Chase Freedom vs. Chase Freedom Unlimited
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Please note: Chase Freedom® may no longer be available to new applicants.
The Verdict: The Chase Freedom® and Chase Freedom Unlimited® cards both have $0 annual fees, give 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and offer the same initial bonuses. Both also require good-to-excellent credit for approval. The difference is that Freedom gives ongoing 5% cash back on up to $1,500 spent per quarter in bonus categories that change (1% back on everything else), while Freedom Unlimited gives 5% cash back on travel booked through Chase and 3% on restaurants and drugstore purchases (1.5% back on everything else).
So choosing which Chase Freedom card to apply for comes down to whether you prefer the consistency of Freedom Unlimited’s rewards or Freedom’s rotating bonus categories.
But you don’t necessarily have to choose. Chase allows cardholders to transfer rewards from one card to another. So, you could get Freedom Unlimited for everyday spending and use Freedom only for purchases in its 5% bonus categories. This strategy isn’t for everybody, but it is possible. Below, you can find some more information that should come in handy whether you’re trying to pick between Freedom and Freedom Unlimited or use them both to maximum effect.
SIDE BY SIDE COMPARISON
General
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Network | VISA | VISA |
Credit Card Company | Chase | Chase |
Min Credit Required | Excellent or Good | Excellent or Good |
Annual Fee | $0 | $0 |
Purchases
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Intro APR | 0% | 0% |
Intro APR Period | 15 months | 15 months |
Regular APR | 14.99% - 23.74% (V) | 14.99% - 23.74% (V) |
Transfers
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Intro APR | N/A | N/A |
Intro APR Period | N/A | N/A |
Regular APR | 14.99% - 23.74% (V) | 14.99% - 23.74% (V) |
Transfer Fee | 5% (min $5) | Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater |
Rewards
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Reward Type | Cash Back | Cash Back |
Reward Bonus | $200 | $200 |
Reward Cap | No | No |
Reward Details |
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Penalties
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Max Late Fee | See Terms | See Terms |
Max Overlimit Fee | See Terms | See Terms |
Max Default APR | None | None |
Cash
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Cash APR | 24.99% (V) | 24.99% (V) |
Cash Advance Fee | Either $10 or 5% of the amount of each transaction, whichever is greater. | Either $10 or 5% of the amount of each transaction, whichever is greater. |
Other
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Additional Info |
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One-time Setup Fees | None | None |
Foreign Transaction Fee | 3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars | 3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars |
Grace Period | See Terms | See Terms |
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Still Not Sure?
If your mind's still not made up about which card to get, a recap and some additional resources may help you decide. You can find both below.
Overview: Chase Freedom vs Chase Freedom Unlimited
Category | Chase Freedom | Chase Freedom Unlimited |
Annual Fee | $0 | $0 |
Initial Bonus | $200 | $200 |
Purchase Intro APR | 0% for 15 months | 0% for 15 months |
Rewards Rate | 1 - 5% Cash Back | 1.5 - 5% Cash Back |
Regular APR | 14.99% - 23.74% (V) | 14.99% - 23.74% (V) |
Recommended Credit Rating | Good | Good |
More Resources: