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The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express and Chase Freedom Unlimited® cards are designed for daily use. While other cards prioritize travel, these cards offer the highest rewards on U.S. supermarkets, dining out, and transport.
However, there are crucial differences between the cards. We’ll look at these cards in more detail so you have the information you need to choose which card is best for you.
General Comparison
Simulation: Which Card Gives More Rewards?
While we've covered various card features, it can be difficult to gauge the actual cash benefits without comparing real-life scenarios. Since both of these cards are designed for everyday spending, let’s take a look at typical monthly expenses to see what kind of rewards you could earn with similar spending.
Keep in mind to adjust the numbers to your regular spending categories, which may be different – so choose your card wisely and calculate depending on your personal habits.
|
| |
|---|---|---|
Spend Per Category | Amex Blue Cash Preferred | Chase Freedom Unlimited |
$15,000 – U.S Supermarkets | $450 | $225 |
$5,000 – Restaurants
| $50 | $150 |
$1,000 – Airline | $10 | $50 |
$1,000 – Hotels | $10 | $50 |
$4,000 – Gas | $120 | $60 |
Estimated Annual Value | $640 | $475 |
Editorial Note: Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollments may be required for select benefits. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more
Compare Welcome Bonus And Fees
Both cards offer cash welcome bonus, so you don’t need to convert and redeem points to enjoy your welcome bonus. The Blue Cash Preferred offers a $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months. The Chase Freedom Unlimited offers a similar bonus but in a different way – Earn a $200 bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening..
Both issuers also offer some additional welcome bonuses. Amex offers Blue Cash Preferred new cardholders a $0 fee on Buy Now, Pay Later plans created in the first 12 months, while Chase offers higher cash back on U.S. supermarket purchases for the first year with a cap. However, Walmart and Target purchases are excluded from this offer.
However, while Chase has no annual fee for the Freedom Unlimited, the Blue Cash Preferred has an annual fee of $95 ($0 intro for the first year). However, while Chase has a balance transfer fee of $5 or 5% after the first 60 days, the Blue Cash Preferred offers lower balance transfer fee ($5 or 3%, whichever is greater).
Compare The Perks
Amex Blue Cash Preferred
- Equinox+ Credit: When you use your Blue Cash Preferred credit card to pay for your Equinox+, you’ll receive $10 a month in statement credit. Terms Apply.
- Additional Car Rental Insurance: When you use your Blue Cash Preferred card to reserve and pay for your car rental, you’ll receive additional car rental loss, damage, and theft insurance.
- Purchase Return Protection: You can enjoy return protection on eligible items with up to $300 per item and a cap of $1,000 per year. You must make your purchases with your card and negotiate with the seller first.
- Exclusive Ticket Presale Access: Via American Express Experiences, you can obtain exclusive access to card member only events and ticket presales for concerts, sporting events, shows, and family events. Terms Apply.
- Disney Bundle Credit: Earn an $84 Disney Bundle Credit by receiving a monthly $7 statement credit when you use your enrolled Blue Cash Preferred® Card to make monthly subscription payments of $9.99 or more.
Chase Freedom Unlimited
- Free credit score with Chase Credit Journey – Credit Journey provides you with personalized insights to help you build, monitor and protect and improve your credit health.
- Instacart+ Perk: Enjoy a complimentary 3-month Instacart+ membership with the Freedom Unlimited card, granting you unlimited deliveries sans delivery fees and reduced service fees on eligible orders.
- 5% Cash Back/5x Points on Lyft Rides: Elevate your Lyft experiences until March 31, 2025, with the card's enhanced rewards, providing 5% cash back or 5x points on your rides.
- Purchase Protection: Avail yourself of purchase protection with this card, safeguarding your new acquisitions for 120 days against theft or damage, up to $500 per claim and $50,000 per account.
- Extended Warranty Protection: Both cards extend the original U.S. manufacturer's warranty by an extra year for eligible warranties lasting three years or less.
- My Chase Plan: Capitalize on the My Chase Plan option, enabling you to effortlessly settle eligible purchases of $100 or more through equal monthly payments, devoid of interest and accompanied by a fixed monthly fee.
Compare Redemption Options
Chase offers several ways to redeem your rewards. These include:
- Statement credit or a direct deposit: There is no minimum to redeem your rewards in this way and direct deposits are acceptable for most U.S checking and savings accounts.
- Amazon shopping: You can also use your rewards to pay for all or part of eligible Amazon.com orders when you link your card to your Amazon account.
- Gift cards: Chase has a variety of gift card options including for dining, entertainment and shopping.
- Travel rewards. You can use the Chase Ultimate Rewards platform to access competitive rates for travel products including hotel stays and flights.
- Charity: donating your credit card points to charity is a always appreciated and optional choice when redeeming your points with Amex.
Redeeming your Blue Cash Preferred cashback is straightforward. Just log into your American Express account, select “Use Reward Dollars,” and you're ready to go.
You can redeem your Reward Dollars as a statement credit at a rate of $1 for every Reward Dollar, as long as you have at least 25 Reward Dollars available. Simply enter the amount you'd like to apply, and the credit will typically show up on your account within three days.
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How to Maximize Cards Benefits?
If you want to make the best use of your Blue Cash Preferred, there are some tips to help you:
- Meet the minimum spend for the introductory offer. You’ll get $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.
- Don’t just buy groceries at the grocery store. You’ll get higher on purchases at U.S. supermarkets, but this doesn’t mean that you’re limited to groceries. You can buy homewares, tools and other items at U.S. supermarkets to maximize your cash back. Terms Apply.
- Reserve and pay for your rental cars with your card. This will provide additional insurance protection for damage and theft. However, Chase has better cards for rental car insurance.
- Check out American Express Experiences: If you like going to concerts, sporting events, and shows, be sure to check out this platform for exclusive access to ticket presales.
If you want to make the best use of your Chase Freedom Unlimited , there are some tips to help you:
Utilize Alongside Other Cards: You should maximize the cashback rewards you get by combining the use of the Chase Freedom Unlimited Card with other credit cards for excellent credit, that might have complimentary cashback rates for certain types of purchases.
- Sign up bonus – make sure you spend the right amount needed in order to maximize your sign up bonus.
- Budgeting: This credit card allows you to easily plan in advance as the cashback rates stay the same. Therefore, you can plan your purchases and figure out how much cashback you will receive when doing so. The Freedom unlimited card also offers spending and budgeting chart and analysis:
Customer Reviews: Which Card Wins?
Satisfied customers report that this is a great card to negate the rising cost of groceries. While there is a cap of $6,000 per year, you can earn higher cash back on your bills at U.S. supermarkets. The other highlights include an easy to qualify for introductory cash bonus.
Satisfied customers report the Chase Freedom Unlimited offers some great rewards for everyday spending. This means that you can maximize your rewards without needing to drastically change your spending habits. Cardholders also appreciate the 0% introductory rate for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers.
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When You Might Want the Blue Cash Preferred?
The Amex Blue Cash Preferred Card is one of the best Amex cards and can be a great option that could be good if:
- You tend to spend $500 or less a month at U.S. supermarkets, as you’ll enjoy higher cash back up to a cap of $6,000 per year. After this, you’ll earn 1%.
- You like attending concerts, sporting events, and other ticketed events and will make use of the Amex ticket presale platform.
- You plan on making $2,000 in purchases within the first six months, so you’ll qualify for the cash back bonus.
When You Might Want the Chase Freedom Unlimited?
The Chase Freedom Unlimited Card is a solid choice if:
- You will spend at least $20,000 during your first year to maximize your sign up cash back bonus.
- You enjoy dining out, as you’ll get higher cashback on your purchases
- Prefer Dependable Cashback: You will have reliable flat cashback rates in place that allows you to plan ahead of time when making purchases and know what cashback you will get.
Compare The Alternatives
Both the Blue Cash Preferred and Chase Freedom Unlimited offer some interesting rewards, particularly for every day purchases.
However, there are some alternatives that you should know as well before making a decision of what's best choice for you.
|  |
| |
|---|---|---|---|
American Express EveryDay® Card | Chase Freedom Flex℠ Card | Citi® Double Cash Card | |
Annual Fee | $0
. See Fees & Rates
| $0
| $0
|
Rewards |
1X – 2X
2X points at U.S. supermarkets (up to $6,000 per year, then 1X), 2X points on prepaid rental cars booked through American Express Travel and 1X points on all other purchases
|
1-5%
|
1% – 2%
2% cash back rewards rate – 1% every time you swipe and another 1% upon payment.
|
Welcome bonus |
10,000 points
10,000 points after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new card within the first 6 months
|
$200
|
$200
$200 cash back after spending $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months
|
Foreign Transaction Fee | 2.7%
| 3%
| 3%
|
Purchase APR | 17.74% – 28.74% Variable
| 19.99% – 28.74% variable
| 18.74% – 28.74% (Variable)
|
FAQ
You can get the premium cashback rate on U.S. Supermarkets until you have annual purchases in this area of $6,000. The rate then goes to 1%. Otherwise, there are no restrictions.
No transparent income requirements or proof of income requests are in place when you are looking to get your hands on the Blue Cash Preferred Card.
The points don’t expire as long as your account remains open. Therefore, you will not have to be worrying about using up the points before they expire.
The initial credit limit varies, but can often be between $1,000 and $5,000. It will depend on the various answers that you have given as part of the application process.
Compare Amex Blue Cash Preferred
Cash back or Amex membership rewards? Annual fee with higher rewards or no annual fee? Here's our full analysis – which is better for you?
Amex Everyday® Card vs Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
When it comes to travel benefits, there is a clear winner. But what about if you're looking for rewards on everyday spending?
While the Amex Gold Card is more expensive than the Blue Cash Preferred, its rewards program and other benefits are more lucrative.
Amex Blue Cash Preferred vs. Amex Gold: Which One Gives You More?
The Citi Custom cash offers high cashback on your preferred category, but it's very limited in rewards compared to the Blue Cash Preferred.
If you can maximize supermarket benefits, the Amex Blue Cash Preferred may be more suitable than the Everyday card despite the annual fee.
American Express Blue Cash Everyday vs. Preferred: Side By Side Comparison
Compare Chase Freedom Unlimited
While both cards offer great cash back rewards and considered among the best Chase cards, there are some major differences. Which is better?
Chase Freedom Flex vs Chase Freedom Unlimited: Which Card Is Best?
While both cards offer decent cash back rewards with no annual fee, there is a clear winner between the two. And here's why we think so.
American Express Everyday® Card vs Chase Freedom Unlimited®: Which Card Wins?
The flat rate cash back on Citi Double Cash Card is higher – but usually, it may not be the best option. Here's The Smart Investor analysis.
Citi Double Cash Card vs Chase Freedom Unlimited: Which Card Wins?
The Chase Sapphire Preferred offers costs more and offer more benefits than the Freedom Unlimited. Is it worth the annual fee?
Chase Freedom Unlimited Vs. Sapphire Preferred: Compare Side By Side
The Freedom Unlimited beckons with its cash-back rewards, but the Amex Gold exudes luxury, boasting robust rewards on dining and groceries.
Chase Freedom Unlimited vs. Amex Gold Card: Which Card Wins?
The Amex Blue Cash Everyday is the winner if you need gas and grocery purchases, while the Freedom Unlimited offers better travel rewards
Amex Blue Cash Everyday vs. Chase Freedom Unlimited: Which Card Wins?
When it comes to cashback potential, the Chase Freedom Unlimited wins, especially for those who frequently engage in travel-related expenses.
Chase Freedom Unlimited vs. Citi Custom Cash Card: Which Card Wins?
The Savor card is ideal for dining out and entertainment, while the Freedom Unlimited is best for travelers and those who need 0% intro APR.
Capital One Savor vs. Chase Freedom Unlimited: Side By Side Comparison
The BofA Customized Cash Rewards is more flexible, but the Chase Unlimited card will drive more rewards and benefits. Here's why.
Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards vs Chase Freedom Unlimited: Which Card Wins?
The Active Cash card offers flat-rate cashback, while the Unlimited card is the winner for travel. Here's a side-by-side comparison
Wells Fargo Active Cash vs. Chase Freedom Unlimited: Which Card Wins?
The Apple Card offers competitive cashback rewards on Apple purchases and services – but if you travel frequently, the Unlimited card wins.
The Costco Card is a great for Costco shoppers, gas and grocery purchases, while the Freedom Unlimited stands out for its travel benefits.
Costco Anywhere Visa Card vs Chase Freedom Unlimited: Comparison
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