Chase Freedom Unlimited Card vs. Amazon Prime Visa Card [Detailed Comparison]

A cash-back card can be a great choice for a starter credit card — especially one that doesn’t charge an annual fee. Plus, cash-back is one of the most liquid forms of rewards you can earn.

The 2 cash-back cards we’re comparing today are popular examples of cards you’ll want to carry in your wallet for everyday purchases. Both cards also offer a bonus-earning niche that is unique to each card.

The Chase Freedom Unlimited^® and Amazon Prime Visa Card have a great deal in common, yet each card caters to a specific customer profile.

We’ll break down the earning potential, redemption options, and key benefits for each of these everyday spending cards for a clear comparison that reveals which card may be a better choice for you.

Freedom Unlimited Card vs. Amazon Prime Visa Card — Overview

Before we dig into the details, it can be helpful to glance at a high-level comparison of how the Freedom Unlimited card and Amazon Prime Visa card stack up side-by-side.

Here’s how the 2 cards compare overall:

Feature or Benefit	Chase Freedom Unlimited®	Amazon Prime Visa Card
Welcome Offer	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!	Get a $100 (or more) Amazon Gift Card instantly upon approval exclusively for Prime members
Earning	5% cash-back on travel via the Chase Ultimate Rewards travel portal 5% cash-back on Lyft rides through March 2025 3% cash-back on dining and drugstore purchases 1.5% cash-back on all other purchases	5% cash-back on Amazon.com purchases and Whole Foods (with Amazon Prime membership) 5% cash-back on travel via the Chase Ultimate Rewards travel portal (with Amazon Prime membership) 2% cash-back on dining, gas stations, local transit, and commuting 1% cash-back on all other purchases
Redemption Options	Redeem points for travel for 1 cent each via the Chase travel portal Transfer points to premium Chase credit cards to redeem for travel for up to 1.5 cents each Transfer points to premium Chase credit cards to then transfer to airline or hotel partners Statement credit, cash, gift cards, charitable donation	Redeem points for 1 cent each at checkout on Amazon.com Redeem points for 1 cent each via the Chase travel portal Statement credit, cash, gift card
Travel Protections and Benefits	Trip cancellation, trip interruption insurance Car rental insurance Roadside Dispatch Baggage insurance Travel and emergency assistance services Visa Signature Luxury Hotel Collection benefits	Car rental insurance Roadside Dispatch Baggage insurance Travel and emergency assistance services Visa Signature Luxury Hotel Collection benefits No foreign transaction fees
Shopping Protections and Benefits	Purchase protection, extended warranty DoorDash DashPass Instacart+ benefits Gopuff benefits Chase Offers Shop through Chase Visa Signature shopping Benefits	Purchase protection, extended warranty 10% cash-back, or more, on special rotating Amazon category purchases Pay over time on Amazon purchases of $50 or more; purchases do not qualify for 5% cash-back Chase Offers Visa Signature shopping benefits
Annual Fees and Authorized Users	$0 annual fee No charge to add authorized users	$0 annual fee; Amazon Prime Membership required No charge to add authorized users
Additional Benefits	0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 20.24% - 28.99%	Pay over time on Amazon purchases of $50 or more; purchases do not qualify for 5% cash-back

The Value of a Welcome Offer

Immediately after you’re approved for either the Freedom Unlimited card or Amazon Prime Visa card, you’ll have the opportunity to earn a welcome bonus.

The amounts and terms of these bonus offers can vary but for these 2 cards, you can expect to earn a welcome bonus normally worth several hundred dollars.

Because welcome offers can change, be sure to check for the most current offer before you apply for either card. We’ve included snapshots below to assist you.

Freedom Unlimited Card

Amazon Prime Visa Card

Bottom Line:

Both the Freedom Unlimited card and Amazon Prime Visa card come with a welcome offer that can be worth up to several hundred dollars.

Earning Potential

The Freedom Unlimited card and Amazon Prime Visa card both earn rewards initially in the form of points that can readily be redeemed for cash-back, therefore, each card is marketed as a cash-back card.

The level of cash-back you’ll earn with either card will depend on how your actual spending mix matches up with the bonus-earning categories on each card.

Let’s look at the earning structures and bonus-earning potential for each of our featured cards.

Earning Category	Freedom Unlimited Card	Amazon Prime Visa Card
Travel	5% cash-back on travel purchased via the Chase travel portal 5% cash-back on Lyft rides through March 2025 1.5% cash-back on all other travel	5% cash-back on prepaid travel purchased via the Chase travel portal or via phone 1% cash-back on all other travel
Amazon.com, Amazon Fresh, and Whole Foods	1.5% cash-back	5% cash-back
Dining and Drugstores	3% cash-back	2% cash-back (dining) 1% cash-back (drugstores)
Transit and Commuting	1.5% cash-back	2% cash-back
Gas Stations	1.5% cash-back	2% cash-back
All Other Purchases	1.5% cash-back	1% cash-back

If your spending mix includes a large volume of travel purchases, the Freedom Unlimited card could be a better card for your situation. The card also offers elevated earnings on dining, including carry-out, and at drugstores. The card would also be an asset if you have heavy spending for non-bonus-earning expenses such as tuition, medical bills, or household repairs as you’ll be earning 1.5% on every purchase.

The Amazon Prime Visa card has stellar earnings on Amazon.com, Amazon Fresh online and in-store, and at Whole Foods. If the majority of your purchases are with these merchants, you’ll earn well with the card.

Earnings, however, are just one element of total card value. Redemption options also contribute to the overall value you’ll receive. We’ll look at those options next.

Bottom Line:

The Freedom Unlimited card’s earning strength is focused on travel purchases via the Chase travel portal, dining, and at drugstores. All other purchases will earn a strong 1.5% cash-back. The Amazon Prime Visa card would be your go-to card for Amazon.com, Amazon Fresh, and Whole Food purchases but the card also earns well on dining, gas stations, transit, and commuting.

Redemption Options

Although the Freedom Unlimited card and Amazon Prime Visa card are primarily cash-back cards, you’ll find various options at redemption time.

Here are the choices you’ll have when it’s time to redeem points earned on either of our featured cards.

Redemption Option	Freedom Unlimited Card	Amazon Prime Visa 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 to redeem for travel for up to 50% more in value Transfer points to premium Chase cards to then transfer to airline and hotel partners	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
Amazon.com Purchases	Redeem points for 0.8 cents each at checkout	Redeem points for 1 cent each at checkout
Additional Redemption Options	Cash, statement credit, gift cards, charitable donation	Cash, statement credit, gift cards

While both of our featured cards have similar options at redemption time, the Freedom Unlimited card allows you to receive greater potential value with the additional option of transferring points to Chase premium cards.

Chase premium cards, such as the Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card and the Chase Sapphire Reserve^® provide up to 50% more in value when redeeming points via the Chase travel portal.

These Chase premium cards also allow you to transfer points to airline and hotel partners where it’s possible to receive much greater value when purchasing award flights or free hotel nights.

Bottom Line:

Both the Freedom Unlimited card and Amazon Prime Visa card earn points that can be redeemed for cash-back, travel via the Chase travel portal, statement credits, and gift cards. The Amazon Prime Visa card offers greater points value at checkout for Amazon purchases, at 1 cent each. The Freedom Unlimited card offers the additional option of transferring points to premium Chase cards for greater potential value.

Travel Protections and Benefits

Travel protections deliver peace of mind during your journey while benefits can save you money and make your travels more comfortable.

Here are the travel protections and benefits you’ll find on both the Freedom Unlimited card and the Amazon Prime Visa card:

• Car Rental Insurance — Reserve and pay for your entire car rental with your card, decline the rental agency’s CDW/LDW coverage, and receive coverage for damage and theft. Coverage within the U.S. is secondary and primary in most other countries. Secondary coverage means that you must first file a claim with any other applicable insurance before card coverage kicks in.
• Roadside Dispatch — If you’re stranded, know that you’ll pay just 1 low fee for a service call that can include limited towing, standard winching, lockout service, tire changing of an inflated spare, emergency fuel delivery, and jump-start service.
• Baggage Insurance — If your baggage is delayed more than 6 hours, you could receive up to $100 per day in reimbursements for eligible incidentals. Coverage is valid for up to 5 days with the Freedom Unlimited card and for up to 3 days with the Amazon Prime Visa card. If your luggage is lost, stolen, or damaged, you could receive up to $3,000 per person, per trip.
• Travel and Emergency Assistance Services — Receive 24/7 assistance during your travels including medical/dental referrals, translation services, help with emergency transportation, and more.
• Visa Signature Luxury Hotel Collection Benefits — Receive elite-style benefits such as an upgraded room and late checkout (when available), complimentary breakfast for 2, free Wi-Fi, a $25 food/beverage credit, and VIP treatment. You must book your stay via the Visa Signature Luxury Hotel Collection website.

Freedom Unlimited Card

• Trip Cancellation and Trip Interruption — Should your trip need to be canceled or is disrupted for a covered reason, you could receive up to $10,000 per person, up to $20,000 per trip.

Amazon Prime Visa Card

• No Foreign Transaction Fees — Unlike the Freedom Unlimited card, which charges 3% foreign transaction fees, the Amazon Prime Visa card does not charge these fees.

Bottom Line:

Both the Freedom Unlimited card and Amazon Prime Visa card come with key travel benefits such as car rental insurance, roadside dispatch, baggage insurance, travel and emergency assistance services, and Visa Signature Luxury Hotel Collection benefits. In addition, the Freedom Unlimited card has trip cancellation and trip interruption insurance. The Amazon Prime Visa card does not charge foreign transaction fees while the Freedom Unlimited card charges 3% of the total transaction.

Shopping Protections and Benefits

Eligible items purchased with either the Freedom Unlimited card or Amazon Prime Visa card can qualify for extra protection. Cardholders also receive several shopping discounts and benefits.

Here are the benefits provided on both of our featured cards.

• Purchase Protection — New qualifying items are eligible for theft and damage protection for up to 120 days from the purchase date. Coverage limits are up to $500 per claim, up to $50,000 per account.
• Extended Warranty — Eligible items, purchased with your card, that have manufacturer’s warranties of 3 years or less can receive warranty coverage extended by 1 additional year.
• Chase Offers — Access your online card account to view and apply Chase Offers that provide statement credits when shopping with featured retailers and service providers.
• Visa Signature Shopping Benefits — While not spectacular, you can find useful benefits such as discounts on car rentals, hotels, and golf, plus a free trial membership for Shipt delivery services.

In addition, each of our featured cards offers its own unique collection of benefits.

Freedom Unlimited Card

• DoorDash DashPass — Receive a 3-month membership plus an additional 9 months at 50% off when you enroll by December 31, 2024. Benefits include free delivery, reduced fees, and discounts.
• Instacart+ — Activate this offer by July 31, 2024, and receive a complimentary 3-month membership plus up to $10 in credits each quarter.
• Gopuff Benefits — Receive up to $10 in monthly Gopuff credits when you register by December 31, 2023.
• Shop through Chase — Access the Chase Shopping portal and earn additional rewards for shopping online with listed merchants.
• Introductory 0% APR Period on Purchases — 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 20.24% - 28.99%

Amazon Prime Visa Card

• Additional Cash-back — Earn 10% cash-back, or more, on rotating Amazon purchase items and categories on Amazon.com
• Pay Over Time for Amazon Purchases — If your Amazon.com purchase is $50 or more, you can choose to pay for that purchase over time for 6 to 12 months at 0% APR. After the 0% promo, a variable APR of 18.99% to 26.99% will apply. If you select this option, you will not earn 5% cash-back on the purchase.

Bottom Line:

The Freedom Unlimited card and Amazon Prime Visa card come with shopping protections such as purchase protection and extended warranty coverage. Both cards also offer shopping benefits that help save you money and earn additional cash-back.

Annual Fees and Authorized Users

The Freedom Unlimited card does not charge an annual fee. And, although the Amazon Prime Visa card does not charge an annual fee, you will need to have an Amazon Prime membership in order to be approved for the card.

There is also no fee to add authorized users to either card.

Everything Else You Need To Know

Both the Freedom Unlimited card and Amazon Prime Visa card are issued by Chase. This fact is important because Chase has, what is referred to as, the Chase 5/24 rule. This rule can affect Chase card approvals if you’ve applied for too many cards from any financial institution within the past 24 months. You’ll want to be aware of how the rule works before you apply for either card.

The Amazon Prime Visa card requires an Amazon Prime membership. If you do not have an Amazon Prime membership you may be able to secure the Amazon Rewards Visa Card.

The Freedom Unlimited card offers the benefit of an introductory 0% APR period for balance transfers. If you have high-interest credit cards, you can transfer the balances and not be charged interest while you repay the amount of the transfer over time, for up to 15 months from card approval. There is a fee of $5 or 3% of the transaction, whichever is greater, within the first 60 days after card approval.

Final Thoughts

The Freedom Unlimited card offers the nice balance of a fee-free travel rewards card combined with an everyday spending card. While you’ll need a premium Chase credit card to maximize redemption value, the card is still a great starter card for earning valuable Ultimate Rewards points.

If you’re an Amazon shopper and have an Amazon Prime membership, there’s a strong case to be made for the Amazon Prime Visa card for earning cash-back. You’ll still earn well on Chase travel portal purchases and you can count on receiving 1 cent each for your rewards points no matter the redemption option.

Either card could be an appropriate choice depending on your spending mix and how you prefer to use your rewards at redemption time. And neither card charges an annual fee.

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 Amazon Rewards Visa Signature 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.