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Chase Freedom Flex vs Delta SkyMiles Gold: Which Is Better In 2025?
July 1, 2025
Editor's Picks
Chase Freedom Flex®: This card is ideal for maximizing cash back through rotating quarterly categories, plus bonus rewards on travel, dining, and drugstore purchases.
Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card: This card is best for frequent Delta flyers who want to save money with a free checked bag and earn extra miles on Delta purchases, restaurants, and at U.S. supermarkets.
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.
Chase Freedom Flex® Breakdown
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Why We Like It
Here’s a closer look at why the Chase Freedom Flex® stands out in a crowded field of cash back cards.
- With no annual fee, it combines powerful, rotating 5% cash back categories on up to $1,500 in combined quarterly purchases (then 1%) with fixed 3% rewards on dining and drugstore purchases.
- Cardholders receive valuable benefits like cell phone protection, which covers you for up to $800 per claim against damage or theft.
- You only need to spend about $834 in the 3% dining and drugstore categories to earn $25 in cash back, making it easy to accumulate rewards on everyday spending (publisher-formulated estimate).
Pros
- A generous welcome bonus and an introductory APR offer help new cardholders maximize value from the start.
- Rewards are earned as highly flexible Chase Ultimate Rewards® points. When paired with a premium Chase card, these points can be transferred to airline and hotel partners for potentially greater value.
- In addition to cell phone protection, the card includes purchase and warranty protections on eligible items, adding a layer of security to your spending.
Cons
- You must manually activate new bonus categories each quarter to earn the top cash back rate, and those rewards are subject to a spending cap.
- A foreign transaction fee makes the card a poor choice for purchases outside the U.S.
- Strict eligibility requirements, including Chase’s 5/24 rule, can make approval challenging for some applicants.
Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Breakdown
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Why We Like It
This section breaks down why we like the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card.
- It offers a straightforward way to earn miles on everyday spending at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets, plus valuable perks like priority boarding and in-flight savings.
- The card has a $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150 (See Rates & Fees), which lets you test its value without an upfront cost.
- The free checked bag benefit alone can offset the annual fee; a family of four could save $280 on just one round-trip flight (publisher-formulated estimate).
Pros
- A complimentary first checked bag for you and up to eight companions on the same Delta reservation.
- Accelerated miles on purchases at restaurants, U.S. supermarkets, and with Delta, plus a discount when redeeming miles for award flights.
- Valuable travel perks like priority boarding, statement credits for in-flight purchases, and no foreign transaction fees.
Cons
- Lacks premium travel perks found on higher-tier cards, such as complimentary lounge access, upgrade priority, a companion certificate, or credits for expedited security screening.
- The rewards earning rate is less competitive on non-Delta spending, and some key benefits come with high spending requirements or notable restrictions.
Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express vs Chase Freedom Flex®
Categories
Deciding which is better, Chase Freedom Flex® or Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card, depends entirely on your spending habits and lifestyle.
- Chase Freedom Flex® is best for savvy spenders who want to maximize cash back through rotating bonus categories and on everyday purchases like dining and drugstore items. It's also ideal for those who want to pair it with other Chase cards to enhance their rewards strategy.
- Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card is tailored for frequent Delta flyers who want to earn miles on travel and everyday spending. This card is a great fit for travelers who value perks like free checked bags and priority boarding.
Redemption
Chase Freedom Flex®: Rewards are earned as points that can be redeemed for cash back, gift cards, or travel booked through the Chase Ultimate Rewards® portal. This provides a high degree of flexibility for redeeming your earnings on a variety of purchases.
Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card: Rewards are earned as miles, which are primarily used for booking flights with Delta Air Lines and its partners. You can also redeem miles for other travel-related perks like seat upgrades or vacation packages.
Travel Perks
- Chase Freedom Flex®:
- Travel is booked through the Chase Ultimate Rewards® portal, offering flexibility to redeem points for flights, hotels, and car rentals across different brands.
- This card charges a foreign transaction fee, making it less ideal for purchases made abroad.
- It does not offer airport lounge access.
- Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card:
- The travel ecosystem is centered on Delta Air Lines, with miles used for flights with Delta and its partner airlines.
- Cardholders enjoy no foreign transaction fees on international purchases.
- Major perks are airline-specific and include a first checked bag free on Delta flights, Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding, and a statement credit on eligible in-flight purchases. Terms apply.
Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos
If you're looking to simplify the decision-making process, a tool like Kudos can help you compare thousands of credit cards based on your personal spending habits.
- Use the 'Test Drive' feature to see a personalized projection of your potential annual rewards based on your real transaction history—all without a hard credit pull.
- Receive a welcome offer guarantee, where Kudos will match a better offer if you find one within three months.
- Get a detailed analysis of your approval odds for different cards based on your credit report.
- Earn extra rewards on top of your regular card earnings when shopping at participating stores with Kudos Boost.
Who Should Choose the Chase Freedom Flex®?
The Chase Freedom Flex® is a great fit for strategic spenders who enjoy maximizing their rewards by keeping up with rotating bonus categories. It's particularly valuable for those who frequently dine out or make drugstore purchases and want to pair it with other Chase cards to pool Ultimate Rewards® points. Cardholders who prefer a no-annual-fee card with flexible redemption options will find this card to be a powerful tool in their wallet, as detailed in this cash back card review.
Who Should Choose the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express?
The Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card is a strong choice for loyal Delta flyers who travel several times a year, as the free checked bag benefit alone can easily offset the annual fee. It also appeals to those who frequently dine out or shop at U.S. supermarkets, allowing them to accumulate miles on everyday spending. Even casual travelers can find significant value in the card's quality-of-life perks like priority boarding and the TakeOff 15 benefit, which offers a 15% discount on award flights, as detailed in a comprehensive review.
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.
Alternatives to Consider
If our Chase Freedom Flex® vs. Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card comparison has left you feeling like neither is the perfect match, don't worry. There are plenty of other excellent rewards cards on the market that might better suit your spending habits and travel goals.
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Tips for Application Success
Before You Apply
- Check your credit score - Most rewards cards require a good to excellent credit history for approval.
- Know the issuer's rules - Be aware of application restrictions like Chase's 5/24 rule or Amex's once-per-lifetime policy.
- Plan your spending - Make sure you can meet the minimum spend for the welcome offer without overspending.
Application Strategy
- Time your application around large, planned purchases to help meet spending requirements for a welcome offer.
- Choose cards that align with your spending habits, such as a co-branded airline card if you are a frequent flyer with one carrier.
- Consider how a new card fits into a broader rewards strategy or if a product change from an existing card is a better option.
Our Methodology
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.
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
Can I transfer points from the Chase Freedom Flex to Delta SkyMiles?
You cannot directly transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards® points from the Freedom Flex card to the Delta SkyMiles program. Chase has its own set of airline and hotel transfer partners, which does not include Delta.
Which card offers better travel perks?
The Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card is focused on travel perks specific to flying with Delta, such as a free first checked bag and priority boarding. The Chase Freedom Flex offers broader travel protections like trip cancellation insurance and an auto rental collision damage waiver.
What are the annual fees for these cards?
The Chase Freedom Flex card does not have an annual fee. The Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card has an annual fee, and you should always verify the current amount and terms on the issuer's website. Terms Apply.
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Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are those of Kudos alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
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