The Chase Freedom Flex℠ and Chase Freedom Unlimited® (see rates & fees) cards have a lot in common. They both come with great sign-up bonuses, long intro APRs and no annual fees.
The rewards structure is where these cards differ. The Chase Freedom Flex℠ offers rotating bonus categories, while the Chase Freedom Unlimited® offers a more straightforward earning structure. Deciding which card is best for you comes down to your spending habits and how much work you want to put toward managing your rewards.
| Chase Freedom Flex℠ | Chase Freedom Unlimited® | |
|---|---|---|
| Sign-up bonus | Earn a $200 bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. | Limited Time Intro Offer: Earn a $250 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening |
| Sign-up bonus value | $200 | $250 |
| Bonus categories |
|
|
| Rotating bonus categories | 5% cash back on quarterly bonus categories up to $1,500. Activation required. | No bonus categories |
| Rewards on other purchases | 1% cash back on all other purchases | 1.5% cash back on all other purchases |
| Annual fee | $0 | $0 |
| Regular purchase APR | 18.99% - 28.49% variable | 18.99% - 28.49% Variable |
| First-year value | $641* | $672* |
| Second-year and ongoing value | $441* | $422* |
If you can keep track of its rotating bonus categories, the Chase Freedom Flex℠ has great cash back value. You’ll get 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases on rotating bonus categories.
You’ll need to activate the categories each quarter to earn the 5% bonus, or you’ll only get 1% cash back on those purchases. The Chase Freedom calendar is a good way to keep track of bonus categories each quarter. Here’s a list of the 2025 categories so far:
| Quarter | Chase bonus categories | Activation deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Q1: January through March |
| March 14 |
| Q2: April through June |
| June 14 |
| Q3: July through September | TBA | September 14 |
| Q4: October through December | TBA | December 14 |
The combination of ongoing bonus categories and rotating 5% cash back categories makes this card’s earning potential slightly higher than the Chase Freedom Unlimited®. We estimate that the average cardholder can earn around $0.022 on their spending with the Chase Freedom Flex℠ versus $0.021 with the Chase Freedom Unlimited®.
The Chase Freedom Unlimited® is easier to manage than the Chase Freedom Flex℠ because you don’t have to keep track of rotating bonus categories. You’ll get bonus rewards on restaurant and drugstore purchases. All other purchases earn a flat 1.5% cash back.
This card pairs well with other Chase credit cards. You can combine its flat rate with cards that earn a bonus on other categories like gas or airlines to maximize your reward earnings.
The Chase Freedom Flex℠ and Chase Freedom Unlimited® cards have a few of the same cash back categories:
The key difference is that the Chase Freedom Flex℠ offers a 5% bonus on up to $1,500 in purchases on categories that rotate each quarter. You have to activate these categories every three months, and all non-bonus categories only earn 1% back. In comparison, the Chase Freedom Unlimited® offers a higher rate of 1.5% on general purchases, but doesn’t have rotating quarterly cash back categories.
The Chase Freedom Flex℠ and Chase Freedom Unlimited® cards are both part of the Chase Ultimate Rewards® program, one of the most popular credit card rewards programs. Points are extremely flexible and easy to redeem. Redemption options include:
Pairing the Chase Freedom Flex℠ or Chase Freedom Unlimited® with a Chase travel card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates & fees), Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see rates & fees) or Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card (see rates & fees) can help you get more value out of your points. You can transfer points to one of these travel cards and, depending on the card, get a higher value of 1.25 to 1.5 cents per point on Chase TravelSM purchases. Plus, you can transfer points at a 1:1 rate to one of Chase’s 14 travel partners for a value of around 2 cents per point.
Both the Chase Freedom Flex℠ and Chase Freedom Unlimited® have an excellent intro APR on purchases and balance transfers. This makes both of these cards a good choice if you plan to carry a balance or make a large purchase using one of these cards. You’ll get a 0% intro APR on purchases for 15 months and a 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 15 months. After the intro period, a 18.99% - 28.49% variable APR will apply.
Both the Chase Freedom Flex℠ and Chase Freedom Unlimited® have the following travel and purchase protections:
The Chase Freedom Flex℠ also comes with cellphone protection that will get you up to $800 per claim and $1,000 per year in cellphone protection if your phone is stolen or damaged.
Both cards also come with a few Chase partner benefits:
Choosing between the Chase Freedom Flex℠ and Chase Freedom Unlimited® depends on your spending habits and how you want to manage your rewards. If you’re willing to put in a bit of work to maximize rewards, choose the Chase Freedom Flex℠. You’ll get great earning potential by keeping up with the Chase Freedom cash back calendar and activating bonus categories each quarter. The 5% bonus rewards equal up to $300 extra cash back each year.
If you’re looking for good value and low maintenance, choose the Chase Freedom Unlimited®. This card offers more of an automated approach to earning rewards and requires no additional activation. You’ll get a high cash back rate in popular spending categories and general purchases.
It’s possible to get both cards if you can’t decide between the two. While these cards are often viewed as rivals, they work well together. You can use the Chase Freedom Flex℠ for its 5% categories and the Chase Freedom Unlimited® to get more than 1% on everything else. You can also transfer rewards between the two cards. If you choose to get both, space out your applications by a few months so you don’t hurt your credit score. Also, be aware of the Chase 5/24 rule when applying for multiple cards.
| Credit Cards | Our Ratings | Annual Fee | Rewards Rate | Welcome Offer | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card*
|
$0 | 2% cash rewards
Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases
| $200 cash rewards
Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months
| ||
Discover it® Cash Back*
|
$0 | 1% - 5% cash back
| Unlimited Cashback Match
Unlimited Cashback Match for all new cardmembers – only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. You could turn $150 cash back into $300.
| ||
Citi Custom Cash® Card*
|
$0 | 1% - 5% cash back
| $200 cash back
Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.
|
The information related to the Chase Freedom Flex℠, Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card, Discover it® Cash Back and Citi Custom Cash® Card has been independently collected by LendingTree and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication. Terms apply.
The content above is not provided by any issuer. Any opinions expressed are those of LendingTree alone and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any issuer. The offers and/or promotions mentioned above may have changed, expired, or are no longer available. Check the issuer's website for more details.
