Chase Sapphire Preferred Card vs. Chase Freedom Unlimited Card [Detailed Comparison]

Building a relationship with Chase as a financial institution can deliver tremendous value over the long term. Chase offers a variety of financial products, including banking accounts, mortgages, personal/business loans, savings vehicles, and investment solutions, that can be utilized over your lifetime.

Chase credit cards add additional value with the ability to manage your spending while earning rewards, receive a great value at redemption time, and enjoy benefits/protections that can save you money or provide protection when you need it.

Today, we’ll look at 2 of the most popular Chase cards, the Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card and the Chase Freedom Unlimited^®, both of which are fine examples of the value provided by Chase Ultimate Rewards-earning cards.

While we believe either of these cards is an excellent choice, even for your first travel rewards card, we’re prepared to back up this statement with all the information you’ll need to decide for yourself as to which card is a better fit for you.

Let’s review the key features and benefits you can expect to realize as a cardholder with either of our featured cards.

Overview

Let’s take a topline view of both cards with a side-by-side comparison that makes it easier to review the features and benefits of both the Chase Sapphire Preferred card and Freedom Unlimited card.

Here’s how the cards compare in each category:

Note that we haven’t listed every benefit of our featured cards and descriptions are abbreviated. You’ll want to check each card’s Guide to Benefits before applying to see expanded coverage descriptions, terms, conditions, rates, and fees.

Welcome Bonus Compared

The best travel rewards cards offer a welcome bonus offer that allows you to earn a large number of rewards in the first few months after card approval when meeting minimum spending requirements.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred card and Freedom Unlimited card each offer such a bonus. The value of these welcome offers will vary, however, due to the different redemption options offered on each card. We’ll expand more on that shortly.

But first, let’s take a look at the current welcome offers that come with our featured cards.

BEST BEGINNER CARD

Chase Sapphire Preferred^® 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.

A fantastic travel card with a great welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.

Apply Now(at Chase's secure site)

Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card

A fantastic travel card with a great welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.

Welcome Offer

Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

60,000 bonus points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$1,200

Annual Fee

$95

APR

20.74% - 27.74% 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 (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

The Chase Sapphire Preferred^® card is one of the best travel rewards cards on the market. Its bonus categories include travel, dining, online grocery purchases, and streaming services, which gives you the opportunity to earn lots of bonus points on these purchases.

Additionally, it offers flexible point redemption options, no foreign transaction fees, and excellent travel insurance coverage including primary car rental insurance. With benefits like these, it’s easy to see why this card is an excellent choice for any traveler.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 5x points on all travel booked via the Chase Travel portal
• 5x points on select Peloton purchases over $150 (through March 31, 2025)
• 5x points on Lyft purchases (through March 31, 2025)

Cons

• $95 annual fee
• No elite benefits like airport lounge access or hotel elite status

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
• Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
• Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
• Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
• Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2027.
• Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 20.74% - 27.74% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Chase Ultimate Rewards

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!

Apply Now(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 19.74% - 28.49%.

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 19.74% - 28.49%.
• 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 19.74% - 28.49%.
• 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 19.74% - 28.49%.
• Foreign Transaction Fees: 3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars

Rewards Center

Chase Ultimate Rewards

Bottom Line: The Chase Sapphire Preferred card offers a welcome bonus offer that’s worth far more than the Freedom Unlimited card. Even with the $95 annual fee, the welcome offer on the Chase Sapphire Preferred card can provide tremendous value. 

Earning Potential

Both of our featured cards earn valuable Chase Ultimate Rewards points. The Freedom Unlimited card, however, functions as a cash-back card, initially earning rewards in the form of points that can be redeemed for cash-back.

Here’s how both of these cards earn rewards, along with which bonus-category spending results in the best earning potential.

Bottom Line: While both the Chase Sapphire Preferred card and Freedom Unlimited card have robust earning structures, the Freedom Unlimited card does charge a 3% foreign transaction fee, making it a poor choice for international travel and foreign purchases. 

Redemption Options

While both the Chase Sapphire Preferred card and the Freedom Unlimited card earn the same Ultimate Rewards points, your options at redemption time will differ with each card.

Here are your options, and the values you can expect to receive, for Ultimate Rewards points earned on each card.

Bottom Line: The most significant difference in redemption options for the Chase Sapphire Preferred card and the Freedom Unlimited card is that the Chase Sapphire Preferred card allows you to redeem points for travel via the Chase Travel portal for 25% more value and has the ability to receive even greater potential value when transferring points to airline or hotel partners. 

Travel Benefits and Protections

Travel protection gives you peace of mind during your travels.

Here are some of the key travel protections you’ll find on the Chase Sapphire Preferred card and the Freedom Unlimited card:

• Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver — Pay for your car rental with your card, decline the rental agency’s CDW/LDW coverage and receive coverage for damage or theft of the rental car. Coverage is primary on the Chase Sapphire Preferred card and secondary on the Freedom Unlimited card. Secondary means that you must first file a claim with any other insurance that applies before card coverage kicks in.
• Trip Cancellation and Trip Interruption Insurance — If your trip is canceled or disrupted due to a covered reason, the Freedom Unlimited card could pay up to $1,500 per person, $6,000 per trip. The Chase Sapphire Preferred card could pay up to $10,000 per person, $20,000 per trip.
• Roadside Dispatch — Pay 1 predetermined service fee to receive jumpstart or lockout services, towing up to 5 miles, fuel delivery (up to 5 gallons), standard winching, and spare tire changing.
• Travel and Emergency Services — Make 1 call to receive assistance 24/7 while traveling. Receive translation services, medical/legal referrals, assistance with emergency transportation, and more. Cardholders are responsible for actual services received.

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card Only

Travel Benefits

Travel benefits can save you money during your travels.

• $50 Hotel Credit via Ultimate Rewards — Book your hotel via the Chase Travel portal and receive a statement credit of up to $50 each card anniversary year.
• No Foreign Transaction Fees — Use your card abroad, or for any foreign purchase, as the card does not charge foreign transaction fees.

Travel Insurance Perks

• Trip Delay Reimbursement — Receive up to $500 in reimbursement for eligible expenses due to a covered trip delay of more than 12 hours or overnight.
• Baggage Delay — If your bags are delayed more than 6 hours, you could receive up to $100 per day for up to 5 days for eligible incidentals, including clothing, toiletries, and cell phone charging cables.
• Lost Luggage Reimbursement — Receive up to $3,000 if your luggage is lost or stolen.
• Roadside Dispatch — If you are stranded on the side of the road, 1 call 24/7 can provide assistance. Cardholders are responsible for actual services received.

Shopping Benefits and Protections

When you shop with either the Chase Sapphire Preferred card or the Freedom Unlimited card, you’ll want to understand the additional benefits available. For example, you may earn more rewards by taking advantage of card offers or have coverage if something goes wrong with your purchase.

Here’s a sampling of some of the best shopping benefits and protections that come with both of our featured cards:

• Chase Offers — Log in to your Chase account and view your available Chase Offers. Add the offer to your card, make the required purchase, and receive cash-back as a statement credit.
• Chase Shopping Portal — Earn up to 25 Ultimate Rewards points per dollar spent via the shopping portal. In your online account, select Ways to Earn, then Shop Through Chase to view available retailers and offers.
• Purchase Protection — Purchase an eligible item with your card and receive coverage for theft, accidental damage, or “involuntary or accidental parting” for 120 days from the date of purchase. Coverage is limited to $500 per item, $50,000 per account.
• Extended Warranty — Eligible items with manufacturer’s warranties of 3 years or less that you purchase with your card will have the warranty extended by 1 additional year. Coverage is limited to $10,000 per claim, $50,000 per account.

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card

• DoorDash DashPass — Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2027.

Freedom Unlimited Card

• Introductory 0% APR on Purchases — Enjoy no interest charges on purchases for up to 15 months from card approval. After that, normal interest rates as indicated in the card table above apply.
• DoorDash DashPass — Enjoy a complimentary 3-month DashPass subscription. Activate by January 31, 2025.

Bottom Line: The Chase Sapphire Preferred card — with key benefits such as primary car rental coverage and trip cancellation, interruption, and delay insurance — is hard to beat when it comes to benefits and protections, but the no-annual-fee Freedom Unlimited card offers several benefits and protections that can also make it a good value. 

Annual Fees and Adding Authorized Users

Annual fees are important, as you’ll want to make sure you’re receiving sufficient value from a card to offset that fee. Authorized users can help you earn rewards faster, and users may benefit from the opportunity to establish a credit history.

Annual Fees

The Chase Sapphire Preferred card charges an annual fee of $95, which is a modest fee considering its generous welcome offer, flexible redemption options, and its valuable travel insurance benefits. The Freedom Unlimited card does not charge an annual fee.

Adding Authorized Users

Neither of our featured cards charge for adding authorized users. Note that the primary cardholder is responsible for all card purchases made by the additional user.

Bottom Line: The Chase Sapphire Preferred card has a modest $95 annual fee while the Freedom Unlimited card does not charge an annual fee. There is no charge to add authorized users to either card. 

Everything Else You Need To Know

Both of our featured cards fall under Chase’s 5/24 rule that dictates whether you’ll be approved for a Chase credit card. If you’ve had 5 (or more) credit cards issued from any financial institution in the last 24 months, you won’t be approved for a Chase card.

It’s recommended that you have “Good to Excellent credit” of 570 to 840 to qualify for either of these Chase cards.

Both of our cards utilize the Visa payment processing network. The Chase Sapphire Preferred card is a Visa Signature card, and the Freedom Unlimited card can be issued as either a Visa Platinum (for credit limits under $5,000) or as a Visa Signature card.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred card offers some of the best travel insurance available on a credit card. This coverage, however, does not take the place of a comprehensive travel insurance policy, especially if your trip is expensive, complicated, or you need medical coverage during your travels.

Final Thoughts

Both of our featured cards offer great value and are appropriate choices for your first-time travel rewards card.

Although both cards offer excellent earning potential, the Chase Sapphire Preferred card has an edge over the Freedom Unlimited card thanks to its generous welcome offer and the opportunity to receive better value for your points at redemption time. The card also offers better travel insurance benefits.

To maximize the value received on your Chase cards, however, it can be productive to pair a no-annual-fee card, such as the Freedom Unlimited card or Chase Freedom Flex℠, with a premium Chase credit card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred card or the Chase Sapphire Reserve^®. This card combination will allow you to maximize earnings and receive up to 50% more value at redemption time.

Whichever Chase card (or cards) you select, if you manage your usage well, you’ll certainly reap the rewards that come along with being a Chase cardholder.