Amex Blue Cash Preferred vs. Chase Freedom Unlimited [Detailed Comparison]

Cash-back can add up quickly when you’re using a rewards-earning card to make purchases you’re already making daily. However, selecting the right card to ensure you’re maximizing those earnings takes some effort.

The 2 cards we’ve selected for our comparison today work well for earning rewards on common purchases, and they also come with additional protections and benefits that can add cardholder value.

The Blue Cash Preferred^® Card from American Express and the Chase Freedom Unlimited^® both earn well on everyday spending, but differ in their specific bonus earning categories, redemption options, and benefits.

Here’s the breakdown of all the information you need when considering one of our featured cards as the everyday card for your wallet.

Summary

Before we dive into the details, let’s compare the attributes of the Amex Blue Cash Preferred card and the Freedom Unlimited card.

Welcome Offer Comparison

HIGHEST CASH BACK

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Blue Cash Preferred^® Card from American Express

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

This card is great for those who want to earn cash-back with U.S. supermarkets, U.S. streaming subscriptions, transit, and U.S. gas stations.

Learn More(at Amex's secure site)

Apply With Confidence

Know if you're approved with no credit score impact

If you're approved and accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.

Blue Cash Preferred^® Card from American Express

This card is great for those who want to earn cash-back with U.S. supermarkets, U.S. streaming subscriptions, transit, and U.S. gas stations.

Welcome Offer

Earn a $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.

$250

Annual Fee

$0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.

APR

18.49%-29.49% Variable,0% on purchases for 12 months

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

The Blue Cash Preferred^® Card from American Express is a stellar cash-back credit card for those looking to maximize every purchase they make.

With bonus categories like U.S. supermarkets, select U.S. streaming services, U.S. gas stations, and transit purchases, this card rewards you for the items you spend the most on in a big way! For those looking to earn up to 6% cash-back on their purchases, this could be the card for you!

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 6% cash-back at U.S. supermarkets (up to $6,000 per year)
• 6% cash-back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions
• 3% cash-back on U.S. gas stations and transit (including rideshares, parking, etc.)

Cons

• $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95 annual fee (rates and fees)

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn a $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.
• $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.
• Buy Now, Pay Later: Enjoy $0 intro plan fees when you use Plan It^® to split up large purchases into monthly installments. Pay $0 intro plan fees on plans created during the first 12 months from the date of account opening. Plans created after that will have a monthly plan fee up to 1.33% of each eligible purchase amount moved into a plan based on the plan duration, the APR that would otherwise apply to the purchase, and other factors.
• Low Intro APR: 0% on purchases and balance transfers for 12 months from the date of account opening. After that, your APR will be a variable APR of 18.49% - 29.49%.
• 6% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%).
• 6% Cash Back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions.
• 3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations.
• 3% Cash Back on transit (including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more).
• 1% Cash Back on other purchases.
• Cash Back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout.
• $84 Disney Bundle Credit: With your enrolled Blue Cash Preferred Card, spend $9.99 or more each month on an auto-renewing Disney Bundle subscription, to receive a monthly statement credit of $7. Valid only at Disney Plus.com, Hulu.com or Plus.espn.com in the U.S.
• Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 18.49%-29.49% Variable,0% on purchases for 12 months
• Foreign Transaction Fees: 2.7% of each transaction after conversion to US dollars.

Rewards Center

Redeem cash-back through your American Express account

INTRO OFFER

Chase Freedom Unlimited^®

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

This all-purpose cash-back card offers great bonus categories, including bonus points for every purchase you make!

Learn More(at Chase's secure site)

Chase Freedom Unlimited^®

This all-purpose cash-back card offers great bonus categories, including bonus points for every purchase you make!

Welcome Offer

Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back!

Up to $300 cash-back

Annual Fee

$0

APR

0% Intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 19.99% - 28.74%.

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

The Chase Freedom Unlimited^® is easily one of the best cash-back credit cards on the market. There aren’t many no-annual-fee credit cards that offer multiple great bonus categories like 5% back on travel purchased through Chase, 3% back on dining and drugstore purchases, and 1.5% back on all other purchases.

When paired with other Chase cards in the Ultimate Rewards family, you can transfer that cash back into points if you wish – making it one of the most lucrative cards in your wallet.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 19.99% - 28.74%.
• 5% back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠
• 3% back on dining and drugstore purchases

Cons

• 3% foreign transaction fee

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• INTRO OFFER: Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back!
• Enjoy 6.5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 4.5% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 3% on all other purchases (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year).
• After your first year or $20,000 spent, enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.
• No minimum to redeem for cash back. You can choose to receive a statement credit or direct deposit into most U.S. checking and savings accounts. Cash Back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open!
• Enjoy 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 19.99% - 28.74%.
• No annual fee – You won't have to pay an annual fee for all the great features that come with your Freedom Unlimited^® card
• Keep tabs on your credit health, Chase Credit Journey helps you monitor your credit with free access to your latest score, alerts, and more.
• Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 0% Intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 19.99% - 28.74%.
• Foreign Transaction Fees: 3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars

Rewards Center

Chase Ultimate Rewards

When you’re approved for either of our featured cards, you’ll have an opportunity to earn a welcome bonus, as indicated in the tables above.

Welcome bonuses vary, so always check the terms and conditions before applying for any card.

Bottom Line: The Amex Blue Cash Preferred card and Freedom Unlimited card both offer welcome bonus offers worth several hundred dollars in value. However, the amount of spending you need to complete to maximize the full bonus on the Amex Blue Cash Preferred is far less than on the Freedom Unlimited card.

Earning Potential Comparison

While the Amex Blue Cash Preferred card and Freedom Unlimited card earn rewards in the same way, the bonus categories for each card differ greatly. For this reason, to maximize earnings, you’ll want to select the card that closely aligns with your spending mix.

Here’s how our featured cards earn cash-back on purchases.

Calculating a quick estimate of your annual spending in each category and applying that to the earning structure of each of our featured cards can help you determine which card will earn the most rewards on your potential spending mix.

Bottom Line: The Amex Blue Cash Preferred card and Freedom Unlimited card earn well on everyday purchases. However, your spending mix will determine which offers more rewards for your situation. If you’re spending a lot at the grocery store, on qualifying streaming services, at gas stations, and on transit, the Amex Blue Cash Preferred card will have the edge. If, however, you spend a lot at the drugstore, on travel via the Chase Travel portal, dining, and on non-bonused spending, the Freedom Unlimited card could be the better choice.

Redemption Options

Cash-back is earned on the Amex Blue Cash Preferred card in the form of Reward Dollars and on the Freedom Unlimited Card in the form of cash-back rewards points. Since these Reward Dollars and points can subsequently be redeemed for cash back, the cards are marketed as cash-back cards.

Other than redeeming rewards for cash back, you do have some additional redemption options with either card:

Bottom Line: The Amex Blue Cash Preferred card earns Reward Dollars that can be redeemed for statement credits at 1 cent each. The Freedom Unlimited card earns points that can be redeemed for cash-back, but the points can also be transferred to premium Chase rewards cards where they become Ultimate Rewards points. These Ultimate Rewards points can then be transferred to airline and hotel partners for potentially greater value. 

Travel Protection and Benefits Comparison

While neither the Amex Blue Cash Preferred card nor the Freedom Unlimited card have a long list of travel protections and benefits, you will find a few useful perks that may save you money and provide assistance during your travels.

Here are some of the travel protections and benefits you’ll find on both of our featured cards:

Secondary Car Rental Insurance

Reserve and pay for your entire rental with your card, decline the rental agency’s CDW/LDW coverage, and have secondary coverage for damage or theft of the rental car. Secondary coverage means that you must first file a claim with any other applicable insurance before card coverage kicks in.

Travel and Emergency Assistance

Both the Amex Blue Cash Preferred card, via the Global Assistance Hotline, and the Freedom Unlimited card, via its Travel and Emergency Assistance Services, offer dedicated phone lines available 24/7 for travel or emergency assistance. Receive help securing medical and legal referrals, translation services, emergency transportation, and more.

Additional Travel Protections and Benefits

Amex Blue Cash Preferred Card

• Access to Premium Protection Car Rental Coverage — The Amex Blue Cash Preferred card comes with secondary car rental insurance at no extra charge. However, for 1 low price of $12.25 to $24.95, depending on your state of residence and coverage selected, you can select Premium Protection, which covers the entire rental period. This primary coverage means you do not need to file a claim with any other insurance before card coverage kicks in.

Learn more about the benefits of the Amex Blue Cash Preferred card in this related article.

Freedom Unlimited Card

• Trip Cancellation and Trip Interruption — Receive up to $1,500 per person, up to $6,000 per trip, if your trip needs to be canceled or is disrupted due to a covered event.
• Roadside Dispatch — For 1 low fee per service call, you can receive assistance with changing a flat tire, limited towing, lockout service, jumpstart service, emergency fuel delivery, and standard winching. Any additional services received will be charged to the card.

Learn about the details of travel insurance benefits found on the Freedom Unlimited card in our more in-depth article.

Bottom Line: While both the Amex Blue Cash Preferred card and Freedom Unlimited card come with secondary car rental insurance and travel/emergency assistance, the Amex Blue Cash Preferred card gives you access to Premium Protection car rental insurance. The Freedom Unlimited card offers the additional benefits of trip cancellation, trip interruption, and roadside dispatch coverage. 

Shopping Protection and Benefits Comparison

Both the Amex Blue Cash Preferred card and Freedom Unlimited card come with several shopping protections and benefits that can save you money and/or protect eligible items purchased with your card.

Here are some of the protections and benefits you’ll find on both cards.

Purchase Protection

Purchase an eligible item with either card and if that item is accidentally damaged or stolen you’ll have coverage.

• The Amex Blue Cash Preferred card covers an item for 90 days from the date of purchase for up to $1,000 per incident, and up to $50,000 per account, per year.
• The Freedom Unlimited card has coverage for up to 120 days from the date of purchase for up to $500 per item and up to $50,000 per account.

Extended Warranty

• Eligible items purchased with the Amex Blue Cash Preferred card that have manufacturer’s warranties of 5 years or less will receive 1 additional year of warranty. Items are covered for up to $1,000 per purchase and up to $50,000 per card.
• The Freedom Unlimited card offers 1 additional year for eligible items with manufacturer’s warranties of 3 years or less for up to $10,000 per claim, with a maximum of $50,000 per account.

Additional Shopping Protections and Benefits

In addition to the shopping protections and benefits the 2 cards have in common, here are some of the perks you can expect to find on each individual card.

Amex Blue Cash Preferred Card

• Amex Offers — After logging into your online card account, scroll down the home page to find Amex Offers. Review up to 100 offers and add the offers you like to your card. Once you’ve made the associated purchase with your card, you’ll receive a statement credit for the amount stated in the offer.
• The Disney Bundle Credit — Enjoy Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ with The Disney Bundle. Make your purchase with your enrolled card and receive up to $7 per month, up to $84 each year, in statement credits. Purchases must be $9.99 or more each month to receive the credit.

Freedom Unlimited Card

• Chase Offers — Log into your online card account and review the collection of money-saving offers. Select the offers you like, add them to your card, make the specific purchase, and receive a statement credit after the purchase posts to your account.

Bottom Line: Both the Amex Blue Cash Preferred card and Freedom Unlimited card come with purchase protection, extended warranty, and an introductory 0% APR period on purchases. The Amex Blue Cash Preferred card also comes with statement credits for The Disney Bundle. 

Annual Fees and Authorized Users

The Amex Blue Cash Preferred card charges an annual fee of $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95 while the Freedom Unlimited card does not have an annual fee. However, don’t let the annual fee keep you from considering the Amex Blue Cash Preferred card, as just $1,584 spent at U.S. grocery stores will earn enough value to offset the annual fee.

Adding authorized users to your card can help you earn rewards faster. Neither of our featured cards charges a fee for adding authorized users.

Everything Else You Need To Know

• Qualification —Both the Amex Blue Cash Preferred card and Freedom Unlimited card require a good to excellent credit score of 670 or better to increase your chances of being approved.
• Foreign Transaction Fees — Both of our featured cards charge foreign transaction fees. The Amex Blue Cash Preferred card charges 2.7% of the transaction (rates & fees) and the Freedom Unlimited card charges 3% of the transaction.

Alternative Credit Cards for Everyday Purchases

We like credit cards with dual personalities that earn on everyday spending but also, like travel rewards credit cards, offer the opportunity to select travel when it’s time to redeem those rewards. And, in the case of these 2 alternative choices to our featured cards, you’ll also be able to earn on your travel purchases.

Here are 2 popular additional cards to consider for those purchases you make on a daily basis.

American Express^® Gold Card

BEST FOR DINING

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

American Express^® Gold Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

This is the best card for food lovers who dine out at restaurants (worldwide), order take-out and want big rewards at U.S. supermarkets!

Learn More(at Amex's secure site)

Apply With Confidence

Know if you're approved with no credit score impact

If you're approved and accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.

American Express^® Gold Card

This is the best card for food lovers who dine out at restaurants (worldwide), order take-out and want big rewards at U.S. supermarkets!

Welcome Offer

Earn 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.

60,000 points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$1,200

Annual Fee

$325

APR

See Pay Over Time APR

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

The American Express^® Gold Card is a game-changer.

With this card, you can earn 4x Membership Rewards points at restaurants, up to $50,000 per calendar year, and you’ll also earn 4x Membership Rewards points at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 per calendar year, then 1x.

There isn’t another card on the market that offers a 1-2 punch like this. Of course, there are several other benefits of the Gold Card as well, including extra monthly dining rewards and more.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 4x points per dollar at restaurants worldwide, up to $50,000 per calendar year; then 1x thereafter
• 4x points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets, up to $25,000 per calendar year; then 1x thereafter
• 3x points per dollar on flights purchased directly from airlines or at AmexTravel.com

Cons

• $325 annual fee (rates and fees)
• No lounge access

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn 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.
• Earn 4X Membership Rewards^® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
• Earn 4X Membership Rewards^® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
• Earn 3X Membership Rewards^® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
• Earn 2X Membership Rewards^® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
• Earn 1X Membership Rewards^® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
• $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and each month automatically get $10 in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S., totaling up to $120 per year. Effective 11/8/2024, an Amex Card must be selected as the payment method for your Uber or Uber Eats transaction to redeem the Amex Uber Cash benefit.
• $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express^® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations.
• $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express^® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
• $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express^® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
• Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. Eligible charges vary by property.
• No Foreign Transaction Fees.
• Annual Fee is $325.
• Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
• Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

• APR: See Pay Over Time APR
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

American Express Membership Rewards

Earning rewards on everyday spending doesn’t get much easier than using the Amex Gold card. With 4x Membership Rewards points for each dollar spent at restaurants worldwide on up to $50,000 per year and at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 in purchases each year, the card is a strong choice if you spend a lot in those categories.

The card also shines for the traveler with its 3x earnings on travel, rewards redemption options for travel via AmexTravel.com, and the ability to transfer points to airline and hotel partners for potentially even greater value.

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

Get 2x miles plus some of the most flexible redemptions offered by a travel credit card!

Learn More(at Capital One's secure site)

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Get 2x miles plus some of the most flexible redemptions offered by a travel credit card!

Welcome Offer

Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.

75,000 miles

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$1,350

Annual Fee

$95

APR

19.99% - 29.74% (Variable)

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent Credit (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is one of the most popular rewards cards on the market. It’s perfect for anyone in search of a great welcome offer, high rewards rates, and flexible redemption options.

Frequent travelers with excellent credit may benefit from this credit card that offers a lot of bells and whistles. And it offers easy-to-understand rewards earning and redemption.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 5x miles per $1 on hotels, vacation rentals, and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
• 2x miles per $1 on all other purchases
• Up to a $120 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit

Cons

• $95 annual fee (rates & fees)
• Limited elite benefits

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
• Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
• Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
• Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
• Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck^®
• Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
• Enjoy a $50 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Lifestyle Collection
• Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 19.99% - 29.74% (Variable)
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Capital One Miles

With unlimited earnings of 2 miles per dollar on every purchase you make, your earnings on everyday expenses will add up quickly with the Capital One Venture card. And, those earnings can be turned into travel via Capital One Travel or transferred to hotel/airline partners.

The traveler will also want to take advantage of the Global Entry or TSA PreCheck fee reimbursement credit, no foreign transaction fees (rates & fees), and lost baggage insurance.

Final Thoughts

It’s smart to have an everyday credit card that earns rewards on frequent purchases, but it’s also important to take time to do the upfront math. You’ll want the card you select to have bonus categories that match your biggest expenses, allowing you to maximize the earning power of the card.

The Amex Blue Cash Preferred card has obvious earning strength when it comes to grocery stores, select streaming services, gas stations, and on transit. The Freedom Unlimited card is more suited for drug stores, dining, Chase travel purchases, and non-bonus spending such as tuition and home improvement.

At redemption time, the cash-back you earned on the Amex Blue Cash Preferred card is simple to apply directly to your card account. The Freedom Unlimited card also has cash-back redemption simplicity, but offers the additional opportunity for much greater value if you have a premium Chase credit card such as the Chase Sapphire Preferred^® card or the Chase Sapphire Reserve^®.

Keep in mind, also, that 1 card may not reward your entire spending mix, have redemption options that meet every priority, or have benefits you can use. Read more about some of the best credit card combinations.

If you enjoyed this comparison, you can read a detailed review of all cards from both providers in our Amex vs Chase guide.

For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the benefits may be provided by Visa^® or Mastercard^® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.