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Chase Freedom Flex℠ vs. Chase Freedom Unlimited®
Incredible value whether you want flat-rewards or rotating categories.
These $0-annual-fee cards have a key difference: The Chase Freedom Flex℠ offers 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in quarterly rotating categories when activated, then 1%, while the Chase Freedom Unlimited® 2020, greatly increasing the value of both cards. Which card is best for you ultimately comes down to your spending habits. Here’s a breakdown of how to choose.
The winner: Tie
Surprise! Both Chase cards are excellent cash back picks, albeit for different types of spending. Your next step is to make the call if the Chase Freedom Flex℠ or the Chase Freedom Unlimited® is best suited for your specific spending needs. And if both sound great, consider applying for both. These cards are each part of the Chase Trifecta and can go a long ways toward pumping out value.
Who should get the Chase Freedom Flex℠?
Those looking to maximize their points through adjusting spending each quarter will do good by the Chase Freedom Flex℠. It’s a leading category card that rewards the agile cardholder for planning spending.
Who should get the Chase Freedom Unlimited®?
If you’re less interested in “gamifying” your spending for rewards but still want to earn back on your spending, the Chase Freedom Unlimited® is a good choice. Ultimate Rewards points are always valuable and your rewards for spending are fire-and-forget.
Who should get both?
Any consumer interested in maximizing their Chase Ultimate Rewards will want to eventually grab both of these cards. Both cards are part of the Chase trifecta, allowing you to earn the maximum rewards possible on most types of spending.
Best rewards: Tie
Rewards-wise, both the Chase Freedom Unlimited® by Visa and Chase Freedom Flex℠ by Mastercard are similar cards; they both earn 5% and 3% back on the same categories. The main difference between the two cards lies in one cashback feature — the first card earns 1.5% back on all purchases, while the second card earns 5% on up to $1,500 in quarterly rotating categories and 1% back after that and on all other purchases. Both cards also received three new flat-rate categories in September 2020: 5% back on travel booked through Chase, and 3% back on restaurants and drugstores.
Because of this, these two cards actually make for an excellent team. With both cards in your wallet, you can always choose the card that will give you the best value in a given moment. The Freedom Flex can handle all purchases in that quarter’s category while the Chase Freedom Unlimited® can earn more on anything else. The Chase Freedom Unlimited® is also handy if you happen to max out your spending caps on the Freedom Flex‘s categories. Hit that cap and your category earnings drop to just 1%. With Chase Freedom Unlimited®, you would earn 1.5%.
Best signup bonus: Tie
Technically, the new Chase Freedom Unlimited welcome offer can offer a larger total bonus at $300 compared to the $200 you’ll find on the Chase Freedom Flex. However, this larger offer is offset by the larger spending requirements. While you do have a full year to meet the $20,000 spending goal, it isn’t terribly difficult to spend the few hundred dollars needed for the Flex’s welcome offer.
Best intro APR: Tie
Once again, the Chase Freedom Flex℠ and Chase Freedom Unlimited® share this feature. Both offer a 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months. Even the revert APRs on these cards are the same: 15.74% to 24.49% variable.
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