Both the Chase Freedom card and the Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express are among the top tier of cash back cards. In this head-to-head matchup, we compare the two cards to help you decide which is the better option–Chase Freedom vs. Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express.

When it comes to rewards credit cards, many prefer a cash back rewards card over points or miles because of the simplicity. With cash, you can use the rewards anyway you want.

With that in mind, we thought a comparison of two of the most popular cash back cards available was in order: the Chase Freedom card and the Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express.

Depending on your card usage habits, you might want to consider one of these two cards as your primary rebate earnings card. If you can’t settle on just one card, you could use a combination of them both for full cash back rewards earning potential.

This article will highlight the offers of both cards to help you determine which card you should consider based on your spending habits.

Chase Freedom

The Chase Freedom offers a nice cash back bonus of $150 after you spend $500 on the card within the first 3 months, which makes this one of my favorite cards. Plus, with this card you can earn on every purchase. There are no spending tiers and no caps on the amount you can earn. The card offers 0% on purchases for 15 months and 0% on balance transfers for 15 months.

This card 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.

Card Details

• 1% Cash Back: The Chase Freedom offers you a 1% rebate for each $1 of net purchases. You do not earn rebates on balance transfers or cash advances.
• 5% Cash Back: The Chase Freedom also offers 5% cash back in popular categories like gas, home improvement and department stores. These categories change each quarter, and the 5% cash back is limited each quarter to $1,500 in purchases. After that, additional purchases in the select categories earn 1% cash back.
• Cash Back Offer: This card gives $$150 cash back after you spend $500 within the first 3 months.

Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express

I prefer the Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express because it does not use rotating categories. Instead the categories in which you earn don’t change and that makes earning simple and straightforward.

With each eligible purchase you make you will earn one to three percent of the purchase amount back. Here’s how it works:

• 3% for purchases at supermarkets (on up to $6,000 in purchases per year, then 1%)
• 2% for purchases at department stores and for gasoline purchased
• 1% for all other purchases.

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. The card offers 0% on purchases for 15 months and 0% on balance transfers for 15 months. After that, your APR becomes a variable rate.

In addition, you can earn a $150 bonus when you spend $1000 on the card in the first three months.

Rewards Details

• 1% Cash Back Offer: You will earn 1% back on all your eligible purchase made to your account.
• 2% Cash Back Offer: 2% for eligible purchases at department stores and for automobile gasoline purchased at stand-alone gas stations
• 3% Cash Back: You will receive 3% for eligible purchases at supermarkets (excluding superstores and warehouse clubs) on up to $6,000 spent each year (1% thereafter).

Which Card Is Best For You?

To answer this question we are going to highlight some of the key differences of each card. From there you will be able to determine which card will fit your spending habits the best.

• Cash Back Offer: As I noted above, I prefer cash back cards without rotating categories. For others, earning 5% cash back on select purchases each quarter is appealing. It comes down to your personal preferences and spending habits. However, rotating category cards are only as good as you make them. Forget to take advantage of the rotating categories each quarter and the card loses its key feature.
• Cash Back Bonus: Both cards offer a $150 bonus to new card members. There is, however, one notable difference. The Chase Freedom requires you to spend $500 on the card in the first three months to qualify, while the requires a $1000 spend.
• Introductory Rate: Both cards offers a 0% introductory rate on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months.
• Rewards: Chase offers 5% in rotating categories and the categories change each quarter. One quarter you could be earning 5% on gas purchases and the next it could be 5% on home purchases. The Amex card always gives 3% on supermarket purchases and 2% on gas purchases. If you spend a great deal at the supermarket or on gasoline you might want a card that always gives back for those purchases.