Chase freedom unlimited vs flex vs sapphire

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What are the best Chase Sapphire Preferred benefits?

The Chase Sapphire Preferred benefits include high rewards on travel, plus thousands of dollars in travel insurance and coverage for damaged or stolen purchases. Chase Sapphire Preferred also offers one of the best initial rewards bonuses on the market. That's a big reason why its among WalletHub's choices for the year's best rewards cards as well as the best credit card deals. The average person would earn more Preferred over the first two years of use than any other Chase credit card, according to WalletHub's latest Credit Card Rewards Report. And Chase Sapphire Preferred's secondary benefits are impressive as well.

Here are the Chase Sapphire Preferred's benefits:

  • Initial Bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred offers one of the best bonuses on the market.
  • Travel Insurance: Chase Sapphire Preferred has the best overall travel insurance among credit cards, according to WalletHub's editors. Pay for travel with Chase Sapphire Preferred, and you'll get coverage for delayed, cancelled, or interrupted trips as well as for lost luggage.
  • Rental Car Insurance: Paying for your vehicle rental with your Chase Sapphire Preferred card automatically gives you coverage for damage or theft. Chase's policy ranks second among major issuers.
  • Extended Warranty: If you buy something that has a manufacturer's warranty, Chase may add a year to your coverage. Chase Sapphire Preferred and Chase Sapphire Reserve® are tied for 17th in this category.
  • Purchase Protection: You may be eligible for at least a partial refund if certain items purchased with a Chase Sapphire card are damaged or stolen. WalletHub ranks Chase Sapphire Preferred 6th in this category. The Chase Sapphire Reserve card takes 1st place.
  • International Travel Perks: WalletHub's editors analyzed major issuers' perks and policies for international travelers, including travel rewards, foreign transaction fees, emergency assistance and more. Chase Sapphire Preferred and Chase Sapphire Reserve tied for 7th best.

Another Chase Sapphire Preferred benefit is worldwide acceptance. Since Chase Sapphire Preferred is a Visa, you can use it pretty much everywhere in the world credit cards are accepted. Using a Visa or a Mastercard is the best way to convert currency when traveling internationally, too, thanks to low exchange rates that could save you as much as 9%. Plus, Chase is one of the few major credit card companies that will send you a free replacement if you lose your card while out of the country.

In short, Chase Sapphire Preferred is an excellent rewards credit card for people with excellent credit. You can learn more about the offer from WalletHub's complete Chase Sapphire Preferred Card review.

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How do I get a Chase Sapphire Preferred referral bonus?

Maria Adams, Credit Cards Moderator

You can get a Chase Sapphire Preferred referral bonus for each friend that you invite to apply for the same card and gets approved. The referral bonus is 15,000 points for every referral who is approved and the limit is 75,000 points per calendar year.

Whether you refer one friend or five, you're still looking at a lot of value, especially for travel booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards. So, let's talk about exactly how to earn it.

Here's how to get a Chase Sapphire Preferred referral bonus:

  1. Go to the Chase Sapphire Preferred Refer a Friend Page or use Chase's mobile app.
  2. Provide the requested information and click “Continue”.
  3. Share your personalized invitation link with friends via Facebook, Twitter or email.

Keep in mind that it may take a while for bonus points to show up in your account. Chase says it takes up to 8 weeks; it will appear on your Chase Sapphire Preferred statement as a “Refer-A-Friend” bonus. So, maybe you shouldn't count on using your referral bonus the next time you travel.

Lastly, you should know that Chase Sapphire Preferred isn't the only Chase Credit Card with a referral bonus. You can see what other cards are in the mix on Chase's Refer a Friend Page.

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What is the Chase Freedom Flex calendar for 5% categories?

Maria Adams, Credit Cards Moderator

The Chase Freedom Flex calendar for 5% categories for October, November and December 2022 are Walmart and PayPal, according to the Chase Freedom Flex rewards calendar.

Chase Freedom Flex gives 5% cash back on the first $1,500 spent in a new set of bonus categories each quarter, and the calendar shows what those categories are. It also has a link to “activate” the current quarter's bonus categories, as you won't be able to earn the 5% rate without doing so.  

2022 Chase Freedom Flex calendar for 5% categories:

  • January - March: Grocery stores (excluding Target and Walmart) and conditions and eBay
  • April - June:com and select streaming services
  • July - September: Gas stations, car rental agencies, movie theaters and select live entertainment
  • October - December: Walmart and PayPal (qualifying purchases made using PayPal at Walmart will only earn a total of 5%)

The Chase Freedom Flex 5% calendar is pretty straightforward and easy to use. But there are a few other things you should know about its features and protocol.

Here's how the Chase Freedom Flex calendar works:

  • Each quarter's bonus categories are typically announced about a month in advance.
  • Click on the footnote next to each category to see what purchases qualify.
  • You can activate each quarter's bonus starting on the 15th of the month before. The last day to activate is always the 14th of the last month in the quarter.
  • To activate Chase Freedom Flex bonus categories, click “Activate Now” on the calendar and enter your last name, the last 4 digits of your card number, and your zip code.
  • The 5% bonus applies to your first $1,500 in bonus-category purchases each quarter (you'll get 1% after that).

Unfortunately, you can't see the whole year's cash back categories in advance. But you do get about a month's notice, and Chase is very transparent about the activation dates. Just be sure to activate the bonus categories each quarter. And read the fine print to see which purchases qualify for 5% cash back.

How does the Chase Freedom Flex Refer a Friend program work?

Maria Adams, Credit Cards Moderator

The Chase Freedom Flex Refer a Friend program gives you a $100 cash back bonus for each friend who applies for a participating Chase Freedom card with your link and gets approved. The participating Chase Freedom credit cards are Chase Freedom Flex and Chase Freedom Unlimited®.

You can get the Chase Freedom Flex referral bonus 5 times per calendar year, for a total of $500. To refer a friend for either Chase Freedom Flex or Chase Freedom Unlimited®, go to Chase's Refer a Friend page and enter your last name, your zip code and the last 4 digits of your card number. You'll get a link to share with your friends through email or social media. Then, all you have to do is sit back and let the referral bonuses roll in.

Here's how to get the Chase Freedom Flex Refer a Friend bonus:

  1. Go to Chase's referral page.
  2. Enter your last name, zip code and card number (last 4 digits).
  3. Click “Continue,” then enter your friends' names and email addresses.
  4. Use the Facebook and Twitter icons to generate a referral link for social media.
  5. Click “Submit.”

You can send Chase Freedom Flex Refer a Friend links to as many people as you want, but you're limited to 25 per 24hours. If someone applies for the card but isn't accepted, you don't get a bonus. But denied applications don't count against your five yearly referrals.

Chase won't tell you if someone used your link, or whether they were approved or denied. So, you'll have to hear it from your friends. If you know you've earned a bonus, you should expect to wait up to 8 weeks for the bonus cash back to post to your account.

How do I activate my Chase Freedom Flex credit card and rewards?

Maria Adams, Credit Cards Moderator

You can activate your Chase Freedom Flex credit card either by logging in to the Chase's verification page, or by calling customer service at (800) 432-3117.

Apart from activating your Chase Freedom Flex for use, this card requires you to activate new bonus rewards categories, every three months, in order to earn 5% cash back on those purchases. If you don't, you'll only earn 1% cash back. To sign up for the latest categories, go to the Chase Freedom Flex activate 5% cash back page. Enter your last name, the last 4 digits of the card, and your zip code. Click the green “Activate your 5%” button and you'll be all set.

Here's how to activate Chase Freedom Flex:

  1. Create a Chase.com account. You'll need to provide your SSN or tax ID number, your account or application number, and the email you used for your application.
  2. Go to the Chase Freedom Flex activate card page.
  3. Log in to your Chase.com account.
  4. Verify that you received your card when Chase prompts you.

After you activate Chase Freedom Flex, you can use it right away. The steps to activate Chase Freedom Flex are the same as activating any other Chase credit card.

Ultimately, Chase says they require quarterly Chase Freedom Flex bonus categories activation to make sure cardholders always know what the latest 5% categories are. But that's probably only part of it. Either way, activation only takes a minute.

How do Chase Sapphire Preferred rewards work?

The Chase Sapphire Preferred offers new cardholders 60,000 bonus points for spending $4,000 in the first 3 months. And you also get extensive ongoing rewards: 5 points per $1 spent on travel purchased through Chase, 2 points per $1 on all other travel purchases, 3 points per $1 on dining and online grocery purchases, 3 points per $1 on select streaming services, and 1 point per $1 on all other purchases.

The rewards redemption process offers a number of good options  through Chase's Ultimate Rewards portal.

Chase Sapphire Preferred Rewards:

  • Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
  • Enjoy benefits such as a $50 annual Ultimate Rewards Hotel Credit, 5x on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3x on dining and 2x on all other travel purchases, plus more.
  • Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
  • With Pay Yourself Back℠, your points are worth 25% more during the current offer when you redeem them for statement credits against existing purchases in select, rotating categories
  • Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2024.

Chase Sapphire Preferred Rewards Redemption Options:

  • Travel redemption: Chase Sapphire Preferred rewards points are best used for travel booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards. Just select " Travel" once you're signed in.
  • Cash: You can also redeem reward points either to get a statement credit or a deposit to a U.S. checking or savings account. Log in to the Ultimate Rewards portal and choose " Cash Back."
  • Transfer points to Chase's travel partners: You can transfer Chase Sapphire Preferred rewards points to partnered airline and hotel loyalty programs. Just confirm that you have a loyalty account, then select "Transfer to Travel Partners" in the Ultimate Rewards portal.
  • Pay with Points”: You can use your Chase Sapphire Preferred rewards points when checking out on Amazon.com or with PayPal. Follow the instructions for both Amazon and PayPal to get started.
  • Apple purchases: You can use your points to pay for all or part of your Apple purchases.
  • Gift cards: You can convert Chase Sapphire Preferred rewards into cash or gift cards for your favorite stores. Log in to the Ultimate Rewards portal and choose "Gift Cards."
  • Experiences: You can trade your points to attend exclusive experiences like sport and dining events, concerts, and more. Simply log in to the Ultimate Rewards portal an choose "Experiences."

The Chase Sapphire Preferred card has a $95 annual fee, but its rewards definitely have the potential to offset it and bring you added value. And your reward points don't expire as long as your account remains open and in good standing. Chase Sapphire Preferred is one of the best rewards cards on the market, well worth getting if you use it regularly and travel often.

What is the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card credit score requirement?

You need a 700+ credit score for Chase Sapphire Preferred approval. That means applicants generally need at least a “good” credit score to qualify for the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, though it's possible to get approved with a lower score and a higher score may increase the odds.

It's important to note that while your credit score is an important factor in determining whether or not you will be approved for Chase Sapphire Preferred, there are plenty of other things that will impact the decision, too. Some other important criteria include your income, existing debt load, number of open accounts, recent credit inquiries, employment status, housing status and more. 

If you'd like to see where your credit stands, and thus get a rough sense for your approval odds, you can always check your latest credit score for free on WalletHub.

If you don't think you have what it takes to meet the Chase Sapphire Preferred credit score requirement, the good news is there are plenty of great rewards credit cards for people with good, fair, limited and even bad credit. You can check out WalletHub's review of 2022's best rewards cards for each credit level to learn more.

But if you're confident that your approval odds are high, you can go ahead and get started on your Chase Sapphire Preferred application.

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What airlines can you use with Chase Sapphire?

There are 11 airlines and three major airline alliances that you can use with Chase Sapphire, all of which are listed below:

Airline Partners

  • Aer Lingus
  • Air Canada Aeroplan
  • British Airways
  • Emirates
  • Flying Blue AIR FRANCE KLM
  • Iberia Plus
  • JetBlue
  • Singapore Airlines
  • Southwest
  • United Airlines
  • Virgin Atlantic

Major airline alliances:

  • Oneworld airlines
  • SkyTeam airlines
  • Star Alliance airlines

Here's how to redeem points for airfare:

There are four ways to use a Chase Sapphire card to purchase airfare. That's true for all three Sapphire cards: The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® card and the original Chase Sapphire® Card (no longer available to new applicants).

  1. Redeem Points Through Ultimate Rewards.

    You can book flights on pretty much any major airline directly through the Ultimate Rewards website. This option allows you to charge part of the flight to your card if you don't have enough points to cover the full fare.

  2. Transfer Points to a Travel Partner.

    A majority of Chase's travel rewards partners are airlines. So, if you belong to one of their loyalty programs, you can transfer your Ultimate Rewards points to that program and combine them with the miles/points already in that account for redemption. Transfers are done at a 1:1 ratio.

  3. Get Cash Back.

    You can always redeem your Chase Sapphire points for a statement credit and use the savings to pay for your plane ticket, wherever you book it. Bear in mind that you need at least 2,000 points to redeem for cash. Plus, your points are worth 25%-50% more, depending on the card, when redeemed for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards.

  4. Simply Pay with Your Sapphire Card.

    The most obvious of your options doesn't really involve rewards, but it's nevertheless worth noting that all Chase Sapphire cards can be used to purchase airfare directly from airlines, travel-comparison sites, etc. Besides, paying for a plane ticket could help you reach either of the Sapphire cards' initial spending requirements, thereby earning you a lucrative initial bonus.

Keep in mind that how much you get for transferred points depends on how much the particular travel partner's points or miles are worth. This offers a certain amount of boom-or-bust potential. Your Chase Sapphire credit card points could wind up being worth a lot more than normal or a lot less.

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How much is the Chase Sapphire Preferred annual fee?

The Chase Sapphire Preferred annual fee is $95. The card's annual fee is higher than the average annual fee among new credit card offers right now, but it's common for the best travel credit cards to charge fees as high or even higher than that.

Chase Sapphire Preferred Fees

  • Annual Fee: $95
  • Cash Advance Fee: Either $10 or 5% of the amount of each transaction, whichever is greater.
  • Foreign Transaction Fee: $0
  • Balance Transfer Fee: Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
  • Max Late Fee: Up to $40

While the card's annual fee is $95, there are plenty of reasons why it's worth paying. Chase Sapphire Preferred awards cardholders with 60,000 bonus points for spending $4,000 in the first 3 months. Plus, this card offers 1 - 5 points per $1 spent on purchases. What's more, Chase Sapphire Preferred comes with several benefits like travel insurance, extended warranty, purchase protection and more. All of these features can help offset the card's $95 annual fee for years.

What's the Chase Sapphire foreign transaction fee?

Maria Adams, Credit Cards Moderator

The Chase Sapphire foreign transaction fee is $0 for both the Chase Sapphire Reserve® card and the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. A $0 foreign transaction fee means you won't have to pay extra to use a Chase Sapphire card abroad or online, with international merchants. Also, since both Sapphire cards are part of the Visa network, you can use them in over 200 countries. 

Chase Sapphire Travel Rewards and Perks

Besides the $0 foreign transaction fees and worldwide acceptance, the Chase Sapphire cards also have some great travel rewards.

Chase Sapphire Reserve has a high annual fee, at $550, but you'll get a signup bonus of 80,000 bonus points for spending $4,000 in the first 3 months. The card also offers 1 - 10 points per $1 spent. Chase Sapphire Reserve also awards cardholders with travel credit that reimburses you for travel expenses charged to your card each year.

Chase Sapphire Preferred has a lower annual fee, at $95, and a signup bonus of 60,000 bonus points for spending $4,000 in the first 3 months. The card also offers 1.5 - 5% cash back.   

Regardless of which Chase Sapphire card you're interested in, you can rest easy knowing you won't be paying any extra fees to use your card abroad or online, with international merchants. 

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Is Chase Freedom or sapphire better?

Chase Freedom Unlimited is better for everyday use and intro APRs. But Chase Sapphire Preferred is the clear choice for travel rewards and a big initial bonus. Sapphire Preferred also has a $0 foreign transaction fee, while Freedom Unlimited charges 3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars.

Is Chase Freedom unlimited better than Chase Flex?

Chase Freedom Unlimited® is the winner over Chase Freedom Flex℠. The difference between Chase Freedom Flex and Unlimited is how much cash back you'll earn on each purchase. Freedom Unlimited gives 1.5% back on most purchases, while Freedom Flex gives 5% in rotating categories and 1% on most other purchases.