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Chase Freedom Flex vs. Freedom Unlimited: Pick Your Style
Chase Freedom Flex vs. Freedom Unlimited: Pick Your Style
They have similar names and some identical features. But the difference in ongoing rewards requires looking inward.Many or all of the products on this page are from partners who compensate us when you click to or take an action on their website, but this does not influence our evaluations or ratings. Our opinions are our own.
Updated · 2 min read Written by Senior Writer/Spokesperson + more + more Edited by Managing Editor + more + more Co-written by Managing Editor + more + more SOME CARD INFO MAY BE OUTDATEDThis page includes information about these cards, currently unavailable on NerdWallet. The information has been collected by NerdWallet and has not been provided or reviewed by the card issuer.
★ BIGGER BONUS ON FREDOM UNLIMITED
★ B IGGER BONUS ON FREDOM UNLIMITED Heads up! For a limited time, the Chase Freedom Unlimited® has a bonus offer for new cardholders that's not only bigger than what you'll find on a lot of competing cash back cards, but that also requires less spending to claim than many of those competitors. Chase puts it this way: "Earn a $250 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening." That's $50 larger than the card's usual cash bonus. Learn more and apply here. Chase Freedom Unlimited® Earn a $250 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening. The Chase Freedom Flex® and the Chase Freedom Unlimited® have certain things in common. Both are cash-back credit cards with super-generous bonuses, long 0% APR periods, no annual fees and names plucked from motivational posters. Chase Freedom Flex® Chase Freedom Unlimited® Their ongoing rewards structures share some similarities, too, but that's also where there's the most daylight between them. Here's how to choose which one is right for you.How the cards compare
Chase Freedom Flex®
Apply now Apply nowon Chase's website
Chase Freedom Unlimited®
Apply now Apply nowon Chase's website
Annual fee
Sign-up bonus
Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening. Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening. Earn a $250 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening. Earn a $250 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening.Rotating bonus categories
5% back on quarterly bonus categories that you activate, on up to $1,500 per quarter in spending. None.Ongoing bonus categories
• 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase. • 3% cash back at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services. • 3% cash back on drugstore purchases. • 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase. • 3% cash back at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services. • 3% cash back on drugstore purchases.Rewards on other purchases
1% cash back. 1.5% cash back.Still not sure?
Read Review Read Review As noted in the table above, both products offer these identical rewards on certain categories: 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase. 3% cash back at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services like Grubhub, DoorDash and Uber Eats. 3% cash back on drugstore purchases. Apply now Apply now Read Review Plus, for new and existing cardholders through September 2027, both cards will also earn 2% back on qualifying Lyft services purchased through the Lyft app. From there, though, the cards go their separate ways.The Chase Freedom Flex® offers rotating 5% bonus categories
Chase Freedom Flex® Aside from the ways to earn extra cash back listed above, the Chase Freedom Flex® also earns 5% back in bonus categories that change each quarter, on up to $1,500 in combined quarterly purchases (category activation is required every three months). All other non-bonus-category purchases earn 1% back. Chase Freedom Flex® In this way, the card works much like the original, decommissioned Chase Freedom®. Chase Freedom® ? Nerdy Tip The Chase Freedom® still exists but is closed to new applicants. It can be product-changed to a Chase Freedom Flex® if you call Chase and make the request. There is also yet another rewards-earning Freedom product — the Chase Freedom Rise® — but unlike the other cards, it is meant for beginners to credit. Chase Freedom® Chase Freedom Flex® Chase Freedom Rise® Apply now Apply now Read Review » MORE: Read more about the benefits of the Chase Freedom Flex and Chase Freedom Unlimited » MORE:The Chase Freedom Unlimited® offers a solid flat rate on 'everything else'
Chase Freedom Unlimited® The Chase Freedom Unlimited® does not feature 5% rotating bonus categories. Chase Freedom Unlimited® Instead, any purchases you make outside of the card's fixed, ongoing bonus categories listed above will earn a flat 1.5% cash back. » MORE: What is the 'Chase trifecta'? » MORE:How do you pick between the Chase Freedom Flex® and the Chase Freedom Unlimited®?
Chase Freedom Flex® Chase Freedom Unlimited® The choice between these cards comes down to how you spend money and how much appetite you have for managing your rewards: Spending habits: Do you spend enough in the Chase Freedom Flex® bonus categories to make the card worth the effort? Take a look at current and past categories here. If these kinds of categories represent a significant chunk of your budget, then the 5% card is a good fit. If your spending is all over the place, the Chase Freedom Unlimited® might be the better option long term. Spending habits: Chase Freedom Flex® Chase Freedom Unlimited® Complexity: Beyond its fixed bonus tiers, the Chase Freedom Unlimited® doesn't require as much tracking, and you won't have to opt in to any bonus categories. But the Chase Freedom Flex® requires you to activate (and keep track of) quarterly categories, and it knocks down your rewards rate to 1% back once you hit the $1,500 quarterly limit. Complexity: Chase Freedom Unlimited® Chase Freedom Flex® » MORE: NerdWallet's best Chase credit cards » MORE:Looking for value with less fuss? Go with the Chase Freedom Unlimited®
Chase Freedom Unlimited® The Chase Freedom Unlimited® is the better choice if you want a card with simpler terms. Chase Freedom Unlimited® It's better for the budgeter. The Chase Freedom Unlimited® is more predictable. You don't need to tailor your spending to rotating bonus categories to get a good rewards rate. That makes it easier to avoid overspending. It's better for the budgeter. Chase Freedom Unlimited® Say the Chase Freedom Flex® is paying 5% back on purchases at Amazon.com. If you don't normally shop there, you might feel compelled to change your habits — and potentially spend more — to get the extra rewards. Chase Freedom Flex® It’s lower-maintenance. The Chase Freedom Unlimited® doesn't require you to activate categories every quarter. Basically, this card helps you earn robust rewards with less effort. It won't leave you Googling spending categories in the checkout lane. It’s lower-maintenance. Chase Freedom Unlimited® It pairs well with other cards. The Chase Freedom Unlimited® is a great companion to the other reward cards in your wallet, such as co-branded airline cards and gas cards. Depending on the quarter, the Chase Freedom Flex® bonus categories might clash with the kind of spending that those other cards in your wallet reward most. It pairs well with other cards. Chase Freedom Unlimited® Chase Freedom Flex® » SEE: Making the most of the Chase Freedom Flex® » SEE: Chase Freedom Flex®Willing to spend time to maximize rewards? Go with the Chase Freedom Flex®
Chase Freedom Flex® The Chase Freedom Flex® is your card if you like to squeeze the most value from every purchase. Chase Freedom Flex® It offers useful 5% categories. Let's start with its 5% bonus categories, noted here: It offers useful 5% categories. Chase Freedom® and Chase Freedom Flex® bonus rewards categories for 2026 Chase Freedom® Chase Freedom Flex® Q1 (Jan. 1-March 31) Restaurants Norwegian Cruise Line. American Heart Association. Q2 (April 1-June 30) Amazon. Whole Foods. Chase Travel℠. Feeding America. Q3 (July 1-Sept. 30) TBD. (In 2025: Gas/EV charging; live entertainment; Instacart.) (In 2025: Gas/EV charging; live entertainment; Instacart.) Q4 (Oct. 1-Dec. 31) TBD. (In 2025: Chase Travel℠; department stores; Old Navy. December only: PayPal.) (In 2025: Chase Travel℠; department stores; Old Navy. December only: PayPal.) These broad categories make it easier to reach your quarterly maximum. For example, if the current 5% category is gas stations, you can use your card to buy a gift card for a restaurant you frequent from the gas station’s store. In effect, you're earning 5% back on restaurants, too. You get fixed, tiered rewards on top of all that. In addition to the card’s rotating 5% categories, it rewards spending at restaurants and drugstores year-round. That's a hard combination to find. You get fixed, tiered rewards on top of all that. All told, if you can reach the quarterly spending caps on the Chase Freedom Flex® without spending more than you normally would, it becomes much more valuable over time than the Chase Freedom Unlimited®. Chase Freedom Flex® Chase Freedom Unlimited® » MORE: Which Chase Freedom credit card is right for you? » MORE:Why not both?
If you're having trouble choosing between the Chase Freedom Flex® and the Chase Freedom Unlimited®, here's a simple solution: Get both. Chase Freedom Flex® Chase Freedom Unlimited® These cards are often treated like rivals, but they work really well together. Use the Chase Freedom Flex® for its 5% categories and the Chase Freedom Unlimited® to earn more than 1% back on everything else. You can even transfer your rewards between accounts and redeem them all in one go. If you do decide to get both, space out your applications by at least a few months to minimize the impact to your credit score. Chase Freedom Flex® Chase Freedom Unlimited® Both cards offer excellent value on their own. But together, they become even more valuable. Information related to the Chase Freedom® has been collected by NerdWallet and has not been provided or reviewed by the issuer of this card. Information related to the Chase Freedom® has been collected by NerdWallet and has not been provided or reviewed by the issuer of this card. Information related to the Chase Freedom® has been collected by NerdWallet and has not been provided or reviewed by the issuer of this card. Chase Freedom® Article sources NerdWallet writers are subject matter authorities who use primary, trustworthy sources to inform their work, including peer-reviewed studies, government websites, academic research and interviews with industry experts. All content is fact-checked for accuracy, timeliness and relevance. You can learn more about NerdWallet's high standards for journalism by reading our editorial guidelines. About the authors Sara Rathner Sara is a NerdWallet travel and credit cards expert. She has appeared on the “Today” show, Nasdaq and CNBC’s “Nightly Business Report.” See full bio. Claire Tsosie Claire Tsosie is a managing editor for NerdWallet's travel team. Her work has been featured by Forbes, USA Today and The Associated Press. See full bio. Limited Time Only: Earn $1,000 Toward Travel! Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card Travel For a limited time, the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is offering new cardholders an especially rich bonus: Enjoy $250 to use on Capital One Travel in your first cardholder year, plus earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening - that’s equal to $1,000 in travel! Read full reviewFind the right credit card for you.
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