Chase Freedom Unlimited vs. Sapphire Preferred: Sapphire Travels Better

When you're left to choose between the Chase Freedom Unlimited® and Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, your goals and lifestyle will determine the better option.

The Chase Freedom Unlimited® is a well-suited candidate for those looking to pile up cash-back rewards for a $0 annual fee. It earns a modest 1.5% cash-back rate on all purchases and elevated rewards in categories like drugstores, restaurants and select travel.

But if you want to redeem your rewards toward travel, the $95-annual-fee Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is a better choice. Its travel perks and protections, lack of foreign transaction fees and strong sign-up bonus can take your vacation further. It offers 25% more value for your points when you book travel through Chase, and it unlocks the ability to transfer points to travel partners for potential outsized value.

Here’s how to decide whether to choose the Chase Freedom Unlimited®, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card — or both. (Spoiler alert: These cards make a perfect pair.)

» MORE: See NerdWallet’s best credit cards for travel 

At a glance

Why travelers will prefer the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card 

More perks and rewards toward travel 

The sign-up bonus on the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card can offer more value toward a vacation than the sign-up bonus on the Chase Freedom Unlimited®. Points are also worth 25% more with the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card when you redeem them for travel through the Chase portal. Plus, holding this card can unlock the ability to transfer your points to travel partners, which can yield even higher value. If you travel enough to make the most of the card’s perks, you’ll also be able to offset the cost of the $95 annual fee. 

The $50 annual credit on hotel stays purchased through Chase will get you more than halfway there and the ongoing rewards and bonus points on every account anniversary can potentially take care of the rest. If you're a frequent globe-trotter, you’ll also appreciate the savings that come with not having to pay foreign transaction fees on purchases made abroad. 

» SEE: How to tell if a sign-up bonus is worth it

Travel benefits and protections 

You’ll want to make sure that your trip is protected if the unexpected derails your plans. With the Chase Freedom Unlimited®, you’ll only get trip cancellation and interruption insurance, and secondary rental car coverage. 

But the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card takes protections to the next level by offering trip cancellation and interruption insurance, primary rental car coverage, baggage delay insurance and trip delay reimbursement. 

» MORE: Trip cancellation insurance explained 

Why the Chase Freedom Unlimited® could be more appealing for some

Travel perks at no cost 

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card offers plenty of perks for travel, but you’ll have to pay a $95 annual fee to get them. The Chase Freedom Unlimited® can offer an elevated rewards rate on travel booked through Chase and travel protections for a $0 annual fee. If you’re a less frequent traveler, you may appreciate the flexibility to earn rewards and protections for travel along with everyday spending categories.

A decent base rate on all purchases

When you’re not earning rewards in specific categories with the Chase Freedom Unlimited®, you’ll earn a decent 1.5x base rate on all other purchases. Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, on the other hand, earns just 1x points on all purchases that aren't in boosted categories.

» MORE: See NerdWallet's best cash-back credit cards

Which card (or cards) should you get? 

If you appreciate having some travel perks for the occasional vacation, the duality of the Chase Freedom Unlimited® can offer some of the benefits of a travel credit card and an everyday credit card for a $0 annual fee. But, if you often travel internationally, you can’t beat the value you’ll get from the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. The card’s long list of perks, travel protections and features easily make up for the $95 annual fee.

For even more value toward travel, consider adding both cards to your wallet. Use the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card for the categories that are more rewarding with that card, and use the Chase Freedom Unlimited® for a base rate of 1.5 points per dollar spent for all other purchases.

Plus, you can move points earned from the Chase Freedom Unlimited® to your Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and make them more valuable: Either transfer those points to Sapphire travel partners or redeem them for travel through Chase at a 25% higher value. By pairing these cards, you'll earn more on your purchases and your points will be more valuable when you redeem them for travel.