Chase Freedom Flex vs. Citi Simplicity®

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Chase Freedom Flex<sup>℠</sup> Card Chase Freedom Flex Card Citi Simplicity<sup>®</sup> Card Citi Simplicity® Card
8.7MyCreditCardLab Score

MyCreditCardLab Score 8.7

We've meticulously evaluated this card using MyCreditCardLab's exclusive credit card rating system. Our assessment considered various cardholder needs, ultimately assigning a rating based on the need with the highest score, currently at "." Our rating scale ranges from 1 to 10, with 10 representing the best possible score.

Annual Fee
10
Intro APR
9.3
Regular APR
9.3
Rewards
8.2
Benefits
8.1
Welcome Bonus
8.8
Recommended Credit Score: 9
Foreign Transaction Fee: 7.3
Cash Advance Fee: 9
Balance Transfer Fee: 8.3
9.0MyCreditCardLab Score

MyCreditCardLab Score 9.0

We've meticulously evaluated this card using MyCreditCardLab's exclusive credit card rating system. Our assessment considered various cardholder needs, ultimately assigning a rating based on the need with the highest score, currently at "." Our rating scale ranges from 1 to 10, with 10 representing the best possible score.

Annual Fee
10
Intro APR
9.8
Regular APR
9.5
Rewards
6.4
Benefits
9
Welcome Bonus
9.3
Recommended Credit Score: 9
Foreign Transaction Fee: 8.5
Cash Advance Fee: 9
Balance Transfer Fee: 9.4
ANNUAL FEE
$0 $0
INTRO APR
0% intro APR on Purchases for first 15 months and 0% intro APR on Balance Transfers for first 15 months on qualifying balance transfers 0% intro APR on Purchases for first 15 months and 0% intro APR on Balance Transfers for first 21 months on qualifying balance transfers
REGULAR APR
20.49% - 29.24% Variable APR 19.24% - 29.99% Variable APR
PROS
  • New cardholder $200 initial bonus
  • Intro APR period
  • Ongoing rewards of 1 - 5% cash back
  • 0% for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers
  • $0 Annual fee
  • Member FDIC
  • 0% intro rate on new purchases for 12 months
  • Cardholders will pay no annual fee
  • No penalty APR
  • No late fees
CONS
  • 3% foreign transaction fee
  • Requires good - excellent credit score
  • Rotating bonus rewards categories
  • Earning limit in bonus categories
  • No rewards
  • Balance transfer fee
  • High regular APR
  • 3 percent foreign transaction fee
WELCOME BONUS
$200 if you spend $500 in first 3 months 0% intro APR for 21 months on balance transfers and purchases from date of account opening
REWARDS
Chase Freedom Flex Card Rewards stand out as a highly versatile credit currency, offering a myriad of redemption options to suit your preferences. You can utilize your rewards in a variety of ways, including:
  • You earn 5% cash back on combined gas station and grocery store purchases. The offer excludes Target and Walmart. It applies to up to $12,000 spent in the first year.
  • Earn 5% on up to $1,500 on combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate
  • Earn 5% on travel. You buy it through Chase Ultimate Rewards.
  • Earn 3% on dining at restaurants. This includes takeout and some delivery services.
  • Earn 3% on drugstore purchases
  • Earn 1% on all other purchases
  • The card has a 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening. This applies to both purchases and balance transfers. After that, the APR is 19.24%-27.99%.
Citi Simplicity® Card Rewards stand out as a highly versatile credit currency, offering a myriad of redemption options to suit your preferences. You can utilize your rewards in a variety of ways, including:
  • No Rewards offer
BENEFITS
Decent welcome bonus - The offer is for $200 bonus. You get it after spending $500 on purchases in the first three months of account opening. This is stellar for a no-annual-fee card. Trip cancellation and interruption insurance - You get reimbursed up to $1,500 per person. You get $6,000 per trip. This covers your prepaid, nonrefundable passenger fares. This happens if your trip is canceled or cut short by sickness, bad weather, or other covered situations. Car rental insurance - If you charge your rental car to your card, you can receive coverage if it is damaged or stolen. The coverage is secondary and goes up to the car's cash value. World Elite Mastercard Benefits - As noted, the Freedom Flex is Chase’s first foray into the Mastercard market in five years. Adding Mastercard to the Chase lineup opens new features for Flex cardholders. Visa doesn't offer them. Two key benefits are cell phone protection and ID protection. Both are Mastercard staples. Base Rewards Rate of 1% Cash Back - Most cash back credit cards give 1% back as a base earning rate. The only way to get a higher base rate is to earn less from your chosen card. Flexible payment due date - Cardholders are able to choose a payment due date that works best for them. No penalty APR - You won’t be assessed a penalty APR if you’re late on a payment. 21 month-APR offer on balance transfers - The 21-month offer on balance transfers is one of the longest intro APR offers. They have not paid interest for nearly two years. This gives cardholders the chance to make a serious dent in their debt. 12 month-APR offer on purchases - If you need to pay for purchases over time, you won't have to pay interest on them for a full year. However, there are cards with longer intro APR periods on purchases.  Fewer fees - The Citi Simplicity doesn’t charge an annual fee or late fees. It does, however, charge a balance transfer fee and cash advance fee.
CASH ADVANCE FEE / APR
29.99% variable, Either $10 or 5% of the amount of each transaction, whichever is greater. 29.99% variable, plus a fee of either $10 or 5% of the amount of each transaction, whichever is greater
BALANCE TRANSFER FEE
20.49% - 29.24% variable, plus either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater in the first 60 days (5%, min $5 after) 19.24% - 29.99% variable, 3% intro fee ($5 min) for each transfer in first 4 months, and 5% ($5 min) for each transfer after that
RECOMMENDED CREDIT SCORE
690 - 850 (Fair - Exceptional) 690 - 850 (Fair - Exceptional)
FOREIGN TRANSACTION FEE
3% 3%
BEST FOR
  • Cash Back Seekers
  • Small Business Owners
  • Gas and Groceries
  • Restaurant
  • Small Business Owners
  • Everyday Spending
  • Balance Transfers
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