American Express Cash Back Cards: How Reward Dollars Work

6 Min Read | Last updated: September 25, 2024

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American Express offers cash back credit cards. Explore each card’s unique benefits, from cash back percentages to benefits and more.

At-A-Glance

American Express offers cash back credit cards so new Card Members can best align cash back and rewards-earning potential to their spending style.
At Amex, cash back is earned in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed for statement credits, with no redemption minimum.
Whether you’d prefer to earn up to 6% cash back in certain spending categories or would rather pay no annual fee, Amex has a cash back Card for you.

Credit card holders tend to prefer cash back rewards over points or miles, possibly due to how simple – and flexible – cash back credit cards can be, according to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.¹ After all, who wouldn’t want to earn a little money by spending money on everyday purchases?

To meet the demand for cash back, American Express offers these cash back credit cards, each with its own unique benefits:

The Blue Cash Everyday^® Card from American Express.
The Blue Cash Preferred^® Card from American Express.

Here’s what you need to know about American Express’ cash back Cards, from earning points and redeeming Reward Dollars to taking advantage of benefits. Terms apply to all benefits for the credit cards listed below.

How Does American Express Cash Back Work?

Cash back is a credit card rewards benefit that lets you earn back a small percentage of each eligible purchase made with the Card, often redeemed as a statement credit. The amount of cash back you earn typically ranges anywhere from 1%–3% of the transaction. But some cards, like Blue Cash Preferred, offer up to 6% cash back on certain spending categories. Cash back is earned in the form of Reward Dollars, which accumulate until you decide to redeem some or all of them.

American Express’ Cash Back Credit Cards

To earn Reward Dollars from American Express, you’ll want to choose one of the two American Express cash back credit cards that’s the right match for your spending style.

Blue Cash Everyday is a tiered cash back Card that offers benefits in specific spending categories like supermarkets and gas stations, with no annual fee.² As for cash back earning rates, Blue Cash Everyday will get you:

3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets, on up to $6,000 in yearly purchases (then 1%).
3% cash back at U.S. online retailers, on up to $6,000 in yearly purchases (then 1%).
3% cash back at U.S. gas stations, on up to $6,000 in yearly purchases (then 1%).
1% cash back on all other eligible purchases.

Beyond cash back, Blue Cash Everyday Card Members can also get:

$84 Disney Bundle Credit: Get a $7 monthly statement credit (up to $84 back annually) after using your enrolled Blue Cash Everyday Card to spend $9.99 or more each month on a subscription (subject to auto-renewal) to the Disney Bundle. Valid only at DisneyPlus.com, Hulu.com, or Plus.espn.com in the U.S.²
$180 Home Chef Credit: Get up to $15 in statement credits monthly for online purchases made with meal kit delivery service, Home Chef, on your Blue Cash Everyday Card (up to $180 in statement credits annually). Enrollment required. Shipping available in the contiguous U.S. only. Subscription subject to auto-renewal.²

Blue Cash Preferred offers even more cash back rewards in certain spending categories. For example, let’s say you want to supercharge the rewards you get from supermarket and gas expenses – all while getting cash back for your streaming service subscriptions. This could be the right card for you. As for cash back percentages, Blue Cash Preferred offers:

6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets, on up to $6,000 in purchases per year.
6% cash back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions.
3% cash back at U.S. gas stations.
3% cash back on transit, including tolls, parking, trains, buses, and more.⁴

How to Redeem American Express Cash Back Rewards

To redeem Reward Dollars:

Log into your American Express account and click “Use Reward Dollars.”
Enter the amount of Reward Dollars you’d like to use as a credit toward your next statement balance and the credit will usually appear within three days.

Note that the statement credit will not apply to the “minimum payment due” portion of your balance.

You can also use cash back* when shopping at Amazon.com:

Go to www.amazon.com/amexcashback to complete your registration.
Follow the instructions to link your Card Account to your Amazon.com account.
Shop now and use cash back* at checkout to cover all or part of your purchases at Amazon.com.

*Note that cash back refers to Reward Dollars earned on your Card.

And remember: As long as your Card’s account is in good standing – i.e., not canceled or past due – your Reward Dollars will never expire. They’ll be ready to redeem whenever you are.

The Takeaway

Cash back credit cards offer a way to earn cash rewards for everyday purchases you’d likely be making anyway – it’s like getting a small rebate for every eligible purchase you make. American Express offers cash back credit cards, each with its own unique benefits to match your spending preferences – whether you’re buying groceries for a large family, spending on gas for a long commute, or using online streaming services.

¹ The Consumer Credit Card Market, Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection

² For more on Rates and Fees for the Blue Cash Everyday^® Card from American Express, click here.

³ For more on Rates and Fees for the Blue Cash Preferred^® Card from American Express, click here.

⁴ For more on Offer & Benefit Terms for the Blue Cash Preferred^® Card from American Express, click here.

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Megan Doyle is a business technology writer and researcher whose work focuses on financial services and cross-cultural diversity and inclusion.

All Credit Intel content is written by freelance authors and commissioned and paid for by American Express.

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