Now we'll take a closer look at some of the fees, features, and benefits of both cards to see how they compare in the ways that matter most to you.
Chase Sapphire Preferred vs. Chase Freedom Unlimited annual fee
With a $95 annual fee, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card isn't exactly an expensive credit card, but it's worth keeping this fee in mind when deciding. To be sure, there are some perks that can help offset the fee, such as a $50 annual statement credit toward hotel stays, and for big spenders, the travel rewards redemption options could deliver tremendous value (we'll talk about these features in a bit).
The Chase Freedom Unlimited® doesn't have an annual fee at all. To be sure, it doesn't have as many potentially valuable perks as the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, but if your goal is to keep fees as low as possible, it's the clear winner.
Winner: Chase Freedom Unlimited®
Chase Sapphire Preferred vs. Chase Freedom Unlimited welcome offer
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card has a welcome offer of 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months. Chase rewards points are typically worth $0.01 each, but as we'll discuss later, Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card cardholders get a 25% bonus when redeeming for flights, hotel stays, and other purchases through the Chase Travel portal, making this effectively worth $750.
The Chase Freedom Unlimited® has a somewhat unique welcome offer: Earn an extra 1.5% on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) — worth up to $300 cash back. That's 6.5% on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 4.5% on dining and drugstores, and 3% on all other purchases. So, the bonus offer is worth as much as $300, but you'll need to spend $20,000 on the card to take full advantage of it.
Winner: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Chase Sapphire Preferred vs. Chase Freedom Unlimited intro APR
This category should be an easy comparison, as the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card doesn't have an intro APR offer at this time. Its regular APR is 21.49%-28.49% Variable, depending on the customer's creditworthiness.
On the other hand, the Chase Freedom Unlimited® has a 0% intro APR on both purchases and balance transfers for 15 months. Fees still apply for balance transfers, but if you're looking to transfer a balance or use the card to finance a large purchase, this can be a big benefit. To be sure, there are credit cards with longer 0% intro APR periods, but this is a highly competitive offer, especially when combined with the excellent rewards program and the card's welcome bonus.
Winner: Chase Freedom Unlimited®
Chase Sapphire Preferred vs. Chase Freedom Unlimited rewards
Both of these cards have solid rewards programs, but there are quite a few details to unpack. The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card earns rewards in the form of Chase Ultimate Rewards points at the following rates:
- 5X points per $1 on travel purchased through Chase Travel
- 3X points per $1 on dining, online grocery orders, and some streaming services
- 2X points per $1 on other travel purchases
- 1X point per $1 on other purchases
These points are typically worth $0.01, but get a 25% bonus when redeemed through the Chase Travel portal, making them worth $0.0125. Plus, these points can be transferred to more than a dozen hotel and airline partners, and can potentially be worth even more depending on how they are redeemed.
On the other hand, the Chase Freedom Unlimited® card earns cash back rewards (not points) at the following rates:
- 5% cash back on travel (only through the Chase Travel portal)
- 3% cash back at drugstores and restaurants (including takeout and delivery)
- 1.5% cash back on other purchases -- a high base rate for a card that has bonus categories
There isn't a clear winner in this category. Cardholders who typically redeem their rewards towards travel will likely find the most value from the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, while the Chase Freedom Unlimited® has one of the better cash back rewards programs on our radar.
Winner: Tie
Fact Checked
Nathan Alderman
