Editorial disclosure: CardRewards.ai is an independent comparison service. Card data comes from issuers' published terms; data as of September 27, 2026. Card issuers do not influence our rankings or content.
Annual fees: Chase Freedom Unlimited $0/yr, Chase Sapphire Preferred Card $95/yr. Strongest bonus categories: Chase Freedom Unlimited on travel, Chase Sapphire Preferred Card on travel.
Card data as of September 27, 2026.
Annual Fee
Welcome Bonus
| Category | Chase Freedom Unlimited | Chase Sapphire Preferred Card |
|---|---|---|
| Dining | 3X | 3X |
| Drugstores | 3X |
The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card wins in 5 of 7 categories. The Chase Freedom Unlimited leads in 2.
Drugstores
Chase Freedom Unlimited earns 3X vs 1X
Gas Stations
Chase Sapphire Preferred Card earns 3X vs 1.5X
Electric Vehicle Charging
Chase Sapphire Preferred Card earns 3X vs 1.5X
Vacation Rentals
Chase Sapphire Preferred Card earns 3X vs 1.5X
Streaming
Chase Sapphire Preferred Card earns 3X vs 1.5X
Grocery Stores
Chase Sapphire Preferred Card earns 3X vs 1.5X
Everyday purchases
Chase Freedom Unlimited earns 1.5X on all other spending vs 1X
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.
Modeled value is close across spend levels — especially once statement credits are counted.
Modeled value is close across spend levels — especially once statement credits are counted.
Everyday (non-bonus) spend earns 1.5X on the Chase Freedom Unlimited vs 1X on the other card.
Published annual fees: Chase Freedom Unlimited $0/yr, Chase Sapphire Preferred Card $95/yr — a $95 difference before welcome offers and credits.
| 1X |
| Electric Vehicle Charging | 1.5X | 3X |
| Gas Stations | 1.5X | 3X |
| Grocery Stores | 1.5X | 3X |
| Streaming | 1.5X | 3X |
| Vacation Rentals | 1.5X | 3X |
| Travel | 1.5X | 2X |
| Everything Else | 1.5X | 1X |
Network
Key Benefits
Pros
Cons
| Scenario | Chase Freedom Unlimited | Chase Sapphire Preferred Card | Ongoing winner | Year-one winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Light spender: $1,000/month | Rewards: $373 Credits (our usable estimate): $0 − Annual fee ($0) Ongoing: $373 Year one: $603 | Rewards: $410 Credits (our usable estimate): $109 − Annual fee ($95) Ongoing: $424 Year one: $1,774 | Close — depends on how much of the credits you use | Chase Sapphire Preferred Card |
| Heavy spender: $4,000/month | Rewards: $1,490 Credits (our usable estimate): $0 − Annual fee ($0) Ongoing: $1,490 Year one: $1,720 | Rewards: $1,642 Credits (our usable estimate): $109 − Annual fee ($95) Ongoing: $1,656 Year one: $3,006 | Chase Sapphire Preferred Card | Chase Sapphire Preferred Card |
The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card costs $95/yr — that's $95 more than the Chase Freedom Unlimited (no annual fee). To justify that gap, you need to extract at least $95 in annual value from the card's higher earn rates and benefits.
Bottom line: Use the year-one vs ongoing table for modeled earn value at your spend level. The $95 fee gap means the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card needs roughly $95 more in annual rewards (or credits you will use) to break even on travel and dining and everyday spend.
Get the Chase Freedom Unlimited if you:
Get the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card if you:
Editorial disclosure: CardRewards.ai is an independent comparison service. Card data comes from issuers' published terms; data as of September 27, 2026. Card issuers do not influence our rankings or content.
