Amex EveryDay^® Preferred Credit Card Review [2024]: Turn Everyday Purchases into High-Value Travel Rewards

If you love saving money on travel expenses, using a travel rewards credit card regularly could help you get some deep discounts on upcoming trips. With the Amex EveryDay^® Preferred Credit Card, you can earn valuable Amex Membership Rewards points from your everyday purchases. Then, it’s simply a matter of redeeming your points toward travel.

This Amex EveryDay Preferred review will help you decide if this card is a good fit for you.

Who should get the Amex EveryDay Preferred Card?

The Amex EveryDay Preferred Card is considered a travel card, so it’s a good option if you're interested in travel rewards. Although there is no strict rule that you have to redeem your points for travel, in most cases, travel redemptions will offer you the best value with this card.

With Amex EveryDay Preferred, you can earn 3X points at U.S. supermarkets (up to $6,000 in purchases per year, after that 1X), 2X at U.S. gas stations and AmexTravel.com, and 1X on all other eligible purchases. Because most people make frequent purchases at U.S. supermarkets and gas stations, this can be a great card to add to your wallet.

Card basics

Amex EveryDay Preferred Card benefits and perks

The Amex EveryDay Preferred comes with many benefits that help offset the cost of the annual fee, including:

• Amazing earnings on everyday purchases: Earn 3X points at U.S. supermarkets (up to $6,000 in purchases per year, after that 1X), 2X at U.S. gas stations and AmexTravel.com, and 1X on all other eligible purchases. Those U.S. supermarket rewards can certainly add up. If you're looking for the best credit card for groceries, this should be on your list. 
• Membership Rewards program: Membership Rewards points offer a variety of redemption methods, from travel to statement credits to shopping. Plus, you can transfer them to many different airline and hotel loyalty programs such as JetBlue, Emirates, Delta Air Lines, Hilton Honors, and Marriott Bonvoy.
• Amex Travel bonus earnings: When you book travel using your eligible card on Amex Travel, you’ll earn 2X Membership Rewards points per dollar spent.
• 50% extra points offer: If you use your eligible card 30 or more times on purchases in a single billing period, you’ll earn 50% extra points on those purchases.
• Car rental insurance: Use your eligible card to pay in full for a rental car and decline the rental company’s collision damage waiver to receive secondary car rental loss and damage insurance through your credit card.
• Return protection: Purchases made with your eligible card may be returned to American Express (if the seller won’t take them back) up to 90 days from the date of purchase. You can receive up to $300 per item, up to a maximum of $1,000 per calendar year per card account.
• Complimentary ShopRunner: Receive complimentary ShopRunner membership, which allows for free two-day shipping on eligible items at more than 100 online stores. Enrollment is required.

Drawbacks to the Amex EveryDay Preferred Card

• Foreign transaction fee: It’s billed as a travel credit card, but the Amex EveryDay Preferred does have a foreign transaction fee. It can be great for earning travel rewards, but wouldn’t be the best choice to make purchases abroad.
• No premium benefits: For high-end benefits, you’ll have to look into premium travel cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve^® or The Platinum Card^® from American Express. They come with higher annual fees but grant Priority Pass lounge access (enrollment required) and travel insurance.

Earning and redeeming Membership Rewards points

Potential earnings in years one and two

Here's a look at how your points can add up with the Amex EveryDay Preferred. To calculate these values, we used a point valuation of 1 cent.

Remember, this is an estimation. The actual value will be determined by how much and in which categories you spend.

Year one earnings: $581

Year two earnings: $431

These values are based on the FinanceBuzz Credit Card Rewards Valuation Model, which looks at points earned via spending, the welcome offer, and the annual fee.

Best ways to earn

The best way to earn points with the Amex EveryDay Preferred is through everyday purchases. You can earn 3X points at U.S. supermarkets (up to $6,000 in purchases per year, after that 1X), 2X at U.S. gas stations and AmexTravel.com, and 1X on all other eligible purchases. 

To earn even more points, you should always try to use your card at least 30 times per billing cycle. This will qualify you for the 50% extra points offer on all purchases during the billing cycle.

Maximizing your redemptions

You can redeem your Amex Membership Rewards points in many ways, but the best redemptions are often for travel. When you redeem your points toward flights on Amex Travel, your points are worth 1 cent each. That means 15,000 points would be worth $150 toward flights.

Keep in mind that you may get even more value from points if you transfer them to airline and/or hotel partners.

Amex EveryDay Preferred transfer partners

Amex EveryDay Preferred cardholders have the option to transfer their Membership Rewards points to more than 20 airline and hotel loyalty programs. The majority of these Amex transfer partners allow for a 1:1 transfer of Membership Rewards points, but the value can vary.

Amex airline travel partners:

• Aeromexico
• Air Canada
• Alitalia
• Aer Lingus
• Air France
• All Nippon Airways
• Avianca LifeMiles
• British Airways
• Cathay Pacific Asia Miles
• Delta Air Lines
• El Al
• Emirates
• Etihad Airways
• Hawaiian Airlines
• Iberia Plus
• JetBlue Airways
• Singapore Airlines
• Qantas Airlines
• Virgin Atlantic Airways

Amex hotel transfer partners:

• Choice Hotels
• Hilton Honors
• Marriott Bonvoy

Amex EveryDay Preferred FAQs

Other cards to consider

The Amex EveryDay Preferred is a great mid-tier travel credit card for someone who wants to earn travel rewards on everyday purchases. 

For a travel card with premium perks and benefits, the Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card would be an optimal choice. It comes with airport lounge access, travel insurance, purchase protection, and access to Chase Ultimate Rewards transfer partners. With all its perks, it's easy to understand why it's one of the most popular travel rewards credit cards.