Blue Cash Everyday® Card From American Express
vs. Chase Freedom Flex® Card

Updated: September 20, 2024

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Both the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express and the Chase Freedom Flex® Card are strong contenders in the cash back category, offering no annual fees and enticing introductory APR offers. If you're leaning toward consistent bonus categories without the need to track rotating ones, the Blue Cash Everyday may be the better fit with its 3% cash back at supermarkets, online retailers and gas stations.

If you can maximize the rotating 5% cash back categories, the Chase Freedom Flex could yield greater rewards. Still, the Blue Cash Everyday's straightforward rewards structure and additional perks like statement credits for certain subscriptions make it a compelling choice for everyday spending.

Credit Card logo for Blue Cash Everyday® Card From American Express
Blue Cash Everyday® Card From American Express
Credit Card logo for Chase Freedom Flex® Card
Chase Freedom Flex® Card
MoneyGeek Rating
3.7/ of 5
MoneyGeek Rating
3.7/ of 5
On Issuer's Site
On Issuer's Site

Which Card Is Better for You?

You might prefer the Blue Cash Everyday if you frequently shop at U.S. supermarkets, online retailers and gas stations. With 3% cash back in these categories, up to a limit, and a $200 welcome offer, it's a solid choice for everyday purchases. The introductory 0% APR period for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers can also be a significant benefit if you're planning a large purchase or have existing debt to transfer.

You might prefer the Freedom Flex if you're looking to maximize cash back in rotating categories or spend heavily on travel, dining and drugstores. The ability to earn 5% back in these areas, coupled with a $200 bonus after a lower initial spend, makes it attractive if you can keep up with the rotating categories and plan to use the card for diverse spending.

Head-to-Head Comparison: Card Details and Features

Evaluating APRs, fees, rewards, and other features side by side clarifies which card aligns with your financial habits. For instance, if you spend heavily at supermarkets, Blue Cash Everyday's 3% cash back could sway you, whereas the Freedom Flex's rotating 5% categories might appeal if you can track and capitalize on them.

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    Regular APR: Blue Cash Everyday

    The Blue Cash Everyday offers a slightly lower starting APR at 18.74% to 29.74% variable. It edges out the Freedom Flex, which has a range of 20.49% to 29.24% variable.

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    Annual Fee: Tie

    Both the Blue Cash Everyday and the Freedom Flex have no annual fee.

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    Introductory 0% APRs: Tie

    Both the Blue Cash Everyday and Freedom Flex offer a 0% introductory APR for 15 months on both purchases and balance transfers. The balance transfer fee for both cards is 3% of the amount of each transfer (minimum $5), resulting in a tie.

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    Rewards: Freedom Flex

    The Freedom Flex is better for rewards, offering 5% cash back on rotating categories each quarter and on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, plus 3% on dining and drugstore purchases. The Blue Cash Everyday provides 3% back at U.S. supermarkets, U.S. gas stations and on online retail purchases, but the Freedom Flex's rotating categories and higher percentages in travel and dining offer more value.

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    Welcome Offers: Freedom Flex

    The Freedom Flex offers a better welcome bonus, requiring only $500 in purchases to earn a $200 bonus, compared with the Blue Cash Everyday's $2,000 spending requirement for the same $200 bonus.

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    Recommended Credit Score: Tie

    The Blue Cash Everyday and the Freedom Flex require a credit score range of 670 to 850, categorized as good to excellent.

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    Penalties and Fees: Blue Cash Everyday

    Although both cards have similar late fees and APR penalties, the Blue Cash Everyday edges out slightly due to its lower foreign transaction fee of 2.7%, compared with the Freedom Flex's 3%.

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    Issuer Satisfaction: Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express

    American Express offers better issuer satisfaction with a rating of 5.0, compared with the Chase's rating of 4.1.

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    Other Features & Perks: Blue Cash Everyday

    The Blue Cash Everyday offers exclusive benefits like a $7 monthly statement credit for Disney Bundle subscriptions and up to $15 back per month on Home Chef meal kit subscriptions. The Freedom Flex offers no perks beyond the standard rewards and fees.

Rewards Comparison

The Blue Cash Everyday is a solid choice for consistent rewards in categories like U.S. supermarkets, online retail and gas stations, offering 3% cash back in these areas. On the other hand, the Freedom Flex card shines with its 5% cash back on rotating categories and travel through Chase, making it ideal if you can take advantage of these changing bonuses and travel frequently. Until June, the categories are hotels booked through Chase Travel℠, restaurants and Amazon.com.

While the Blue Cash Everyday provides steady rewards for everyday spending, the Freedom Flex may offer greater rewards potential for those who align their spending with its bonus categories and higher rates on travel and dining.

The table shows the bonus categories for both cards to help you compare at a glance:

Category
Blue Cash Everyday
Freedom Flex

U.S. Supermarkets

3% for the first $6,000 annually/1% thereafter

1%

U.S. Online Retail Purchases

3% for the first $6,000 annually/1% thereafter

1%

U.S. Gas Stations

3% for the first $6,000 annually/1% thereafter

1%

Dining

1%

3% (7% through June)

Travel

1%

5% if purchased through Chase Travel℠

Redeeming Rewards

With the Blue Cash Everyday, you can redeem your cash back directly as a statement credit or use it at Amazon.com checkout. There's no need to accumulate a certain amount before redemption, and your cash back won't expire, granting you freedom to redeem at your convenience.

The Freedom Flex provides a variety of redemption options. You can use your points for cash back, gift cards, travel and more, though the value you get can vary depending on the redemption choice. Like the Blue Cash Everyday, there's no rush to redeem your points because they remain valid as long as your account is active.

Methodology

MoneyGeek's ranking process evaluates credit cards like Blue Cash Everyday and Freedom Flex across various use cases. This approach ensures that the score reflects the card's performance in the scenario where it provides the most value.

For cash back cards, the primary factors we consider are the effective reward rate and the return on investment for offers. These elements — along with annual fees, introductory purchase rates and issuer satisfaction — contribute to a card's overall score. For a detailed understanding of our process, you can review our ranking methodology.

FAQ: Blue Cash Everyday vs. Freedom Flex

What are the main differences in rewards between the Blue Cash Everyday and Freedom Flex?
Which card offers a better APR and for how long?
Are there any annual fees associated with either card?
How do the introductory offers compare between the two cards?
Can I avoid foreign transaction fees with either card?

For rates and fees of the Blue Cash Everyday® Card From American Express, please click here.

About Doug Milnes, CFA


Doug Milnes, CFA headshot

Doug Milnes is a CFA charter holder with over 10 years of experience in corporate finance and the Head of Credit Cards at MoneyGeek. Formerly, he performed valuations for Duff and Phelps and financial planning and analysis for various companies. His analysis has been cited by U.S. News and World Report, The Hill, the Los Angeles Times, The New York Times and many other outlets.

Milnes holds a master’s degree in data science from Northwestern University. He geeks out on helping people feel on top of their credit card use, from managing debt to optimizing rewards.


*Rates, fees or bonuses may vary or include specific stipulations. The content on this page is accurate as of the posting/last updated date; however, some of the offers mentioned may have expired. We recommend visiting the card issuer’s website for the most up-to-date information available.
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