Barclay Aspiring Prime vs. Chase Freedom?

[Anonymous]

Hi all,

I'm currently in the process of rebuilding my credit. I have a FICO of 641 and have been pre approved for Barclays Reward Aspiring Prime as well as Chase Freedom. Are there any opinions as to which is the better card here? Or which would give me an intial higher CL? My only other card is a Capital One Secured card with a limit of $200. If it makes any difference, I have had a Chase checking account for a very long time. Any input would be greatly appreciated, thanks!

[missjae]

If your approval chances are the same for both, I'd go for Chase Freedom. I like Chase and in the long run, you have the ability to move CL's between cards. Both usually require an HP for CLI. Barclays rewards offers 2x back in 3 categories and I believe Chase Freedom has rotating categories where you earn more cash back then you would with Barclays Rewards. You can also combine the Freedom with the Sapphire Preferred. I don't have that combo though and can't give you all the info.

Others can chime in and give you more info.

[ForMyBiz]

I have both and think they both have their advantages.  

I use the Chase card more because I think it's easier to manage, because it's connected to my checking account, but the rewards are definitely limited (with the exception of their 5% catagories), compared with the Barclay Card that offers 2% in several really good catagories all the time.

[Anonymous]

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@ForMyBiz wrote:

I have both and think they both have their advantages.  

I use the Chase card more because I think it's easier to manage, because it's connected to my checking account, but the rewards are definitely limited (with the exception of their 5% catagories), compared with the Barclay Card that offers 2% in several really good catagories all the time.

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It depends also on where you spend and your future credit aspirations.  It's a little hard to compare (and this is why I hate rotators!) as you don't know what future 5% categories will be, but if you don't spend a lot in the Barclays Rewards categories, then it's not so useful.  By future credit aspirations, really two things:

1) As ForMyBiz suggests, if you plan to get the CSP at some stage, you will probably want the Freedom, and getting it now is fine.   With these cards, you can get good travel rewards

2) Or, do you plan to get something like the Fidelity Amex?   Once I got mine, I closed the Barclays Rewards, as it has no advantage (apart from being a Visa) over the Fidelity cards, which gives 2% on all categories.

Also, with a checking account, Freedom gives 10% more, so you are getting 1.1% and 5.5%.   And where the Freedom really wins, $200 sign up now, compared to a much smaller amount for Barclays Rewards.