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Card vs Card Comparison

Chase Freedom Flex
vs
Chase Freedom Unlimited.

Updated

Two cards, head-to-head. We break down earning rates, perks, transfer partners, and the real scenarios where each one wins.

Chase

Chase Freedom Flex

Annual fee

Free

Points

Ultimate Rewards

Signup bonus

$200 cash back after $500 in 3 months

Top earning rates

  • →5% on rotating quarterly categories (up to $1.5K per quarter, with enrollment)
  • →5% on travel through Chase Travel
  • →3% on dining and drugstores

Top perks

  • →No annual fee
  • →Cell phone protection
  • →Purchase protection and extended warranty
See Chase Freedom Flex detailsarrow_forward

Chase

Chase Freedom Unlimited

Annual fee

Free

Points

Ultimate Rewards

Signup bonus

$200 cash back plus 5% on grocery for the first year (up to $12K)

Top earning rates

  • →5% on travel booked through Chase Travel
  • →3% on dining and drugstores
  • →1.5% on everything else

Top perks

  • →No annual fee
  • →Purchase protection and extended warranty
  • →Trip cancellation and delay insurance on travel charged to the card
See Chase Freedom Unlimited detailsarrow_forward

The verdict

When each card wins.

Chase Freedom Flex wins if

Pick this if you do not mind activating quarterly bonus categories for 5% back, and want to pair it with a Sapphire card.

Honest downside: Quarterly categories require enrollment and have a $1.5K cap. Outside them the card earns only 1% on everyday spend.

Chase Freedom Unlimited wins if

Pick this if you want a no-fee everyday earner that can sit alongside a Sapphire card and feed it points.

Honest downside: On its own the points are cashback only. You need a Sapphire to unlock the travel value.

At a glance

Side-by-side spec sheet.

SpecChase Freedom FlexChase Freedom Unlimited
Annual feeFreeFree
Points currencyUltimate RewardsUltimate Rewards
Signup bonus$200 cash back$200 cash back plus 5% on grocery for the first year (up to $12K)
Top earn category5% on rotating quarterly categories (up to $1.5K per quarter, with enrollment)5% on travel booked through Chase Travel
Second earn category5% on travel through Chase Travel3% on dining and drugstores
Third earn category3% on dining and drugstores1.5% on everything else
Signature perkNo annual feeNo annual fee
IssuerChaseChase

Questions

Frequently asked.

Which is better, Chase Freedom Flex or Chase Freedom Unlimited?

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Chase Freedom Flex wins if you do not mind activating quarterly bonus categories for 5% back, and want to pair it with a Sapphire card. Chase Freedom Unlimited wins if you want a no-fee everyday earner that can sit alongside a Sapphire card and feed it points.

Can I have both the Chase Freedom Flex and the Chase Freedom Unlimited?

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Both cards are issued by Chase, so the issuer's application rules apply. Many cardholders carry both if the perks don't overlap, but check your issuer's velocity rules before applying for two cards close together.

Which has the higher annual fee, Chase Freedom Flex or Chase Freedom Unlimited?

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Both cards charge a $0 annual fee. The right pick comes down to which earning categories and perks you'll actually use.