Bank of America Travel Rewards vs Chase Freedom Flex
Side-by-side comparison across fees, rewards, welcome bonuses, and eligibility.
Chase Freedom Flex wins 3-2. No-fee rotating cashback for category optimizers. Bank of America Travel Rewards is still the right call if no-fee travel — 1.5x flat with no fx markup, plus preferred rewards bumps.
Side-by-side
| Criterion | Bank of America Travel Rewards | Chase Freedom Flex |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | = No annual fee | = No annual fee |
| Joining fee | = None | = None |
| Top reward rate | · 1.5% (general) | 5% (shopping) |
| Base reward rate | 1.5% | · 1% |
| Forex markup | No FX fee | · 3% |
| Welcome bonus | = 25,000 online bonus points after $1,000 in first 90 days (~$250 travel) | = $200 cashback after $500 spend in first 3 months |
| Fee waiver threshold | = N/A (no fee) | = N/A (no fee) |
| Min income | = — | = — |
| Min credit score | · 700 | 670 |
| Editorial rating | · 4.3/5 | 4.6/5 |
Benefits compared
Bank of America Travel Rewards
- 1.5x points on every purchase
- Up to 75% bonus for Preferred Rewards clients (1.5x → 2.625x)
- Points redeem against any travel purchase, no blackout dates
- No foreign transaction fees
- No annual fee
Chase Freedom Flex
- 5% rotating quarterly bonus categories (up to $1,500/quarter)
- 5% on travel via Chase Ultimate Rewards
- 3% on dining + drugstores
- 1% on everything else
- No annual fee
- 0% intro APR for 15 months
FAQ
›Bank of America Travel Rewards vs Chase Freedom Flex: which is better?
Chase Freedom Flex wins on more dimensions (3 vs 2). But the right answer depends on your specific spending pattern — see the calculator below.
›Can I get both?
Yes — if your credit profile supports it, holding both is the optimal play. Use Bank of America Travel Rewards for its best categories, Chase Freedom Flex for its best categories. Just watch the combined annual fees against your spend.
›Which one has the better welcome bonus?
Bank of America Travel Rewards: 25,000 online bonus points after $1,000 in first 90 days (~$250 travel). Chase Freedom Flex: $200 cashback after $500 spend in first 3 months.