Chase Freedom Flex vs. Chase Freedom Unlimited: Which Is the Best Card for You?

Most products on this page are from partners who may compensate us. This may influence which products we write about and where and how they appear on the page. However, opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain. This page may include information about American Express products currently unavailable on Slickdeals. American Express is not a partner of Slickdeals.

If you're in the market for a cash-back credit card, you may have already come across the Chase Freedom Flex℠ Card and Chase Freedom Unlimited® credit cards. These two no-annual-fee cards are among the best options for cash back, and with the Chase Ultimate Rewards program, you could squeeze even more value with the right strategy.

For the most part, the two cards are identical. However, there's one key difference that can help you decide which one is better for you: How you'll earn rewards.

Chase Freedom Flex℠

• $0 Annual Fee
• $200 Editor's
  Bonus Estimate More Info

  Learn more about how we evaluate points and miles in our monthly evaluation guide.

• Sign-Up Bonus $200Cash Bonus More Info

  Receive a $200 bonus after you spend $500 in the first three months.

• 19.99% - 28.74% (Variable) APR

This product is currently not available via Slickdeals. All information about this product was collected by Slickdeals and has not been reviewed by the issuer.

Chase Freedom Unlimited®

• $0 Annual Fee
• $300 Editor's
  Bonus Estimate More Info

  Learn more about how we evaluate points and miles in our monthly evaluation guide.

• Bonus Offer 1.5%Extra Cash Back More Info

  Earn an extra 1.5% on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) — worth up to $300 cash back. That's 6.5% on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 4.5% on dining and drugstores, and 3% on all other purchases.

• 20.49% - 29.24% (Variable) APR

Apply Now

Secure application on issuer’s website

Rewards Differences: Chase Freedom Flex vs. Chase Freedom Unlimited

The Freedom cards are tough to beat, especially with some new upgrades Chase added in 2021. And because they're mostly identical, you really only need to think about the rewards program as you try to decide which one to choose.

Chase Freedom Flex Rewards

The Chase Freedom Flex is a new version of the original Chase Freedom® card, which is no longer available to new applications. On the rewards front, the card offers 5% cash back on up to $1,500 spent on rotating categories each quarter you activate.

In addition to these rotating bonus categories, cardholders also earn:

• 5% back on travel booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards
• 3% back on dining, including takeout and delivery
• 3% back on drugstore purchases
• 1% back on other purchases

The only drawback to the Freedom Flex's rewards program is that non-bonus spending earns just 1% back. But if you can structure your spending to maximize the card's rotating bonus categories without overspending, it may be easy to make up for that downside.

Chase Freedom Unlimited Rewards

The Chase Freedom Unlimited's rewards program doesn't offer as much upside in terms of bonus categories, but its base rewards rate is 50% higher.

The card offers:

• 5% cash back on travel booked through Chase
• 3% back on drugstore purchases and dining, including takeout and delivery
• 1.5% back on all other purchases

Additionally, new Freedom Unlimited cardholders enjoy an extra 1.5% cash back on all purchases (up to $20,000 spent) in the first year. This bonus adds onto the normal rewards rates, meaning you can earn up to 6.5% cash back in your first year.

Another reason to pick the Freedom Unlimited over the Freedom Flex is that it provides more certainty. Rotating categories on the Freedom Flex change each year, so it's difficult to plan ahead, and if you don't spend much in the categories you're given, you may be stuck getting 1% back on most of your purchases. With the Freedom Unlimited, you don't have to keep track of ever-changing bonus categories or worry about earning a mediocre rate on a lot of your spending.

Bonus Offers: Freedom Flex vs. Freedom Unlimited

The Flex and the Unlimited offer new cardholders notably different sign-up bonuses.

Chase Freedom Flex℠

This product is currently not available via Slickdeals. All information about this product was collected by Slickdeals and has not been reviewed by the issuer.

• Our Rating 4.5/5 How our ratings work
• APR19.99% - 28.74% (Variable)
• Annual Fee$0
• Sign-Up Bonus $200Cash Bonus More Info

  Receive a $200 bonus after you spend $500 in the first three months.

The Chase Freedom Flex card expands on the already lucrative Chase Freedom card. The Freedom Flex also gives cardholders access to Chase Ultimate Rewards, which is arguably the most versatile rewards platform, and you’ll get plenty of redemption options at good rates. Plus, if you have one of the program’s travel cards, you can transfer points from your Freedom Flex to your travel card account and get even more value and flexibility with how you redeem.

• Overview
• Pros & Cons

Overview

Getting more in cash back is a clear win for anyone who is considering the Freedom Flex card. This card is ideal for anyone who want to maximize cash-back rewards with the option to get more value with travel redemptions.

Pros

• Generous earnings on select rotating categories each quarter
• Cellphone and trip insurance coverage
• No annual fee
• Ability to convert rewards to transferable Ultimate Rewards points

Cons

• Can't transfer Chase points to travel partners unless paired with select products

Chase Freedom Unlimited®

Apply Now

Secure application on issuer’s website

• Our Rating 4.5/5 How our ratings work
• APR20.49% - 29.24% (Variable)
• Annual Fee$0
• Bonus Offer 1.5%Extra Cash Back More Info

  Earn an extra 1.5% on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) — worth up to $300 cash back. That's 6.5% on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 4.5% on dining and drugstores, and 3% on all other purchases.

We like that the card offers a high flat rewards rate but also provides accelerated rewards on some common everyday spending categories. You’ll also get access to the Chase Ultimate Rewards Travel portal, which allows you to use your cash-back earnings for travel rewards, gift cards and more. If you make this your primary card for most purchases you can quickly rack up a lot of rewards.

• Overview
• Pros & Cons

Overview

The Chase Freedom Unlimited card is unique for a couple of reasons. First, it comes with purchase protection and extended warranty protection you don’t see with some other cash-back cards. Second, you earn cash back in the form of points (Chase Ultimate Rewards) and when paired with another annual-fee earning Chase product, you can get even more value if you love to travel by transferring to partners.

That’s because while the Freedom cards are marketed as cash-back credit cards, they actually offer points. You can use those points to book travel through Chase at a rate of 1 cent per point. But if you have the Chase Sapphire Preferred® or Chase Sapphire Reserve®, you’ll get 25% and 50% more value on those travel redemptions, respectively. (Plus, the ability to transfer your points, too.)

Read More

Pros

• No category bonuses to remember; earn at least 1.5% back on everything
• No annual fee
• Generous travel and purchase protection benefits

Cons

• Can't transfer Chase points unless paired with another annual-fee Chase product

With the Freedom Flex,new cardholders can earn a $200 cash bonus after making $500 in purchases in the first three months. That’s a great sign-up bonus for purchases you probably would have made anyway. If you want to do the math, that’s a 40% cash-back rate on your first $500 in purchases with the card. And keep in mind that while it’s technically a cash-back credit card, you’re really earning Ultimate Rewards points, so $200 in cash back is worth 20,000 points.

The Freedom Unlimited card doesn't offer an immediate cash bonus, but the bonus 1.5% cash back could end up being worth up to $100 more than the Freedom Flex bonus. If you have the patience – and if your spending habits align with the Freedom Unlimited card's regular bonus categories – this bonus could very well pay off for you more in the long run.

Benefits Comparison: Chase Freedom Flex vs. Freedom Unlimited

Chase Freedom Flex℠

• 5%

  5% Back on Rotating Categories

  Earn 5% back on the first $1,500 spent each quarter in categories that change every three months (activation required)

• 5%

  5% Back at Chase Ultimate Rewards Travel

  Earn 5% back on travel booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards Travel

• 3%

  3% Back on Dining

  Earn 3% back on dining, including eligible takeout and delivery services

• 3%

  3% Back at Drugstores

  Earn 3% back at drugstores

Chase Freedom Unlimited®

• 3 Months

  Complimentary DashPass

  Activate by December 31, 2024, and get a complimentary 3 months of DashPass.

• 3 Months

  Complimentary Instacart+

  Enroll by July 31, 2024, and get a complimentary 3 months of Instacart+ membership.

• 5%

  Cash Back on Chase Ultimate Rewards Travel

  Earn 5% cash back on travel booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards Travel.

• 3%

  Cash Back on Dining

  Earn 3% cash back on dining, including eligible takeout and delivery services.

• 3%

  Cash Back at Drugstores

  Earn 3% cash back at drugstores.

• 1.5%

  Cash Back on Other Purchases

  Earn 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.

• 5%

  Cash Back on Lyft

  Earn 5% cash back on Lyft rides through March 31, 2025.

On the benefits side of things, the two cards are identical. There are two major benefits for purchases that both cards offer that every user should know about.

Purchase Protection

Eligible new purchases are protected for 120 days against theft and accidental damage. You can get a reimbursement or replacement up to $500 per claim. If you just got a new smartphone with your card and drop it the day you brought it home, the card’s benefits should cover repairs, for example.

Extended Warranty

New eligible purchases get an extra year of warranty protection above what you get from the manufacturer. This covers most items with a warranty of three years or less.

Neither card has any major travel benefits. If you are interested in a card with more hefty benefits for purchases and travel, consider the Chase Sapphire Preferred® or Chase Sapphire Reserve®.

Introductory 0% APR

Both cards currently feature 0% APR for the first 15 months after opening a new account. Once this period elapses, the Freedom Flex features an APR of 19.99% - 28.74% (Variable), whereas the Freedom Unlimited features an APR of 20.49% - 29.24% (Variable).

This introductory zero-interest period applies to both new purchases and balance transfers. Just make sure you pay down your balance before the introductory 0% APR period is up in order to avoid interest. Also, be aware that both cards feature a balance transfer fee. You'll be charged either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater in the first 60 days, then either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater, once the 60-day intro period has elapsed.

Redeeming Points

Both Freedom cards give you cash back that’s easy to redeem. The best value for most people is to redeem for a statement credit that lowers your account balance or a direct deposit into any bank account in the U.S.

If you also hold one of the Chase Ultimate Rewards travel cards, including the Sapphire cards mentioned above or the Ink Business Preferred^® Credit Card, you can transfer your Freedom card points to one of those cards. All three offer more value when you use rewards to book travel through Chase and also allow you to transfer your points to a handful of airline and hotel loyalty programs.

Deciding Between Chase Freedom and Chase Freedom Unlimited

Both the Freedom Flex and Freedom Unlimited cards offer great value for no annual fee, but depending on your spending habits and desire to maximize rewards, one may be the clear winner for you.

If you prefer simplicity, the Freedom Unlimited's 1.5% cash-back rate will help you avoid dealing with unpredictable and potentially hard-to-remember bonus categories. But if you're a credit card rewards enthusiast and your goal is to maximize your rewards, the Freedom Flex provides more potential.

For most people, the Chase Freedom Unlimited card is probably a better choice.

Power users might want both cards, as they allow you to layer together 5% back on the bonus categories and 1.5% everywhere else. But if you just want to keep things simple, Freedom Unlimited is probably a better card for most people.

Both cards have virtually identical benefits and fees. The big difference to focus on is how they earn rewards, which ultimately comes down to personal preference.