's rewards ecosystem better fits your redemption goals. Transferable points programs offer more flexibility for travel redemptions.
Category-by-Category Winner
Both cards win in 1 categories each — it comes down to which categories matter most to you. 3 more categories depend on booking channel or caps.
Gas Stations
Depends: up to $6,000/yr
Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express earns 3X when conditions are met; Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card earns 1.5X (1.5X without restrictions)
Department Stores
Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express earns 2X vs 1.5X
Grocery Stores
Depends: up to $6,000/yr
Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express earns 3X when conditions are met; Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card earns 1.5X (1.5X without restrictions)
Online Shopping
Depends: up to $6,000/yr
Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express earns 3X when conditions are met; Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card earns 1.5X (1.5X without restrictions)
Everyday purchases
Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card earns 1.5X on all other spending vs 1X
Year One vs Ongoing Value
Modeled net value (bonus categories at unconditional rates, caps applied). Spend mix: dining 15%, groceries 15%, gas 10%, travel 10%, everything else 50%. Statement credits use the same recurring usable estimates as each card's detail page; first-year-only credits count in year one only. Welcome offers valued at each card's program rate shown on this page.
Modeled value is close across spend levels — especially once statement credits are counted.
| Scenario | Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express | Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card | Ongoing winner | Year-one winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Light spender: $1,000/month | Rewards: $120 Credits (our usable estimate): $42 − Annual fee ($0) Ongoing: $162 Year one: $362 | Rewards: $180 Credits (our usable estimate): $0 − Annual fee ($0) Ongoing: $180 Year one: $430 | Close — depends on how much of the credits you use | Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card |
| Heavy spender: $4,000/month | Rewards: $480 Credits (our usable estimate): $42 − Annual fee ($0) Ongoing: $522 Year one: $722 | Rewards: $720 Credits (our usable estimate): $0 − Annual fee ($0) Ongoing: $720 Year one: $970 | Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card | Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card |
Which Card Is Right for You?
Get the Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express if you:
- +Do most of your spending at grocery stores
Get the Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card if you:
- +Prefer a high flat rate across all spending
The Bottom Line
Modeled value is close across spend levels — especially once statement credits are counted.
Everyday (non-bonus) spend earns 1.5X on the Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card vs 1X on the other card.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Which card earns more rewards, the Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express or Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card?
- The Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card has a higher base earn rate (1.5X vs 1X), but both cards have different bonus categories where they excel.
- Should I get the Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express or the Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card?
- Both cards have the same $0/yr fee. Choose based on which bonus categories match your spending — check the earn rate comparison above.
Related Comparisons
Editorial disclosure: CardRewards.ai is an independent comparison service. Card data comes from issuers' published terms; catalog last published November 13, 2026, and each card page shows when its terms were last checked. Card issuers do not influence our rankings or content.