A few days back, Chase made a major splash when it announced a revamp of their Freedom card portfolio. Chase also announced the launch of a new card called the Chase Freedom Flex card. Similarly, Chase also made some handy tweaks and upgrades to its existing Chase Freedom Unlimited card. Given that the new Freedom Flex is the new kid on the block, how does it compare to the Unlimited? If you can get only one, then which one should you get?
Chase Freedom Flex v/s Unlimited
How do the two cards stack up? Here’s a quick comparative chart.
| Card Name | Chase Freedom Flex | Chase Freedom Unlimited |
| Welcome Bonus | $200 OR 20,000 Points | $200 OR 20,000 Points |
| Time to meet spend | 3 months | 3 months |
| Minimum spend needed for bonus | $500 | $500 |
| Annual Fee | $0 | $0 |
| Travel | 1% OR 1x | 1.5% or 1.5x |
| Drug Stores | 3x OR 3% | 3x OR 3% |
| Dining | 3x OR 3% | 3x OR 3% |
| Quarterly Rotating Categories (Max $1,500) | 5x OR 5% | 1.5% or 1.5x (uncapped) |
| 0% Intro APR Period on purchases | 15 months | 15 months |
| Application Link | Apply Now | Apply Now |
Similarities
In addition to a lot of other features, the two cards also have similar benefits. For example, with both these cards, you’ll get the newly launched DoorDash and Lyft benefits. Both cards are also offering the 5% or 5x points on grocery purchases in the first year, up to $12,000 in spend. You’ll also get 5% cash back or 5x on travel you book through Chase’s Ultimate Rewards portal. You can read the details about these benefits on this page.
Differences
However, the Chase Freedom Flex is a MasterCard. Moreover, it’s a world elite mastercard. That distinction matters as it offers its own set of benefits. Following are some of the benefits that it offers. You can view the details about these benefits on MasterCard’s website.
- Lyft: Take 5 rides in a month and get a one time $10 Lyft credit once per month
- 5% cash rewards on Boxed
- Free ShopRunner membership
- $5 off Fandango tickets
- Concierge Benefits
- Golf Benefits
- Travel Services
- Lowest Hotel Rate Guarantee
- Mastercard Hotel Stay Guarantee
- Mastercard Airport Concierge
- Cell Phone Protection
- Global Emergency Services
Chase 5/24
The Chase 5/24 rule applies to both these cards. Chase will not approve you for either of this cards if you’ve been approved for 5 or more personal cards from any bank in the last 24 months.
The Pundit’s Mantra
Even after all the recent changes, the moot point remains and hinges around your spend patterns. On a personal level, I find the Freedom Unlimited a better proposition. I carry a lot of credit cards in my wallet but I would probably go for the Freedom Unlimited as an option for non-bonused spending. Since I carry the Chase Sapphire Preferred, carrying the Freedom unlimited would me a nice option to earn 3x on dining and drugstores, without having to track quarterly spending categories. Also, I carry other credit cards which already offer the MasterCard World Elite benefits, so the new freedom flex wouldn’t make much of a difference.
However, you situation may be different. Some folks love maxing out the quarterly categories on their Freedom cards, while others prefer a simple earning structure. Which card would you opt for? Tell us in the comments section.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
This travel credit card is one of my favorite hotel credit cards. You can earn a welcome bonus of 50,000 points when you apply for this card using the link below!
With this card, you’ll not only earn a free night each year when you renew the card, but If you pair it with this limited time offer, you’ll also earn 25% points back when you redeem your points until October 8, 2020.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Never miss out on the deals, analysis, news and travel industry trends. Like us on Facebook, follow us on Instagram and Twitter and get the latest content!
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Disclosure: The Points Pundit receives NO compensation from credit card affiliate partnerships. Support the blog by applying for a card through my personal referral links. This article is meant for information purposes only and doesn’t constitute personal finance, health or investment advice. Please consult a licensed professional for advice pertaining to your situation.
Any clue why Chase doesn’t include info about the 3x on drugstores and dining on the Freedom Unlimited application landing page? It only lists 1.5x and 5x on grocery the first year.
Hi Erick,
I guess that’s because it’s not a part of the welcome bonus but a new benefit that Chase introduced starting from Sept 15th on both Freedom cards. Their press release spells it out.
Here’s the press release by Chase to clarify the matter https://media.chase.com/news/new-chase-freedom-flex-credit-Card-and-more-cash-back-Opportunities-for-freedom-unlimited-cardmembers