The Chase Freedom Flex℠ and the Citi® Double Cash Card are excellent options for anyone looking for cash-back credit cards that do not have an annual fee. However, their operations are distinct, and the one you choose will depend on the amount of time and energy you are willing to invest in credit card management.
The Chase Freedom Flex℠ credit card comes with a substantial sign-up bonus and a greater continuous cash-back potential. On the other hand, managing it takes a lot of work.
If you are ready to put in some work and your spending habits align with the bonus areas that the Flex card offers, it may be the right card for you. The Double Cash card is the superior option if you're searching for a card that only needs a little maintenance and allows you to earn valuable rewards regardless of where you make purchases.
Why The Chase Freedom Flex℠ Is Better For Optimizers
A generous incentive for signing up
Earn a $200 Offer once you spend $500 on purchases in your first three months from when your account was opened. This is a significant sign-up bonus for a card that does not charge an annual fee. No welcome bonus is offered in conjunction with Citi Double Cash Card's normal offer.
Changing bonus categories worth 5 percent each
With the Chase Freedom Flex℠ credit card, you may earn 5% cash back in bonus areas that rotate quarterly on total purchases of up to $1,500 per quarter. (You need to activate those categories using the web platform.) That translates into a potential annual income of up to $300 if you achieve the highest possible level of success in each of those bonus areas. There are no chances to get 5% cash back while playing the Double Cash.
On top of fixed bonus categories
However, there is more available with the Chase Freedom Flex℠. In addition, cardholders get the following benefits: 5% cash back on travel booked via Chase Ultimate Rewards®; cash back of 3% on eating; cash back of 3% on purchases made at drugstores; and 1% cash back on all other transactions. Again, the Double Cash card does not have any bonus categories; it has a simple rewards rate applied to everything.
Better opportunity to enhance point value
Cash back is always an option with the Chase Freedom Flex℠, and each point is worth 1 cent when redeemed in this manner. Gift cards and travel reservations made via Chase may be redeemed for rewards at the same one cent per point.
And while we're on the subject of vacations, if you have another Chase credit card that gives you access to higher-value redemption possibilities, you may be able to extract more value from your points. For instance, if you also have Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, you may transfer points earned on Flex card to Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. This allows you to redeem rewards for travel booked via Chase at a rate 25% greater than the standard rate.
Cards such as Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and the Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card come with roughly a dozen travel partners (big hotel chains and airlines) to whom you may transfer your points at a ratio of 1 point for every 1 point you transfer.
Where The Citi® Double Cash Card Shines
Very little upkeep is required, and consistently rewarding throughout the board
If looking for credit card that does not need you to maintain your account actively, then the Citi® Double Cash Card is most likely the best option. It provides total cash back of 2% on all purchases (1% when you make the purchase and another 1% when you pay it off). This is a high rate for a card with a fixed fee, and it frees you from the hassle of activating bonus categories or keeping tabs on them during the year.
An introductory APR of 0% for balance transfers
If you already have any debt, you could find that the Citi® Double Cash Card is a somewhat more effective instrument for paying it off. The continuing annual percentage rate (APR) ranges from 18.24% to 28.24% and is variable. There is an introductory period of 0% APR on balance transfers for the first 18 months. This is one of the most extensive balance transfer deals currently available. The introductory period of 0% promotional APR on debt transfers is shorter for those using the Chase Freedom Flex℠ credit card.
