Chase Freedom Card vs Chase Freedom Unlimited^® [2024]: Which Comes Out on Top?

In September 2020, Chase discontinued the Chase Freedom Card and you can no longer apply for it. If you already have the Freedom, you can hold on to it and keep using it or you can consider a product change to a different Chase card.  The Chase Freedom Unlimited^® or Chase Freedom Flex^® are good alternatives to consider instead of the Freedom Card.

The Chase Freedom provides rotating bonus categories, a feature that appeals to those who value the opportunity to maximize their rewards. The Freedom Flex offers a similar structure with rotating categories. To learn more, read our Chase Freedom Flex review.

On the other hand, the Chase Freedom Unlimited offers a straightforward rewards structure, making it an ideal choice for those who prefer not to monitor changing categories each quarter. Let’s delve deeper into the differences between the Chase Freedom and the Chase Freedom Unlimited.

Chase Freedom vs. Freedom Unlimited comparison

Should you switch from the Freedom to Freedom Unlimited?

Whether you should switch from the Freedom to the Freedom Unlimited depends on how useful you typically find the quarterly rotating categories. For example, From July 1 - September 30, 2024, the high-earning categories are gas stations, EV charging stations, select live entertainment, and movie theater tickets. If you frequently commute or see movies or concerts regularly, those categories will benefit you.

The Freedom Unlimited is a very different card. It always has the same higher earning categories, so if you prefer predictability over rotating categories, then staying with the Freedom makes sense.

Find out more in our Freedom Unlimited review.

If you have the Freedom and you’re looking to switch, I’d consider the Chase Freedom Flex^®. You can earn 5% cash back on rotating quarterly categories you activate (on up to $1,500 spent) and travel purchased through Chase Travel℠; 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants (including takeout and eligible delivery service); and 1% cash back on all other purchases. So it has rotating categories like the Freedom, but it also has other higher earning categories. And it also has a $0 annual free.

Find out more in our Freedom Flex review.

Important differences between the Chase Freedom and Chase Freedom Unlimited

While the Chase Freedom and Freedom Unlimited shared several similarities, they differed in some essential ways.

Rewards rates

The Chase Freedom enables cardholders to earn 5% cash back in rotating bonus categories (up to $1,500 in combined purchases per quarter) and 1% cash back on all other purchases.

Meanwhile, the Chase Freedom Unlimited helps you earn 6.5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 4.5% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service and 3% cash back on all other purchases (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year). After your first year or $20,000 spent, earn 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.

The drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, are common everyday expenses that earn an elevated rate with this card, and the base 1.5% cash back rate is higher than the base rewards rate on many cards.

Winner: The Chase Freedom Unlimited.

Rewards structure

The Chase Freedom is a rewards credit card that requires keeping track of its quarterly categories.

On the other hand, the reward structure you get with the Chase Freedom Unlimited is simpler because it doesn’t require you to track and activate bonus categories each quarter, allowing you to go about your life without any added responsibility. For the most part, you'll benefit from the simple flat-rate cash back.

Winner: The Chase Freedom Unlimited.

How to use Chase Freedom cards for the Chase trifecta

Chase pays its Freedom cashback rewards in the form of Chase Ultimate Rewards points, one of the travel rewards we love. You can redeem your points for cash back in the form of statement credit, as well as gift cards and for travel purchases through the Chase Travel portal.

You can also transfer your Chase Ultimate Rewards points under certain conditions between specific credit cards. This allows you to potentially get more value from your cashback earnings using the Chase trifecta.

The Chase trifecta is a simple strategy where you use a card such as the Chase Freedom Unlimited and strategically transfer your points to the Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card or the Chase Sapphire Reserve^®, two of the best travel credit cards.

The Sapphire Preferred offers a 25% higher value for your points when redeemed for travel through the Chase Travel℠ portal. While the Sapphire Reserve offers a 50% higher value for the same travel redemptions.

How to product change from Chase Freedom to Chase Freedom Unlimited

Chase allows you to request a product change among different Chase credit cards. This means you can have one Chase card and turn it into a different one, which would give you all the benefits of the new card while removing the features of the old one. Requesting a product change would also retain the credit history you’ve already built up on the old card.

Keep in mind, you can’t change a Chase card like the Freedom or Freedom Unlimited to a co-branded Chase card like the Southwest Rapid Rewards^® Plus Credit Card or IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card. You also can’t product change a co-branded Chase card to one of the Freedom or Sapphire cards.

If you want to request a product change for your Chase Freedom to Chase Freedom Unlimited, call the Chase customer service line or send a secured message to Chase through your online account. The main reason to make this change is to take advantage of the Freedom Unlimited bonus categories that you won’t find on the Chase Freedom.

But making this change would also mean you’d lose access to the rotating categories on the Chase Freedom. You also wouldn’t get the opportunity to earn a welcome offer on the Freedom Unlimited if you change products rather than applying for it directly.

How to choose the right Chase card for you

While the Chase Freedom is no longer available, you can still choose between other cards within the Freedom lineup. This includes:

• Chase Freedom Unlimited^®
• Chase Freedom Flex^®
• Chase Freedom Rise^®

Consider these factors when choosing the right Chase card for you:

1. Rewards program: Choose the rewards program that better aligns with your spending habits. For example, the Chase Freedom Unlimited offers elevated rewards rates on common purchases. The Chase Freedom rewards program used a cashback calendar that changes every quarter. This meant that cardholders didn’t always know what was going to be offered.
2. Welcome offer: The welcome offer a card enables you to earn can boost its value in the first year of account opening. For example, the Freedom Unlimited helps you earn an extra 1.5% on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year).
3. Overall value: There’s a difference in the overall value of each card on the Freedom lineup. Carefully consider which card can offer you the most cash back and benefits by taking into account their rewards rates, welcome offers, and other perks.

By considering these factors, you can determine which card on the Chase Freedom lineup is better for you.

FAQ

Bottom line

If you’re looking to switch from the Chase Freedom to another card, the Chase Freedom Unlimited is a good choice because it’s one of the best cash back credit cards you can get, thanks to its simple rewards structure, common bonus categories, and high base earning rate.

If you’re leaning more toward a card similar to the Chase Freedom, consider the Freedom Flex. This card has significant similarities to the Chase Freedom, including offering quarterly rotating rewards categories and intro APR.

Unlimited Cash Back

Chase Freedom Unlimited^®

4.7

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Chase Freedom Unlimited^®

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Current Offer

Earn an extra 1.5% on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) — worth up to $300 cash back. That's 6.5% on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 4.5% on dining and drugstores, and 3% on all other purchases.

Annual Fee

$0

Rewards Rate

6.5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 4.5% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service and 3% cash back on all other purchases (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year). After your first year or $20,000 spent, earn 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases

Benefits and Drawbacks

Benefits

• High base rewards rate of 1.5%
• $0 annual fee
• Valuable welcome bonus for new cardholders
• Intro APR offers for purchases and balance transfers

Drawbacks

• Has a foreign transaction fee of 3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars
• No bonus categories for gas or groceries

Card Details

• 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!
• Enjoy 6.5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 4.5% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 3% on all other purchases (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year).
• After your first year or $20,000 spent, enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.
• No minimum to redeem for cash back. You can choose to receive a statement credit or direct deposit into most U.S. checking and savings accounts. Cash Back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open!
• Enjoy 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 19.74% - 28.49%.
• No annual fee – You won't have to pay an annual fee for all the great features that come with your Freedom Unlimited® card
• Keep tabs on your credit health, Chase Credit Journey helps you monitor your credit with free access to your latest score, alerts, and more.
• Member FDIC

Author Details

Matt Miczulski

Matt Miczulski is a personal finance writer specializing in financial news, budget travel, banking, and debt. His interest in personal finance took off after eliminating $30,000 in debt in just over a year, and his goal is to help others learn how to get ahead with better money management strategies. A lover of history, Matt hopes to use his passion for storytelling to shine a new light on how people think about money. His work has also been featured on MoneyDoneRight and Recruiter.com.

Author Details

Ben Walker, CEPF, CFEI®

Ben Walker, CEPF, CFEI®, is credit cards specialist. For over a decade, he's leveraged credit card points and miles to travel the world. His expertise extends to other areas of personal finance — including loans, insurance, investing, and real estate — and you can find his insights on The Washington Post, Debt.com, Yahoo! Finance, and Fox Business.