Chase Freedom Unlimited vs Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
It depends on your spending: Chase Freedom Unlimited wins Grocery-heavy · Everyday spending, Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card wins Gas-heavy · Travel-heavy. Where you actually spend decides this comparison.
Fees and perks at a glance
Annual fees: Chase Freedom Unlimited $0 · Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card $95/yr. The $95 gap has to be earned back in credits or perks.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card Credits: $100 annual Chase Travel hotel credit · Global Entry/TSA PreCheck/NEXUS fee credit (up to $120)
Chase Freedom Unlimited Signup bonus: $200 bonus after $500 spend in 3 months
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card Signup bonus: 75,000 UR points after $5,000 spend in 3 months
Earn comparison by category
| Category | Chase Freedom Unlimited | Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card |
|---|---|---|
| Dining | 4.50%3x × 1.5¢ | 4.50%3x × 1.5¢ |
| Groceries | 2.25%1.5x × 1.5¢ | 1.50%1x × 1.5¢ |
| Gas / EV charging | 2.25%1.5x × 1.5¢ | 4.50%3x × 1.5¢ |
| Travel | 2.25%1.5x × 1.5¢ | 3.00%2x × 1.5¢ |
| Everything else | 2.25%1.5x × 1.5¢ | 1.50%1x × 1.5¢ |
| Lyft | 2.25%1.5x × 1.5¢ | 7.50%5x × 1.5¢ |
| Drugstores | 4.50%3x × 1.5¢ | 1.50%1x × 1.5¢ |
| Online groceries | 2.25%1.5x × 1.5¢ | 4.50%3x × 1.5¢ |
| Vacation rentals | 2.25%1.5x × 1.5¢ | 4.50%3x × 1.5¢ |
| Streaming | 2.25%1.5x × 1.5¢ | 4.50%3x × 1.5¢ |
Verdict by spending profile
| Category | Chase Freedom Unlimited | Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card |
|---|---|---|
| Dining-heavy | 4.50% | 4.50% |
| Grocery-heavy | 2.25% | 1.50% |
| Gas-heavy | 2.25% | 4.50% |
| Travel-heavy | 2.25% | 3.00% |
| Everyday spending | 2.25% | 1.50% |
How is this comparison computed?
Effective return = category earn rate × point value. Example: 4x × 2.0¢ = 8.00% back (estimate).
This page compares the two cards' catalog earn rates only. Signup bonus amounts change over time, so they are not in the table.
Every % here is an estimate: point values are catalog assumptions, and actual value depends on how you redeem.
This page compares two cards only. Inside DanHana, the same math re-ranks by the cards in your own wallet -- so your personal best may differ.
Frequently asked questions
Chase Freedom Unlimited vs Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: which one is better?
It depends on your spending: Chase Freedom Unlimited wins Grocery-heavy · Everyday spending, Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card wins Gas-heavy · Travel-heavy. Where you actually spend decides this comparison.
How do the annual fees compare?
Annual fees: Chase Freedom Unlimited $0 · Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card $95/yr. The $95 gap has to be earned back in credits or perks. Catalog credits: Chase Freedom Unlimited has 0, Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card has 2.
Where is the biggest gap?
Lyft is where Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card leads by the most: 2.25% vs 7.50% (1.5x × 1.5¢ vs 5x × 1.5¢).
Are these returns guaranteed?
No -- every figure here is an estimate. Point values are catalog assumptions (e.g. Membership Rewards 2.0¢, Ultimate Rewards 1.5¢, cash back 1.0¢), and your actual value depends on how you redeem. Bonus rates can have annual caps, and issuers change terms -- check the card's official terms before applying.
Sources
- DanHana data & verification method
- What is DanHana?
- Smart recommendations
- Chase Freedom Unlimited official page
- Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card official page
Page updated: October 28, 2026