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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...
Kellie’s professional experience has led her to a deep passion for compliance, data reporting, and process improvement. Kellie’s learned the ins and outs of the points and miles world and leads UP’s c...
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While there is really no such thing as a fun credit card, spending on the Chase Freedom Unlimited® or the Chase Freedom Flex℠ comes as close to fun as you can have with a credit card.
No, the cards don’t come with fancy lounge access or luxury department store purchase credits, but there’s a lot to love each time you pull either card from your wallet to make a purchase.
We’ll talk about how these cards can fit perfectly into your daily routine and also how the cards partner well with premium Chase cards to elevate the value you receive.
Warning — it may be difficult to select just one of these cards but we’ll attempt to lay out all the facts so you can ultimately determine if there’s a winner, or if perhaps both cards are winners.
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 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.
The Freedom Flex card is an excellent no-annual-fee card that still earns big with 5% cash-back on travel and other bonus categories.
The Chase Freedom Flex℠ sure does pack quite a punch — especially for a no-annual-fee card.
The Freedom Flex card is an incredible option for those looking for a well-rounded cash-back card, or a powerful point-earner when paired with a premium card in the Ultimate Rewards family.
Pros
0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 20.49%-29.24%.
Powerful cash-back earner: 5% back on quarterly categories and travel purchases through Chase Ultimate Rewards, 3% back on dining and drugstore purchases, and 1% back on all other purchases
No annual fee
Excellent cell phone insurance
Ability to pool points
Mastercard World Elite benefits
Cons
3% foreign transaction fees in U.S. dollars
Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening.
5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate. Enjoy new 5% categories each quarter!
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
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.
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!
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 Flex℠ 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.
A welcome bonus is a unique opportunity to jumpstart your rewards earning. And, while these welcome bonuses can fluctuate, it’s always a good opportunity to meet minimum spending requirements in the first 3 months after card approval and earn this initial bonus.
Currently, both of these no-annual-fee cards are offering a $200 welcome bonus after spending $500 within the first 3 months. A $200 welcome bonus is obviously worth $200, but if you have a premium Chase credit card, the bonus could be worth much more. We’ll explain how that works when we cover redemption options shortly.
The card with the best welcome bonus may differ depending on when you apply. Be sure to check for current welcome bonuses, pricing, and terms and conditions at the time of application.
Bottom Line: If a welcome bonus is important to you, be sure to check each card’s current offering before applying as amounts do fluctuate. A common welcome bonus for each of our featured cards is around $200 after spending $500 within the first 3 months after card approval.
Earning
Both of our featured cards earn cash-back in the initial form of Ultimate Rewards points that can be redeemed for cash-back, travel, and other options we’ll tell you about momentarily.
Right now, let’s look at how the cards compare when it comes to earning potential.
Earning Categories
Freedom Unlimited Card
Freedom Flex Card
Travel purchased through Ultimate Rewards travel
5% cash-back
Quarterly bonus categories
N/A
5% cash-back, up to $1,500 in purchases each quarter
Dining
3% cash-back
Drugstores
3% cash-back
Lyft ride purchases
5% cash-back through March 2025
All other purchases
1.5% cash-back
1% cash-back
If you were to maximize the quarterly bonus earnings, you would receive $300 in earnings each calendar year with the Freedom Flex card. It would take $20,000 in annual spending at 1.5% cash-back to equal that amount with the Freedom Unlimited card — less if your spending mix includes the 3% and 5% categories.
If your spending mix is more in non-bonus categories, you may fare better earning 1.5% on all purchases with the Freedom Unlimited card.
It’s also worthy to consider having both cards in order to take advantage of both quarterly bonus category earnings and earning 1.5% on all other purchases.
Bottom Line: The card that wins in the earning category will depend on your spending mix and whether you are able to utilize quarterly bonus categories. Sample quarterly bonus categories in the past have included home improvement stores, gas stations, grocery stores, drugstores, warehouse clubs, restaurants, Amazon, and streaming services.
Redemption Options
Ultimate Rewards points can receive elevated value when transferred to premium Chase cards. Image Credit: Chris Hassan
Redeeming rewards may seem simple as you’re earning cash-back, right? Actually, both of our featured cards do earn cash-back but it is earned in the form of Ultimate Rewards points.
The Ultimate Rewards points you earn on either card can then be redeemed in several ways, including cash-back or statement credits.
Redemption options for your points include:
Statement credits, travel, and cash at 1 cent per point
Gift cards, Amazon and Apple shopping, experiences
Note that some redemption options could result in less than 1 cent per point in value and may not be a good choice.
The Power of Pairs
While the redemption value of Ultimate Rewards points earned on our featured cards is generally around 1 cent each (you may receive more when redeeming for gift cards), you can leverage those same points into a greater value with a premium Chase credit card.
Transferring points to either of these premium Chase cards could deliver value for your Ultimate Rewards far beyond 1 cent per point.
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.
A fantastic travel card with a huge welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.
A fantastic travel card with a huge welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.
Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® card is one of the best travel rewards cardson the market. Its bonus categories include travel, dining, online grocery purchases, and streaming services, which gives you the opportunity to earn lots of bonus points on these purchases.
Additionally, it offers flexible point redemption options, no foreign transaction fees, and excellent travel insurance coverage including primary car rental insurance. With benefits like these, it’s easy to see why this card is an excellent choice for any traveler.
Pros
5x points on all travel booked via the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal
5x points on select Peloton purchases over $250 (through March 31, 2025)
5x points on Lyft purchases (through March 31, 2025)
3x points on dining purchases, online grocery purchases, and select streaming services
2x points on all other travel worldwide
$50 annual credit on hotel stays booked through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal
6 months of complimentary Instacart+ (activate by July 31, 2024), plus up to $15 in statement credits each quarter through July 2024
Excellent travel and car rental insurance
10% annual bonus points
No foreign transaction fees
1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs like United MileagePlus and World of Hyatt
Complimentary Spot Club Platinum status with The Parking Spot for 2 years, 20% off of your first reservation, and points for 1 free day of parking (enroll by October 26, 2023)
Cons
$95 annual fee
No elite benefits like airport lounge access or hotel elite status
Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3x on dining, and 2x on all other travel purchases, and $50 annual Ultimate Rewards Hotel Credit, plus more.
Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2024.
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.
A top player in the high-end premium travel credit card space that earns 3x points on travel and dining while offering top luxury perks.
If you’re looking for an all-around excellent travel rewards card, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® is one of the best options out there.
The card combines elite travel benefits and perks like airport lounge access, with excellent point earning and redemption options. Plus it offers top-notch travel insurance protections to keep you covered whether you’re at home or on the road.
Don’t forget the $300 annual travel credit which really helps to reduce the annual fee!
Pros
10x points on car rentals, hotels, and dining booked via the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal
10x points on Lyft purchases March 31, 2025
10x points on Peloton equipment and accessory purchases over $250 through March 31, 2025
5x points on airfare booked via the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal
3x points on all other travel and dining purchases; 1x point on all other purchases
$300 annual travel credit
Priority Pass airport lounge access
TSA PreCheck, Global Entry, or NEXUS credit
Access to Chase Luxury Hotel and Resort Collection
Rental car elite status with National and Avis
Cons
$550 annual fee
Does not offer any sort of hotel elite status
Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
$300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards® immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. For example, 60,000 points are worth $900 toward travel
1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
Access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select and up to $100 application fee credit every four years for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck®
Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more
When redeeming points for travel via the Chase Sapphire Preferred card, you will receive 1.25 cents per point via the Chase travel portal. The Chase Sapphire Reserve card allows you to redeem for travel via the portal at 1.5 cents per point.
Also, once transferred to either of these premium cards, Ultimate Rewards points can then be transferred to airline and hotel partners where you may receive even greater potential value. For examples of some of the best ways to redeem your Ultimate Rewards points with the Chase transfer partners, we’ve put together some inspiring redemption options.
Hot Tip: While it’s common to transfer Ultimate Rewards points between personal Chase Ultimate Rewards-earning cards, you can also transfer points between Chase personal and Chase business cards, and vice versa.
Travel Protections & Benefits
You’ll receive these benefits with both the Freedom Unlimited card and the Freedom Flex card.
Car Rental Insurance — Both cards come with secondary car rental insurance. Secondary coverage means that you must first file a claim with any other insurance that applies before the card coverage kicks in.
Trip Cancellation and Trip Interruption Coverage — Receive up to $1,500 per person, $6,000 per trip if a covered loss prevents you from traveling or interrupts your trip.
Travel and Emergency Services — Receive assistance 24/7 when you’re traveling for services such as medical/legal referrals, translation services, and more. The cardholder pays the cost of all actual services provided.
Roadside Dispatch — Get help with just 1 call when you need towing, a flat tire changed, emergency fuel, or other roadside assistance. You’ll pay just 1 low fee for the service call.
Bottom Line: Both cards carry equal travel protections and benefits including secondary car rental coverage, trip cancellation/interruption coverage, travel and emergency services, and roadside dispatch services.
Shopping Protections & Benefits
Shopping protections and benefits can save the day when theft or damage occurs. Image Credit: Monkey Business Images via Shutterstock
Both of our featured cards come with several of the same shopping protections and benefits:
Purchase Protection — Pay for an eligible item with your card and receive up to 120 days of protection against theft, accidental damage, or “involuntary and accidental parting.” Coverage is limited to $500 per item, $50,000 per account.
Extended Warranty — Eligible items with a manufacturer’s warranty of 3 years or less will receive 1 additional year. Coverage is limited to $10,000 per claim, $50,000 per account.
Chase Offers — Save money on your purchases by adding Chase shopping offers to your account. Examples of offers have included spending $35 at AT&T to receive $35 back and save $5 on a $10 purchase at Panera.
Chase Shopping Portal — Earn up to 25 Ultimate Rewards points per dollar spent when shopping via the Chase Shopping Portal. Access the portal by logging into your online card account and select Ways To Earn, then Shop Through Chase.
Introductory 0% APR on Purchases — Enjoy 15 months without any interest charges on purchases made with your card. After that normal flexible interest rates apply.
DoorDash DashPass — Receive a complimentary 3-month membership plus 50% off continued membership for an additional 9 months (normally $10 per month). Membership includes free food delivery and reduced service fees on orders of $12 or more. Register by December 31, 2024.
Instacart Benefits — Cardholders are eligible for a free 3-month Instacart+ membership plus a $10 quarterly credit. Activate by July 31, 2024.
In addition to the above protections and benefits, the Freedom Flex card offers cell phone protection. Pay for your monthly wireless bill with your card and receive up to $800 for theft or damage. Claims are limited to 2 each year and a $1,000 maximum annual benefit. There is a $50 deductible for each claim.
Bottom Line: Both of our featured cards come with the same level of shopping protections and benefits, including purchase protection, extended warranty, and elevated earnings and savings when shopping through the Chase Shopping Portal and with Chase Offers. You’ll also find a 0% APR on purchases and complimentary DoorDash DashPass membership with both cards. The Freedom Flex card has the edge here, however, with the addition of cell phone protection.
Freedom Unlimited Card vs. Freedom Flex Card — Summary
While our featured cards are very similar, let’s see how they stack up when we look at the features and benefits side by side.
5% back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards and Lyft (through March 2025)
3% back on dining and drugstore purchases
1.5% back on all other purchases
5% back on up to $1,500 in rotating quarterly bonus-category purchases; travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards and Lyft (through March 2025)
3% back on dining and drugstore purchases
1% back on all other purchases
Redemption Options
Statement credits, travel, and cash at 1 cent per point
Transfer to premium Chase credit cards for potentially greater value when redeemed for travel and the additional option to transfer to hotel/airline partners
Gift cards, Amazon and Apple shopping, experiences
Travel Protections and Benefits
Secondary car rental insurance; trip cancellation and trip interruption coverage; travel emergency assistance; roadside dispatch
Shopping Protections and Benefits
Purchase protection, extended warranty, access to Chase Offers
3-month DoorDash DashPass (activate by Dec. 31, 2024) and Instacart memberships (activate by July 31, 2024)
Cell Phone Protection
N/A
Up to $800 per claim/$1,000 per year with a $50 deductible per claim
Everything Else You Need To Know
Our featured cards count toward Chase’s 5/24 rule that states you cannot have 5 or more credit cards opened from any issuer in the past 24 months. You will be denied a new card if you are in this situation.
For this reason, you’ll want to plan your card applications accordingly.
It’s also worth noting that both of our featured cards charge 3% foreign transaction fees on all foreign purchases.
The Freedom Unlimited card utilizes the Visa network while the Freedom Flex card is a Mastercard.
Final Thoughts
Expectations might be low for a no-annual-fee card, but the Freedom Unlimited card and Freedom Flex card bust that myth with robust earning potential, flexible redemption options, and travel/shopping benefits that can save you money.
And, when paired with a premium Chase rewards card such as the Chase Sapphire Preferred card or Chase Sapphire Reserve card, Ultimate Rewards earned on either Freedom card are worth up to 50% more for travel. Plus, once Ultimate Rewards are in your Sapphire card account, transferring to a travel partner can yield even more potential value.
If you’re just getting started or want to add to your Chase card portfolio, either of our featured cards could be a good choice for earning lots of additional Ultimate Rewards points.
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
Both the Freedom Unlimited card and Freedom Flex card do not charge an annual fee, have the same flexible redemption options, and have similar travel and shopping protections and benefits.
The Freedom Flex card, however, has rotating quarterly 5% bonus categories that could potentially deliver faster earnings if you can maximize spending in these categories.
Additionally, the Freedom Flex card offers cell phone protection which is not offered by the Freedom Unlimited card.
The better card for you will depend on your spending mix and whether you value cell phone protection.
Yes, you can have several Chase-issued credit cards, including both the Freedom Unlimited card and the Freedom Flex card.
Chase has a rule, however, that you will not be approved for a card if you have obtained 5 or more cards from any issuer within the past 24 months.
Both cards earn Ultimate Rewards points on every purchase you make. These points are deposited into your account at the end of each statement period and are then available to be redeemed for cash-back, statement credits, for travel via the Ultimate Rewards travel portal, gift cards, shopping at Amazon and Apple, and for experiences.
Points do not expire as long as you have an Ultimate Rewards earning card active. Points can also be transferred to premium Chase credit cards and redeemed for more value toward travel or transferred to airline or hotel partners.
Neither card has primary car rental insurance. Both cards come with secondary car rental insurance that kicks in only after you have first submitted a claim to other insurance that would apply to the loss.
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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This bonus value is an estimated valuation calculated by UP after analyzing redemption options, transfer partners, award availability and how much UP would pay to buy these points.
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