American Express® Blue Cash Preferred vs Chase Freedom Flex℠
Side-by-side comparison
| American Express® Blue Cash Preferred | Chase Freedom Flex℠ | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $95 | No annual fee |
| Welcome offer | $300 statement credit | $200 cash bonus |
| Dining | 1x | 3x |
| Groceries | 6x | 1x |
| Gas | 3x | 1x |
| Travel | 1x | 1x |
| Streaming | 6x | 1x |
| Everything else | 1x | 1x |
| Est. yearly rewards* | $679 | $361 |
| Points type | Cash back only | Pools with Chase → transferable |
| Network | Amex | Mastercard |
*Estimated yearly rewards on typical household spending, every point valued at a flat 1 cent. Verified June 2026. See your own numbers in the calculator.
The verdict
On a typical year of household spending, the American Express® Blue Cash Preferred earns about $679 a year in rewards and the Chase Freedom Flex℠ about $361, valuing every point at a flat 1 cent. The American Express® Blue Cash Preferred charges $95, but carries about $84 in annual statement credits that offset it for anyone who uses them. The Chase Freedom Flex℠ has no annual fee, so its rewards are all profit. Counting rewards, fees, and any credits, the American Express® Blue Cash Preferred delivers more total value, about $265 a year more for a typical spender, mostly because it earns more where you spend most, on groceries and gas. The bigger difference is the ceiling: the Chase Freedom Flex℠ earns points you can move to travel partners for outsized value, while the American Express® Blue Cash Preferred pays plain cash back. Favor the Chase Freedom Flex℠ if you will use travel transfers, the American Express® Blue Cash Preferred if you want simplicity. On the sign-up bonus, the American Express® Blue Cash Preferred currently has the larger welcome offer. A welcome bonus is a one-time event, so weigh it apart from the ongoing rewards.
Pick the American Express® Blue Cash Preferred if your spending leans toward groceries, gas, streaming. Pick the Chase Freedom Flex℠ if your spending leans toward dining.