First-year winner
Chase Freedom Unlimited
$119 Year 1 edge
$718 vs $600
Compare Cards
Stack up the better credit card
Compare two cards side by side with your real spend, credits, fees, and rewards.
Card A
Card B
Monthly spend
Start with spending categories
Monthly Total
$2,430/mo
Reward assumptions
Credits & benefits
Count the credits and perks you actually expect to use. Credit rows start with conservative default values; edit them for your own merchant, timing, or travel friction.
Card A
Chase Freedom Flex
Counted benefits
$0
Credits
None
Cash-like credits counted in the model
Perks
None
Optional user-valued benefits
Perk
DashPass Membership and Quarterly Promos
Other · No listed cash value
Cardholders can receive a complimentary DashPass membership window plus rotating non-restaurant DoorDash promos.
Perk
Lyft Partner Offer
Other · No listed cash value
Eligible Lyft purchases can qualify for an elevated partner offer during the issuer's promotional period.
Perk
Cell Phone Protection
Cell Phone · No listed cash value
Can provide coverage for eligible cell phone damage or theft when the monthly bill is paid with the card.
Perk
Purchase Protection
Purchase Protection · No listed cash value
Can help protect eligible new purchases against damage or theft for a limited period after purchase.
Perk
Extended Warranty Protection
Extended Warranty · No listed cash value
Can extend the original U.S. manufacturer's warranty on eligible purchases.
Perk
Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver
Rental Car · No listed cash value
Can provide theft and collision coverage for eligible rental vehicles.
Perk
Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance
Travel Insurance · No listed cash value
Can reimburse covered prepaid travel expenses when a qualifying trip is canceled or interrupted for a covered reason.
Perk
Trip Delay Reimbursement
Travel Insurance · No listed cash value
Can reimburse eligible out-of-pocket expenses when a covered trip is delayed beyond the issuer's threshold.
Card B
Chase Freedom Unlimited
Counted benefits
$0
Credits
None
Cash-like credits counted in the model
Perks
None
Optional user-valued benefits
Perk
DashPass Membership and Quarterly Promos
Other · No listed cash value
Cardholders can receive a complimentary DashPass membership window plus rotating non-restaurant DoorDash promos.
Perk
Lyft Partner Offer
Other · No listed cash value
Eligible Lyft purchases can qualify for an elevated partner offer during the issuer's promotional period.
Perk
Purchase Protection
Purchase Protection · No listed cash value
Can help protect eligible new purchases against damage or theft for a limited period after purchase.
Perk
Extended Warranty Protection
Extended Warranty · No listed cash value
Can extend the original U.S. manufacturer's warranty on eligible purchases.
Perk
Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver
Rental Car · No listed cash value
Can provide theft and collision coverage for eligible rental vehicles.
Perk
Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance
Travel Insurance · No listed cash value
Can reimburse covered prepaid travel expenses when a qualifying trip is canceled or interrupted for a covered reason.
Perk
Trip Delay Reimbursement
Travel Insurance · No listed cash value
Can reimburse eligible out-of-pocket expenses when a covered trip is delayed beyond the issuer's threshold.
Verdict
Chase Freedom Unlimited wins year 1 and long term.
Winner after year 1
Chase Freedom Unlimited
$119 ongoing edge
$518 vs $400
Long-term breakeven: the higher-reward option needs roughly $0 per year in this spend mix to overcome the fee and benefit gap.
Chase
Chase Freedom Flex
Year One
$600
Welcome offer + annual rewards + counted benefits - fee
After Year 1
$400
Annual rewards + counted benefits - fee
Annual Rewards
$400
1.37% effective return
Welcome Offer
$200
Current listed first-year bonus value
Credits + Perks
None
$0 credits + $0 perks
Bonus Spend
$500
3 mo window · $167/mo pace · Comfortable
Why it wins
- • No standout edge under the current assumptions.
Watch for
- • Foreign transaction fees make it weaker for international spend.
Chase
Chase Freedom Unlimited
Year One
$718
Welcome offer + annual rewards + counted benefits - fee
After Year 1
$518
Annual rewards + counted benefits - fee
Annual Rewards
$518
1.78% effective return
Welcome Offer
$200
Current listed first-year bonus value
Credits + Perks
None
$0 credits + $0 perks
Bonus Spend
$500
3 mo window · $167/mo pace · Comfortable
Why it wins
- • No standout edge under the current assumptions.
Watch for
- • Foreign transaction fees make it weaker for international spend.
Spend Mix Math
Where the value actually comes from
Category returns are based on the spend mix you entered, your point-value assumption, and the benefits you chose to count.
Dining
3%
$5,400
Chase Freedom Flex
$162
3.00%
Chase Freedom Unlimited
$162
3.00%
Groceries
1%
$7,800
Chase Freedom Flex
$78
1.00%
Chase Freedom Unlimited
$117
1.50%
Travel
1%
$3,000
Chase Freedom Flex
$30
1.00%
Chase Freedom Unlimited
$45
1.50%
Gas
1%
$1,920
Chase Freedom Flex
$19
1.00%
Chase Freedom Unlimited
$29
1.50%
General
1%
$11,040
Chase Freedom Flex
$110
1.00%
Chase Freedom Unlimited
$166
1.50%
Total annual spend
$29,160 across this mix
Chase Freedom Flex$400
Chase Freedom Unlimited$518
Raw Breakdown
Full side-by-side details
Use the spec table below when you want the literal field-by-field differences in rewards, benefits, transfer partners, fees, and approval profile.
| Metric | Chase Freedom Flex | Chase Freedom Unlimited |
|---|---|---|
| Costs | ||
| Annual fee | Free | Free |
| Foreign transaction fee | 3% | 3% |
| Rewards | ||
| Dining rewards | 3% | 3% |
| Other rewards | 5% Up to $1,500 in combined rotating-category purchases each quarter after activation. | 3% Drugstore purchases. |
| Travel rewards | 5% Travel purchased through Chase Travel. | 5% Travel purchased through Chase Travel. |
| All rewards | 1% | 1.5% |
| Offer | ||
| Welcome offer | $200 credit Spend $500 in 3 mo | $200 credit Spend $500 in 3 mo |
| Benefits | ||
| Estimated benefits | 8 listed | 7 listed |
| Benefit highlights | DashPass Membership and Quarterly Promos · Lyft Partner Offer · Cell Phone Protection · +5 more | DashPass Membership and Quarterly Promos · Lyft Partner Offer · Purchase Protection · +4 more |
| Profile | ||
| Credit needed | Good | Good |
| Network | mastercard | visa |
| Reward type | Cashback | Cashback |
Costs
Annual fee
Chase Freedom Flex
Free
Chase Freedom Unlimited
Free
Foreign transaction fee
Chase Freedom Flex
3%
Chase Freedom Unlimited
3%
Rewards
Dining rewards
Chase Freedom Flex
3%
Chase Freedom Unlimited
3%
Other rewards
Chase Freedom Flex
5%
Up to $1,500 in combined rotating-category purchases each quarter after activation.
Chase Freedom Unlimited
3%
Drugstore purchases.
Travel rewards
Chase Freedom Flex
5%
Travel purchased through Chase Travel.
Chase Freedom Unlimited
5%
Travel purchased through Chase Travel.
All rewards
Chase Freedom Flex
1%
Chase Freedom Unlimited
1.5%
Offer
Welcome offer
Chase Freedom Flex
$200 credit
Spend $500 in 3 mo
Chase Freedom Unlimited
$200 credit
Spend $500 in 3 mo
Benefits
Estimated benefits
Chase Freedom Flex
8 listed
Chase Freedom Unlimited
7 listed
Benefit highlights
Chase Freedom Flex
DashPass Membership and Quarterly Promos · Lyft Partner Offer · Cell Phone Protection · +5 more
Chase Freedom Unlimited
DashPass Membership and Quarterly Promos · Lyft Partner Offer · Purchase Protection · +4 more
Profile
Credit needed
Chase Freedom Flex
Good
Chase Freedom Unlimited
Good
Network
Chase Freedom Flex
mastercard
Chase Freedom Unlimited
visa
Reward type
Chase Freedom Flex
Cashback
Chase Freedom Unlimited
Cashback