Chase Freedom Unlimited Card vs. Freedom Flex Card [Detailed Comparison]

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.

Let’s find out.

The Value of a Welcome Bonus

Freedom Unlimited Card

Freedom Flex Card

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.

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

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.

Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card

Chase Sapphire Reserve^®

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

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.

Here’s how the cards compare in each category:

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 Unlimited^® 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.