The *chase sapphire preferred* is one of the best travel credit cards thanks in part to a great welcome bonus: bonus_miles_full
But that doesn't mean you should stop there – just the opposite.
Once you've earned that welcome bonus on the Sapphire Preferred, you're generally much better off putting your everyday expenses, like gas and in-person grocery purchases, on a different credit card that earns you more points. And that's where the Chase Freedom Flex℠ and *freedom unlimited* cards come in.
These two Chase credit cards have no annual fee and typically earn cashback. But pair them with the *chase sapphire preferred* or even the *chase sapphire reserve*, and it forms a powerful tandem that can help you earn even more Chase Ultimate Rewards points on your everyday spending.
We'll walk you through why you may want to pair one of these cards alongside your Chase Sapphire Preferred Card – and how you can earn 95,000 (or more!) Chase Ultimate Rewards points in the process.
Chase Freedom Flex vs. Freedom Unlimited
What's the difference between these two Chase credit cards?
Chase introduced the Freedom Flex Card as a replacement for the wildly popular Chase Freedom Card, which is no longer available for new applications. At the same time, Chase updated the benefits of the *freedom unlimited* to make that card even stronger.
So let's take a look at what each card offers.
Chase Freedom Unlimited
- Welcome Offer: *freedom bonus*
- Earn 5% cash back on travel booked through Chase Travel℠.
- Earn 5% cash back on Lyft rides through March 2025.
- Earn 3% cash back on dining
- Earn 3% cash back at drugstores
- Earn an unlimited 1.5% cashback on all other purchases.
- No annual fee!
Learn more about the *freedom unlimited*.
Chase Freedom Flex℠
- Welcome Offer: Earn a $200 bonus after spending $500 in the first three months of card membership.
- Earn 5% cash back on rotating quarterly categories on up to $1,500 of spending which could include:
- Grocery stores, gym memberships, streaming services, gas stations, etc. See our guide of the rotating Chase Freedom bonus categories.
- Earn 5% cash back on travel booked through Chase Travel℠
- Earn 5% cash back on Lyft rides through March 2025.
- Earn 3% cash back on dining, including takeout and delivery services
- Earn 3% cash back at drugstores
- No annual fee!
Learn more about the Chase Freedom Flex℠.
Similarities and Differences
These cards clearly have a lot of overlap as both are designed to be a mainstay in your wallet and make for a smart way to pay for many of your everyday expenses.
While the Chase Sapphire Preferred is still a long-term keeper, it's not always the best card swipe for your day-to-day purchases.
The biggest difference is that the Chase Freedom Flex earns 5% back (or 5x Ultimate Rewards) on up to $1,500 of spending each quarter in a set of rotating bonus categories.
Meanwhile, the Chase Freedom Unlimited earns an unlimited 1.5% cashback on all other spending. That makes it a good catch-all card for your other spending – especially if you feel you can't max out the Chase Freedom Flex bonus categories.
One other critical difference: Unlike the Chase Freedom Unlimited Card, the Freedom Flex card isn't issued by Visa. It’s a World Elite Mastercard. That may seem like a meaningless distinction, but it opens up even more benefits like cell phone insurance, free Lyft credits, discounts on Postmates deliveries, and more.
While Chase allows you to hold both the Freedom Unlimited and the Freedom Flex, you only need one to pair with your Chase Sapphire Preferred (or Reserve) Card.
Why You Should Pair a Sapphire Card with a Freedom Card
The one-two punch of holding a Chase Freedom card with a Chase Sapphire Preferred or Reserve credit card is undeniable.
When you've got a Chase Sapphire card, the cashback your Freedom card earns can be turned into Chase Ultimate Rewards points. Every cent you earn equals 1 Chase point. Therefore, earning 1.5% cashback could also mean 1.5x Chase Ultimate Rewards points.
Let's say you've got the Chase Freedom Flex and the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card. Just for spending $500 in the first three months of card membership on the Freedom Flex, you'll earn a $200 cash bonus. If you also hold the Sapphire Preferred, that $200 can be turned into 20,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points to use towards travel.
By combining the welcome offers from those two cards, you've now got 95,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards.
But you can do even better with the *freedom unlimited*‘s current bonus: *freedom bonus* If you're able to max out that extra 1.5% on all purchases, you'd end up with an additional 30,000 Ultimate Rewards when all is said and done.
Both Freedom cards will earn more points in certain categories than you would earn with the Chase Sapphire Preferred card on its own. Holding one of the Freedom cards is a great way to make sure you squeeze the most value out of your everyday spending to keep racking up points over the long run … without adding another annual fee.
When paired with the Sapphire Preferred, those 95,000-plus points work out to at least $1,400 in free travel when redeemed through Chase Travel. Not bad for two cards and only $95 in annual fees.
Learn more about the *csp*.
How to Responsibly Earn the Bonus on Chase Credit Cards
Let's be clear about something: Spending $4,500 (or more) in three months to earn these bonuses is no small task. If you don't think you can do it responsibly, you shouldn't try.
Credit cards are serious business, and debt is a major problem in this country. If you charge expenses you can't pay off immediately, paying back high-interest rates will negate the value of whatever points you earn and also harm your credit score.
But if you can meet the spending requirement responsibly, this is a fantastic strategy to earn two big Chase bonuses – and then keep earning Chase points on your everyday spending.
Related reading: How to Hit the Minimum Spend (& Earn That Bonus) Responsibly on Credit Cards
Bottom Line
Pairing one (or both) of the Chase Freedom cards with a Chase Sapphire Card makes for a powerful points-earning duo. You'll unlock more points upfront, and also maximize your everyday spending from there on out.
Because of the Chase 5/24 rule, it's smart to prioritize Chase credit cards as you work to earn points to fuel your future travels. And with this many potential points on the table, the time is ripe.