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Editor's note: The Chase Freedom card is no longer available. It has been replaced with the Chase Freedom Flex. Read our Chase Freedom Flex℠ review for more information.
If you're wondering how to upgrade your Chase Freedom to a Freedom Unlimited, jump to this section.
Chase offers an impressive lineup of credit cards. Two card offers from this issuer that you might be weighing are the Chase Freedom Card and Chase Freedom Unlimited®. These cashback credit cards are both highly rated and offer impressive rewards. Comparing them by names alone, however, can easily lead to mistaking them to be the same card, which isn’t the case.
Aside from sharing similar names, they have a few other features in common. But they also have a lot that makes them distinctive. Keep reading to who should win for you in a Chase Freedom vs. Chase Freedom Unlimited comparison.
- Chase Freedom vs. Freedom Unlimited
- How to choose which Chase Freedom card is right for you
- Best for first-year value: Chase Freedom Unlimited
- Best for sign-up bonus: Freedom and Freedom Unlimited
- Best for simple cash back: Chase Freedom Unlimited
- Best if you want to earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points: Chase Trifecta
- Best if you’re willing to put in extra effort: Chase Freedom
- How to upgrade from Chase Freedom to Chase Freedom Unlimited
- Frequently asked questions
- Bottom line
Chase Freedom vs. Freedom Unlimited
These are two of the best cash back credit cards from Chase that have may similarities. There are also a number of differences that set the two apart, especially in the earning structure. Here’s a side-by-side comparison:
| Chase Freedom Card | Chase Freedom Unlimited® |
|
| Rewards rate | 5% cash back in rotating bonus categories (up to $1,500 in combined purchases per quarter) and 1% cash back on all other purchases | 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards, 3% cash back on dining and drugstore purchases, and 1.5% cash back on all other purchases |
| Sign-up bonus | $200 cash back bonus after spending $500 in the first 3 months | Earn an extra 1.5% cash back on all eligible purchases, on up to $20,000, in the first year |
| Intro APR | 0% APR on purchases for 15 months (then 14.99% to 23.74% (variable)) | 0% APR on purchases for 15 months (then 19.49% - 28.24% (variable)) |
| Annual fee | $0 | $0 |
| Foreign transaction fee | 3% | 3% |
| Redeeming rewards |
|
|
| Free credit score? | Yes — through Chase Credit Journey | Yes — through Chase Credit Journey |
| Recommended credit | Excellent, Good | Excellent, Good |
| Plastic or metal? | Plastic | Plastic |
| Best for: | Maximizing cashback rewards in select 5% rotating bonus categories | Simple cash back on every purchase and with fixed bonus categories |
How to choose which Chase Freedom card is right for you
While there’s a difference in earning potential between the two credit cards, there are some other important factors to take into consideration when comparing the Chase Freedom vs. Freedom Unlimited to help you determine which Chase Freedom card is better for you.
The Chase Freedom rewards program utilizes a cashback calendar that changes every quarter and isn’t announced until shortly before the window opens to activate it, so you don’t always know what’s going to be offered. Although the calendar often changes between popular rotating categories like grocery stores, gas stations, restaurants, home improvement stores, department stores, or PayPal, it’s impossible to know exactly what the quarterly bonus categories will be, and that makes it difficult for cardholders to plan ahead.
If you’re someone who dines out often but “restaurants” never appears on the calendar, you’ll be stuck earning 1% instead of the 3% you could have been earning with the Freedom Unlimited. Also keep in mind that the bonus categories usually only show up for one quarter, limiting the 5% you would earn dining out to only three months out of the year.
The changing bonus categories with the Chase Freedom do have their appeal, though. It can be exciting to see what category is announced next, especially if they align perfectly with your spending habits. But if you’re not interested in having to activate a new cashback category every three months, the straightforward earning structure offered by the Chase Freedom Unlimited might be more attractive.
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. Having a low interest rate could save you money if you have big purchases planned and can pay them off within the promotional period, before the regular variable APR goes into effect.
Best for sign-up bonus: Freedom and Freedom Unlimited
The Chase Freedom and Freedom Unlimited tie for this honor. With the Chase Freedom you can earn $200 cash back bonus after spending $500 in the first 3 months, and with the Chase Freedom Unlimited you earn an extra 1.5% cash back on all eligible purchases, on up to $20,000, in the first year. For both of these cards, you should be able to easily earn the bonus.
Best for simple cash back: Chase Freedom Unlimited
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.
The rewards structure of the Chase Freedom Unlimited card is ideal for those who want to make sure they’re earning cash back every time they swipe their card. This would be someone who does not want to worry about remembering the activation step in order to earn their bonus cash back.
Read our Chase Freedom Unlimited review.
Best if you want to earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points: Chase Trifecta
Chase pays its cashback rewards in the form of Chase Ultimate Rewards points. These can be used to get cash back or they can be redeemed for travel purchases through the Chase travel portal. Since the cashback rate that you earn on your purchases is the main difference between the Freedom vs. Freedom Unlimited, this is where you’ll want to look for the best value:
- With the Chase Freedom Unlimited’s 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards, 3% cash back on dining and drugstore purchases, and 1.5% cash back on all other purchases, you earn at least 1.5 points (worth $0.015) for every dollar spent.
- With the Chase Freedom, you earn 1% cash back on all other purchases outside of its rotating bonus category, which earns you 1 point (worth $0.010) for every dollar spent. When you make purchases in one of the rotating bonus categories (up to $1,500 quarterly), then that gives you 5% cash back, which translates to 5 points (worth $0.05) for every dollar spent.
If you like the sound of all these rewards, you can take your earning a step further with something known as “The Chase Trifecta.” This is a simple strategy that involves using both Chase Freedom cards and the Chase Sapphire Reserve® card strategically to maximize the number Chase Ultimate Rewards you earn on your purchases. This is the best way to earn the most travel rewards with Chase credit card.
Best if you’re willing to put in extra effort: Chase Freedom
It requires some additional effort on your part, but if you’re willing to track the bonus categories and make sure to activate them when the time comes, the Chase Freedom can offer an overall higher earning potential.
The extra effort might also mean organizing and planning your spending around the rotating bonus categories. To help you out, we regularly update our Chase Freedom bonus categories calendar.
How to upgrade from Chase Freedom to Chase Freedom Unlimited
Chase allows you to product change between 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. In addition, doing a product change like this would also retain the credit history you’ve already built up on the card.
Keep in mind, you can’t product 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® 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 upgrade your Chase Freedom to a 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. If your everyday expenses align with the Freedom Unlimited’s earning categories, you’ll likely earn more rewards.
But making this change would also mean you’d lose access to the rotating categories and higher earning rate on the Chase Freedom. You also wouldn’t get the opportunity to earn a sign-up bonus on the Freedom Unlimited if you change products rather than applying for it directly. If you're looking for a generous welcome bonus, you might just want to apply for a card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card instead.
Frequently asked questions
Can I have both Chase Freedom and Freedom Unlimited?
Yes, having both Freedom cards can be a great option if you can’t decide between the two, and neither card charges an annual fee.
You’ll have to be a bit more strategic with your spending, but you should be able to cover a large number of your purchases. Maximize the Chase Freedom for its 5% bonus categories whenever possible, and use the Freedom Unlimited to earn valuable rewards on everything else.
You can also convert your rewards to Ultimate Rewards points by transferring them to a card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred.
Can I switch from Chase Freedom to Freedom Unlimited?
Yes, Chase allows product changes, though there might be stipulations. It’s best to contact Chase directly so they can determine your eligibility to switch between products.
Is there a way to earn even more cash back with a Chase Freedom card?
Yes, in addition to the primary rewards of both the Chase Freedom and Chase Freedom Unlimited, you can earn bonus points when you “Shop Through Chase” via their online shopping portal. With over 350 stores to shop at, you can earn between one to 15 bonus points per dollar spent each time you make a purchase, making it a great way to earn extra cash back on items you plan to buy anyway.
Can I apply for Chase Freedom Unlimited if I have Chase Freedom
Yes. There are no restrictions on doing this. So if you have one Chase Freedom card, you can indeed apply for the other.
What credit score do you need for Chase Freedom?
For the Chase Freedom card, applicants with a good-to-excellent credit score have a good chance of approval. A good FICO credit score is generally considered to be 670-700 or above. An excellent credit score is 800 or above. Vantage is the other credit scoring system used by the three bureaus. Based on that scale, a 700 or above is considered a good score and 750 or above is considered excellent.
What credit score do you need for Chase Freedom Unlimited?
Chase looks for the same range of credit scores for the Freedom Unlimited card as it does for the Freedom card. Having a score between 670 and 850 gives you a good chance at approval.
Can you upgrade a Chase Freedom card?
Both the Chase Freedom and Chase Freedom Unlimited cards are eligible for a product change or upgrade. To request an upgrade, it’s best to call customer service to see if you qualify and what is involved with the process. Chase’ customer service number is 1-800-432-3117.
Can you have two Chase Freedom cards?
Because Chase allows for product changes, you could end up with a second Chase Freedom card if you choose to downgrade from a Chase Sapphire card. This might be done if you’ve had either Sapphire card for at least a year and aren’t getting the level of benefit that makes it worthwhile for you or you simply don’t want to continue paying an annual fee.
You can contact Chase’s customer service (1-800-432-3117) to request to downgrade your Sapphire card to a Chase Freedom card. This will enable you to continue to earn Chase Ultimate Rewards in the form of cash back that can also be used as points.
Thus, if you already have a Chase Freedom card, downgrading will add a second one to your wallet. This multiplies your ability 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.
Bottom line
If you’re considering either the Chase Freedom or Freedom Unlimited card, there really is no wrong decision when it comes to these rewards credit cards. They are two comparable cards with similar features and benefits, and you'll often find them both on the lists of best credit cards. The only real decision is which rewards rate works best with how you spend.
And, if you get one card and find you still want to benefit from the rewards offered by the other, you can always apply for the second one. Then you’ll be earning on both Chase Freedom cards!
Unlimited Cash Back
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Current Offer
Earn an extra 1.5% cash back on all eligible purchases, on up to $20,000, in the first year
Annual Fee
$0
Rewards Rate
5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards, 3% cash back on dining and drugstore purchases, and 1.5% cash back on all other purchases
Benefits
- Earn an extra 1.5% cash back on all eligible purchases, on up to $20,000, in the first year
- Bonus rewards on travel, dining, and drugstores
- No annual fee
- Intro APR on purchases and balance transfers
Drawbacks
- Has foreign transaction fee
- Earn an extra 1.5% cash back on all eligible purchases, on up to $20,000, in the first year
- 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards, 3% cash back on dining and drugstore purchases, and 1.5% cash back on all other purchases
- Intro purchase 0% APR offer: 0% for 15 months then 19.49% - 28.24% (variable)
- Intro balance transfer 0% APR offer: 0% for 15 months then 19.49% - 28.24% (variable)
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