Chase Freedom Flex vs Chase Freedom Unlimited: Which cash-back card is right for you?Updated Show
2022-08-26T16:48:57Z
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Compare the Freedom Flex and Freedom Unlimited
Chevron iconIt indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options. Chevron iconIt indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options. 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate. 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases. $200 after spending $500 on purchases in the first three months from account opening Earn 5% cash back on Chase travel purchased through Ultimate Rewards®, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases. 1.5% cash back in addition to regular earning on everything you buy up to $20,000 spent in the first year (worth up to $300 cash back) Chase offers some of the best rewards credit cards on the market, including the Chase Sapphire Reserve® for travel as well as co-branded credit cards with programs like Southwest Rapid Rewards and Marriott Bonvoy. The card issuer's cash-back credit card offerings have also remained popular with consumers thanks to their lucrative rewards schemes and lack of annual fees — and these cards just got even better. As of September 15, consumers can sign up for a new cash-back card called the Chase Freedom Flex℠, which has replaced the Chase Freedom for new cardholders but includes the same rotating quarterly bonus categories for earning up to 5% cash back on up to $1,500 per quarter after activation. Chase has also revamped the Chase Freedom Unlimited®, and both new offerings rack up bonus rewards in categories like dining and travel booked through Chase, as well as drugstore purchases. If you're considering a new cash-back credit card, you'll want to compare the Chase Freedom Flex℠ and the Chase Freedom Unlimited® to see how they stack up. We're focused here on the rewards and perks that come with each card. These cards won't be worth it if you're paying interest or late fees. When using a credit card, it's important to pay your balance in full each month, make payments on time, and only spend what you can afford to pay. Chase Freedom Flex versus the Chase Freedom Unlimited: The biggest differencesWelcome offerBoth the Chase Freedom Flex℠ and the Chase Freedom Unlimited® will start new cardmembers off with a $200 cash bonus when they spend $500 on their cards within three months of account opening. This bonus is very generous compared to what you'll get with many cash-back credit cards from other issuers. It's also easy for most people to earn considering you only have to spend $167 per month for three months in a row to reach the bonus threshold. Both cards also let you rack up 5% cash back on purchases made with Lyft through March of 2025. Earning cash back on purchasesThe earning rates on each card are where they really set themselves apart. The Chase Freedom Flex℠ is unique because you get 5% back on up to $1,500 spent in quarterly bonus categories (then 1% back) once activated like you did with the old Chase Freedom card, but you also get 5% back on travel booked through Chase, 3% back on dining, 3% back on drugstore purchases and 1% back on everything else you buy. The Chase Freedom Unlimited® maintains the same 1.5% back on regular purchases as it did before, but now you'll also earn 5% back on travel booked through Chase, 3% back on dining and 3% back on drugstore purchases. Redemption optionsBoth of these Chase credit cards let you access the valuable and flexible Chase Ultimate Rewards program, which lets you redeem your rewards for cash back, statement credits, gift cards, merchandise, and travel through the Chase portal. You'll get 1 cent per point in value for each of these options. Also note that, if you pair either of these cards with a Chase travel credit card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or Chase Sapphire Reserve®, you can pool your points in your premium card account and get more value for travel when you book through the Chase portal, or transfer your points to Chase airline and hotel partners like United MileagePlus or Marriott Bonvoy. Benefits — what's different?Another interesting detail about the new Chase Freedom Flex℠ is that, unlike the old Chase Freedom card, this new card will be offered as a World Elite Mastercard rather than a Visa card. This means you'll get a whole range of new benefits, including:
Several major benefits apply to both the Chase Freedom Flex℠ and the Chase Freedom Unlimited®. These include: Complimentary three months of DashPassBoth cards come with three months of free DashPass membership. After that, you'll receive 50% off membership for the following nine months. Purchase protectionGet coverage for new purchases against damage or theft for 120 days. Coverage is good for up to $500 per claim and up to $50,000 per account. Extended warrantiesEligible items with a manufacturer's warranty of three years or less can receive an additional year of extended warranty coverage. Auto rental collision damage waiverQualify for auto rental coverage when you pay for your rental car with your credit card. Coverage is secondary, rather than primary, to your personal insurance policy. Trip cancellation and interruption insuranceReceive reimbursement for up to $1,500 per person and up to $6,000 per covered trip when your travel plans are cancelled or interrupted for a covered reason. Coverage is good for prepaid and nonrefundable travel expenses you pay with your credit card. Travel and emergency assistance servicesCall into a hotline for emergency help when you're traveling and need medical or legal referrals or travel and emergency assistance. Free credit scoreBoth cards let you access your credit score for free at any time with Chase Credit Journey. Which card is best for you?Both the Chase Freedom Flex℠ and the newly upgraded Chase Freedom Unlimited® are worth considering if you want to earn cash back on every dollar you spend, but it really boils down to how you want to earn rewards. The Chase Freedom Flex℠ lets you earn 5% back on up to $1,500 spent in quarterly bonus categories (then 1%) as well as 1% back on regular purchases. Meanwhile, the Chase Freedom Unlimited offers a flat 1.5% back on all purchases that don't fall into the upgraded bonus categories. Both of these cards can let you rack up a ton of cash back, or even rewards you can pool in a Chase Sapphire account for better travel redemptions. However, the new Chase Freedom Flex℠ does come with some new World Elite Mastercard benefits that can boost its overall value if you use them. Make sure to think long and hard about how much you would earn in rewards with either card, and also check out some cash-back credit cards from other issuers before you decide. Intro offer $200 after spending $500 on purchases in the first three months from account opening Rewards 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate. 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases. Intro offer $200 after spending $500 on purchases in the first three months from account opening Rewards 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate. 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases. Card DetailsRewards 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate. 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases. Intro offer $200 after spending $500 on purchases in the first three months from account opening Recommended Credit Good to Excellent Regular APR 17.24% - 25.99% Variable Intro APR 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 months Pros & ConsChevron iconIt indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.Check mark iconA check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. No annual fee Check mark iconA check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Generous bonus cash-back categories Check mark iconA check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Great welcome bonus Dash iconA dash. It often indicates an interaction to shrink a section. Booking through Chase Ultimate Rewards portal can restrict outside earning potential Dash iconA dash. It often indicates an interaction to shrink a section. Varying percentages and rotating calendar categories require extra attention Dash iconA dash. It often indicates an interaction to shrink a section. 3% foreign transaction fees HighlightsChevron iconIt indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.
Additional ReadingChevron iconIt indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.Intro offer 1.5% cash back in addition to regular earning on everything you buy up to $20,000 spent in the first year (worth up to $300 cash back) Rewards Earn 5% cash back on Chase travel purchased through Ultimate Rewards®, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases. Intro offer 1.5% cash back in addition to regular earning on everything you buy up to $20,000 spent in the first year (worth up to $300 cash back) Rewards Earn 5% cash back on Chase travel purchased through Ultimate Rewards®, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases. Chase Freedom Unlimited® from ChaseCard DetailsRewards Earn 5% cash back on Chase travel purchased through Ultimate Rewards®, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases. Intro offer 1.5% cash back in addition to regular earning on everything you buy up to $20,000 spent in the first year (worth up to $300 cash back) Recommended Credit Good to Excellent Regular APR 17.24% - 25.99% Variable Intro APR 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 months Pros & ConsChevron iconIt indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.Check mark iconA check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Solid flat cash-back rate Check mark iconA check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. You can combine cash-back rewards with Ultimate Rewards points if you have an eligible card Check mark iconA check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. No annual fee Dash iconA dash. It often indicates an interaction to shrink a section. Some other cards offer a higher rate of cash back on certain types of purchases HighlightsChevron iconIt indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.
Additional ReadingChevron iconIt indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.
Holly Johnson Freelance Writer Holly Johnson is a credit card expert, award-winning writer, and mother of two who is obsessed with frugality, budgeting, and travel. In addition to serving as contributing editor for The Simple Dollar and writing for publications such as Bankrate, U.S. News and World Report Travel, and Travel Pulse, Johnson owns Club Thrifty and is the co-author of "Zero Down Your Debt: Reclaim Your Income and Build a Life You’ll Love." Read more Read less Editorial Note: Any opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer. Read our editorial standards. Please note: While the offers mentioned above are accurate at the time of publication, they're subject to change at any time and may have changed, or may no longer be available. **Enrollment required. LoadingSomething is loading. Thanks for signing up! Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. More... What is the difference between Chase Freedom Unlimited and Freedom Flex?The difference between the two is how they earn in other categories. The Chase Freedom Flex℠ card offers 5% back on categories that rotate each quarter, up to $1,500 in spending. The Chase Freedom Unlimited® offers 1.5% back on every dollar spent — no matter the category — with no spending limit on rewards.
Is the Chase Freedom Flex card better than the Chase Freedom Unlimited?Chase Freedom Unlimited® is the winner over Chase Freedom Flex℠. The main difference between the two cards is how much cash back you'll earn on each purchase. We believe Chase Freedom Unlimited's straightforward rewards (i.e. 1.5% cash back on most purchases) will be better for most people.
Which is better Chase Freedom or chase flex?Chase Freedom Unlimited: Best for Flexible Cash Back Rewards
Chase Freedom Unlimited is the better choice for consumers who want to earn more than 1% as a base rewards rate. Chase Freedom Unlimited users earn 1.5% cash back on all purchases outside the bonus categories, while Chase Freedom Flex earns 1%.
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Chase freedom flex credit card vs chase freedom unlimited
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