Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express vs Chase Freedom Unlimited
Both cards cost $0/yr. The Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express leads on gas stations; the Chase Freedom Unlimited on travel.
Card data as of November 13, 2026.
Blue Cash Everyday Card from American ExpressAmerican Express · No annual fee
Chase Freedom UnlimitedChase · No annual fee
Overview
- Annual fee
- Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express$0Chase Freedom Unlimited$0
- Welcome offerCurrent public offer
- Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express$200 cash backChase Freedom Unlimited$200 cash back
- Rewards
- Blue Cash Everyday Card from American ExpressCash backChase Freedom UnlimitedCash back
- Foreign transaction fee
- Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express2.7%LowestChase Freedom Unlimited3%
- Network
- Blue Cash Everyday Card from American ExpressAmerican ExpressChase Freedom UnlimitedVisa Signature
Earn ratesPer $1 spent
- Dining
- Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express1%Chase Freedom Unlimited3%Highest
- Drugstores
- Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express1%Chase Freedom Unlimited3%Highest
- Gas Stations
- Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express3%HighestChase Freedom Unlimited1.5%
- Grocery Stores
- Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express3%HighestChase Freedom Unlimited1.5%
- Online Shopping
- Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express3%HighestChase Freedom Unlimited1.5%
- Department Stores
- Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express2%HighestChase Freedom Unlimited1.5%
- Everything else
- Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express1%Chase Freedom Unlimited1.5%Highest
Statement creditsAs the issuer states them · — means none on record
- Dining & delivery
- Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express—Chase Freedom Unlimited
- Free DashPass membership for 6 months · $60 one-time
- Entertainment & streaming
- Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express
- $7/mo Disney+ · $7 monthly
Chase Freedom Unlimited—
Perks & access— means none on record
- Other perks
- Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express
- Amex Offers
- Early access to concerts and events
- 24/7 global travel assistance
Chase Freedom Unlimited- 24/7 travel assistance when you're away from home
Protections & insuranceLimits where published · — means none on record
- Trip insurance
- Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express—Chase Freedom Unlimited
- Up to $6,000 trip cancellation and interruption coverage · up to $1,500
- Rental car
- Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express
- Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance
Chase Freedom Unlimited- Free rental car coverage when you decline counter insurance
- Purchase & returns
- Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express
- Up to $1,000 per item against damage or theft
Chase Freedom Unlimited- Up to $500 protection for damaged or stolen purchases
- 24/7 fraud monitoring
- Zero Liability on unauthorized charges
- Extended warranty
- Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express—Chase Freedom Unlimited
- Add an extra year to manufacturer warranties
- Other protections
- Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express
- Zero liability protection on fraudulent charges
Chase Freedom Unlimited- 24/7 lost/stolen card assistance worldwide
Pros & cons
- Pros
- Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express
- No annual fee with solid category rewards
- 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets up to $6,000/year ($180 max annual value)
- Up to $84/year Disney Bundle credit for streaming subscriptions
- 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases (3 months longer than Preferred)
- As high as $200 cash back welcome offer after $2,000 spend in 6 months (offers vary)
Chase Freedom Unlimited- 1.5% cash back on every purchase with no caps or categories
- 5% on Chase Travel, 3% on dining and drugstores
- $200 bonus after $500 spend in 3 months
- 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers
- $0 annual fee with Visa Signature benefits
- Cons
- Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express
- 3% grocery rate is half of Blue Cash Preferred's 6%
- 2.7% foreign transaction fee makes it unsuitable for travel
- 3% rates on gas and online retail are capped at $6,000/year each
- 1% back on non-category purchases is below average
- $6,000 annual cap on grocery bonus limits heavy spenders
Chase Freedom Unlimited- 3% foreign transaction fee
- 1.5% base rate lower than Freedom Flex's 5% rotating categories
- Points worth only 1 cent without Sapphire card pairing
- No premium travel insurance or lounge access
- Lower welcome bonus than Sapphire cards
Expert Analysis
The Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express and Chase Freedom Unlimited are two of the most popular cards in their category, and choosing between them comes down to which rewards structure better matches your spending. Both deliver strong value, but in meaningfully different ways.
The Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express's strongest category is Grocery Stores at 3X, while the Chase Freedom Unlimited leads with 3X on Dining. Overall, the Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express wins in more bonus categories (4 vs 2) — so the better choice depends on where you spend the most.
Both cards carry a $0/yr annual fee, so the decision comes down purely to rewards structure and benefits — there's no fee math to worry about.
Key Differences
- Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express earns 3X on Grocery Stores vs 1.5X for the other
- Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express earns 3X on Online Shopping vs 1.5X for the other
- Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express earns 2X on Gas Stations vs 1.5X for the other
- Chase Freedom Unlimited has a higher base earn rate (1.5X vs 1X on non-bonus spending)
- Different networks: Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express is AMEX, Chase Freedom Unlimited is VISA
Spending Scenarios
Which card wins in real-world spending situations?
$600/month on grocery stores
Blue Cash Everyday Card from American ExpressBlue Cash Everyday Card from American Express earns 3X vs 1.5X. Over a year, that's 21,600 vs 10,800 points — a 10,800-point advantage.
$200/month on online shopping
Blue Cash Everyday Card from American ExpressBlue Cash Everyday Card from American Express earns 3X vs 1.5X. Over a year, that's 7,200 vs 3,600 points — a 3,600-point advantage.
$400/month on dining
Chase Freedom UnlimitedChase Freedom Unlimited earns 3X vs 1X. Over a year, that's 14,400 vs 4,800 points — a 9,600-point advantage.
$80/month on drugstores
Chase Freedom UnlimitedChase Freedom Unlimited earns 3X vs 1X. Over a year, that's 2,880 vs 960 points — a 1,920-point advantage.
Who Should Get Which?
Get the Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express if:
The Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express is ideal for cardholders who prioritize spending heavily on grocery stores and online shopping. At $0/yr, it delivers strong no-fee value for its target audience.
Get the Chase Freedom Unlimited if:
The Chase Freedom Unlimited is ideal for cardholders who prioritize spending heavily on dining and drugstores and earning more on everyday purchases. At $0/yr, it delivers strong no-fee value for its target audience.
Upgrade & Downgrade Path
These cards are from different issuers, so switching between them requires a new application. Many rewards enthusiasts hold both to maximize earn rates across different spending categories — the annual fee total may be worth it if you're actively using both cards' bonus categories.
Consider which card's rewards ecosystem better fits your redemption goals. Transferable points programs offer more flexibility for travel redemptions.
Category-by-Category Winner
The Chase Freedom Unlimited wins in 7 of 8 categories. The Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express leads in 1. 3 more categories depend on booking channel or caps.
Gas Stations
Depends: up to $6,000/yr
Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express earns 3X when conditions are met; Chase Freedom Unlimited earns 1.5X (1.5X without restrictions)
Department Stores
Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express earns 2X vs 1.5X
Grocery Stores
Depends: up to $6,000/yr
Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express earns 3X when conditions are met; Chase Freedom Unlimited earns 1.5X (1.5X without restrictions)
Online Shopping
Depends: up to $6,000/yr
Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express earns 3X when conditions are met; Chase Freedom Unlimited earns 1.5X (1.5X without restrictions)
Travel
Chase Freedom Unlimited earns 5X vs 1X
5X via issuer travel portal
Hotels
Chase Freedom Unlimited earns 5X vs 1X
5X via Chase Travel portal - the Chase Travel travel rate restated per bookable subcategory, as Capital One and Citi portal rates are recorded
Flights
Chase Freedom Unlimited earns 5X vs 1X
5X via Chase Travel portal - the Chase Travel travel rate restated per bookable subcategory, as Capital One and Citi portal rates are recorded
Car Rentals
Chase Freedom Unlimited earns 5X vs 1X
5X via Chase Travel portal - the Chase Travel travel rate restated per bookable subcategory, as Capital One and Citi portal rates are recorded
Dining
Chase Freedom Unlimited earns 3X vs 1X
Drugstores
Chase Freedom Unlimited earns 3X vs 1X
Everyday purchases
Chase Freedom Unlimited earns 1.5X on all other spending vs 1X
Year One vs Ongoing Value
Modeled net value (bonus categories at unconditional rates, caps applied). Spend mix: dining 15%, groceries 15%, gas 10%, travel 10%, everything else 50%. Statement credits use the same recurring usable estimates as each card's detail page; first-year-only credits count in year one only. Welcome offers valued at each card's program rate shown on this page.
Both scenarios favor the Chase Freedom Unlimited on net value (rewards, usable credits, fees, and welcome offer).
| Scenario | Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express | Chase Freedom Unlimited | Ongoing winner | Year-one winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Light spender: $1,000/month | Rewards: $120 Credits (our usable estimate): $42 − Annual fee ($0) Ongoing: $162 Year one: $362 | Rewards: $373 Credits (our usable estimate): $0 − Annual fee ($0) Ongoing: $373 Year one: $603 | Chase Freedom Unlimited | Chase Freedom Unlimited |
| Heavy spender: $4,000/month | Rewards: $480 Credits (our usable estimate): $42 − Annual fee ($0) Ongoing: $522 Year one: $722 | Rewards: $1,490 Credits (our usable estimate): $0 − Annual fee ($0) Ongoing: $1,490 Year one: $1,720 | Chase Freedom Unlimited | Chase Freedom Unlimited |
Which Card Is Right for You?
Get the Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express if you:
- +Do most of your spending at grocery stores
Get the Chase Freedom Unlimited if you:
- +Spend $300+/month on restaurants and dining out
- +Prefer a high flat rate across all spending
The Bottom Line
Both scenarios favor the Chase Freedom Unlimited on net value (rewards, usable credits, fees, and welcome offer).
Everyday (non-bonus) spend earns 1.5X on the Chase Freedom Unlimited vs 1X on the other card.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Which card earns more rewards, the Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express or Chase Freedom Unlimited?
- The Chase Freedom Unlimited has a higher base earn rate (1.5X vs 1X), but both cards have different bonus categories where they excel.
- Should I get the Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express or the Chase Freedom Unlimited?
- Both cards have the same $0/yr fee. Choose based on which bonus categories match your spending — check the earn rate comparison above.
Editorial disclosure: CardRewards.ai is an independent comparison service. Card data comes from issuers' published terms; catalog last published November 13, 2026, and each card page shows when its terms were last checked. Card issuers do not influence our rankings or content.