Blue Cash Everyday® Card From American Express
vs. Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards credit card

Updated: November 17, 2024

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Both the Blue Cash Everyday card from American Express and the Bank of America Unlimited Cash card offer enticing cash back rewards and no annual fees.The Blue Cash Everyday edges ahead with higher cash back rates in popular categories like supermarkets and gas stations, coupled with a generous welcome offer.

However, the BofA Unlimited Cash's flat-rate cash back on all purchases and the potential for a higher rewards rate for Preferred Rewards members makes it a worthy option, especially for those who value simplicity in their rewards structure.

Credit Card logo for Blue Cash Everyday® Card From American Express
Blue Cash Everyday® Card From American Express
Credit Card logo for Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards credit card
Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards credit card
MoneyGeek Rating
3.7/ of 5
Rates & Fees
MoneyGeek Rating
3.9/ of 5
Rates & Fees
REVIEW & APPLY
On Issuer's Site
REVIEW & APPLY
On Issuer's Site

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. With higher cash-back rates in these categories, you can maximize your rewards on everyday spending.

You might prefer the BofA Unlimited Cash if you value simplicity in your rewards program. With a flat 1.5% cash back on all purchases and no categories to track, this card offers a straightforward way to earn cash back on every purchase you make.

Head-to-Head Comparison: Card Details and Features

Evaluating APRs, fees, credit requirements and rewards will help you determine which card may suit your financial needs. For instance, if you spend heavily at supermarkets, the Blue Cash Everyday's higher cash back rate in that category could be beneficial. Conversely, the BofA Unlimited Cash card's flat-rate cash back on all purchases might be preferable for consistent earning across various spending.

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    Regular APR: BofA Unlimited Cash

    BofA Unlimited Cash has a lower starting APR of 18.24% compared to the Blue Cash Everyday's APR of 18.74%.

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    Annual Fee: Tie

    Both the Blue Cash Everyday and BofA Unlimited Cash have no annual fee.

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    Introductory 0% APRs: Tie

    Both cards offer a 0% introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months, making them equally attractive for those looking to make a large purchase or transfer balances. The balance transfer fee is slightly more favorable with the Blue Cash Everyday, which charges either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater, compared to the BofA Unlimited Cash card's fee of 3% for the first 60 days, then 4%.

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    Rewards: Blue Cash Everyday

    The Blue Cash Everyday is better for rewards, offering 3% cash back on U.S. supermarkets, gas stations, and online retail purchases up to $6,000 per year, then 1%, compared to the BofA Unlimited Cash's flat 1.5% cash back on all purchases.

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    Welcome Offers: BofA Unlimited Cash

    The BofA Unlimited Cash offers a better welcome bonus, providing $200 cash back after a lower spend requirement of $1,000 in the first 90 days, compared to the Blue Cash Everyday's $200 statement credit after spending $2,000 in the first six months.

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    Recommended Credit Score: Tie

    Both the Blue Cash Everyday and the BofA Unlimited Cash card cater to individuals with good to excellent credit scores, ranging from 670 to 850.

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    Penalties and Fees: Blue Cash Everyday

    For penalties and fees, the Blue Cash Everyday is slightly better due to its lower foreign transaction fees. Both cards charge up to $40 for late fees and have similar penalty APRs and cash advance fees. However, the Blue Cash Everyday has a lower foreign transaction fee of 2.7% compared to BofA Unlimited Cash's 3%.

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    Issuer Satisfaction: Blue Cash Everyday

    American Express has a higher issuer satisfaction rating of 5. compared to Bank of America's rating of 4.5.

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    Other Features & Perks: Tie

    The BofA Unlimited Cash provides the convenience of contactless payments. The Blue Cash Everyday offers up to $15 back on Home Chef meal kits and a $7 statement credit for The Disney Bundle subscription, catering to those who enjoy streaming and cooking at home.

Rewards Comparison

The Blue Cash Everyday card has higher cash back rates in everyday spending categories. With 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $6,000 per year), U.S. online retail purchases and U.S. gas stations. However, these categories have spending caps, after which the rate drops to 1%. On the other hand, the BofA Unlimited Cash card simplifies the rewards process by offering a flat 1.5% cash back on all purchases without any caps.

While the Blue Cash Everyday card may offer more value in its bonus categories, the Bofa Unlimited Cash card's consistent reward rate across all purchases is its most compelling feature, especially for those who value simplicity in their rewards program.

Please refer to the following table for a comparison of the bonus categories for each card.

Category
Blue Cash Everyday
BofA Unlimited Cash

U.S. Supermarkets

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

1.5%

U.S. Online Retail Purchases

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

1.5%

U.S. Gas Stations

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

1.5%

All Other Purchases

1%

1.5%

Redeeming Rewards

The Bofa Unlimited Cash card simplifies the process, offering redemptions for cash back via direct deposit, credit to eligible Merrill accounts or as a statement credit, with the assurance that your rewards remain available as long as your account is open. The Blue Cash Everyday card provides the flexibility to use your cash back at checkout on Amazon.com or as a statement credit, with no concerns about expiration or minimum redemption thresholds.

Methodology

MoneyGeek's ranking process assigns multiple scores to each credit card, reflecting their performance in various cases like balance transfers and cash back. For this comparison, the Blue Cash Everyday and BofA Unlimited Cash cards are scored based on their highest use case, which is cash back. The largest factors in determining these scores include the effective reward rate and the return on investment for offers.

FAQ: Blue Cash Everyday vs. BofA Unlimited Cash Card

What are the cash back rewards for each card?
Do either of the cards have an annual fee?
What are the introductory APR offers for these cards?
Are there any foreign transaction fees for these cards?
Can I earn a welcome bonus with 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.

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*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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