Discover it® Cash Back and Chase Freedom Flex℠ are two of the most popular cash back cards on the market, both offering a tiered reward structure and no annual fee.
Both cards give you 5% cash back on quarterly rotating category purchases up to $1,500 (then 1%, which requires activation) and unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases. You have to sign up for the 5% bonus category every quarter, and tracking categories can require more work than many are willing to put in to earn the bonus. However, those willing to go the extra mile can earn up to $300 per year by maxing out the 5% rotating category.
Here’s the breakdown:
| Discover it® Cash Back | Chase Freedom Flex | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $0 | $0 |
| Welcome bonus | Cashback Match™ – Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year. | $200 cash bonus after spending $500 within your first three months |
| Rewards structure | 5% cash back on rotating categories (on up to $1,500 in purchases each quarter); 1% on all other purchases – activation required. | 5% cash back on activated bonus category purchases each quarter (up to $1,500, then 1 percent); 5% back on Chase Ultimate Rewards travel purchases; 5% on Lyft rides (through March 2022); 3% on dining; 3% on drugstore purchases; 1% on all other purchases |
| Intro APR offer | Intro 0% APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers | Intro 0% APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers |
| Regular variable APR | 12.24% – 23.24% | 15.24% – 23.99% |
| Balance transfer fee | 3% intro balance transfer fee, up to 5% fee on future balance transfers (see terms)* | Intro Balance Transfer Fee: $5 or 3 percent of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater in the first 60 days |
Which card is right for you?
Both Freedom Flex and Discover it® Cash Back offer great value, and you really can’t go wrong. However, each card is suitable for specific situations and spending habits.
Let’s say you hop on the Marie Kondo train and decide to stop enjoying your old college living room furniture. You plan to buy a new set, but you know it will cost a few totals. Freedom Flex offers a slightly longer introductory APR purchase time, but Discover it Cash Back offers a lower regular variable APR option – if you have good credit, you can choose a variable APR of just 12, 24% qualifying ( range up to 23.24% of variables). Freedom Flex gives you an extra month to pay for any purchase, but Discover it Cash Back probably offers the best long-term APR.
Freedom Flex, on the other hand, can be paired more easily with other cards, helping you increase the value across the board. For example, if you have a Chase Sapphire Preferred® card or Chase Sapphire Reserve®, you can transfer Freedom Flex rewards to your other card before redemption. This allows you to take advantage of the rewards bonus offered by Chase when your Preferred and Reserve cardholders use the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal, or transfer points 1:1 to one of their travel partners.
Discover’s Freedom Flex Welcome Bonus & Cash Back Contest™
Freedom Flex offers a generous $200 cash bonus after spending $500 in the first three months.
Discover it Cash Back, on the other hand, is the cash back you get at the end of the first year under the publisher’s Cashback Match™ program. Both welcome bonuses add significant value to their respective cards, but you may be able to take advantage of the Freedom Flex more thanks to the additional bonus categories and high spending caps.
Freedom Flex: Better for existing Chase cardholders
For those who already have a Chase Sapphire Preferred or Chase Sapphire Reserve credit card, Freedom Flex is likely a better option, as Chase allows users to transfer points between credit card accounts owned by the same user.
For example, if you only spend $1,600 per month in the 5% rotation category, your Freedom Flex earnings might be worth:
| When paired with the CSP | When paired with the CSR | |
|---|---|---|
| First-year value* | $727.50 | $873 |
| Typical yearly value* | $540 | $648 |
*When you redeem for travel through the Chase travel portal.
If you already own the Chase Sapphire Preferred or Chase Sapphire Reserve, adding Freedom Flex to your wallet with no annual fee can significantly increase your annual income.
Better Balance Transfer Card: Tie
When comparing Freedom Flex and Discover it Cash Back, it’s not hard to see that Freedom Flex offers more rewards and bonuses.
If you have credit card debt to pay off and are interested in using your credit card for balance transfers, both cards are good options as both have similar APR balance transfer offers.
Final result
You can’t go wrong with either card option, but the choice that’s right for you depends on your needs.
Both Freedom Flex and Discover it Cash Back offer a rotating reward structure that includes activation, welcome bonuses, and low-interest APR offers on purchases, while Freedom Flex offers more reward categories.
Existing Chase Sapphire Preferred and Reserve cardholders will find more long-term value by adding Freedom Flex to their wallets, but those looking to pay off their credit card debt should stick with the Discover it Cash Back.
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