Chase Freedom Unlimited vs. Sapphire Preferred: Sapphire Travels Better

You could earn more from the Freedom, but Sapphire rewards are worth more for travel.
Melissa Lambarena
By Melissa Lambarena 
Updated
Edited by Erin Hurd

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When you're left to choose between the Chase Freedom Unlimited® and Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, your goals and lifestyle will determine the better option.

The Chase Freedom Unlimited® is a well-suited candidate for those looking to pile up cash-back rewards for a $0 annual fee. It earns a modest 1.5% cash-back rate on all purchases and elevated rewards in categories like drugstores, restaurants and select travel.

But if you want to redeem your rewards toward travel, the $95-annual-fee Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is a better choice. Its travel perks and protections, lack of foreign transaction fees and strong sign-up bonus can take your vacation further. It offers 25% more value for your points when you book travel through Chase, and it unlocks the ability to transfer points to travel partners for potential outsized value.

Here’s how to decide whether to choose the Chase Freedom Unlimited®, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card — or both. (Spoiler alert: These cards make a perfect pair.)

At a glance

Chase Freedom Unlimited®

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Annual fee

$0

$95

Sign-up bonus

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! (NOTE: This offer is available when you apply through NerdWallet. If you apply directly with Chase or through a different website, you may not be eligible for this offer.)

Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.

Ongoing rewards

  • 5% back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.

  • 3% back at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services.

  • 3% back on drugstore purchases.

  • 1.5% cash back on everything else.

  • 5 points per $1 spent on all travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.

  • 3 points per $1 spent on dining (including eligible delivery services and takeout).

  • 3 points per $1 spent on select streaming services.

  • 3 points per $1 spent on online grocery purchases (not including Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs).

  • 2 points per $1 spent on travel not purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.

  • 1 point per $1 spent on other purchases.

Foreign transaction fee

3%.

None.

APR

0% intro APR on purchases and Balance Transfers for 15 months, and then the ongoing APR of 20.49%-29.24% Variable APR.

The ongoing APR is 21.49%-28.49% Variable APR.

Value of points when redeemed for travel through Chase

1 cent.

1.25 cents.

Additional benefits

  • Purchase protection.

  • Extended warranty protection.

  • Trip cancellation/interruption insurance.

  • Secondary rental car coverage.

  • Travel and emergency assistance services.

  • A $50 annual credit on hotel stays purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.

  • Each account anniversary, cardmembers will earn bonus points equal to 10% of total purchases made the previous year.

  • Purchase protection.

  • Extended warranty protection.

  • Trip cancellation/interruption insurance.

  • Primary rental car coverage.

  • Baggage delay insurance.

  • Trip delay reimbursement.

  • Travel and emergency assistance services.

Limited-time offers

  • Through March 31, 2025, earn 5% cash back on qualifying Lyft services purchased through the Lyft app.

  • Get a complimentary DashPass membership for 3 months, which offers $0 delivery fees and lower service fees on eligible orders. After that, get automatically enrolled in DashPass at 50% off for the next 9 months. Offer must be activated by Dec. 31, 2024.

  • Get 3 months of complimentary Instacart+ and $10 in statement credits each quarter when you activate by July 31, 2024. Terms apply.

  • Through March 31, 2025, earn 5 points per dollar spent on eligible Lyft purchases.

  • Get complimentary access to a DashPass membership, which offers $0 delivery fees and lower service fees on eligible orders for a minimum of one year when you activate by Dec. 31, 2024.

  • Get 6 months of complimentary Instacart+ and $15 in statement credits each quarter when you activate by July 2024.

  • Receive a $10 monthly statement credit from GoPuff through Dec. 31, 2023. Terms apply.

Why travelers will prefer the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card 

Chase Sapphire Preferred Credit Card
NerdWallet rating 

More perks and rewards toward travel 

The sign-up bonus on the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card can offer more value toward a vacation than the sign-up bonus on the Chase Freedom Unlimited®. Points are also worth 25% more with the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card when you redeem them for travel through the Chase Ultimate Rewards® portal. Plus, holding this card can unlock the ability to transfer your points to travel partners, which can yield even higher value. If you travel enough to make the most of the card’s perks, you’ll also be able to offset the cost of the $95 annual fee. 

The $50 annual credit on hotel stays purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards® will get you more than halfway there and the ongoing rewards and bonus points on every account anniversary can potentially take care of the rest. If you're a frequent globe-trotter, you’ll also appreciate the savings that come with not having to pay foreign transaction fees on purchases made abroad. 

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Travel benefits and protections 

You’ll want to make sure that your trip is protected if the unexpected derails your plans. With the Chase Freedom Unlimited®, you’ll only get trip cancellation and interruption insurance, and secondary rental car coverage

But the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card takes protections to the next level by offering trip cancellation and interruption insurance, primary rental car coverage, baggage delay insurance and trip delay reimbursement. 

🤓Nerdy Tip

Though it's billed as a cash-back card, the Chase Freedom Unlimited® actually earns Ultimate Rewards® points, which can be redeemed for cash, gift cards or travel booked through Chase at a value of 1 cent per point.

Why the Chase Freedom Unlimited® could be more appealing for some

Chase Freedom Unlimited Credit Card
NerdWallet rating 

Travel perks at no cost 

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card offers plenty of perks for travel, but you’ll have to pay a $95 annual fee to get them. The Chase Freedom Unlimited® can offer an elevated rewards rate on travel booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards® and travel protections for a $0 annual fee. If you’re a less frequent traveler, you may appreciate the flexibility to earn rewards and protections for travel along with everyday spending categories.

A decent base rate on all purchases

When you’re not earning rewards in specific categories with the Chase Freedom Unlimited®, you’ll earn a decent 1.5x base rate on all other purchases. Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, on the other hand, earns just 1x points on all purchases that aren't in boosted categories.

Which card (or cards) should you get? 

If you appreciate having some travel perks for the occasional vacation, the duality of the Chase Freedom Unlimited® can offer some of the benefits of a travel credit card and an everyday credit card for a $0 annual fee. But, if you often travel internationally, you can’t beat the value you’ll get from the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. The card’s long list of perks, travel protections and features easily make up for the $95 annual fee.

For even more value toward travel, consider adding both cards to your wallet. Use the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card for the categories that are more rewarding with that card, and use the Chase Freedom Unlimited® for a base rate of 1.5 points per dollar spent for all other purchases.

Plus, you can move points earned from the Chase Freedom Unlimited® to your Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and make them more valuable: Either transfer those points to Sapphire travel partners or redeem them for travel through Chase at a 25% higher value. By pairing these cards, you'll earn more on your purchases and your points will be more valuable when you redeem them for travel.

Chase Cards from our Partners
Chase Freedom Unlimited Credit Card

on Chase's website

Chase Freedom Unlimited®
5.0
NerdWallet Rating
Rewards rate

1.5%-6.5%

Enjoy 6.5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel; 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.

Cashback

Intro offer

$300

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!

Chase Sapphire Preferred Credit Card

on Chase's website

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
5.0
NerdWallet Rating
Rewards rate

1x-5x

5x on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases.

Points

Intro offer

60,000

Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.

Points
Chase Freedom Flex

on Chase's website

Chase Freedom Flex℠
5.0
NerdWallet Rating
Rewards rate

1%-5%

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

Cashback

Intro offer

$200

Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening.

See more Chase cards

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