Chip Lupo, Credit Card Writer
@CLoop
Chase Freedom Unlimited® is slightly better than the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express because it has a higher base rewards earning rate, a longer 0% intro APR promotion, and no annual fee. Chase Freedom Unlimited® also registers a higher WalletHub Rating.
Both Chase Freedom Unlimited and Blue Cash Preferred are among the best cash back credit cards on the market, however. The more you plan to spend, especially in the bonus cash back categories, the better Blue Cash Preferred will be.
How to Choose Between Blue Cash Preferred and Chase Freedom Unlimited
- Chase Freedom Unlimited is good for people who want to earn above-average rewards at drugstores and restaurants. It’s also good for travel if you book through Chase’s portal.
- Blue Cash Preferred is the better card for people who spend a lot of money at U.S. supermarkets and U.S. gas stations. It’s good for select U.S. streaming subscriptions and transit purchases, too.
- Blue Cash Preferred offers a bigger initial bonus ($250), but Chase Freedom Unlimited’s $200 bonus is easier to get.
- Chase Freedom Unlimited offers a 0% intro APR for 15 months, giving cardholders more time to finance purchases and pay down high-interest debt than Blue Cash Preferred, which offers 0% for 12 months.
Blue Cash Preferred vs. Chase Freedom Unlimited®
| Card | ||
| WalletHub Rating | 4.03 / 5 | 4.24 / 5 |
| Initial Bonus | $250 | $200 for spending $500 on purchases in the first 3 months |
| Ongoing Rewards | 1 - 6% cash back | 1.5 - 5% cash back |
| Annual Fee | $0 intro 1st yr, $95 after | $0 |
| Intro APR for Purchases | 0% for 12 months | 0% for 15 months |
| Intro Balance Transfer APR | 0% for 12 months | 0% for 15 months |
| Balance Transfer Fee | 3% (min $5) | either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater in the first 60 days (5%, min $5 after) |
| Regular APR | 19.99% - 28.99% (V) | 18.99% - 28.49% (V) |
| Foreign Transaction Fee | 2.7% of each transaction after conversion to US dollars | 3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars |
| Credit Requirement | Good credit | Good credit |
Both Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express and Chase Freedom Unlimited® require good to excellent credit for approval. You can check your credit score for free right here on WalletHub to see where you stand before you apply.
To learn more, check out WalletHub’s full reviews of Blue Cash Preferred and Chase Freedom Unlimited.
Popular Credit Cards from Our Partners
People also ask
What are the disadvantages of the Blue Cash Preferred?
The biggest disadvantage of the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express is that it is available to people with at least good credit, which means the average person may struggle to qualify. There are a few other disadvantages of the Blue Cash Preferred to be aware of, too.
Blue Cash Preferred Disadvantages
- Requires high credit scores: The Blue Cash Preferred requires at least good credit for approval.
- Annual fee: The annual fee is $0 intro 1st yr, $95 after.
- High APR: The Blue Cash Preferred has a relatively...
What are the disadvantages of the Chase Freedom Unlimited credit card?
The biggest disadvantage of the Chase Freedom Unlimited® is that it is available to people with at least good credit, which means the average person may struggle to qualify. There are a few other disadvantages of the Chase Freedom Unlimited to be aware of, too.
Chase Freedom Unlimited Disadvantages
- Requires high credit scores: The Chase Freedom Unlimited requires at least good credit for approval.
- High APR: The Chase Freedom Unlimited has a relatively high regular APR, at 18.99% - 28.49% (V).
- Balance transfer...
Did we answer your question?
Important Disclosures
Ad Disclosure: Certain offers that appear on this site originate from paying advertisers. For full transparency, here is a list of our current advertisers.
Advertising impacts how and where offers appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear and their prevalence). At WalletHub we try to present a wide array of offers, but our offers do not represent all financial services companies or products.
Advertising enables WalletHub to provide you proprietary tools, services, and content at no charge. Advertising does not impact WalletHub's editorial content including our best picks, reviews, ratings and opinions. Those are completely independent and not provided, commissioned, or endorsed by any company, as our editors follow a strict editorial policy.