Chase Freedom Flex vs. Chase Freedom Unlimited

The Chase Freedom Flex℠, or the Chase Freedom Unlimited®? The card names sound the same, and at a glance the rewards are similar.

Not so fast: Though the cards have a lot in common, there are a few key differences to keep in mind when deciding which is the best fit for you.

Both the Chase Freedom Flex and Chase Freedom Unlimited offer hefty sign-up bonuses, along with bonus cash back on dining and drugstore purchases, as well as travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards. The difference is their rewards structures: The Freedom Flex card offers 5% cash back on rotating quarterly categories, while the Chase Freedom Unlimited offers a flat-rate 1.5% cash back on everything.

Read on to get a rundown on the pros and cons of each card, as well as which card is best suited for you, based on your spending habits.

Chase Freedom Flex versus Chase Freedom Unlimited

	Chase Freedom Flexâ„	Chase Freedom Unlimited®
Rewards rate	5% rotating quarterly categories (upon enrollment, on up to $1,500 in spending per quarter, then 1%) 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards 3% cash back on dining 3% cash back on drugstore purchases 1% cash back on other purchases	5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards 3% cash back on dining 3% cash back on drugstore purchases 1.5% cash back on all other purchases
Sign-up bonus	$200 if you spend $500 in first 3 months	$200 if you spend $500 in first 3 months
Annual fee	$0	$0
Estimated yearly rewards value ($1,325 monthly spend, including sign-up bonus)	$532	$405
Pros	No annual fee High rewards rate on both specific categories year-round and on rotating categories Large sign-up bonus Can transfer rewards to other Chase cards	No annual fee High general rewards rate Large sign-up bonus Can transfer rewards to other Chase cards
Cons	Requires some maintenance Can be difficult to max out rotating categories (may not always align with spending) Low cash back rate on general purchases	Not the highest rate available on general purchases
Who should get this card?	Rewards maximizers People who want to collect Ultimate Rewards points People who like cash back variety People who want to earn Ultimate Rewards points without paying an annual fee	People who want to keep it simple People who want to earn bonus cash back in both specific categories and general purchases People who want to earn Ultimate Rewards points without paying an annual fee

Chase Freedom Flex overview

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The Chase Freedom Flex card offers a combination of year-round and quarterly-rotating bonus cash back categories. Each quarter, you can enroll in a new bonus category from the Chase cash back calendar and earn 5% back on the first $1,500 you spend in that category (then 1% back after you reach the $1,500 threshold). Throughout the year, you’ll also get 5% back on all travel booked through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal, 3% back on dining and drugstore purchases and 1% back on all other purchases.

Upsides: The opportunity to earn bonus cash back in select categories year-round and in a variety of categories each quarter.

Downsides: The complex rewards program. To get the most out of the card, cardholders must track their spending, since the 5% rate only applies to certain categories that rotate frequently and is limited to $1,500 per quarter.

Furthermore, cardholders must log in to their Chase account and activate their rewards category by the deadline each quarter to earn the 5% rate. For example, to earn 5% cash back during the first quarter of 2021 (on select streaming services, phone, cable and internet services and at wholesale clubs), you must activate the category by March 14, 2021.

Chase 5% cash back calendar 2021

Chase Freedom Unlimited overview

Like the Freedom Flex, the Freedom Unlimited earns bonus cash back on Ultimate Rewards travel (5% back) and dining and drugstore purchases (3% back). However, instead of rotating cash back categories, the Freedom Unlimited offers 1.5% cash back on general purchases. There’s also no annual fee, and no interest on purchases for 15 months from account opening (after which a variable APR of 14.99% to 23.74% applies). The card is currently offering a $200 bonus for spending $500 in the first three months.

Upsides: The Freedom Unlimited card offers a straightforward rewards program that allows cardholders to earn at least 1.5% on every purchase they make – with no earning caps or rotating categories.

Downsides: Although 1.5% cash back is a substantial amount to earn on general purchases, it’s not the highest rate out there.

trio of Ultimate Rewards cards.

See related: Chase Ultimate Rewards guide: The best ways to earn and use Ultimate Rewards points

*All information about the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card has been collected independently by CreditCards.com and has not been reviewed by the issuer. 

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