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Chase Freedom Flex℠ vs Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

The Flex is the winner here, though pick up both for even more value.

The winner: Chase Freedom Flexâ„ 

Chase Freedom Flexâ„  logo

Up to 5%

Cash back

  • 5% back in rotating categories on up to $1,500 quarterly, then 1%
  • New rewards on travel, dining and drugstores
  • No annual fee
Apply now
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Steven Dashiell
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The main difference between these two Chase credit cards is that Chase Freedom Flex℠ is a cashback card for everyday spending, while the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is a travel card.

The Chase Freedom Flex℠ earns extra rewards on categories that rotate every quarter, as well as permanent rewards categories on travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards, restaurants, drugstores and Lyft. On the other hand, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card earns accelerated points on travel and dining purchases.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card also lets you transfer your points to other loyalty programs or redeem them for a 25% higher value through the Chase travel portal. But it also comes with an annual fee.

Check out which card is better in our credit card breakdown below.

The winner: Chase Freedom Flexâ„ 

While both are rewards cards and they aim to occupy a different spot in your wallet, the Chase Freedom Flex℠ is the clear winner. With a higher rewards rate on everyday purchases, a 0% intro APR period on purchases and no annual fee, the Chase Freedom Flex℠ not only beats the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card but it beats many other competitor cashback cards.

However, because you can transfer rewards between these two cards, many consumers choose to pick up both.

Chase Freedom Flexâ„ 

Chase Freedom Flexâ„ 

Terms apply, see rates & fees

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Terms apply, see rates & fees
Finder rating
Finder rating

★★★★★

4.7 / 5.0

★★★★★

4.3 / 5.0
Best for
Best for
  • Long intro APR period and cash back in rotating categories
  • Travel rewards and a great signup bonus
Welcome offer
Welcome offer

$200 after spending $500 in the first 3 months, plus 5% cash back at grocery stores (not including Target® or Walmart®) on up to $12,000 in the first year

100,000 points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months. That's $1,250 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
Rewards
Rewards

5% cash back on up to $1,500 combined in quarterly categories you activate, 5% on Chase travel purchased through Ultimate Rewards®, 3% on dining and drugstores, and 1% on all other purchases

5x points on Lyft, 2x points on travel and dining and 1x points on all other purchases
Purchase APR
Purchase APR

0% intro APR for 15 months, and then 14.99% to 23.74% variable

15.99% to 22.99% variable

Annual fee
Annual fee $0 $95
Balance transfer APR
Balance transfer APR 14.99% to 23.74% variable 15.99% to 22.99% variable
Cash advance
Cash advance

APR: 24.99% variable

Fee: $10 or 5% of the transaction, whichever is greater

APR: 24.99% variable

Fee: $10 or 5% of the transaction, whichever is greater
Foreign transaction fee
Foreign transaction fee 3% of each transaction None
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 21 days
Minimum interest
Minimum interest $0 $0
Minimum credit score
Minimum credit score 670 670
Card type
Card type Credit Credit
Learn more
Learn more

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Chase Freedom Flex℠ vs Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card Card breakdown

Despite being part of the Chase Ultimate Rewards program, these two cards have many differences. Let’s see which one is better.

Rewards. Winner: Chase Freedom Flexâ„ 

Chase Freedom Flexâ„  lets you earn 5% cash back on rotating categories each quarter on up to $1,500 in combined purchases, and 1% back after that. The same 5% rate applies to Lyft purchases until March 2022. In addition, you earn 5% on travel through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal, 3% at restaurants, which includes delivery, and 5% at drugstores.

This is a massive rewards rate on a variety of categories and it’s unmatched by any other card currently on the market.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card on the other hand comes with 2x points on travel and dining purchases, 5x points on Lyft purchases until March 2022 and 1x points on everything else. Compared to similar travel cards, the rewards rate isn’t anything spectacular.

Because of this clear disparity between the two cards, you would need to spend twice as much with the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card to earn the same value in rewards that you would otherwise earn with the Chase Freedom Flex℠. This makes the Chase Freedom Flex℠ card a clear winner in this category.

Note: Even though the Chase Freedom Flexâ„  card is marketed as a cashback card, it actually earns Chase Ultimate Points, which you can redeem for cash or other rewards.

Signup bonus. Winner: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

With Chase Freedom Flex℠, you can earn $200 cash bonus after you spend $500 in the first 3 months when you open your account. You’ll also earn 5% cash back on grocery store purchases on up to $12,000 spent in the first year. This does not include Target® or Walmart® purchases.

On the other hand, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card lets you earn 100,000 bonus points once you spend $4,000 in the first 3 months. This is Chase’s largest welcome offer value to date among its flagship cards, worth around $1,250 if you redeem via the Chase Ultimate Rewards program or the new Pay Yourself Back feature. This welcome offer alone is enough to consider the card, even if you’re not yet invested in the Chase Ultimate Rewards program.

Intro APR period. Winner: Chase Freedom Flexâ„ 

Travel cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card aren’t known for offering a 0% intro APR period on purchases, balance transfers or both. This is where cashback cards shine. With the Chase Freedom Flex℠, you get to save money on purchases with a 0% intro APR period for the first 15 months when you open your account. After that, a variable APR of 14.99% to 23.74% applies.

Consider this perk a 0%-interest loan to buy your new iPhone, laptop, or to renovate at home.

Chase Freedom Flex℠ and Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card combo

These two cards are extremely powerful reward-earning machines when paired together; This way you can earn accelerated rewards on a variety of categories. And the best part? You can transfer your Chase Freedom Flex℠ points to your Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card card and enjoy a 25% higher redemption value via the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal. This will turn your 5% cash back to a 6.25% value toward travel redemption.

And if you want to go even further, consider adding the Chase Freedom Unlimited® card. This combination of three cards is known as the Chase trifecta.

Compare Chase Freedom Flex℠ vs. Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Data updated regularly
Name Product Welcome offer Rewards Annual fee Filter values
Chase Freedom Flexâ„ 
Chase Freedom Flexâ„ 
$200 after spending $500 in the first 3 months, plus 5% cash back at grocery stores (not including Target® or Walmart®) on up to $12,000 in the first year
5% cash back on up to $1,500 combined in quarterly categories you activate, 5% on Chase travel purchased through Ultimate Rewards®, 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
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
100,000 points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months. That's $1,250 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
5x points on Lyft, 2x points on travel and dining and 1x points on all other purchases
$95

Up to $1,250 signup bonus

 Earn a massive signup bonus of 100,000 points with this popular travel card. That's worth up to $1,250!
Apply now
View details
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