Chase Freedom Flex(SM) vs. Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express

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The Chase Freedom Flex(SM) and the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express are among the top tier of cash back credit cards. In this head-to-head matchup, we compare the two cards to help you decide which is the better option, or even if you want to apply for both.

Chase Freedom Flex(SM) vs. Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express: Side-By-Side Comparison

Welcome Offer Winner: Freedom Flex

Chase Freedom Flex(SM): Earn 5% cash back on grocery store purchases (excluding Target® and Walmart®) on up to $12,000 spent in the first year. Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express: Earn a $200 statement credit after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months. Terms Apply.

While cash back on groceries is nice, Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Expressoffer is much easier to obtain, so American Express comes out ahead here.

Rewards Winner: Freedom Flex

Chase Freedom Flex(SM) uses rotating categories that earn 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in quarterly purchases. As a result, you must register each quarter for the program in order to earn the 5%. Also, remember rotating categories change each quarter which means you aren’t always earning in the same categories. The categories for the second quarter of 2024 are Amazon, Whole Foods and restaurants.

In addition to the 5% on whatever category you sign up for each quarter, you’ll also earn 5% on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards, 3% on drugstore purchases, 3% on dining and 1% on everything else.

Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express does not have rotating categories to keep track of or sign up for, so it’s a little easier to live with. You’ll earn 3% cash back on groceries, 3% on online purchases, and 3% at gas stations. All rewards are subject to a $6,000 cap, after which you earn 1% cash back. You can redeem reward dollars for statement credits, or additional items like merchandise and gift cards, whenever your available reward dollar balance is $25 or more.

This is a tough one, as both cards offer valuable rewards. We’re going to give the edge to Chase because of the 5% cash back on groceries, plus the rewards on the non-rotating categories. But for some people, the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express will be the top choice.

Here are the details for each card.

Chase Freedom Flex(SM) 

Rewards:  

Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express 

Rewards:

Interest Rates Winner: Blue Cash Everyday

Both cards offer 0% APR on both purchases and balance transfers for 15 months, and the ongoing interest rates are very similar. It’s not a big difference at all, but we give the nod the American Express card for the slightly lower foreign transaction fees and the potential for a lower interest rate.

Fee Winner: It’s a tie

Both cards have the same annual fee of $0, and both offer 0% APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months.

Features and Benefits: Freedom Flex

The Freedom Flex offers cell phone protection (up to $800 per claim and $1,000 per year) when you pay your bill with your credit card. On the other hand, the Blue Cash Everyday has a Disney bundle credit of $7 a month when you spend more than $9.99 on a subscription, which is a good benefit, especially for families with children. Still, the cell phone protection is worth more, so we give Chase the nod.

Freedom Flex

Blue Cash Everyday

Who the Chase Freedom Flex(SM) is Best For

Chase Freedom Flex(SM) offers a lot of great benefits and a welcome bonus, all for no annual fee. This card is a World Elite Mastercard, which means you get benefits like cell phone protection, trip cancellation/trip interruption insurance, and credit score monitoring. You get elevated benefits in one category a quarter. People who don’t mind signing up for a category every quarter will love earning 5% cash back on that category. Keep in mind your choices will change every quarter, and you need to sign up for a category to earn 5% cash back. This is the main weakness of the card: having to remember to sign up for a new category every quarter. This card is also great for anyone who needs to make a major purchase or a balance transfer, as long as you pay it off within the 0% Intro APR window.

If you travel, consider getting this card and then the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card sometime down the line. While the Sapphire Preferred has an annual fee, it’s an excellent travel card, and you can transfer your Freedom Flex points to the Sapphire Preferred to get 25% more value from your points. Chase Ultimate Rewards are worth 25% more with the Sapphire Preferred when you redeem them for travel through Chase.

Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card offers good rewards on typical business expenses. The welcome offer is generous, especially for a card with only a $95 annual fee. Your points are worth 25% more when you use them to book travel through Chase. Or you can transfer your points to Chase’s travel partners, which could potentially boost their value. If you don’t spend enough money on a credit card to justify the The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, the Chase card is an excellent choice.

Who the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express is Best For

If you don’t want to sign up for a rotating category every quarter, but the other benefits of the Chase card sound good, you’ll love the  Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express. You’ll qualify for the same 0% APR on purchases, and you’ll earn 3% cash back on groceries, online purchases, and gas. You won’t have to remember to sign up for anything: these categories will earn 3% year-round. You miss out on the elevated 5% cash back, but some people don’t want to fuss that much with credit card rewards.

This is also a good card if you need to make a big purchase or a balance transfer. Just be sure to pay off the balance within the 0% Intro APR period.

Does it Make Sense to Get Both Cards?

Maybe. Since neither card has an annual fee, it won’t cost you anything to sign up for both cards. Remember that Chase can be a stickler and won’t usually approve anyone who has opened more than five new accounts in the past 24 months. But then you could use the Chase card for the rotating category and use the Blue Cash card for gas, groceries and online purchases.

You could also maximize your travel rewards from the Chase Freedom Flex(SM) by transferring your Chase Ultimate Rewards points to any of Chase’s airline or hotel partners. Or you could combine them with points from another Chase Card.

Approval Odds

Chase Freedom Flex(SM)

Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express

Chase appears to approve people with lower credit scores, although for low limits. American Express approves people with good credit for decent credit limits. If you have good to excellent credit, you have an excellent chance of being approved for both.

Bottom Line

Both of these cards offer excellent benefits and value. Since neither has an annual fee, choose the one that suits you best. Or apply for both of them and use the best benefits from each.