Updated October 2026
American Express and Chase both offer strong cash back cards, but they’re good at different things. Amex leads on groceries: the Blue Cash Preferred earns 6% at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 a year. Chase leads on flexibility, with the Freedom Unlimited and Freedom Flex covering dining, drugstores and rotating 5% categories with no annual fee. On the business side, Chase’s Ink cards are hard to beat for no-fee earning, and Amex’s Blue Business Cash is a simple 2% option. Below we compare the current lineups as of October 2026.
Amex vs. Chase Cash Back Cards at a Glance
Personal cards
| Card | Annual fee | Cash back rates | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amex Blue Cash Preferred | $0 first year, then $95 | 6% U.S. supermarkets (up to $6,000/yr, then 1%); 6% select U.S. streaming; 3% transit and U.S. gas stations; 1% other | Families with big grocery bills |
| Amex Blue Cash Everyday | $0 | 3% U.S. supermarkets, U.S. online retail and U.S. gas stations (each up to $6,000/yr, then 1%); 1% other | No-fee grocery and online shopping |
| Chase Freedom Unlimited | $0 | 5% Chase Travel; 3% dining and drugstores; 1.5% everything else | One no-fee card for all spending |
| Chase Freedom Flex | $0 | 5% rotating categories (up to $1,500/quarter, activation required); 5% Chase Travel; 3% dining and drugstores; 1% other | Category maximizers |
| Chase Freedom Rise | $0 | 1.5% on all purchases | People new to credit |
Business cards
| Card | Annual fee | Cash back rates | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amex Blue Business Cash | $0 | 2% on up to $50,000/yr, then 1% | Simple flat rate under $50K |
| Amex Graphite Business Cash Unlimited | $295 | 2% on eligible purchases (no cap stated); 5% flights and prepaid hotels via Amex Travel | High spenders who want uncapped 2% |
| Chase Ink Business Cash | $0 | 5% office supply stores and internet, cable and phone (first $25K/yr combined); 2% gas stations and restaurants (first $25K/yr combined); 1% other | Office and telecom-heavy businesses |
| Chase Ink Business Unlimited | $0 | 1.5% on all purchases | No-fee flat rate, no cap |
| Chase Ink Business Premier | $195 | 2% on all purchases; 2.5% on purchases of $5,000+; 5% Chase Travel | Large single purchases |
Rates and fees as of October 2026. Welcome offers change often, so check the issuer’s site before you apply.
American Express Cash Back Cards
Amex’s personal cash back lineup is now the two Blue Cash cards; the Cash Magnet Card is no longer open to new applicants. Cash back is earned as Reward Dollars, redeemable as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout.
- Blue Cash Preferred Card: best for maximizing grocery spend. 6% at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 a year (then 1%), 6% on select U.S. streaming, 3% on transit and at U.S. gas stations, 1% elsewhere. $0 the first year, then $95. Includes up to $10 a month back on an enrolled Disney+, Hulu or ESPN subscription. Welcome offer: up to $300 back after $3,000 in 6 months (offers vary).
- Blue Cash Everyday Card: no annual fee. 3% at U.S. supermarkets, U.S. online retail and U.S. gas stations (each up to $6,000 a year, then 1%), 1% elsewhere. Includes up to $7 a month back on an enrolled Disney+, Hulu or ESPN subscription. Welcome offer: up to $200 back after $2,000 in 6 months (offers vary).
Both charge a 2.7% foreign transaction fee, so leave them at home when you travel abroad.
Chase Cash Back Cards
Chase’s Freedom cards earn “cash back” as Ultimate Rewards points. That matters if you also hold a Sapphire or Ink Business Preferred, because you can combine points and transfer them to airline and hotel partners. See how those points stack up in Amex or Chase rewards.
- Chase Freedom Unlimited: 1.5% on everything, 3% on dining and drugstores, 5% on Chase Travel, no annual fee. Current offer on chase.com: $200 cash back after $500 in purchases in the first 3 months, plus 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers.
- Chase Freedom Flex: 5% on rotating quarterly categories (up to $1,500 each quarter you activate), 5% on Chase Travel, 3% on dining and drugstores, 1% elsewhere, no annual fee. Current offer: $250 cash back after $500 in 3 months, and the same 15-month 0% intro APR.
- Chase Freedom Rise: a no-fee starter card earning 1.5% on all purchases, aimed at people with little or no credit history. For more options, see our list of the best starter credit cards.
Comparing Amex and Chase Cash Back Business Cards
- Chase Ink Business Cash is the strongest no-fee category card. It earns 5% at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone services on the first $25,000 in combined purchases each account anniversary year, and 2% at gas stations and restaurants on the first $25,000 in combined purchases each account anniversary year. Current offer: $750 after $6,000 in 3 months.
- Chase Ink Business Unlimited earns 1.5% on everything, no cap, no annual fee. Current offer: $750 after $6,000 in 3 months.
- Amex Blue Business Cash earns 2% on up to $50,000 a calendar year (then 1%), no annual fee, credited to your statement automatically. Under $50,000 a year, it beats the Ink Unlimited’s 1.5%.
- Chase Ink Business Premier ($195) earns 2% on all purchases and 2.5% on single purchases of $5,000 or more. Current offer: $1,000 after $10,000 in 3 months.
- Amex Graphite Business Cash Unlimited ($295), launched in 2026, earns 2% with no stated cap plus 5% on flights and prepaid hotels through Amex Travel. It’s built for businesses that would go past the Blue Business Cash’s $50,000 cap.
For a closer look at Chase’s two no-fee business cards, see Chase Ink Business Unlimited vs. Ink Business Cash. A popular setup is the Ink Business Cash for its bonus categories paired with a flat-rate card for everything else. More ideas in our best business and personal credit card combinations.
Which Should You Choose?
- You spend a lot on groceries: Amex Blue Cash Preferred. $6,000 a year in supermarket spending at 6% earns $360 before the $95 fee.
- You want one no-fee card for everything: Chase Freedom Unlimited.
- You like tracking categories: Chase Freedom Flex, ideally paired with the Freedom Unlimited.
- You’re building credit: Chase Freedom Rise.
- You run a small business with office, internet or phone bills: Chase Ink Business Cash.
- You want simple 2% business cash back under $50K a year: Amex Blue Business Cash.
FAQ
Is Amex or Chase better for cash back?
It depends on your spending. Amex is better for groceries and streaming, thanks to the Blue Cash Preferred’s 6% rates. Chase is better for dining, drugstores and flexible no-fee earning with the Freedom cards.
Is the Amex Cash Magnet still available?
No, it’s closed to new applicants. For a no-fee flat-rate alternative, look at the Chase Freedom Unlimited.
Do Chase Freedom cards earn real cash back?
Yes. They earn Ultimate Rewards points you can redeem for cash back. If you also hold a Sapphire Preferred or Ink Business Preferred, you can move those points over for travel redemptions.
Is the Blue Cash Preferred worth the $95 annual fee?
Usually, if you spend about $3,000 or more a year at U.S. supermarkets. The extra 3% over the Blue Cash Everyday covers the fee at that level, and streaming and gas earnings help further. Run the numbers on your own spending first.
Final Thoughts
There isn’t one winner. Amex’s Blue Cash Preferred is still the top pick for grocery-heavy households, while Chase’s Freedom Unlimited and Freedom Flex give no-fee flexibility and a path into Ultimate Rewards travel. Business owners have more choice than ever, from the no-fee Ink Business Cash to Amex’s new Graphite Business Cash Unlimited for big spenders. Compare your monthly spending to the tables above, and check current welcome offers before you apply.
