Find Your Best
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
vs. Chase Freedom Flex® Card
Updated: November 7, 2024
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MoneyGeek compares Sapphire Preferred and Freedom Flex to help you decide which of these Chase products best suits what you’re looking for in a credit card. The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card has excellent travel perks, anniversary bonuses and a reward-earning structure that puts more value on travel purchases and lucrative welcome offers for its cardmembers. On the other hand, the Chase Freedom Flex℠ has the same reward-earning structure but with lower interest rates and no annual fee.
It can be difficult to choose between the Sapphire Preferred and Freedom Flex as they both have exciting offers. If you qualify for both cards, pairing them together could help you reap the most value.
Comparison Overview: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card vs. Chase Freedom Flex® Card
- Chase Sapphire Preferred® CardChase Freedom Flex® Card
- Has Annual Fee
- Has Balance Transfer Offer
- Has APR Offer
- Cash Back Rewards
- Travel Rewards
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card At a Glance
The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card is one of the best existing travel rewards credit cards on the market. The $95 annual fee is easily offset through its solid rewards, welcome bonus and loyalty program. For example, spending $4,000 in your first three months earns you 60,000 bonus points, equivalent to over $750 on travel purchases through Chase Travel℠.
Points can also be redeemed in several ways, such as through statement credits, booking a trip through Chase's travel portal or by transferring points to its partner programs at a ratio of 1:1 point value. Since it is essentially a travel credit card, your earned points get 25% more value when you redeem them on travel.
- Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
A very good rewards card with no foreign transaction fees and comprehensive travel cover
- 1–5 Points per $1Rewards Rate
- 21.49%–28.49% VariableAPR
- $95Annual Fee
- 670–850 (Good to Excellent)Recommended Credit
Pros
- Generous new cardholder bonus
- High rewards on travel and dining
- No foreign transaction fees
- With travel insurance and benefits
- Flexible rewards redemption options
Cons
- Annual fee
- High credit requirement
- Rewards program can be complex
- Potentially high APR
Introductory Offers
- Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first three months of account opening.
Rewards
- Earn 5X points on travel booked through Chase Travel.
- Earn 3X points on dining, select streaming services and online groceries.
- Earn 2X points on all other travel purchases.
- Earn 1X points on all other purchases.
- Points are worth 25% more when redeemed for travel through Chase Travel, making 60,000 points equivalent to $750 in travel value.
Perks & Benefits
- Enjoy a $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit.
- Benefit from Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance.
- Use Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver.
- Protect your belongings with Lost Luggage Insurance.
- Get complimentary DashPass access with $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for at least one year when activated by December 31, 2027.
Chase Freedom Flex® Card At a Glance
The Chase Freedom Flex℠ is one of the best cash back credit cards with no annual fee and robust earning opportunities. For example, you can earn 1% cash back for every dollar spent and 3% cash back on dining and drugstore purchases. Book your travel through Chase Travel℠ and you automatically get 5% cash back with this credit card.
The Chase Freedom Flex℠ also offers additional rewards on rotating bonus categories. That is an additional 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases when you use the card on select categories that change every quarter. In addition to having a low APR, its Doordash, Lyft and other Mastercard World Elite Benefits surely make this card an attractive option.
- Chase Freedom Flex® Card
An easy-to-use cash back card with quarterly rotating bonus categories
- 1%–5% Cash BackRewards Rate
- 20.49%–29.24% VariableAPR
- $0Annual Fee
- Good–ExcellentRecommended Credit
Pros
- High cash back on rotating categories
- Good cash back on dining and drugstores
- No annual fee
- Intro APR period
- Welcome bonus
Cons
- Rotating categories require activation
- Requires good to excellent credit
Introductory Offers
- Cash Bonus: Earn a $200 bonus after spending $500 in the first three months.
- Introductory APR: 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months. After the introductory period, the variable APR ranges from 19.74% to 28.49%.
- Balance Transfer Fee: 3% of the amount of each transfer, with a minimum of $5.
Cash Back
- Rotating Categories: 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in rotating categories each quarter (activation required).
- Fixed Categories: 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 3% on dining and drugstore purchases, and 1% on all other purchases.
- Chase Ultimate Rewards: Points can be redeemed for cash back or transferred to Chase Sapphire cards for travel rewards.
APRs, Fees, and Penalties
- Annual Fee: $0.
- Regular APR: 19.74% - 28.49% variable.
- Penalty APR: Up to 29.99% variable for late or missed payments.
- Balance Transfer Fee: 3% of the transferred amount (minimum $5).
- Late Fees: Up to $40 for missed payments.
- Foreign Transaction Fee: 3% on each transaction made outside the U.S.
Perks & Benefits
- Zero Liability Protection: Protection against unauthorized purchases.
- Extended Warranty Protection: Extends the U.S. manufacturer’s warranty by an additional year on eligible purchases.
- Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance: Reimbursement for covered travel disruptions.
- Cell Phone Protection: Coverage for damage or theft when you pay your monthly bill with the card.
- Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver: Provides primary rental car insurance when you decline the rental company’s insurance.
- DashPass Membership: Complimentary access to DashPass, offering discounts on food delivery with DoorDash.
Comparison Summary
MoneyGeek offers a Chase Sapphire Preferred Card vs. Chase Freedom Flex℠ comparison to more easily see the features of each card.
Card Detail | Comparison Summary |
|---|---|
Travel Coverage and Purchase Protection | For a cash back card, the Chase Freedom Flex℠ offers excellent travel benefits, including car rental insurance, trip cancellation reimbursement and assistance services for travel emergencies. The travel and purchase protection with Chase Sapphire Preferred Card is slightly more extensive. It also has more impressive travel perks and carries no foreign transaction fees. Winner: Chase Sapphire Preferred Card |
Welcome Bonus | You can earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening — equivalent to over $750 toward travel with the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card. With the Chase Freedom Flex℠, you can earn $200 cash back after spending $500 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. Winner: Chase Sapphire Preferred Card |
Rewards | The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card earns at least 1X point on all purchases, with more points earned on specific spending categories. For example, you can earn 5X points on travel purchases made through Chase Travel℠ , 2X points on all other travel purchases and 3X points at restaurants, select streaming services and online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs). Redeeming points towards travel make them more valuable by 25%. The Chase Freedom Flex℠ earns 5% on travel, 3% on eligible dining and 1% on all other purchases — in the form of cash back. On top of this, Freedom Flex provides an additional 5% cash back on rotating bonus categories selected every quarter. Winner: Chase Freedom Flex℠ |
Annual Fee | Chase Sapphire Preferred Card charges a $95 annual fee. Chase Freedom Flex℠ has no annual fee. Winner: Chase Freedom Flex℠ |
APR | Chase Sapphire Preferred Card charges an interest rate ranging from 15.99% to 22.99% based on creditworthiness and prime rates. Chase Freedom Flex℠ has a 0% intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers. After the intro period, a variable APR of 14.99% to 23.74% takes effect. Winner: Chase Freedom Flex℠ |
Loyalty Programs | Chase Freedom Flex℠ doesn’t have a loyalty program. The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card gives anniversary bonus points of up to 10% on total annual purchases. There’s also an additional $50 statement credit for hotel stays gifted every year on your account anniversary. Winner: Chase Sapphire Preferred Card |
Which Card Should You Get?
MoneyGeek takes a closer look at both Chase Sapphire Preferred Card and Chase Freedom Flex℠ — specifically, which kind of cardholder best matches each card.
Who Should Consider the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card?
The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card is a flexible travel rewards card that puts more value on your points when you redeem them for travel.
People willing to pay its annual fee and have matching spending habits to offset the amount.
Jetsetters who would benefit from earning points for travel. Aside from elevated point value when used on travel, there are impressive travel perks and bonuses to get from this card, including no foreign transaction fees.
People who like Doordash, Peloton and Lyft and want to earn additional points when they use their card with these partners.
≫ More: Read Our Full Review
Who Should Consider the Chase Freedom Flex® Card?
The Chase Freedom Flex℠ is a solid cash back credit card that lets you earn significant rewards for your spending.
People looking for a card with no annual fee, low interest rates and excellent rewards-earning opportunities.
People who want to maximize their earning potential just by using the card on their usual purchases like groceries, dining and streaming services.
People who plan to redeem points through cash back or gift cards.
People who would enjoy World Elite Mastercard Benefits like Lyft, Fandango, Shoprunner and Hello Fresh.
EXPERT OPINION
These cards are quite different in their rewards structure. If you’re looking for the most ‘valuable’ card based on average consumer spending, it’s no doubt the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card. However, not all consumers can find value in a travel rewards credit card. If that’s the case, the Chase Freedom Flex℠ is a solid option to earn cash back on your purchases.
Other Helpful Decision-Making FAQs
MoneyGeek answers questions you may have when choosing between the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card and the Chase Freedom Flex℠.
Is the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card better than the Chase Freedom Flex℠?
Each card is very different in what they offer. The Freedom Flex may win over Sapphire Preferred, mainly for having no annual fee and 5% earnings on rotating categories throughout the year. However, Sapphire Preferred is likely the best option for travelers, as it boosts the value of your points by 25%. It also allows you to transfer points to airline and hotel partners with a 1:1 point value.
Can you get the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card if you have the Chase Freedom Flex℠?
Chase does not limit cardmembers to having just one of their products. You can have both the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card and the Chase Freedom Flex℠.
Can you transfer points from the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card to the Chase Freedom Flex℠?
Both earn points in the form of Chase Ultimate Rewards. A point earned is worth $0.01 when redeemed as cash back. To maximize your earning potential, you can earn points through your cash back credit card, the Chase Freedom Flex℠, and transfer these points to your travel credit card, the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card, which has more value when used on travel.
Can you switch from the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card to the Chase Freedom Flex℠?
Yes. If you choose to switch from Sapphire Preferred to Freedom Flex, you will be able to keep your earned points.
What’s harder to get, Chase Sapphire Preferred Card or Chase Freedom Flex℠?
Both cards require a good to excellent credit score.
How much do you have to spend for the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card vs. the Chase Freedom Flex℠ to get the welcome bonus?
You need to spend at least $4,000 in the first three months on your Chase Sapphire Preferred Card to earn 60,000 bonus points. To earn the Chase Freedom Flex℠ welcome bonus of $200, you need to spend at least $500 in your first three months from account opening.
Still Not Sure About These Cards? Consider These Options
With so many choices out there, picking the best credit card for you can be overwhelming. That’s why MoneyGeek compiled a list of different credit cards for specific purposes.
There are travel credit cards for those looking for as many travel benefits and perks as they can get. There are also other cash back or rewards credit cards if earning cash, statement credits or points on your usual purchases is more your style.
Learn more about credit cards in general
Find Your Best
About Doug Milnes, CFA
Doug Milnes is a CFA charter holder with over 10 years of experience in corporate finance and the Head of Credit Cards at MoneyGeek. Formerly, he performed valuations for Duff and Phelps and financial planning and analysis for various companies. His analysis has been cited by U.S. News and World Report, The Hill, the Los Angeles Times, The New York Times and many other outlets.
Milnes holds a master’s degree in data science from Northwestern University. He geeks out on helping people feel on top of their credit card use, from managing debt to optimizing rewards.
sources
- Chase. "Chase Sapphire Preferred Card Credit Card." Accessed November 7, 2024.
- Chase. "Chase Freedom Flex℠ with Ultimate Rewards Program Agreement." Accessed November 7, 2024.
*Rates, fees or bonuses may vary or include specific stipulations. The content on this page is accurate as of the posting/last updated date; however, some of the offers mentioned may have expired. We recommend visiting the card issuer’s website for the most up-to-date information available.
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Editorial Disclosure: Opinions, reviews, analyses and recommendations are the author’s alone and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. Learn more about our editorial policies and expert editorial team.
Advertiser Disclosure: MoneyGeek has partnered with CardRatings.com and CreditCards.com for our coverage of credit card products. MoneyGeek, CardRatings and CreditCards.com may receive a commission from card issuers. To ensure thorough comparisons and reviews, MoneyGeek features products from both paid partners and unaffiliated card issuers that are not paid partners.