Chase Freedom Flex vs Amex Blue Cash Preferred
Side-by-side comparison across fees, rewards, welcome bonuses, and eligibility.
EXPRESS
Chase Freedom Flex wins 3-2. No-fee rotating cashback for category optimizers. Amex Blue Cash Preferred is still the right call if suburban families with kids — best us-supermarket card..
Side-by-side
| Criterion | Chase Freedom Flex | Amex Blue Cash Preferred |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | No annual fee | · $95 |
| Joining fee | = None | = None |
| Top reward rate | · 5% (shopping) | 6% (shopping) |
| Base reward rate | = 1% | = 1% |
| Forex markup | · 3% | 2.7% |
| Welcome bonus | = $200 cashback after $500 spend in first 3 months | = $250 statement credit after $3,000 in 6 months |
| Fee waiver threshold | = N/A (no fee) | = No waiver |
| Min income | = — | = — |
| Min credit score | 670 | · 700 |
| Editorial rating | 4.6/5 | · 4.5/5 |
Benefits compared
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
Amex Blue Cash Preferred
- 6% cashback on US supermarkets (up to $6K/year, then 1%)
- 6% on streaming subscriptions
- 3% on US gas stations + transit
- 1% on everything else
- 0% intro APR for 12 months
FAQ
›Chase Freedom Flex vs Amex Blue Cash Preferred: 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 Chase Freedom Flex for its best categories, Amex Blue Cash Preferred for its best categories. Just watch the combined annual fees against your spend.
›Which one has the better welcome bonus?
Chase Freedom Flex: $200 cashback after $500 spend in first 3 months. Amex Blue Cash Preferred: $250 statement credit after $3,000 in 6 months.