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In the interest of full disclosure, OMAAT earns a referral bonus for anyone that’s approved through some of the below links. These are the best publicly available offers (terms apply) that we have found for each product or service. Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of the bank, credit card issuer, airline, hotel
chain, or product manufacturer/service provider, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. Please check out our advertiser policy for further details about our partners, and thanks for your support! Chase has a great portfolio of credit cards that can potentially earn Ultimate Rewards points, and two of my favorites are the Chase Freedom FlexSM Credit Card and
Chase Freedom Unlimited®. In this post I wanted to take an in-depth look at the two cards, and which makes the most sense based on your situation. If you want to learn more about the individual cards: Let’s first talk about the card similarities, then about the card differences, and then about which card makes the most sense.
What Chase Freedom cards have in commonThe truth is that the Chase Freedom Flex and Chase Freedom Unlimited have a lot in common, from their lack of annual fees, to some of their bonus categories, to their World Elite Mastercard benefits. Let me cover a few of the key similarities between the two cards. Overlapping bonus categoriesBoth the Freedom Flex and Freedom Unlimited offer the following overlapping bonus categories on spending:
Flexibility to earn cash back or Ultimate Rewards pointsBoth the Freedom Flex and Freedom Unlimited accrue the same types of rewards:
Differences between Chase Freedom cardsThere is one primary area where the Chase Freedom Flex and Chase Freedom Unlimited differ, and that’s one aspect of the bonus categories. Both cards offer:
But each card has one unique bonus category:
Which Chase Freedom card is better?Deciding whether the Chase Freedom Flex or Chase Freedom Unlimited makes more sense comes down to one very simple question — would you rather earn 1.5x points on all purchases (with the Freedom Unlimited), or would you rather earn 5x points in rotating quarterly categories and 1x points on non-bonused purchases? The math will work out differently for everyone, but here are a few general considerations:
The good thing is that you don’t have to choose — you can get both the Freedom Flex and Freedom Unlimited, and that’s a great way to maximize your rewards, especially since neither card has an annual fee. Personally, that’s my approach, but I also get that lots of people want a simpler credit card strategy than that. Build up a portfolio of Chase cards to maximize your pointsBottom lineBoth the Chase Freedom Flex and Chase Freedom Unlimited are great no annual fee cards that can help you maximize the Ultimate Rewards points that you earn. For savvy consumers, they’re an essential complement to a card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred. Which Freedom card makes more sense depends on your circumstances. Personally, I think the Freedom Unlimited is the all-around more rewarding card, given that it offers one of the best returns of any card for non-bonused spending. But some may get more value out of the Freedom Flex’s 5x points categories. The good thing is that you don’t have to choose, as you can always pick up both cards. What’s your take — which of the two Chase Freedom cards do you prefer? Meet Ben Schlappig, OMAAT Founder Which card is better freedom flex or unlimited?Winner: It depends how you want to each cash back. If you want a card that doesn't require activation, the Freedom Unlimited wins. Otherwise, a 5% cash-back rate on rotating categories with the Freedom Flex is quite good. Keep in mind the bonus as well.
Is Freedom unlimited better than freedom?Best for first-year value: Chase Freedom Unlimited
If you're able to max out your spending in all of the bonus categories, the Chase Freedom Unlimited is the clear winner. Just remember that spending in the bonus categories is where you're going to earn the most. Both cards also offer a very useful introductory APR.
Is Chase Freedom Flex worth it?The Chase Freedom Flex℠ is worth it for cardholders who love strategizing their purchases around bonus categories to maximize their rewards. The card offers robust cash back opportunities and rotating bonus categories that change every quarter.
What is the credit limit on freedom Unlimited?Here's why: The Chase Freedom Unlimited® offers a $500 minimum credit limit, but the limit is at least $5,000 if you're approved for the Visa Signature® version of the card. Beyond those minimum limits, this card offers plenty of opportunities to earn cash back.
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