The Chase Freedom Flex℠ and Chase Freedom Unlimited® both have no annual fee, offer increased rewards on purchases with Chase Travel℠, at restaurants, and at drugstores, and feature a solid suite of consumer insurance protections.
But which of these cards is right for you? In this article, we’ll look at these two cards side-by-side to help you pick.
Summary: Biggest differences between the Chase Freedom Flex℠ and Chase Freedom Unlimited®
Chase Freedom Flex℠ | Chase Freedom Unlimited® | |
|---|---|---|
| Rewards in 5% rotating categories | Earns 5% cash back in rotating categories on up to $1,500 spent each quarter. | – |
| Rewards on general purchases | 1% cash back. | 1.5% cash back. |
| Benefits – Cell phone protection | – |
Card basics: Both no annual fee cards that earn cash back rewards
The Chase Freedom Flex℠ and the Chase Freedom Unlimited® both have no annual fee and earn cash back rewards. The Freedom Flex is issued as a Mastercard while the Freedom Unlimited will come as a Visa, but both processing networks are so widespread that the choice of network likely won’t matter.
| Spending category | Chase Freedom Flex℠ | Chase Freedom Unlimited® |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $0 | $0 |
| Card type | World Elite Mastercard | Visa Platinum or Visa Signature |
| Rewards | Marketed as cash back, but earns Ultimate Rewards®. | Marketed as cash back, but earns Ultimate Rewards®. |
Rewards: Categories vs. better rewards everywhere else
When it comes to rewards, the biggest difference between the two cards is that the Chase Freedom Unlimited® gives you 1.5% cash back rewards on your general purchases, vs 1% cash back rewards on non-category purchases with the Chase Freedom Flex℠. Here’s what the cards earn:
| Spending category | Chase Freedom Flex℠ | Chase Freedom Unlimited® |
|---|---|---|
| Rotating quarterly categories | 5% on up to $1,500 in purchases each quarter | – |
| Chase Travel℠ | 5% | 5% |
| Lyft rides through March 31, 2025 | 5% | 5% |
| Drugstores | 3% | 3% |
| Dining at restaurants including takeout and eligible delivery services | 3% | 3% |
| General purchases | 1% | 1.5% |
Although the cards are marketed as cash back cards, both cards earn Ultimate Rewards® points behind the scenes. If you hold a premium credit card like the Chase Sapphire Reserve® or Chase Sapphire Preferred®, you can combine your points across accounts and transfer them to travel partners.
What are rotating quarterly categories?
The Chase Freedom Flex℠ earns 5% cash back rewards on up to $1,500 spent in rotating quarterly categories. If you’re not familiar with 5% rotating category cards, this concept may seem a bit unfamiliar. Here’s how rotating categories work.
About 15 days prior to each calendar quarter (January-March, April-June, etc.) Chase publishes its Freedom quarterly categories. If you have a Freedom Flex card and enroll in your quarterly bonus categories, you can earn 5% cash back on the first $1,500 you spend within bonus categories during the calendar quarter. Enrollment is simple and can be done with one click if you sign up for Chase’s email alerts.
Bonus categories have historically included useful categories like grocery stores, gas stations, Amazon.com, and warehouse clubs.
Benefits: Largely the same, but the Freedom Flex adds cell phone protection
The benefits on the Chase Freedom Flex℠ and the Chase Freedom Unlimited® are similar. Both cards offer basic consumer protections that you’d expect from Chase cards, but the Freedom Flex comes with cell phone protection, making it a good choice to use for paying your monthly cell phone bill—you’ll automatically get coverage for a stolen or damaged mobile phone.
| Spending category | Chase Freedom Flex℠ | Chase Freedom Unlimited® |
|---|---|---|
| Purchase protection | ||
| Extended warranty protection | ||
| Trip cancellation/interruption insurance | ||
| Secondary auto rental collision damage waiver insurance | ||
| Cellular wireless telephone protection | – |
How to pick between the Chase Freedom Flex℠ and Chase Freedom Unlimited®
For most people, getting the Chase Freedom Unlimited® is likely the best choice, due to its simpler reward structure and 50% better rewards on general purchases.
If you want simpler rewards go with the Chase Freedom Unlimited®. You’ll give up the opportunity to earn 5x rewards in rotating categories, but you won’t find yourself wondering if you should use your card for groceries this quarter or if you’ve activated your bonus categories. And with the card’s 1.5% cash back rewards on all non-category purchases, it’s a decent card to use “everywhere else.”
If you want more rewards or cell phone protection, add the Chase Freedom Flex℠ to your wallet. If you’re chasing rewards, you’re likely not opposed to the idea of carrying a few credit cards. Sure, the card earns only 1% on general purchases, but adding a 2% cash back credit card or a Freedom Unlimited card to your wallet solves this problem.
