Chase Freedom Flex vs. the Amex EveryDay: Valuable rewards with no annual fee
Editor's Note
Quick summary
The Chase Freedom Flex® and the Amex EveryDay® Credit Card from American Express are two of the most popular starter travel cards from two of the largest card issuers. But which one makes sense for you and your wallet?
While the Freedom Flex stands out as an exceptional cash-back credit card, offering impressive and diverse earning rates without an annual fee, the Amex EveryDay can still help travel card beginners unlock value with strategic card spending and earns extremely valuable Amex points — also without an annual fee (see rates and fees). Both cards recommend a "good" credit score for approval.
Keep reading to learn more about the two cards and which one might be best for you.
The information for the Amex EveryDay card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Chase Freedom Flex vs. Amex EveryDay comparison
| Chase Freedom Flex | Amex EveryDay | |
|---|---|---|
| Welcome bonus | $200 cash back after you spend $500 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening | 10,000 points after you use your new card to make $2,000 in purchases within the first six months of card membership |
| Annual fee | $0 | $0 (see rates and fees) |
| Earning rates | 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in purchases on quarterly bonus categories (activation required, 1% after that)
5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠ 3% cash back on dining and at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services 3% cash back on drugstore purchases 2% back on Lyft rides (through Sept. 30, 2027) 1% cash back on all other purchases Terms apply | 2 points per dollar on purchases at U.S. supermarkets (up to $6,000 in spending each year; then 1 point per dollar)
1 point per dollar on all other purchases Terms apply |
| Additional benefits | Cellphone protection
Purchase protection Zero liability protection Extended warranty protection Auto rental collision waiver Trip cancellation/interruption insurance | 20% more points when you use your card 20 or more times on purchases in a billing period. Terms apply
Access to Amex's Membership Rewards® Program Car rental loss and damage insurance* Global Assist® Hotline** |
*Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Not all vehicle types or rentals are covered, and geographic restrictions apply. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details. Policies are underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
**Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details. Cardmembers are responsible for the costs charged by third-party service providers.
Chase Freedom Flex vs. Amex EveryDay welcome offer
Right now, with the Freedom Flex, you can earn $200 cash back after you spend $500 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
As for the Amex EveryDay, you'll get 10,000 points after you use your new card to make $2,000 in purchases within the first six months of card membership.
10,000 points are worth $200, per TPG's July 2024 valuations, which means if you can hit the higher spend threshold on the Amex EveryDay these offers are essentially even — unless you have another Chase card that allows you to convert your cash back to Chase points, in which case the value of this offer is much more valuable.
Winner: Freedom Flex
Chase Freedom Flex vs. Amex EveryDay benefits
The Freedom Flex offers a handful of solid benefits for a no-annual-fee card — cellphone protection and shopping protections as well as trip cancellation and interruption insurance.
With the Amex EveryDay, you'll get benefits like car rental loss and damage insurance* and access to the Global Assist Hotline**, along with access to Amex's Membership Rewards program and the option to use the Pay with Points program to book your next flight or hotel stay.
Enrollment is required for select benefits.
*Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Not all vehicle types or rentals are covered, and geographic restrictions apply. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details. Policies are underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
**Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details. Cardmembers are responsible for the costs charged by third-party service providers.
As with all Amex Membership Rewards cards, you'll also get access to ShopRunner's free two-day shipping on eligible orders.
The benefits on these cards are relatively comparable, and the question of which is better will depend on how much value you derive from each perk.
Winner: Tie
Earning rewards on the Chase Freedom Flex vs. Amex EveryDay
The Freedom Flex offers the following lucrative earning categories:
- 5% on up to the first $1,500 spent on rotating categories each quarter (activation required)
- 5% on travel booked through the Chase Travel portal
- 3% on dining (including takeout and eligible delivery services)
- 3% on drugstore purchases
- 2% back on Lyft rides (through Sept. 30, 2027)
- 1% on all other purchases
That's a strong collection of earning categories for any card, let alone a no-annual-fee offering. The rotating categories change each quarter and require activation in advance. Categories we've seen regularly include Walmart, gas stations and purchases with PayPal.
The Amex EveryDay, meanwhile, offers 2 points per dollar on purchases at U.S. supermarkets (up to $6,000 in spending each year; then 1 point per dollar) and 1 point per dollar on all other purchases.
Unless you spend a ton at supermarkets, you'll be better off with the Freedom Flex.
Winner: Freedom Flex
Redeeming rewards on the Chase Freedom Flex vs. Amex EveryDay
The Freedom Flex earns cash back, but if you also have a Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, Chase Sapphire Reserve® or Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card, you can combine your points into a single Chase Ultimate Rewards account. Doing so gives you access to the complete range of redemption options within the Chase Ultimate Rewards program, essentially turning each cent earned into a Chase point worth 2.05 cents apiece per TPG's July 2024 valuation.
Rewards earned with the Amex EveryDay can also be redeemed as cash back, along with Amazon purchases, gift cards and more. But you'll almost definitely get the best value when you redeem for travel through Amex's 21 airline and hotel partners.
The value of the two card's redemptions are about equal — 2.05 cents apiece for Chase, 2.0 apiece for Amex — but pairing your Freedom Flex with another popular Chase card allows you to supercharge your earned rewards.
Winner: Freedom Flex
Transferring rewards on the Chase Freedom Flex vs. Amex EveryDay
Both Chase and Amex have many extremely valuable hotel and airline transfer partners, which is partly why TPG values each of their loyalty programs so highly.
Chase has 14 airline and hotel partners, including popular programs like Hyatt, United, British Airways and Singapore Airlines. Amex, meanwhile, allows transfers to U.S.-based programs like Delta SkyMiles and JetBlue TrueBlue, but you'll often get even more value by leveraging international airline programs.
For example, TPG senior writer Ben Smithson likes to transfer his Membership Rewards points to Air Canada's Aeroplan program because of the range of airline redemption partners at sensible fixed award chart rates. He also transfers them to British Airways Executive Club to book short-haul flights from the United Kingdom to Europe on British Airways for under 5,000 points each way.
Winner: Tie.
Should I get the Chase Freedom Flex or Amex EveryDay?
The Freedom Flex will be the better choice for most consumers, given its healthy benefits and stronger earnings rates. But that doesn't mean the Amex EveryDay doesn't have things to like about it, and you could always go for both cards if you think they'd provide value. In fact, the two cards' earning rates complement each other fairly well, with the Amex EveryDay covering grocery store rewards and the Freedom Flex covering most of everything else.
Bottom line
Both the Freedom Flex and Amex EveryDay have the potential to offer valuable cash back for no annual fee. But it's important to take a look at the earning categories and your own personal spending habits to see which would be more rewarding for you. You should also be familiar with each program's transfer partners so you can evaluate which issuer will reap the best rewards for you, no matter which card you choose.
To learn more, read our full reviews of the Freedom Flex and Amex EveryDay.
Apply here: Chase Freedom Flex
For rates and fees of the Amex EveryDay, click here.