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Christine ran her own business developing and managing insurance and financial services. This stoked a passion for points and miles and she now has over 2 dozen credit cards and creates in-depth, deta...
A long-time points and miles student, Jessica is the former Personal Finance Managing Editor at U.S. News and World Report and is passionate about helping consumers fund their travels for as little ca...
Juan has been involved in credit cards, loyalty, travel, and personal finance for more than 10 years. He has worked for several outlets including The Points Guy and Forbes and was previously Editor-in...
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Starting on your own usually means you’ll be responsible for most, if not all, of your finances. Managing your finances can include applying for a credit card — hopefully, one that earns rewards.
The Chase Freedom® Student Credit Card and the Chase Freedom Unlimited® are 2 cards that provide an opportunity to manage your credit, build a relationship with a valued financial institution, and earn rewards.
While the Freedom Student card is designed for those just starting, the card has a surprising number of valuable features and benefits.
For this reason, we chose to compare the card to the popular Freedom Unlimited card, another starter card that can be a step up from the Freedom Student card.
Here’s how the cards compare.
Freedom Student Card vs. Freedom Unlimited Card — Overview
We will cover all the key features and benefits of the Freedom Student card and Freedom Unlimited card coming up next.
Before we do, here’s a quick summary of how the cards stack up side-by-side.
Varies, but normally a modest cash-back bonus after the first purchase
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!
Earning
5% cash-back on Lyft rides through March 2025
1% cash-back on all purchases
Earn a cash-back Good Standing reward at each card renewal for the first 5 years
5% cash-back on travel purchased via the Chase travel portal
5% cash-back on Lyft rides through March 2025
3% cash-back on dining and at drugstores
1.5% cash-back on all other purchases
Redemption Options
Redeem for travel via the Chase travel portal
Transfer points to premium Chase cards to then transfer to airline and hotel partners for potentially greater value
Cash, a statement credit, gift cards, shopping with select retailers
Travel Protections and Benefits
Trip cancellation, trip interruption insurance
Car rental insurance
Baggage insurance
Visa Signature Luxury Hotel Collection benefits
Shopping Protections and Benefits
Benefits and/or credits with DoorDash DashPass, Instacart+, and Gopuff
Chase Offers and Shop through Chase
Visa Signature Shopping Benefits
Annual Fees and Authorized Users
$0 annual fee
No charge to add authorized users
$0 annual fee
No charge to add authorized users
Credit Building and Management Tools
Chase Credit Journey
My Chase Plan
Credit limit increase after responsible use
Chase Credit Journey
My Chase Plan
0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 20.49% - 29.24%.
The Value of a Welcome Offer
A credit card welcome offer on cash-back cards can come in the form of a cash-back bonus for meeting specific spending thresholds after card approval.
The Freedom Student card does not always have a welcome offer, but when it does, it is quite modest. However, if there is a current offer, you can usually earn it after your first purchase, which is a positive.
The Freedom Unlimited card comes with a welcome offer currently worth hundreds of dollars, but once again, offers can vary so you’ll want to check for the most recent offer before applying.
Here’s a snapshot of the Freedom Unlimited card, including the most recent welcome offer:
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!
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.
Don’t forget too, there’s 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 20.49% - 29.24%.
Pros
0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 20.49% - 29.24%.
5% back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards
3% back on dining and drugstore purchases
1.5% back on all other purchases
No annual fee
Earn big on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards
Everyday bonus on dining and drugstores
Straightforward cash-back on all other purchases
Ability to pool points
Cons
3% foreign transaction fee
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 Ultimate Rewards®, 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 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.
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 20.49% - 29.24%.
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, real-time alerts, and more.
The Freedom Student card may or may not come with a current welcome offer but, if it does, it is usually a modest one. The Freedom Unlimited card normally comes with a welcome offer worth a few hundred dollars.
Earning Potential
Every purchase made on either of our featured cards will earn rewards, and some purchases receive bonus earnings. Image Credit Denys Gromov via Pexels
With either the Freedom Student card or Freedom Unlimited card, you’ll earn rewards on every purchase you make. Rewards are earned as points that can be redeemed for cash-back or other options.
We’ll review your options for redeeming those points, but first, let’s look at all the ways you can earn rewards on each of our featured cards.
Earning Category
Freedom Student Card
Freedom Unlimited Card
Travel
5% cash-back on Lyft rides through March 2025
Earn 2,000 points ($20 in value) as a Good Standing Reward each card anniversary for the first 5 years
5% cash-back on travel purchased via the Chase travel portal
5% cash-back on Lyft rides through March 2025
Dining and Drugstores
1% cash-back
3% cash-back
All Other Purchases
1% cash-back
1.5% cash-back
You’ll notice that the Freedom Unlimited card is the better card when it comes to earning. With 1.5% cash-back on non-bonus category earnings versus 1% cash-back on the Freedom Student card, the card is the better choice. Travel purchased on the Chase travel portal, dining, and drugstore purchases also offer elevated earnings not found on the Freedom Student card.
The Freedom Student card does earn an additional 2,000 points ($20) at each card anniversary when your card is renewed, your account is open, and it is not in default.
Bottom Line:
The Freedom Unlimited card is a better earning card than the Freedom Student card. The card has bonus earnings on purchases via the Chase travel portal and dining and drugstore purchases. For all other purchases, it earns 1.5% cash-back versus 1% on the Freedom Student card.
Redemption Options
You can redeem your points for travel, cash, gift cards, and more. Image Credit: Andrea Piacquadio via Pexels
Although the Freedom Student card and Freedom Unlimited card are cash-back-earning cards, you will have additional options at redemption time.
Having options creates greater potential value for your points. Here are your choices when it’s time to redeem the points earned on either card:
Redemption Option
Freedom Student Card
Freedom Unlimited Card
Travel
Redeem points for 1 cent each for travel via the Chase travel portal
Redeem points for 1 cent each for a statement credit for previous travel purchases
Transfer points to premium Chase cards and redeem them for up to 1.5 cents each for travel via the Chase travel portal
Transfer points to premium Chase cards and then transfer to airline and hotel partners for greater potential value
Additional Redemption Options
Cash, a statement credit, gift cards
Pay with Points at Amazon, and Apple, checkout at PayPal
Securing one of these premium cards in the future allows you to receive much greater value for your rewards. Transferring points earned on the Freedom Student card or Freedom Unlimited card to premium cards allows you to redeem for travel via the Chase travel portal for up to 1.5 cents each.
Points earned on both the Freedom Student card and the Freedom Unlimited card can normally be redeemed for at least 1 cent each for cash, statement credits, gift cards, and to pay with points at select retailers. Points can also be transferred to Chase premium credit cards for greater value at redemption time.
Travel Protections and Benefits
The Freedom Student card and Freedom Unlimited card can be issued as Visa Signature cards and therefore have parallel travel protections and benefits.
Here are the protections and benefits you’ll find on both cards:
Car Rental Insurance: The auto collision damage waiver provides secondary coverage domestically if you have other auto insurance that applies. Outside your country of residence, the coverage is primary, and you do not need to file a claim with any other applicable insurance for card coverage to kick in. Use your card to book and pay for your rental, decline the rental agency’s CDW/LDW coverage, and receive coverage for damage or theft.
Trip Cancellation and Trip Interruption Insurance: If your trip needs to be canceled or is disrupted due to a covered reason, you could receive up to $1,500 per covered person, with a maximum of up to $6,000 per trip for non-refundable passenger fares.
Roadside Dispatch: Pay just 1 flat rate per service call to receive limited towing, tire changing of an inflated spare, emergency fuel delivery, lockout service, standard winching, and jump-start service.
Travel and Emergency Assistance Services — Receive 24/7 help when traveling for medical/legal referrals, translation services, assistance with a lost passport, emergency transportation, and more.
Visa Signature Luxury Hotel Collection Benefits — Receive VIP benefits such as an upgraded room and late checkout (when available), complimentary breakfast for 2, free Wi-Fi, and a $25 food and beverage credit.
Shopping Protections and Benefits
Shopping benefits can save you money on food delivery and much more. Image Credit: Mikhail Nilov via Pexels
Shopping protections with the Freedom Student card and Freedom Unlimited card provide additional protection for eligible items purchased with either card. Shopping benefits can provide free trial memberships and savings on specific purchases.
Here are the shopping protections and benefits you’ll find on both cards:
Purchase Protection: Receive coverage for theft and damage on eligible items purchased with your card for up to 120 days from the purchase date. Maximum coverage per item is $500, with a maximum of up to $50,000 per account.
Extended Warranty: Eligible items purchased with your card with manufacturer’s warranties of 3 years or less may qualify for 1 additional year of warranty protection.
DoorDash DashPass: You’ll receive a free 3-month membership and an option for an additional 9 months at 50% off. Membership includes free delivery and reduced service fees on eligible orders.
Instacart+ Benefits: Receive a complimentary 3-month membership that includes free delivery and reduced service fees. Enroll and receive $10 each quarter in statement credits for Instatcart+ purchases through July 2024.
Gopuff Benefits: Receive a $10 monthly statement credit for Gopuff purchases when you register by December 31, 2023.
Chase Offers: When you log in to your online card account, you can select Chase Offers, which allows you to earn additional cash-back when you purchase with featured retailers or service providers.
Shop through Chase: Before you make a purchase, you’ll want to check out the featured retailers in the Shop through Chase section located on the Ultimate Rewards page in your online card account. Make the qualifying purchase with your card and you’ll earn additional rewards.
Visa Signature Shopping Benefits: You’ll find a few useful Visa Signature shopping benefits, such as discounts on car rentals, hotels, and golf, plus a free trial membership for Shipt delivery services on both of our featured cards.
Freedom Unlimited Card
Introductory 0% APR Period for Purchases: Pay off large purchase(s) over time without interest with the Freedom Unlimited card. Receive a 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 20.49% - 29.24%..
Credit Management Tools
The Freedom Student card and Freedom Unlimited card come with several features that help you manage your card account and build a strong credit history.
Here are some of the credit management tools you’ll find on both cards:
Chase Credit Journey: Set alerts for any unusual activity, monitor your credit, and have free access to your credit score andhistory.
My Chase Plan: Qualifying purchases of $100 or more can be split into manageable monthly payments with no interest — just a monthly service fee. The service fee is waived if your purchase falls within the introductory 0% APR period featured on the Freedom Unlimited card.
Zero Liability: You won’t be held responsible for any unauthorized charges.
Lock/Unlock Feature: Use your Chase app to block activity on your card.
In addition, each of our featured cards has its own unique credit management benefits.
Freedom Student Card
Credit Limit Increase: Make 5 on-time monthly payments within the first 10 months after account opening and receive a credit limit increase. Terms apply.
Freedom Unlimited Card
Introductory 0% APR Period for Balance Transfers: The Freedom Unlimited card has a 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 20.49% - 29.24%.. If you have high-interest credit cards, you may be able to benefit by transferring the balance to the Freedom Unlimited card and paying off the balance over time without interest. There is a transfer fee of 3% or $5, whichever is greater, within the first 60 days after card approval and 5% or $5, whichever is greater, after that.
Bottom Line:
Both the Freedom Student card and Freedom Unlimited card come with tools to manage your card account and credit wisely. Both cards offer free access to your credit report, the ability to plan management monthly payments without interest, and more. Additionally, the Freedom Student card provides an incentive to receive a higher credit limit, and the Freedom Unlimited card has an introductory 0% APR on balance transfers.
Annual Fees and Authorized Users
The Freedom Student card and Freedom Unlimited card do not charge annual fees.
There is also no fee to add authorized users to either card.
Everything Else You Need To Know
Before applying for any Chase credit card, you’ll want to review Chase’s 5/24 rule. The rule includes cards issued by other financial institutions in addition to Chase cards and affects whether Chase will approve you.
You must be a student to be eligible for the Freedom Student card. The card also requires a Social Security number or ITIN number, which may present a challenge for some international students. Also, both the Freedom Student card and Freedom Unlimited card charge foreign transaction fees of 3% of the total transaction.
Points do not expire with either card as long as your card account is open and in good standing.
We recommend at least a fair credit score of 640 or better to qualify for the Freedom Student card. For the Freedom Unlimited card, we recommend a good to excellent score of 670 or greater.
Final Thoughts
Either the Freedom Student card or Freedom Unlimited card could be a great starter card, but the best card will be the one for which you would qualify.
This alone is a reason to consider either of these featured cards.
The information regarding the Chase Freedom® Student Credit Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer. The information regarding the Chase Freedom Flex℠ was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
Featured Image Credit: Upgraded Points
Frequently Asked Questions
The Freedom Unlimited card is the better card due to its elevated earning potential. However, the Freedom Student card is a good card for students as it provides an entry-level path to qualify for a Chase credit card, establish a credit history, and gain access to better rewards-earning cards and financial products.
Either card can be a good choice for the long term as neither card charges an annual fee.
Yes, the Freedom Student card, Freedom Unlimited card, and Chase Freedom Flex℠, all charge 3% foreign transaction fees based on the total transaction.
Yes. One of the qualifications for the Freedom Student card is that you must be a student.
Yes, you can transfer points earned on the Freedom Student card to other select Ultimate Rewards-earning credit cards such as the Chase Sapphire Preferred card and the Chase Sapphire Reserve card.
Christine ran her own business developing and managing insurance and financial services. This stoked a passion for points and miles and she now has over 2 dozen credit cards and creates in-depth, detailed content for UP.
Disclaimer: Any comments listed below are not from the bank advertiser, nor have they been reviewed or approved by them. No responsibility will be taken by the bank advertiser for these comments.
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