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The $0-annual-fee Chase Freedom Flex® is a brawny rewards-earning card indeed — but staying on top of it requires flexing some memory muscles, too.
Unlike most cash-back cards, it features both rotating and fixed bonus categories, on top of a first-year bonus that also requires some tracking. Your earnings break down this way:
- Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening.
- 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories that change every quarter (activation is required). See bonus categories here
- 5% back on travel purchased through Chase.
- 2% back on qualifying Lyft services (through September 2027).
- 3% back at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services.
- 3% back at drugstores.
- 1% back on all other purchases.
Those rewards are rich ... but also a lot to remember. Because of that, it's worth considering how the Chase Freedom Flex® compares with other cards in its class.
Chase Freedom Unlimited®
Annual fee: $0.
Rewards:
- 5% back on travel purchased through Chase.
- 2% back on qualifying Lyft services (through September 2027).
- 3% back at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services.
- 3% back on drugstore purchases.
- 1.5% cash back on everything else.
Sign-up bonus: Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening.
APR: 0% intro APR on purchases and Balance Transfers for 15 months, and then the ongoing APR of 18.24%-27.74% Variable APR.
How it compares with the Chase Freedom Flex®: It's a similarly named card and with similar features to the Chase Freedom Flex®. But the Chase Freedom Unlimited® is (a bit) less complicated. It doesn't feature 5% rotating bonus categories, so you don’t have to activate and then track those every quarter. That can make it less lucrative, but it really depends on your spending habits. All purchases that fall outside of the Freedom Unlimited's fixed rewards categories will earn a flat rate of 1.5% back, which is better than the Flex's 1% base rate.
Discover it® Cash Back
Annual fee: $0.
Rewards:
- 5% cash back in rotating quarterly categories on up to $1,500 spent in purchases each quarter (requires activation). In the past, bonus categories have included things like grocery stores, gas stations, and restaurants. (See Discover’s rewards calendar.)
- 1% back on all other purchases.
Welcome bonus: INTRO OFFER: Unlimited Cashback Match for all new cardmembers. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. You could turn $150 cash back into $300.
APR: 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers, and then the ongoing APR of 17.49%-26.49% Variable APR.
How it compares with the Chase Freedom Flex®: The Discover it® Cash Back earns cash back in some similar rotating bonus categories, so it does require tracking and activation. But it doesn't offer the fixed bonus categories you'll find on the Chase Freedom Flex®. It does, however, feature a unique welcome bonus that, depending on your spending, could be quite lucrative indeed.
U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card
Annual fee: $0.
Rewards:
- 5% cash back on the first $2,000 in combined eligible net purchases each quarter in two categories you choose, from a list of 12. (See full list below.)
- 2% back in one "everyday" category that you choose (including grocery stores, gas stations and restaurants.)
- 1% back on other eligible purchases.
Full list of 5% categories on the U.S. Bank Cash+
- Fast food.
- Home utilities.
- TV, internet and streaming.
- Department stores.
- Cell phone providers.
- Electronics stores.
- Sporting goods stores.
- Movie theaters.
- Gyms/fitness centers.
- Furniture stores.
- Ground transportation.
- Select clothing stores.
Sign-up bonus: $200 rewards bonus after spending $1,000 in eligible purchases within the first 90 days of account opening.
APR: See terms.
How it compares with the Chase Freedom Flex®: In terms of rewards structure, the U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card may be the Flex's closest approximation. It, too, offers 5% rotating bonus categories, as well as a second rewards tier that can earn you bonus rewards on other kinds of everyday purchases. But it gives you a higher 5% quarterly spending cap ($2,000 vs. $1,500). It also gives you more choice in the matter, allowing you to customize both your 5% tier and your 2% tier. With the Flex, the 5% and 3% bonus categories are determined by Chase, not you.
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
Annual fee: $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.
Rewards:
- 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%).
- 6% back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions.
- 3% back at U.S. gas stations and on transit (including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more).
- 1% back on other purchases.*
- Terms apply (see rates and fees).
Welcome offer: You may be eligible for as high as $300 cash back after spending $3,000 in purchases on your new Card in the first 6 months. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Cash back is received as Reward Dollars, redeemable for statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout. Terms Apply.
APR: 0% intro APR for 12 months on purchases and balance transfers, and then the ongoing APR of 19.49%-28.49% Variable APR.
How it compares with the Chase Freedom Flex®: The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express doesn't feature 5% rotating bonus categories; instead you get an industry-leading 6% rewards rate in some fixed categories, including some that have appeared on the Chase 5% bonus calendar in the past. The Chase Freedom Flex® is the better choice for those who dine out frequently. But long term, for households with a big grocery budget, the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express provides better value. It has an annual fee: $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95. You can easily offset that cost if you spend at least $31 a week at U.S. supermarkets.
*Cash Back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout.
To view rates and fees of the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express, see this page.
