Amex Green Card vs. Freedom Unlimited Card [Detailed Comparison]

If you’re not quite ready to take on the high annual fee typically required of a premium travel rewards card yet want to start earning flexible travel rewards, you’ll find today’s card comparison appropriate.

We’ve selected 2 solid rewards-earning cards that are not only practical but could also serve to complement more premium cards should you decide to expand in the future.

The American Express^® Green Card and the Chase Freedom Unlimited^® will fit comfortably in your wallet and deliver value beyond earning and redeeming rewards.

Let’s look at what you can expect from these 2 popular cards.

Overview

We’ll expand on the earning potential, redemption options, and benefits of the Amex Green card and the Freedom Unlimited card shortly.

Before we dive deeper, let’s look at a side-by-side overview of our featured cards and how they compare overall:

The information regarding the American Express^® Green Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.

The Value of a Welcome Offer

Once you’ve received approval for either the Amex Green card or the Freedom Unlimited card, you’ll have the opportunity to earn a welcome bonus. Welcome bonuses on our featured cards can vary in value, though typically, you can earn rewards potentially worth hundreds of dollars during this initial period.

The following are snapshots of each of our featured cards, including the cards’ welcome offer information.

You’ll want to check out the most current offers available before applying.

American Express^® Green Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

This card can provide a great way to accumulate Membership Rewards points on eligible travel, transit, and at restaurants.

All information about American Express^® Green Card has been collected independently by Upgraded Points.

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Know if you're approved with no credit score impact

If you're approved and accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.

American Express^® Green Card

This card can provide a great way to accumulate Membership Rewards points on eligible travel, transit, and at restaurants.

Welcome Offer

Earn 40,000 Membership Rewards^® points after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your American Express^® Green Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.

40,000 points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$880

Annual Fee

$150

APR

See Pay Over Time APR

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

The American Express^® Green Card is an excellent all-around travel rewards card thanks to earning 3x Membership Rewards^® points on eligible travel and transit purchases and at restaurants, access to American Express transfer partners, and a reasonable annual fee.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 3x points per $1 spent at restaurants worldwide, on all eligible travel purchases, and transit purchases
• Up to $199 per calendar year in statement credits after you pay for a CLEAR^® Plus membership with the Card.
• Up to $100 in statement credits annually when you purchase airport lounge access through LoungeBuddy with the Card.

Cons

• $150 annual fee
• No elite benefits like airport lounge access or hotel elite status

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn 40,000 Membership Rewards^® Points after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your American Express^® Green Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
• Earn 3X Membership Rewards^® points on travel, including airfare, hotels, cruises, tours, car rentals, campgrounds, and vacation rentals.
• Earn 3X Membership Rewards^® Points on transit purchases, including trains, taxicabs, rideshare services, ferries, tolls, parking, buses, and subways.
• Earn 3X Membership Rewards^® points on eligible purchases at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the US.
• $199 CLEAR Plus Credit: Receive up to $199 per calendar year in statement credits when you pay for your CLEAR Plus membership (subject to auto-renewal) with the American Express^® Green Card.
• $100 LoungeBuddy: No airport lounge membership? No problem! Purchase lounge access through the LoungeBuddy app using the American Express^® Green Card and receive up to $100 in statement credits annually.
• Payment Flexibility: When it comes to paying your bill, you have options. You can always pay in full. You also have the flexibility to carry a balance with interest or use Plan It^® to split up large purchases into monthly payments with a fixed fee, up to your Pay Over Time Limit. You may be able to keep spending beyond your limit – you’ll just need to pay for any new purchases in full when your bill is due.
• Trip Delay Insurance: If a round-trip is paid for entirely with your Eligible Card and a covered reason delays your trip more than 12 hours, Trip Delay Insurance can help reimburse certain additional expenses purchased on the same Eligible Card, up to $300 per trip, maximum 2 claims per eligible account per 12 consecutive month period. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Coverage is provided by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
• No Foreign Transaction Fees: No matter where you’re traveling, when you use your American Express^® Green Card there are no foreign transaction fees.
• $150 annual fee.
• Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

• APR: See Pay Over Time APR
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

American Express Membership Rewards

INTRO OFFER

Chase Freedom Unlimited^®

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

This all-purpose cash-back card offers great bonus categories, including bonus points for every purchase you make!

Learn More(at Chase's secure site)

Chase Freedom Unlimited^®

This all-purpose cash-back card offers great bonus categories, including bonus points for every purchase you make!

Welcome Offer

Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back!

Up to $300 cash-back

Annual Fee

$0

APR

0% Intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 19.99% - 28.74%.

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

The Chase Freedom Unlimited^® is easily one of the best cash-back credit cards on the market. There aren’t many no-annual-fee credit cards that offer multiple great bonus categories like 5% back on travel purchased through Chase, 3% back on dining and drugstore purchases, and 1.5% back on all other purchases.

When paired with other Chase cards in the Ultimate Rewards family, you can transfer that cash back into points if you wish – making it one of the most lucrative cards in your wallet.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 19.99% - 28.74%.
• 5% back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠
• 3% back on dining and drugstore purchases

Cons

• 3% foreign transaction fee

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• INTRO OFFER: Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back!
• Enjoy 6.5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 4.5% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 3% on all other purchases (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year).
• After your first year or $20,000 spent, enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 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.
• No minimum to redeem for cash back. You can choose to receive a statement credit or direct deposit into most U.S. checking and savings accounts. Cash Back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open!
• Enjoy 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 19.99% - 28.74%.
• No annual fee – You won't have to pay an annual fee for all the great features that come with your Freedom Unlimited^® card
• Keep tabs on your credit health, Chase Credit Journey helps you monitor your credit with free access to your latest score, alerts, and more.
• Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 0% Intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 19.99% - 28.74%.
• Foreign Transaction Fees: 3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars

Rewards Center

Chase Ultimate Rewards

Bottom Line:

Both the Amex Green card and Freedom Unlimited card come with the opportunity to earn a welcome bonus after meeting card spending requirements, which can potentially be worth hundreds of dollars.

Earning Potential

Earning valuable rewards on the Amex Green card and Freedom Unlimited card is an everyday activity.

Most rewards are earned by spending on your card, but you’ll also earn bonus rewards when referring family or friends.

Here’s how you’ll earn points and cash-back on our featured cards.

Spending on the Card

Rewards earned on the Amex Green card are in the form of Amex Membership Rewards points. Rewards earned on the Freedom Unlimited card, although marketed as cash-back, are earned first as reward points that can subsequently be redeemed for cash-back.

We’ll discuss your options at redemption time coming up next. First, let’s look at how you’ll earn rewards on each of our featured cards:

If your spending is largely on travel and dining out, the Amex Green card has broader earning potential. Unlike the Freedom Unlimited card, the Amex Green card earns well on general travel purchases. The Freedom Unlimited card offers elevated bonus earnings only on travel via the Chase travel portal and Lyft rides. All other travel earns 1.5% cash-back.

The Freedom Unlimited card has strong earnings (1.5% cash-back) on non-bonus category spending and earns 3% at drugstores and on dining.

The better card for earning is the one that best matches your mix of spending.

Referral Opportunities

Referring a family member or friend who gets approved for a card can earn you a referral bonus. These bonuses can add up throughout the year.

Here are the referral opportunities for the Amex Green card and Freedom Unlimited card:

Amex Green Card

You can refer family or friends by logging in to your online Amex Green card account and selecting the Refer a Friend link. You can either enter your referral’s email address to send an application link or copy and paste a link you can send yourself.

Your referral can select any available American Express card, and once approved, you will receive the Amex Green card referral bonus. Typically, the bonus is 7,500 Membership Rewards points for each approved referral, up to 55,000 points yearly.

Freedom Unlimited Card

Earning additional cash-back is easy when referring family and friends for a Chase Freedom card. Log in to your online card account and select Refer a Friend to receive a custom link you can use to send an invitation to your referral. You can also copy/paste the link and send it yourself.

Your referral can select the Freedom Unlimited card or the Chase Freedom Flex℠. Once they’re approved for either card, you will receive the bonus.

You can receive $50 to $100 cash-back for each referral, up to $500 annually.

Bottom Line:

Earn rewards on the Amex Green card and Freedom Unlimited card by referring friends and family and receiving referral bonuses once they’re approved for a card. When spending on the card, the Amex Green card earns well on travel, transit, and dining. The Freedom Unlimited card earns well on travel via the Chase travel portal, at drugstores, and on dining. The Freedom Unlimited card also earns a strong 1.5% cash-back on all other purchases.

Redemption Options

At redemption time, you’ll discover the real value of the rewards earned on the Amex Green card or the Freedom Unlimited card.

Fortunately, with either card, you’ll have several flexible options.

Here are your options for converting rewards earned on both cards into valuable experiences or other values:

The best potential value for the rewards earned on either of our featured cards is to transfer points to travel partners to purchase award flights or free hotel rooms.

With the Amex Green card, you have the advantage of direct access to Amex transfer partners. For example, it’s possible to transfer 50,000 Amex Membership Rewards points to Virgin Atlantic Flying Club and redeem Virgin Points for a business class ticket from the U.S. to Europe in Delta One on Delta Air Lines.

We value Amex Membership Rewards points earned on the Amex Green card at 2.2 cents each.

With the Freedom Unlimited card, you must hold a Chase premium card such as the Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card or Chase Sapphire Reserve^® to have the option to transfer to Chase’s transfer partners. Without direct access to travel partners, rewards earned on the Freedom Unlimited card are generally worth a fixed value of just 1 cent each.

The Freedom Unlimited card also offers the benefit of redeeming points for 1 cent each as a statement credit versus just 0.6 cents each with the Amex Green card.

Bottom Line:

Transferring points to airline and hotel partners is the best potential value at redemption time. The Amex Green card allows direct access to travel partners, while the Freedom Unlimited card requires that you have a Chase premium card to access travel partners. The Freedom Unlimited card does have the option to redeem points at 1 cent each for travel or a statement credit.

Travel Protections and Benefits

Complimentary travel protections that come with the Amex Green card and Freedom Unlimited card aren’t meant to replace a comprehensive travel insurance policy. The protections provide peace of mind, knowing you’ll have some coverage should something go wrong during your trip.

Travel benefits with each card can save you money on travel-related purchases or provide added comfort during your journey.

Here are the travel protections and benefits you’ll find on both of our featured cards and a list of additional benefits unique to each card:

Here are the additional benefits you’ll find on each featured card:

Amex Green Card

• Trip Delay Reimbursement — If your trip is delayed more than 12 hours, you could receive up to $300 for essentials, including necessities such as toiletries, accommodation, and meals.
• CLEAR Plus Credit — Use your card to pay your application or renewal fee for CLEAR Plus and receive a statement credit of up to $199 each calendar year.
• LoungeBuddy Credit — Purchase lounge access via LoungeBuddy with your card and receive up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year.
• No Foreign Transaction Fees — Save money when using your card for foreign purchases, as there are no additional transaction fees.

Freedom Unlimited Card

• Trip Cancellation and Trip Interruption — Pay for your trip with your card, rewards, or a combination of the 2 to receive coverage if your trip needs to be canceled or is interrupted for a covered reason. You could receive up to $1,500 per covered person, up to a total of $6,000 per trip.
• Roadside Dispatch — No need to worry if you’re stranded on the roadside. Make just 1 call, and for a prearranged flat rate, you could receive a much-needed service call. Included are services such as limited towing, standard winching, fuel delivery, lockout service, changing of an inflated spare tire, or jumpstart service.
• Visa Signature Luxury Hotel Collection — Receive elite-style benefits, including an upgraded room, when available, and complimentary Wi-Fi. Additional benefits include breakfast for 2, $25 food/ beverage credit, VIP guest status, and late checkout on request, when available.

It’s worth noting that we haven’t included every benefit available on our featured cards, just key ones for comparison purposes. We’ve also abbreviated coverage descriptions. Many coverages are secondary to protections provided elsewhere. Some coverages also require that you pay for your entire ticket/trip with your card and/or associated rewards. Each card’s Guide to Benefits is your source for complete information, terms, and conditions.

Bottom Line:

The Amex Green card and Freedom Unlimited card come with car rental and baggage insurance. The Amex Green card has trip delay coverage and statement credits for CLEAR Plus and LoungeBuddy. The card also does not charge foreign transaction fees. The Freedom Unlimited card includes trip cancellation and interruption coverage and flat-rate roadside assistance. Hotel benefits on the card deliver elite-style benefits at Visa Signature Luxury Hotel Collection properties.

Shopping Protections and Benefits

When you use either the Amex Green card or Freedom Unlimited card to purchase eligible items, you may receive protection that can help if something goes wrong with your purchase.

Additionally, shopping benefits can save you money.

Let’s review the shopping protections and benefits on both cards. We’ve also included additional benefits on each of our featured cards.

You’ll find these additional shopping benefits on each card:

Amex Green Card

• Amex Offers — Login to your online card account to discover potentially lucrative Amex Offers that can save you money or provide elevated earnings on select purchases. Save the offer to your card, make the required purchase, and receive a statement credit or additional Membership Rewards points.

Freedom Unlimited Card

• DoorDash DashPass — Receive a complimentary 3-month membership when you register by January 31, 2025. Additionally, you’ll receive 9 more months of membership at 50% off. Membership includes free delivery, discounts, and reduced fees.
• Chase Offers and Shop through Chase — Earn additional cash-back with Chase Offers listed in your online card account or by shopping via the Chase shopping portal.
• Introductory 0% APR Period on Purchases — 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 19.99% - 28.74%.

Bottom Line:

The Amex Green card and Freedom Unlimited card come with purchase protection and an extended warranty for eligible items purchased with either card. Additionally, the Freedom Unlimited card offers a limited DoorDash DashPass membership and an introductory 0% APR period for purchases. Both cards also come with shopping discounts and elevated earning offers.

Annual Fees and Authorized Users

A card’s annual fee and the cost to add additional users may be a consideration when selecting a card that will work well for your situation.

The Amex Green card has an annual fee of $150, and the Freedom Unlimited card fee is $0.

There is no additional fee to add up to 5 additional users to the Amex Green card. After that, there is a charge of $35 per authorized user. There is no additional fee to add authorized users to the Freedom Unlimited card.

Final Thoughts

The Amex Green card and Freedom Unlimited card have plenty of earning potential, flexible redemption options, and useful travel/shopping protections and benefits.

However, if we look closer, one is more likely to be a better match for your household.

The Amex Green card has the edge regarding redemption options as you can transfer points directly to travel partners. To do this with the Freedom Unlimited card, you’ll need to hold a Chase premium card such as the Chase Sapphire Preferred card or Chase Sapphire Reserve card.

You may earn more with the Freedom Unlimited card if you have high non-bonus spending, such as tuition, home repairs, or medical bills. Plus, if you hold a Chase Ultimate Rewards-earning card, you can maximize rewards for greater value at redemption time. Rewards are worth up to 50% more value and access to Ultimate Rewards travel partners.

For the frequent traveler who values premium benefits, the Amex Green card would pair well with The Platinum Card^® from American Express for a mix of strong earnings and elite-style benefits.

Then, there’s the issue of the higher annual fee on the Amex Green card. If the card rewards your highest spending categories and you can utilize transfer partners for greater potential reward value, it could be worth it. If useful, the CLEAR Plus and LoungeBuddy statement credits add even more value.

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For the car rental loss and damage insurance benefit of the American Express^® Green Card, car rental loss and damage insurance can provide coverage up to $50,000 for theft of or damage to most rental vehicles when you use your eligible card to reserve and pay for the entire eligible vehicle rental and decline the collision damage waiver or similar option offered by the commercial car rental company. This product provides secondary coverage and does not include liability coverage. Not all vehicle types or rentals are covered. geographic restrictions apply. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations Apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.