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Credit Cards » Compare Credit Cards » American Express Everyday® Card vs Chase Freedom Unlimited®

American Express Everyday® Card vs Chase Freedom Unlimited®

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.
Author: Andrew O'Malley
Interest Rates Last Update: November 15, 2024
The banking product interest rates, including savings, CDs, and money market, are accurate as of this date.
Author: Andrew O'Malley
Interest Rates Last Update: November 15, 2024

The banking product interest rates, including savings, CDs, and money market, are accurate as of this date.

We earn a commission from our partner links on this page. It doesn't affect the integrity of our unbiased, independent editorial staff. Transparency is a core value for us, read our advertiser disclosure and how we make money.

All information about American Express Everyday® Card has been collected independently by The Smart Investor. American Express Everyday® Card is no longer available through The Smart Investor.

Table of Content

As the names suggest, both the American Express Everyday® Card and Chase Freedom Unlimited® are credit cards designed for your day to day use. Unlike many cards that offer the best rewards for travelers, these cards offer the highest bonuses on everyday items like groceries, gas, and eating out.

However, there are some important differences between the two options that we will examine in more detail, so you can determine which card is the best fit for you and your lifestyle.

General Comparison

American express everyday card review 2021

chase freedom unlimited card

American Express Everyday® Card
Chase Freedom Unlimited®
Annual Fee
$0. See Rates and Fees.
$0
Rewards
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
5% cash back on travel booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards, 3% on dining (including takeout and eligible delivery), 3% on drugstore purchases, and 1.5% on all other purchases
Welcome bonus
10,000 points after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new card within the first 6 months
Earn a $200 bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
0% Intro APR
15 months on purchases and balance transfers
15 months on purchases and balance transfers
Foreign Transaction Fee
2.7%. See Rates and Fees.
3%
Purchase APR
17.74% – 28.74% Variable
19.99 – 28.74% variable
Read Review
Read Review

Compare Rewards: Which Card Gives More?

Although we’ve looked at a variety of the card features, understanding the real cash benefits can be tricky without a direct scenario comparison. Since both of these cards are designed for everyday spending, we’ll look at typical monthly spending to see what rewards the cards offer, so you can see what rewards you could earn with similar spending.

However, keep in mind to adjust the numbers to your regular spending categories, which may be different – so the exact calculation depends on your personal habits.

American express everyday card review 2021

chase freedom unlimited card

Spend Per Category
American Express Everyday® Card
Chase Freedom Unlimited
$15,000 – U.S Supermarkets
21,000 points
$225
$5,000 – Restaurants
5,000 points
$150
$1,000 – Airline
1,000 points
$50
$1,000 – Hotels
1,000 points
$50
$4,000 – Gas
4,000 points
$60
Total Points
32,000 points
/
Estimated Redemption Value
0.6 – 1.6 cent
/
Estimated Annual Value
$192 – $512
$475

Editorial Note: Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollments may be required for select benefits. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more

Redeeming points with Chase Freedom Unlimited
Redeeming points with Chase Freedom Unlimited (Screenshot from Chase app)

Compare Welcome Bonus And Fees

Both cards have a sign up bonus that takes the form of cash, rather than points you’ll need to calculate and redeem. The Amex Everyday card offers 10,000 points after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new card within the first 6 months.

Chase has an even more attractive introductory bonus scheme for its Freedom Unlimited Card – Earn a $200 bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.. 

This is an area where the Amex Everyday and Chase Freedom Unlimited are very similar. Neither card has an annual fee, which is a great saving compared to other cards offered Amex or by Chase. Both card issuers also offer 0% intro APR.

The foreign transaction fees for the cards are also similar. Amex charges 2.7% and Chase charges 3%, with both percentages applying after the conversion to dollars. The only key difference is that while Amex does not allow balance transfers, Chase charges $5 or 5%, but this is reduced to $5 or 3% for the first 60 days.

Compare The Perks

Amex Everyday Card

American express everyday card review 2021

  • Exclusive access to ticket presales. American Express Experiences provide card member only events in cities and exclusive ticket presale access. You can browse concert tours, sporting events and even Broadway shows for exclusive deals.
  • Car Rental Damage and Loss Insurance: When you use your card to reserve and pay for the entire rental, if you decline the rental company collision damage waiver, you’ll be covered for Damage or theft in covered territories.
  • Send and Split: This allows you to split purchases with other PayPal or Venmo users directly using the Amex App and your Everyday card.
Top Offers

Amex gold

Rewards Plan:
1X – 4X 4X points at restaurants (including Uber Eats purchases in the U.S.) and U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 per year in purchases, then 1X points), 3X points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com, 2X points on rental cars through amextravel.com and 1X points on all other purchases
Welcome Bonus:
60,000 points 60,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership

upgrade cash rewards

Rewards Plan:
1.5% 1.5% cash back on payments
Welcome Bonus:
$200 Earn $200 bonus after opening a Rewards Checking account and making 3 debit card transactions.

AMEX Blue Cash Preferred Card review

Rewards Plan:
1-6% 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%) and selected U.S. streaming subscriptions, 3% cash back on transit and U.S. gas stations, 1% cash back on other purchases
Welcome Bonus:
$250 $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months
Advertiser Disclosure
The product offers that appear on this site are from companies from which this website receives compensation.
Top Offers From Our Partners

Amex gold

Rewards Plan:
1X – 4X 4X points at restaurants (including Uber Eats purchases in the U.S.) and U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 per year in purchases, then 1X points), 3X points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com, 2X points on rental cars through amextravel.com and 1X points on all other purchases
Welcome Bonus:
60,000 points 60,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership

upgrade cash rewards

Rewards Plan:
1.5% 1.5% cash back on payments
Welcome Bonus:
$200 Earn $200 bonus after opening a Rewards Checking account and making 3 debit card transactions.

AMEX Blue Cash Preferred Card review

Rewards Plan:
1-6% 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%) and selected U.S. streaming subscriptions, 3% cash back on transit and U.S. gas stations, 1% cash back on other purchases
Welcome Bonus:
$250 $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months
Advertiser Disclosure
The product offers that appear on this site are from companies from which this website receives compensation.

Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers.

Chase Freedom Unlimited

chase freedom unlimited card

  • Instacart+ Benefit: The Freedom Unlimited card provide a complimentary 3-month Instacart+ membership, offering unlimited deliveries with $0 delivery fees and reduced service fees on eligible orders.

  • 5% Cash Back/5x Points on Lyft Rides: The card offers enhanced rewards for Lyft rides through March 31, 2025, giving you 5% cash back or 5x points on these purchases.

  • Purchase Protection: It offer purchase protection, covering your new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft, up to $500 per claim and $50,000 per account.

  • Extended Warranty Protection: Both cards extend the time period of the U.S. manufacturer's warranty by an additional year on eligible warranties of three years or less.

  • My Chase Plan: Use My Chase Plan, allowing you to pay off eligible purchases of $100 or more in equal monthly payments with no interest, just a fixed monthly fee.

my chase plan
Using My Chase Plan With the Unlimited card (Screenshot from Chase app)
  • Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver: The Freedom Unlimited card offer coverage for theft and collision damage when you decline the rental company's insurance and charge the entire rental cost to your card, applicable to most cars in the U.S. and abroad. 

  • Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance: It also provide reimbursement for pre-paid, non-refundable passenger fares up to $1,500 per person and $6,000 per trip if your trip is canceled or interrupted due to covered situations.

Top Offers

Amex gold

Rewards Plan:
1X – 4X 4X points at restaurants (including Uber Eats purchases in the U.S.) and U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 per year in purchases, then 1X points), 3X points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com, 2X points on rental cars through amextravel.com and 1X points on all other purchases
Welcome Bonus:
60,000 points 60,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership

upgrade cash rewards

Rewards Plan:
1.5% 1.5% cash back on payments
Welcome Bonus:
$200 Earn $200 bonus after opening a Rewards Checking account and making 3 debit card transactions.

AMEX Blue Cash Preferred Card review

Rewards Plan:
1-6% 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%) and selected U.S. streaming subscriptions, 3% cash back on transit and U.S. gas stations, 1% cash back on other purchases
Welcome Bonus:
$250 $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months
Advertiser Disclosure
The product offers that appear on this site are from companies from which this website receives compensation.
Top Offers

Amex gold

Rewards Plan:
1X – 4X 4X points at restaurants (including Uber Eats purchases in the U.S.) and U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 per year in purchases, then 1X points), 3X points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com, 2X points on rental cars through amextravel.com and 1X points on all other purchases
Welcome Bonus:
60,000 points 60,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership