Finder is committed to editorial independence. While we receive compensation when you click links to partners, they do not influence our content.

Chase Freedom Flex℠ vs. Bank of America® Cash Rewards Credit Card

Choose between a rotating-bonus-category card or a tiered-rewards card.

Steven Dashiell

Updated Jul 15, 2020. What changed?

Fact checked

Compare Credit Cards

Cards By Brand

Top Offers

While they’re both $0-annual-fee cards, but the Chase Freedom Flex℠ and Bank of America® Cash Rewards Credit Card differ substantially in their reward structure. Chase’s card offers 5% cash back in quarterly rotating categories upon activation — on up to $1,500 in combined purchases per quarter, then 1%. BofA’s card offers 3% to 3% cash back in various everyday categories on up to $2,500 in combined bonus purchases each quarter, then 1%. The Bank of America card also comes with an intro APR on balance transfers, which could help you save some money before you start your reward journey.

Which card wins?

It’s a little tough to compare these cards directly since their reward structures are quite different. Which you choose will ultimately come down to your spending habits. At the moment, the Chase card is a safer pick if you frequently shop at grocery stores since you can benefit from the 5% grocery category up to the cap during your first year. You also earn 5% back on Lyft rides until March 31, 2022. This is on top of the other 5% categories that rotate each quarter.

On the other hand, the Bank of America card may offer a long-term value because of its constant 3% cashback rate on select categories beyond the first year of card membership. But with the frequent reward program changes, there’s no guarantee that the long-term value will hold.

	Chase Freedom Flex℠ Rates & Fees	Bank of America® Cash Rewards Credit Card Rates & Fees
finder.com's rating
finder.com's rating	★★★★★ 4.7 / 5.0	★★★★★ 4.6 / 5.0
Best for
Best for	Long intro APR period and cash back in rotating categories	Best for flexibility of cashback categories
Welcome offer
Welcome offer	$200 after spending $500 in the first 3 months	$200 after spending $1,000 in the first 90 days
Rewards
Rewards	5% back in rotating categories up to $1,500 combined each activated quarter (then 1%), 5% on travel purchased through Chase, 3% on dining and drugstores, and 1% on all other purchases	3% cash back on a chosen category and 2% at grocery stores and wholesale clubs for the first $2,500 each quarter combined, then 1% after that and on everything else
Purchase APR
Purchase APR	0% intro APR for 15 months, and then 14.99% to 23.74% variable	0% intro APR for 15 statement closing dates, and then 13.99% to 23.99% variable
Annual fee
Annual fee	$0	$0
Balance transfer APR
Balance transfer APR	14.99% to 23.74% variable	0% intro APR for 15 statement closing dates, then 13.99% to 23.99% variable
Cash advance
Cash advance	APR: 24.99% variable Fee: $10 or 5% of the transaction, whichever is greater	APR: 16.99% to 26.99% variable Fee: $10 or 5% of the transaction, whichever is greater
Foreign transaction fee
Foreign transaction fee	3% of each transaction	3% of each transaction
Late payment fee
Late payment fee	Up to $39	Up to $40
Additional cardholder fee
Additional cardholder fee	$0	$0
Interest-free period
Interest-free period	21 days	25 days
Minimum interest
Minimum interest	$0	$1.50
Minimum credit score
Minimum credit score	670	720
Card type
Card type	Credit	Credit
Learn more
Learn more	Read review

Summary of card features

Chase Freedom Flex℠

5% back in rotating categories on up to $1,500 quarterly, then 1%
5% on travel purchased through Chase
3% on dining and drugstores
1% on all other purchases
Intro APR on purchases

Bank of America® Cash Rewards Credit Card

$0 annual fee
Earn up to 3% cash back on purchases
Intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 statement closing dates

Compare Chase Freedom Flex℠ vs. Bank of America® Cash Rewards Credit Card

Name	Product	Welcome offer	Rewards	Annual fee	Filter values
Chase Freedom Flex℠		$200 after spending $500 in the first 3 months	5% back in rotating categories up to $1,500 combined each activated quarter (then 1%), 5% on travel purchased through Chase, 3% on dining and drugstores, and 1% on all other purchases	$0		Get up to 5% cashback in rotating and newly added everyday categories. The refreshed Freedom Flex card has lots of earning potential.	Apply now View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Bank of America® Cash Rewards Credit Card		$200 after spending $1,000 in the first 90 days	3% cash back on a chosen category and 2% at grocery stores and wholesale clubs for the first $2,500 each quarter combined, then 1% after that and on everything else	$0		Earn $ after spending $1,000 in the first 90 days form account opening.	View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...

Compare up to 4 providers

Thank you for your feedback!

Steven Dashiell

Steven Dashiell is a credit cards writer at Finder. He's worked on 250 Finder articles and counting, helping readers embrace and maximize credit cards. Backed by nearly a decade of research and reporting experience, Steve's work can be seen on Debt.com, CreditCards.com and Lifehacker.

Using a credit card in Turkey Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express vs Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express

More guides on Finder

Best credit cards for travel in 2021
Here are our picks for the top travel cards on the market.
Best no annual fee credit cards of 2021
Our picks for the best no-annual-fee cards.
Guide to Chase Mastercard credit cards
There are three Chase Mastercard credit cards, but all three are excellent options for frequent travelers.
Think twice before applying for a store credit card this holiday season
Store cards sound appealing, but aren’t often your best choice.
What is trip cancellation insurance and how do I get it?
A safety net for interrupted or canceled trips.
Applied Bank® Unsecured Classic Visa® Card review
Build your credit with this unsecured credit card.
Tree removal financing with credit cards
If you need to remove a tree from your property, consider paying with plastic.
Best credit cards for young professionals
Earn rewards on travel, dining, public transportation and other categories you spend the most in.
Wyndham Rewards® Earner℠ Business Card review
Earn rewards on your Wyndham purchases and get Wyndham benefits with elite status.
Bank of America® Cash Rewards Secured review
Earn cash back on your purchases and build your credit.

Ask an Expert

Click here to cancel reply.

Display Name

Your Email (will not be published)

Your Question

I agree to Finder’s terms of use and privacy and cookie policy, and I opt in to receive email from Finder

Subscribe me to Finder’s free weekly newsletter for budgeting tools, timely news and savings essentials to take control of your finances

Finder.com provides guides and information on a range of products and services. Because our content is not financial advice, we suggest talking with a professional before you make any decision.

By submitting your comment or question, you agree to our Privacy and Cookies Policy and finder.com Terms of Use.

Questions and responses on finder.com are not provided, paid for or otherwise endorsed by any bank or brand. These banks and brands are not responsible for ensuring that comments are answered or accurate.

Best credit cards of 2021: See our winners and top picks

Find the best personal loan offer

Boost your savings with higher yields:

Find the best lenders for your mortgage

Chase Freedom Flex℠ vs. Bank of America® Cash Rewards Credit Card