American Express® Blue Cash Everyday vs Citi® / AAdvantage® MileUp®

American Express® Blue Cash Everyday
VS
Citi® / AAdvantage® MileUp®
The short answer: The American Express® Blue Cash Everyday delivers a bit more value for most spenders.

Side-by-side comparison

American Express® Blue Cash EverydayCiti® / AAdvantage® MileUp®
Annual feeNo annual feeNo annual fee
Welcome offer$200 statement credit15,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® miles after $500 in 3 months
Dining1x1x
Groceries3x2x
Gas3x1x
Travel1x1x
Streaming1x1x
Everything else1x1x
Est. yearly rewards*$455$352
Points typeCash back onlyLocked to American Airlines AAdvantage
NetworkAmexMastercard

*Estimated yearly rewards on typical household spending, every point valued at a flat 1 cent. Verified June 2026. See your own numbers in the calculator.

The verdict

On a typical year of household spending, the American Express® Blue Cash Everyday earns about $455 a year in rewards and the Citi® / AAdvantage® MileUp® about $352, valuing every point at a flat 1 cent. The American Express® Blue Cash Everyday has no annual fee, so its rewards are all profit. The Citi® / AAdvantage® MileUp® has no annual fee, so its rewards are all profit. Counting rewards and any credits, the American Express® Blue Cash Everyday delivers more total value, about $235 a year more for a typical spender, mostly because it earns more where you spend most, on groceries and gas. Neither leans on transferable points, so the deciding factors are the welcome offer, the card network, and which everyday perks you will actually use. On the sign-up bonus, the American Express® Blue Cash Everyday currently has the larger welcome offer. A welcome bonus is a one-time event, so weigh it apart from the ongoing rewards.

Pick the American Express® Blue Cash Everyday if your spending leans toward groceries, gas.

Read the full reviews

Frequently asked questions

Is the American Express® Blue Cash Everyday or the Citi® / AAdvantage® MileUp® better?
On typical household spending, the American Express® Blue Cash Everyday comes out ahead, by roughly $235 a year with every point valued at a flat 1 cent. But the Citi® / AAdvantage® MileUp® can be the better fit if your spending lines up with its stronger categories. Run both through the Cardocrat calculator to see your own numbers.
Can I have both the American Express® Blue Cash Everyday and the Citi® / AAdvantage® MileUp®?
In most cases yes, as long as you meet each issuer's approval rules (for example Chase's 5/24 rule). Many people hold complementary cards to cover more bonus categories, then pool or redeem the rewards together where the program allows.
Which has the better welcome bonus, the American Express® Blue Cash Everyday or the Citi® / AAdvantage® MileUp®?
As of June 2026, the American Express® Blue Cash Everyday offers $200 statement credit and the Citi® / AAdvantage® MileUp® offers 15,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® miles after $500 in 3 months. Welcome offers change often, so confirm the current offer on each card's page before applying.