Chase Freedom Unlimited vs. Flex: Breaking Down the Difference

The Chase Freedom Unlimited (CFU) and Chase Freedom Flex (CFF) are two of the best no-annual-fee credit cards available. Both earn Chase Ultimate Rewards. Both have the same welcome bonus. Both have $0 annual fees.

So what’s the difference, and which should you get?

Chase Freedom Unlimited (CFU)

How It Earns

Category	Rate
Everything	1.5%
Dining	3%
Drugstores	3%
Travel via Chase portal	5%

Key Strength: Simplicity

No category tracking. No activation. Every purchase earns at least 1.5%.

The floor is high: Even “unoptimized” spending earns solid returns.

First-Year Bonus

Additional 1.5% on all purchases up to $20,000 in year one.

Math: $20,000 × 1.5% = $300 extra

Combined with base earning: 1.5% + 1.5% = 3% on everything for first year

Best For

• People who don’t want to track categories
• Those with varied spending across many merchants
• “Set it and forget it” users
• Anyone who wants a strong baseline earning rate

The Math: Which Earns More?

Scenario 1: Average Spending ($3,000/month)

Spending breakdown:

• $500 dining
• $400 groceries
• $300 gas
• $100 drugstores
• $1,700 other

Freedom Unlimited:

Category	Amount	Rate	Annual
Dining	$6,000	3%	$180
Drugstores	$1,200	3%	$36
Everything else	$28,800	1.5%	$432
Total			$648

Freedom Flex:

Category	Amount	Rate	Annual
Dining	$6,000	3%	$180
Drugstores	$1,200	3%	$36
Rotating (assume $4,500 qualifies)	$4,500	5%	$225
Everything else	$24,300	1%	$243
Total			$684

Winner: Freedom Flex by $36/year (if you activate and use categories)

Scenario 2: Non-Category Spender ($3,000/month)

Same spending, but rotating categories don’t match your purchases.

Freedom Unlimited: $648 (unchanged)

Freedom Flex:

Category	Amount	Rate	Annual
Dining	$6,000	3%	$180
Drugstores	$1,200	3%	$36
Rotating (minimal use)	$1,500	5%	$75
Everything else	$27,300	1%	$273
Total			$564

Winner: Freedom Unlimited by $84/year

Key Insight

• Freedom Flex wins if you hit rotating categories
• Freedom Unlimited wins if you don’t or won’t track them
• The gap narrows significantly with the shared 3% dining and drugstore categories

Which Should You Get First?

Get Freedom Unlimited First If:

• You’re new to rewards cards
• You don’t want to track categories
• You prefer guaranteed returns over optimization
• Your spending doesn’t align with typical rotating categories
• You want the 3% everything first-year bonus

Get Freedom Flex First If:

• You’re comfortable with quarterly category tracking
• You shop frequently at Amazon, gas stations, grocery stores
• You want maximum grocery rewards in year one (5%)
• You enjoy optimizing for bonus categories
• You’ll actually remember to activate

Get Both Eventually

If you’re building a Chase portfolio, having both makes sense:

• Flex for 5% category spending
• Unlimited for 1.5% on everything the Flex doesn’t cover
• Both feeding into your Sapphire for transfer value

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I have both Freedom Unlimited and Freedom Flex? Yes. Many people do. They serve different purposes.

Do these cards have foreign transaction fees? Yes, 3%. Not recommended for international travel.

Can I product change between them? Generally no—they’re different products. But you can upgrade either to Sapphire (if eligible).

Which has better travel protections? Freedom Flex (Mastercard World Elite) has slightly better benefits than Unlimited (Visa Signature). Both are modest.

Do rotating categories require activation? Yes. You must activate each quarter through the Chase app or website. Unactivated = 1%.

What if I miss activating a quarter? You earn 1% instead of 5% on those purchases. Set calendar reminders.

Last updated: January 2026

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