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Chase Freedom Flex vs. Chase Sapphire Preferred

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Published on April 03, 2025 | 4 min read
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The advice in this article is offered by the team independent of any bank or credit card issuer. This article may contain from our partners, and terms may apply to offers linked or accessed through this page. as of posting date, but offers mentioned may have expired.

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Key takeaways

  • The Chase Freedom Flex®* offers rotating quarterly categories, as well as ongoing rewards for travel, dining and drugstore purchases.
  • The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card offers points on dining, streaming, online grocery purchases and travel for a $95 annual fee.
  • Because the Sapphire Preferred has superior travel redemptions and 1:1 transfers to Chase airline and hotel partners, it can be an especially good deal for consumers who want more ways to cash in their rewards.

If you’re in the market for a new rewards credit card and considering the Chase Freedom Flex® or Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, it’s important to learn how they stack up against each other and why you might want to choose one over the other.

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Limited time offer

Chase Sapphire Preferred®: Earn 100,000 intro bonus points
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Learn more

Main details

  Chase Freedom Flex Chase Sapphire Preferred
Welcome bonus $200 cash bonus when you spend $500 within three months of account opening 100,000 bonus points when you spend $5,000 within three months of account opening
Rewards rate
  • 5% cash back on up to $1,500 spent in quarterly bonus categories after activation (then 1%)
  • 5% back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠
  • 3% back on dining and drugstore purchases
  • 1% back on everything else


  • 5X points on travel booked through Chase Travel℠

  • 5X total points on Lyft rides (2X on general travel and 3X point bonus; offer through Sept. 30, 2027)

  • 3X points on dining, select streaming services and online grocery purchases (excluding Walmart, Target and wholesale clubs)

  • 2X points on all other travel

  • 1X points on everything else


Intro APR 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months, followed by 18.99% - 28.49% Variable APR None; 20.49% - 27.49% Variable APR
Annual fee $0 $95
Points value

  • 1 cent each when you redeem for cash back, travel, gift cards and merchandise 

  • 1 cent on average on their own, but possibly more if combined with a premium Chase card


  • Points worth 25 percent more (1.25 cents apiece) toward Chase Travel℠
  • 2.0 cents on average, with the right transfer partner
Foreign transaction fee 3% None

Chase Freedom Flex vs. Chase Sapphire Preferred highlights

Both of these Chase cards are excellent options if you want to earn rewards on your spending, yet each stands out in a few different categories. As you compare the Chase Freedom Flex and Chase Sapphire Preferred, consider how they stack up in the following areas.

Chase Sapphire Preferred

Chase Freedom Flex

Chase Freedom Flex

Chase Sapphire Preferred

Which card earns the most?

The winner of this depends on the rotating category of the Chase Freedom Flex. If the 5 percent cash back category falls into common categories like groceries and gas stations, it can win over the Chase Sapphire Preferred. Otherwise, the Sapphire Preferred has the clear edge.

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Chase Freedom Flex vs. Chase Sapphire Preferred spending example
To understand what that means, take a look at the following example. Let’s say you want to use your Chase credit card for all your regular spending, from groceries to miscellaneous purchases, and that you hope to earn the highest rate of rewards possible in any given quarter. Your quarterly spending might look like this:
  • $1,500 spent on groceries
  • $800 spent on Chase Travel
  • $400 spent at restaurants
  • $250 spent on miscellaneous purchases

With the Chase Freedom Flex, you would earn $69.50 in rewards for the quarter. That breaks down to $15 in cash back from grocery spending, $40 back from Chase Travel, $12 back from dining and $2.50 back on all other spending.

For this example, none of these categories fall into the current rotating bonus categories. If you happen to spend $1,500 in the bonus category, you have the potential to earn an additional $75, making your total earnings $144.50. However, it also means that there may be quarters where it’s much lower.

If you instead use the Chase Sapphire Preferred, you would earn 9,950 points, worth $99.50 in cash back or statement credits. That breaks down to $45 in cash back from online grocery spending, $40 back from Chase Travel, $12 back from dining and $2.50 back on all other spending. After accounting for the annual fee, your net earnings are $4.50.

Note, however, that this example doesn’t take into account redemption options or the welcome bonus on each card. More specifically, if you choose to redeem your 9,950 points earned with the Sapphire Preferred for travel via the Chase portal, they’d be worth around $124 thanks to the 25 percent points boost.

Further, if you transfer to the right high-value Chase hotel or airline partner, your points could be worth about 2.0 cents apiece, according to Bankrate valuations. That brings your potential value to $199. After accounting for the annual fee, your net earnings are $104.

If travel isn’t the name of your game (or your top priority in terms of redemptions), the Chase Freedom Flex can earn you more rewards when used strategically.

Of course, the absolute best value comes when you carry both Flex and Sapphire and use them strategically to earn top points. From there, combine all your points under your Sapphire card so you can redeem them for 25 percent more value for travel via the Chase Travel℠ portal or transfer to a high-value travel partner.

Why should you get Chase Freedom Flex?

The Chase Freedom Flex is a World Elite Mastercard, which provides a wealth of benefits, from zero liability protection and Mastercard ID Theft Protection to cell phone protection. Here are a few additional reasons the Chase Freedom Flex may be worth it.

Why should you get Chase Sapphire Preferred?

While the Chase Freedom Flex is valuable in its own right, many rewards enthusiasts still swear by the Chase Sapphire Preferred. Here are a few reasons Chase Sapphire Preferred is worth it for many consumers.

The bottom line

Picking between the Chase Freedom Flex and Chase Sapphire Preferred may not be easy, but it all boils down to what you value most. Would you rather earn more bonus points in a broader range of categories with no annual fee? Or would you prefer the option to redeem for superior travel experiences via point transfers to Chase airline and hotel partners?

Of course, you can choose to apply for one of these cards now, then apply for the second down the road and pool your points. With both cards in your wallet, you could take advantage of the best rewards potential and perks each one offers — just be sure to keep Chase’s 5/24 rule in mind.

*Information about the Chase Freedom Flex® has been collected independently by Bankrate. The card details have not been reviewed or approved by the issuer.