Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express vs REI Co-op® Mastercard®: Which Card Wins for Your Spending?

Which earns more for you?

Monthly spending. We rank on rewards minus the full annual fee, so statement credits and perks are listed separately and never counted for you.

Choosing between the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express (no annual fee) and the REI Co-op® Mastercard® (no annual fee) comes down to where you spend most. Both cards can deliver real value. Let’s break it down, then run your numbers to find the winner.

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Meet the Contenders

Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express

Strongest in groceries at 3% (up to $6,000/yr). 3% at U.S. supermarkets, gas stations, and online retail (each up to $6,000/yr).

Annual fee: None Sign-up bonus: $200 after $2,000 spend in 6 months Foreign fees: 2.7%

Perfect if: You want solid rewards without paying an annual fee.

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REI Co-op Mastercard

5% back at REI and rei.com, 1.5% on everything else, with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees. Earns a solid 1.5% on everything else.

Annual fee: None Sign-up bonus: $100 after $1 spend in 2 months Foreign fees: 0%

Perfect if: You want solid rewards without paying an annual fee.

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Head-to-Head Comparison

Feature Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express REI Co-op Mastercard
Annual Fee $0 $0
Sign-Up Bonus $200 after $2,000 spend in 6 months $100 after $1 spend in 2 months
Foreign Transaction Fee 2.7% 0%
Base Reward Rate 1.0% 1.5%
Groceries Rewards 3% (up to $6,000/yr) 1.5%
Gas Rewards 3% (up to $6,000/yr) 1.5%
Key Benefits 3% at U.S. supermarkets, gas stations, and online retail (each up to $6,000/yr). 5% back at REI and rei.com, 1.5% on everything else, with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees.

The Verdict

Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express pulls ahead for groceries, gas spending.

REI Co-op Mastercard wins on travel, dining.

Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express carries $264/year in credits (mostly tied to specific merchants or bookings). Those only count if you’d actually use them. Worth checking against your own habits before treating them as a discount on the fee.

Not sure which fits your life? Enter your spending below and we’ll do the math. The calculator ranks purely on rewards minus the full annual fee, so credits and perks are yours to judge.