If you're trying 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 decent 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 can offer more value for your rewards when you use them to 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.)
How the cards compare
Annual fee
Bonus offer
Rewards
- 5% back on travel purchased through Chase.
- 3% back at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services.
- 3% back on drugstore purchases.
- 1.5% cash back on other purchases.
- 5 points per $1 spent on all travel purchased through Chase.
- 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).
- 3 points per $1 on gas and EV charging.
- 3 points per $1 on vacation rentals booked directly with brands like AirBnB and VRBO.
- 2 points per $1 spent on travel not purchased through Chase.
- 1 point per $1 spent on other purchases.
Interest rate
Foreign transaction fee
Value of points when redeemed for travel through Chase
Additional benefits
- Purchase protection.
- Extended warranty protection.
- Trip cancellation/interruption insurance.
- Secondary rental car coverage.
- Travel and emergency assistance services.
- A $100 annual credit on hotel stays purchased through Chase.
- Up to $120 credit every four years for the application fee for TSA PreCheck, Global Entry or Nexus.
- Purchase protection.
- Extended warranty protection.
- Trip cancellation/interruption insurance.
- Primary rental car coverage.
- Baggage delay insurance.
- Trip delay reimbursement.
- Travel and emergency assistance services.
- Emergency evacuation and transportation coverage.
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Why travelers will prefer the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
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®. The rewards can also be worth more with the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card when you redeem them for travel through the Chase 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 with the card's $100 annual credit on hotel stays purchased through Chase. 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.
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.
Why the Chase Freedom Unlimited® could be more appealing for some
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 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 potentially 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.
» MORE: What is the "Chase trifecta"?
