Annual Fee

Welcome Bonus

Base Earn Rate

Top Earn Categories

Network

Key Benefits

Pros

• +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

• +No annual fee with automatic Silver Elite status
• +Fourth night free on reward stays of 4+ nights
• +Strong 3x earning on utilities, streaming, gas, and restaurants
• +2x earning on all other purchases (above-average base rate)
• +Path to Gold Elite with $20,000 annual spend

Cons

• −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

• −Silver Elite status provides minimal benefits
• −Lower earning rate at IHG properties (5x vs 10x on Premier)
• −No automatic elite night credits
• −No annual free night certificate
• −Modest 10,000 point welcome bonus

Annual Fee

Welcome Bonus

Base Earn Rate

Top Earn Categories

Network

Key Benefits

Pros

• +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

• +No annual fee with automatic Silver Elite status
• +Fourth night free on reward stays of 4+ nights
• +Strong 3x earning on utilities, streaming, gas, and restaurants
• +2x earning on all other purchases (above-average base rate)
• +Path to Gold Elite with $20,000 annual spend

Cons

• −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

• −Silver Elite status provides minimal benefits
• −Lower earning rate at IHG properties (5x vs 10x on Premier)
• −No automatic elite night credits
• −No annual free night certificate
• −Modest 10,000 point welcome bonus

Annual Fee

Welcome Bonus

Base Earn Rate

Top Earn Categories

Network

Key Benefits

Pros

• +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

• +No annual fee with automatic Silver Elite status
• +Fourth night free on reward stays of 4+ nights
• +Strong 3x earning on utilities, streaming, gas, and restaurants
• +2x earning on all other purchases (above-average base rate)
• +Path to Gold Elite with $20,000 annual spend

Cons

• −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

• −Silver Elite status provides minimal benefits
• −Lower earning rate at IHG properties (5x vs 10x on Premier)
• −No automatic elite night credits
• −No annual free night certificate
• −Modest 10,000 point welcome bonus