Blue Cash from American Express (Original)
By Alex Compton · Last verified
5 percent on groceries and gas up to 50,000 dollars a year, never matched since.
Welcome Bonus
None
Discontinued
Spend Requirement
None
Annual Fee
$0
2.7% FTF
Credit Score
700+
(Good-Excellent)
Common Questions
Is the Blue Cash from American Express (Original) discontinued?
Yes. Discontinued. 5 percent on groceries and gas up to 50,000 dollars a year, never matched since.
What can I use instead of the Blue Cash from American Express (Original)?
The closest open alternatives we track are the Citi Strata Premier, Capital One Savor, Bilt Mastercard. Each links to our full review with its current offer and complete breakdown.
Open Alternatives
The Old Blue Cash is gone, but these cards do a similar job and are still accepting applications.
3x on five everyday categories. The broadest mid-tier earner.
3% on dining, groceries, entertainment and streaming. No fee.
The only card that earns points on rent with no fee.
Historical Offers Chart
Every public offer change we've tracked. Hover for details, timing your application is worth hundreds of dollars.
Last verified 2026-06-11 · spot an outdated offer? Tell us in the comments.
Earning Rates
- 5xUS supermarkets, gas stations and drugstores
- 1xSupermarkets, gas and drugstores before the 6,500 dollar tier
- 1xEverything else
Credits
No statement credits, this card wins on earn rates, not coupons.
Benefits
- ✦The 50,000 dollar annual 5 percent ceiling dwarfed every modern category cap
- ✦Grandfathered holders kept the original formula for years after delisting
Why it earns its spot
- +Up to 2,175 dollars of cash back per card year was possible
- +Heavy grocery and gas spenders never found a better card again
Where it costs you
- −Earned almost nothing until you cleared the 6,500 dollar tier
- −Cash back paid out only once per year
The Compound Verdict
Before the modern Blue Cash Everyday and Preferred arrived in 2011, the original Blue Cash paid 5 percent at supermarkets, gas stations and drugstores after a 6,500 dollar annual tier, on up to 50,000 dollars of spend. Amex stopped taking applications around 2014 but grandfathered holders kept the formula for years, and big-box manufactured spenders treated it like a printing press. Its caps have never been matched.
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