Which card has a lower annual fee, Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express or U.S. Bank Smartly Visa Signature Card?

The Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express has no annual fee, compared to $0 for the U.S. Bank Smartly Visa Signature Card.

Which card earns more cash back, Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express or U.S. Bank Smartly Visa Signature Card?

The Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express earns 1.0% base cash back, while the U.S. Bank Smartly Visa Signature Card earns 2.0%. The best choice depends on your spending habits. Use the calculator to see which card earns you more.

Is the Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express better than the U.S. Bank Smartly Visa Signature Card?

It depends on your spending. If you spend more on categories where the Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express offers higher rewards, it may be better. Use our calculator to compare based on your actual monthly spending.

Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express vs U.S. Bank Smartly™ Visa Signature® Card: Which Card Wins for Your Spending?

Which earns more for you?

Travel ($)

Dining ($)

Groceries ($)

Gas ($)

Special ($)

Other ($)

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 U.S. Bank Smartly™ Visa Signature® Card (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.

Affiliate Disclosure: PointsCompare may earn a commission when you apply for a card through links on this site. This doesn't affect our rankings. Cards are ordered by rewards value for your spending. Full disclosure policy

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.

Apply Now

U.S. Bank Smartly Visa Signature Card

Unlimited 2% cash back on every purchase (up to 4% with large U.S. Bank deposit balances). Earns a solid 2.0% on everything else.

Annual fee: None Foreign fees: 3%

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

Apply Now

Head-to-Head Comparison

Feature	Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express	U.S. Bank Smartly Visa Signature Card
Annual Fee	$0	$0
Sign-Up Bonus	$200 after $2,000 spend in 6 months	None
Foreign Transaction Fee	2.7%	3%
Base Reward Rate	1.0%	2.0%
Groceries Rewards	3% (up to $6,000/yr)	2%
Gas Rewards	3% (up to $6,000/yr)	2%
Key Benefits	3% at U.S. supermarkets, gas stations, and online retail (each up to $6,000/yr).	Unlimited 2% cash back on every purchase (up to 4% with large U.S. Bank deposit balances).

The Verdict

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

U.S. Bank Smartly Visa Signature Card 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.