Which card has a lower annual fee, Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express or Chase Freedom Flex?

The Chase Freedom Flex has no annual fee, compared to $95 for the Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express.

Which card earns more cash back, Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express or Chase Freedom Flex?

The Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express earns 1.0% base cash back, while the Chase Freedom Flex earns 1.0%. The best choice depends on your spending habits. Use the calculator to see which card earns you more.

Is the Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express better than the Chase Freedom Flex?

It depends on your spending. If you spend more on categories where the Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express offers higher rewards, it may be better. Use our calculator to compare based on your actual monthly spending.

Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express vs Chase Freedom Flex® Credit Card: Which Card Wins for Your Spending?

Which earns more for you?

Travel ($)

Dining ($)

Groceries ($)

Gas ($)

Special ($)

Other ($)

Monthly spending. We rank on rewards minus the full annual fee, so statement credits and perks are listed separately and never counted for you.

Choosing between the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express ($95/yr) and the Chase Freedom Flex® Credit Card (no annual fee) comes down to where you spend most. Both cards can deliver real value. Let’s break it down, then run your numbers to find the winner.

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Meet the Contenders

Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express

Strongest in groceries at 6% (up to $6,000/yr). 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets and streaming, 3% on transit and gas.

Annual fee: $95 Sign-up bonus: $300 after $3,000 spend in 6 months Foreign fees: 2.7%

Perfect if: Your monthly spending stays within the bonus cap for maximum value.

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Chase Freedom Flex

Strongest in dining at 3%. 5% on rotating categories (up to $1,500/quarter), 5% on Chase Travel, 3% on dining and drugstores.

Annual fee: None Sign-up bonus: $200 after $500 spend in 3 months Foreign fees: 3%

Perfect if: You want solid rewards without paying an annual fee.

Apply Now

Head-to-Head Comparison

Feature	Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express	Chase Freedom Flex
Annual Fee	$95	$0
Sign-Up Bonus	$300 after $3,000 spend in 6 months	$200 after $500 spend in 3 months
Foreign Transaction Fee	2.7%	3%
Base Reward Rate	1%	1%
Travel Rewards	3%	1%
Dining Rewards	1%	3%
Groceries Rewards	6% (up to $6,000/yr)	1%
Gas Rewards	3%	1%
Rates with conditions not counted in the rows above	None	5% through Chase Travel Earns 5% only on travel booked through Chase Travel, Chase's own booking site. Booking direct with an airline or hotel earns 1%.
Key Benefits	6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets and streaming, 3% on transit and gas.	5% on rotating categories (up to $1,500/quarter), 5% on Chase Travel, 3% on dining and drugstores.

The Verdict

Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express pulls ahead for travel, groceries, gas spending.

Chase Freedom Flex wins on dining.

The $95/year fee difference means Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express needs to earn about that much more in rewards to justify its cost.

Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express carries $120/year in credits (mostly tied to specific merchants or bookings). Those only count if you’d actually use them. Worth checking against your own habits before treating them as a discount on the fee.

Not sure which fits your life? Enter your spending below and we’ll do the math. The calculator ranks purely on rewards minus the full annual fee, so credits and perks are yours to judge.