Chase Freedom Flex vs Amex Gold: Which Is Better In 2025?

American Express® Gold Card Breakdown

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Why We Like It

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Here’s a detailed look at why the American Express® Gold Card (See Rates & Fees) consistently ranks as a favorite among cardholders.

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• It offers generous rewards on spending at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets.
• Valuable annual credits for dining and Uber add to the card’s appeal for everyday use.
• With flexible points and no foreign transaction fees, it’s a versatile card for travel.

Terms apply to all benefits.

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_{Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.}

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Pros

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• Strong rewards on dining worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets.
• Annual statement credits for popular dining and rideshare services.
• Flexible Membership Rewards® points with valuable airline and hotel transfer partners.

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Cons

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• Carries a significant annual fee.
• Annual credits are distributed in monthly increments, making them difficult to fully utilize.
• Not as widely accepted as Visa or Mastercard.

American Express® Gold Card vs Chase Freedom Flex®

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Categories

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Deciding which is better, the Chase Freedom Flex® or Amex Gold, really comes down to your personal spending habits and what you value in a credit card.

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• Chase Freedom Flex®: This card is an excellent choice for no-fee card seekers who enjoy maximizing rewards through rotating bonus categories and want a flexible cash back card.
• American Express® Gold Card: This card is ideal for frequent travelers and foodies who spend significantly on dining and groceries, and who are looking for generous travel rewards.

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Redemption

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Chase Freedom Flex®: This card offers flexible cash back rewards that can be redeemed for statement credits, direct deposits, or travel through the Chase portal. The simplicity of cash back makes it a versatile option for everyday rewards.

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American Express® Gold Card: You'll earn Membership Rewards® points, which are geared toward travel and deliver maximum value when transferred to airline and hotel partners. While other redemption options exist, they typically offer less value than travel transfers.

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Travel Perks

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• Travel Portals: Cardholders of both the Chase Freedom Flex® and American Express® Gold Card can book trips through their respective travel portals—Chase Ultimate Rewards® and AmexTravel.com.
• Foreign Transaction Fees: When traveling internationally, the American Express® Gold Card has a distinct advantage as it does not charge foreign transaction fees. The Chase Freedom Flex®, on the other hand, does have a foreign transaction fee, which can add to your costs abroad.
• Lounge Access: Neither the Chase Freedom Flex® nor the American Express® Gold Card includes complimentary airport lounge access as a standard benefit.
• Key Travel Benefits: The Chase Freedom Flex® provides foundational travel protections, such as trip cancellation and interruption insurance. Its points can also become more valuable for travel if you pair it with a premium Chase card, enabling transfers to airline and hotel partners. The American Express® Gold Card is more travel-centric, offering benefits like an experience credit with The Hotel Collection for eligible hotel stays, baggage insurance, and car rental coverage. Its most powerful travel feature is the ability to transfer Membership Rewards® points directly to numerous airline and hotel loyalty programs.

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Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos

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Kudos is a powerful tool that helps you compare top-rated credit cards using your own spending data for personalized recommendations.

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• Test drive credit cards to see personalized reward projections based on your actual transaction history before you apply.
• Receive a detailed analysis of your approval odds for different cards, helping you apply with more confidence.
• Take advantage of a welcome offer guarantee, which ensures you get the best available sign-up bonuses.
• Manage all your cards in one place with the Kudos Wallet to track spending and monitor transactions.
• Use the autofill feature at checkout, which automatically suggests and fills in the best card to maximize your rewards on every purchase.

Who Should Choose the Chase Freedom Flex®?

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The Chase Freedom Flex® is an excellent choice for savvy spenders who enjoy maximizing rewards without paying an annual fee, particularly through its rotating 5% cash back categories. This card is ideal for individuals who frequently spend on dining and at drugstores, and are willing to activate new bonus categories each quarter to get the most value. It's also a perfect fit for those looking to build a "Chase trifecta," pairing it with a premium card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® to pool and enhance their Ultimate Rewards® points.

Who Should Choose the American Express® Gold Card?

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The American Express® Gold Card is tailor-made for food and travel enthusiasts who can maximize its rich rewards structure. This card is a powerhouse for those who spend significantly at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets, offering 4X points in both categories—on up to $25,000 per year at U.S. supermarkets, then 1X. To make the card worthwhile, you should be able to take full advantage of its monthly statement credits, such as up to $120 in annual dining credits and up to $120 in Uber Cash (Terms Apply).

Alternatives to Consider

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If our Chase Freedom Flex® vs. American Express® Gold Card comparison has you thinking neither card is the right fit, don't worry. We've rounded up a few other excellent options that might better suit your spending habits and financial goals.

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Tips for Application Success

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Before You Apply

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• Check your credit score - Most premium cards require a good to excellent credit history for approval.
• Review application rules - Be aware of issuer-specific policies that could affect your eligibility for a welcome offer.
• Understand the benefits - Some credits and rewards require enrollment or activation to maximize your value.

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Application Strategy

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• Know the issuer's rules - Be mindful of policies like Chase's 5/24 rule that can impact your approval odds.
• Use pre-qualification tools - Many issuers offer a way to check for offers without a hard inquiry on your credit report.
• Follow up if needed - If your application isn't instantly approved, a call to the reconsideration line can sometimes help.

Our Methodology

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We evaluate nearly 3,000 credit cards across the U.S. market — far more than the ~150 cards commonly featured on sites that focus only on products tied to affiliate commissions. Our goal is to provide a comprehensive, unbiased view of the credit card landscape so you can make confident, data-driven decisions.

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Our editorial team combines deep industry experience with rigorous verification standards. While our experts surface the most relevant recommendations in our guides, you can also explore the full dataset yourself through our card explorer tool, which includes thousands of cards — more than 95% of which do not provide us with commissions.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Can I combine rewards from these cards with other cards?

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Yes, points earned with the Chase Freedom Flex® can be pooled with other Chase Ultimate Rewards® cards, and points from the American Express® Gold Card can be combined with other cards earning Membership Rewards® points.

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Which card is better for international travel?

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The American Express® Gold Card is the better choice for use abroad, as it typically does not charge foreign transaction fees. The Chase Freedom Flex® usually includes a foreign transaction fee, making it less ideal for international purchases.

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Is one card better for beginners?

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For those new to credit card rewards, the Chase Freedom Flex® is often more approachable due to its lack of an annual fee. The American Express® Gold Card is better suited for experienced users who can maximize its credits to offset the annual fee.

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