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 Chase Freedom Unlimited® Credit Card (no annual fee) and the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Credit Card ($95/yr) comes down to where you spend most. Chase Sapphire Preferred Card needs about $355 a month in groceries, counting that spending alone, to make up its $95 higher annual fee over Chase Freedom Unlimited. Below that, Chase Freedom Unlimited comes out ahead. Enter your monthly spending above to see which comes out ahead for you.
Strongest in dining at 3%. 3% on dining and drugstores, 5% on Chase Travel. Earns a solid 1.5% on everything else.
Perfect if: You want solid rewards without paying an annual fee.
Apply NowStrongest in dining at 3%. 5x points on travel through Chase Travel, 3x on dining and online groceries, 2x on other travel.
Perfect if: You want a strong rewards rate with no spending caps to worry about.
Apply Now| Feature | Chase Freedom Unlimited | Chase Sapphire Preferred Card |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Fee | $0 | $95 |
| Sign-Up Bonus | $200 after $500 spend in 3 months | 75,000 points after $5,000 spend in 3 months |
| Foreign Transaction Fee | 3% | 0% |
| Base Reward Rate | 1.5% | 1% |
| Travel Rewards | 1.5% | 2% |
| Dining Rewards | 3% | 3% |
| Groceries Rewards | 1.5% | 3% |
| Rates with conditions not counted in the rows above |
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 1.5%. |
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 2%. 3% at top gas and EV charging brands Earns 3% only at the gas station and EV charging brands Chase selects. Other gas stations earn 1%. |
| Key Benefits | 3% on dining and drugstores, 5% on Chase Travel. | 5x points on travel through Chase Travel, 3x on dining and online groceries, 2x on other travel. |
Chase Freedom Unlimited pulls ahead for gas spending.
Chase Sapphire Preferred Card wins on travel, groceries.
The $95/year fee difference means Chase Sapphire Preferred Card needs to earn about that much more in rewards to justify its cost.
Chase Sapphire Preferred Card carries $220/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.