Clear Card from American Express Review

This card offers automatic rewards, plus no late or over-limit fees.

• People who want to avoid late payment and over-limit fees but want rewards, too.

Credit Rating Required

• Fair to excellent (660+).

Pros

• No late or over-limit fees.
• No balance transfer or cash advance fees.
• Automatic rewards, payable as American Express shopping card.
• Extended warranty protection on purchases.

Cons

• High APRs.

Rewards

• 1% cash back, payable as American Express shopping card.

APRs

• 0% for six to 12 months on purchases, then the purchase APR.
• 17.24, 19.24 or 21.24%, based on your creditworthiness.
• Penalty APR: 27.24%.

Fees

• No annual fee.
• No balance transfer fee.
• No cash advance fee.
• No late payment fee.
• No returned payment fee.

Citi's new Simplicity Card claims to be the no-worry credit card for people concerned about late fees and over-limit fees. But the Clear Card from American Express is clearly (groan) superior. Not only does it have many of the same features as Citi Simplicity, it also pays nice, automatic - simple - rewards.

Like Simplicity, there are no late or over-limit fees, although there is a 27.24% penalty APR if you're late with a payment. Amex also goes several steps better with no balance transfer or cash advance fees, although the APR is too high to recommend doing either of those things. There is a 0% introductory rate on purchases, but not balance transfers.

The biggest difference between this card and Simplicity is the rewards. While Simplicity has none, Clear pays 1% percent cash back, which is automatically sent to you in the form of an American Express shopping card after you earn $25 in rewards, or $2,500 in spending. Now that's simple. Most other cards require you to redeem your rewards yourself, otherwise you lose them.

Amex also extends the warranty for up to one additional year on purchases you make with this card.

Compared to Citi's Simplicity card, this card is the "clear" favorite.