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

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Christine Krzyszton

Senior Finance Contributor

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Christine ran her own business developing and managing insurance and financial services. This stoked a passion for points and miles and she now has over 2 dozen credit cards and creates in-depth, deta...
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Cash-back can add up quickly when you’re using a rewards-earning card to make purchases you’re already making daily. Selecting the right card to ensure you’re maximizing those earnings, however, takes some effort.

The 2 cards we’ve selected for our comparison today work well for earning rewards on common purchases, but they’re also cards that 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.

Amex Blue Cash Preferred Card vs. Freedom Unlimited Card — Summary

Before we dive into the details, let’s look at a high-level view of the attributes of the Amex Blue Cash Preferred card and the Freedom Unlimited card, side-by-side.

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Feature or BenefitBlue Cash Preferred® Card from American ExpressChase Freedom Unlimited®
Welcome OfferEarn a $250 statement credit after spending $3,000 in purchases in the first 6 months. Earn an extra 1.5% on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) — worth up to $300 cash back. That's 6.5% on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 4.5% on dining and drugstores, and 3% on all other purchases.
Earning Potential
  • 6% cash-back at U.S. supermarkets, up to $6,000 in purchases each year, and on select streaming services
  • 3% cash-back at U.S. gas stations and on transit
  • 1% cash-back on all other purchases
  • 5% cash-back on travel purchased via Chase Travel portal
  • 5% cash-back on Lyft through March 2025
  • 3% cash-back on dining and at drugstores
  • 1.5 % cash-back on all other purchases
Redemption Options
  • Statement credits; Shopping at select retailers; Gift cards
  • Travel booked through Chase Travel portal
  • Transfer to Chase premium credit cards
  • Cash-back or statement credit; Shopping at select retailers; Gift cards
Travel Protections and Benefits
  • Secondary car rental insurance
  • Travel and emergency assistance phone line
Additional Travel Protections and Benefits
  • Access to Premium Protection car rental insurance
  • Trip cancellation and trip interruption insurance
  • Roadside Dispatch
Shopping Protections and Benefits
  • Purchase protection, extended warranty
  • Introductory 0% APR period for purchases and balance transfers
Additional Shopping Protections and Benefits
  • Amex Offers
  • Equinox+ Credit
  • The Disney Bundle Credit
  • Chase Offers
  • Instacart membership
Annual Fees and Authorized Users$0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95, no charge to add authorized users (rates & fees)$0 annual fee, no charge to add authorized users

The Value of a Welcome Offer

HIGHEST CASH BACK
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American ExpressTerms 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)

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.
Earn a $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.
$250
$0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.
19.24%-29.99% Variable,0% on purchases for 12 months
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)

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 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

  • 6% cash-back at U.S. supermarkets (up to $6,000 per year) and on select streaming services
  • 6% cash-back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions
  • 3% cash-back on U.S. gas stations and transit (including rideshares, parking, etc.)
  • 1% cash-back on all other purchases

Cons

  • $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95 annual fee (rates and fees)
  • Earn a $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in 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 19.24% - 29.99%. Variable APRs will not exceed 29.99%.
  • 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.
  • Get up to $120 in statement credits annually when you pay for an auto-renewing subscription to Equinox+ at equinoxplus.com with your Blue Cash Preferred® Card. That’s $10 in statement credits each month. Enrollment required.
  • Thinking about getting the Disney Bundle which can include Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+? Your decision made easy with $7/month back in the form of a statement credit after you spend $9.99 or more each month on an eligible subscription (subject to auto renewal) with your Blue Cash Preferred® Card. Enrollment required.
  • Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

  • APR: 19.24%-29.99% Variable,0% on purchases for 12 months
  • Foreign Transaction Fees: 2.7% of each transaction after conversion to US dollars.

Card Categories

Rewards Center

Redeem cash-back through your American Express account

Chase Freedom Unlimited®

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!
Earn an extra 1.5% on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) — worth up to $300 cash back. That's 6.5% on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 4.5% on dining and drugstores, and 3% on all other purchases.
Up to $300 cash back
$0
0% Intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 20.49% - 29.24%.
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)

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

  • 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 20.49% - 29.24%.
  • 5% back on travel purchased through Chase Travel
  • 3% back on dining and drugstore purchases
  • 1.5% back on all other purchases
  • No annual fee
  • Earn big on travel purchased through Chase Travel
  • Everyday bonus on dining and drugstores
  • Straightforward cash-back on all other purchases
  • Ability to pool points

Cons

  • 3% foreign transaction fee
  • 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 20.49% - 29.24%.
  • 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 20.49% - 29.24%.
  • Foreign Transaction Fees: 3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars

Card Categories

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

Man Facing Subway Train
Travel and transit are examples of bonus-earning categories that earn elevated rewards. Image Credit: kwan fung via Unsplash

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.

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Earning CategoryAmex Blue Cash Preferred CardFreedom Unlimited Card
Travel
  • 3% cash-back on transit, including tolls, parking, ride shares
  • 3% cash-back at U.S. gas stations
  • 1 % cash-back on all other travel
  • 5% cash-back on purchases via Chase Travel portal
  • 5% cash-back on Lyft rides through March 2025
  • 1.5% cash-back on all other travel purchases
U.S. Supermarkets6% cash-back on up to $6,000 in purchases each calendar year (note that Walmart, Target, and warehouse stores are not considered grocery stores or supermarkets)1.5% cash-back
Drug Stores and Dining1% cash-back3% cash-back
Select Streaming Services6% cash-back on select streaming services1.5% cash-back
All Other Purchases1% cash-back1.5% cash-back

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:

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CardRedemption Options
Amex Blue Cash Preferred Card
  • Statement credits at 1 cent per Reward Dollar
  • Gift cards, shopping at Amazon
Freedom Unlimited Card
  • Cash-back
  • General statement credits at 1 cent per point
  • Purchase travel via the Chase Travel portal using points at 1 cent in value per point
  • Transfer points to premium Chase cards for the ability to redeem for up to 1.5 cents each for travel via the Chase Travel portal or transfer to airline/hotel partners for potentially greater value
  • Gift cards, shopping on Amazon

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 Protections and Benefits

Man making emergency phone call
Travel protections and benefits can add value if you need assistance when traveling. Image Credit: Anna via Unsplash

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 Protections and Benefits

Apple Watch on mans wrist
Eligible items purchased with your card may have coverage for damage or theft. Image Credit: Solen Feyissa via Unsplash

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.
  • Equinox Credit — Receive up to $120 each year via a $10 monthly credit toward an Equinox+ app membership. Learn more about how to utilize the Equinox credit.
  • The Disney Bundle Credit — Enjoy Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ with The Disney Bundle membership. 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.

Hot Tip: If you don’t want, or need, an Equinox+ membership, but an authorized user on your Amex Blue Cash Preferred card does, those qualifying Equinox+ membership purchases made by the authorized user will also trigger the Equinox+ app statement credit. There is still a maximum credit of $10 per month, up to $120 per year across all card accounts. 

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.
  • Free Instacart Membership — Receive a complimentary 3-month Instacart membership plus up to $10 in statement credits each quarter for Instacart purchases. Activation is required by July 31, 2024.

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 comes with statement credits for Equinox+ and The Disney Bundle while the Freedom Unlimited card comes with a trial Instacart membership and up to $10 in quarterly statement credits. 

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
American Express® Gold CardTerms 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)

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!
Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months.
60,000 points
$1,320
$250
See Pay Over Time APR
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)

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

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

  • 4x points per dollar at restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.
  • 4x points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets, up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases; and 1x thereafter
  • 3x points per dollar on flights purchased directly from airlines or at Amex Travel
  • Up to $120 annual dining credit: up to $10 monthly statement credit when you pay with the Amex Gold card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Milk Bar and select Shake Shack locations
  • Up to $120 in annual Uber Cash: get $10 monthly in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S. when you add your Gold Card to your Uber account
  • No foreign transaction fees (see rates and fees)
  • Access to Amex’s The Hotel Collection
  • Access to American Express transfer partners

Cons

  • Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® Points at Restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., and earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X).
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com.
  • $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.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings and 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, Milk Bar and select Shake Shack locations. Enrollment required.
  • Get a $100 experience credit with a minimum two-night stay when you book The Hotel Collection through American Express Travel. Experience credit varies by property.
  • Choose the color that suits your style. Gold or Rose Gold.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $250.
  • Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

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

Card Categories

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 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

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit CardTerms 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!
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
$1,350
$95
19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)
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)

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

  • 5x miles per $1 on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
  • 2x miles per $1 on all other purchases
  • Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit
  • No foreign transaction fees (rates & fees)
  • Access to Capital One transfer partners

Cons

  • 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 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 $100 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
  • Enrich every hotel stay from the Lifestyle Collection with a suite of cardholder benefits, like a $50 experience credit, room upgrades, and more
  • Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs

Financial Snapshot

  • APR: 19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)
  • Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Card Categories

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/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 above benefits are provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.

For the car rental collision damage coverage benefit of the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express, car rental loss and damage insurance can provide coverage up to $50,000 for theft of or damage to most rental vehicles when you use your eligible card to reserve and pay for the entire eligible vehicle rental and decline the collision damage waiver or similar option offered by the commercial car rental company. This product provides secondary coverage and does not include liability coverage. Not all vehicle types or rentals are covered. Geographic restrictions apply. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car rental loss or damage coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc. For the extended warranty benefit of the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express, when an American Express® card member charges a covered purchase to an eligible card, extended warranty can provide up to one extra year added to the original manufacturer’s warranty. Applies to warranties of five (5) years or less. Coverage is up to the actual amount charged to your card for the item up to a maximum of $10,000; not to exceed $50,000 per card member account per calendar year. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. For the purchase protection benefit of the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express, purchase protection is an embedded benefit of your card membership and requires no enrollment. It can help protect covered purchases made on your eligible card when they’re accidentally damaged, stolen, or lost, for up to 90 days from the covered purchase date. The coverage is limited up to $10,000 per occurrence, up to $50,000 per card member account per calendar year. Coverage limits apply. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. For the Global Assist Hotline benefit of the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express, you can rely on Global Assist Hotline 24 hours a day / 7 days a week for medical, legal, financial or other select emergency coordination and assistance services while traveling more than 100 miles away from your home. Third-party service costs may be your responsibility. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Card Members are responsible for the costs charged by third-party service providers.
For the rates and fees of the American Express Gold Card, click here.

The information regarding the For the rates and fees of the American Express Gold Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.

For rates and fees of the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express, click here.
For rates and fees of the American Express® Gold Card, click here.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which card is better, the Amex Blue Cash Preferred card or the Freedom Unlimited card?

Either card can work well when your spending mix matches the specific bonus categories of these everyday spending cards. If you spend a lot at U.S. supermarkets, on select streaming services, and on transit, the Amex Blue Cash Preferred card has the edge.

If your spending is more at drugstores, dining, on the Chase Travel portal, or on non-bonus category spending, the Freedom Unlimited card may be the better choice.

Redemption preferences could also be a consideration as the Freedom Unlimited card can deliver potentially higher value at redemption time when transferring points to a premium Chase Ultimate Rewards-earning card.

Does the Amex Blue Cash Preferred card charge foreign transaction fees?

Yes, the Amex Blue Cash Preferred card charges a foreign transaction fee of 2.7% of the purchase.

Does the Freedom Unlimited card charge foreign transaction fees?

Yes, the Freedom Unlimited card charges foreign transaction fees of 3% of the total purchase.

Can I redeem Amex Reward Dollars to purchase travel?

You can purchase travel using your Amex Blue Cash Preferred card and redeem Reward Dollars for a statement credit to offset that purchase.

What credit score do I need to get approved for the Amex Blue Cash Preferred card?

You will need a good to excellent credit score of at least 670 to increase your chances of being approved for the Amex Blue Cash Preferred card. American Express also considers other factors such as income, additional debt, and credit history in determining creditworthiness.

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About Christine Krzyszton

Christine ran her own business developing and managing insurance and financial services. This stoked a passion for points and miles and she now has over 2 dozen credit cards and creates in-depth, detailed content for UP.

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