Category: Chase Freedom

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Comparing the Chase Slate & Chase Freedom Balance Transfer Cards

Comparing credit card offers is a pretty challenging task. More challenging when you start narrowing down your choices, and are left with the likes of Chase Slate and Chase Freedom, both of which come from the same issuer! However, the single biggest differentiating factor between these two is that while one is targeted specifically towards people wanting to transfer their high-interest credit card debt, the other is for people who although may want to transfer any existing balance/s, they may not want to do it at the cost of cash back rewards.

Chase slate vs Chase freedom

Let’s look into their respective features and benefits in some detail.

Chase Slate Card

Card benefits

  • You’re not required to pay any balance transfer fee if you transfer a balance from another card (not from Chase) within the first 60 days of account opening. Thereafter, a fee of $ 5 or 5% (whichever is higher) is applicable on the future transfers.
  • There’s a 0% introductory APR offer on the balance transfers and purchases, for the first 15 months. A variable APR of 23.24%, 18.24% or 13.24% becomes applicable post this 15 months’ time period, depending on your credit worthiness.
  • You can see your monthly FICO scores (based on data from Experian) online, completely free of cost. You’re also provided reasons behind your credit score, your credit report summary and helpful information on how you can better manage your credit.
  • There is no annual fee associated with this card.
  • Your APR won’t be raised if you’re late in making your bill payment.
  • You receive ample security and protection in the form of fraud alerts (via email, phone call or text), fraud protection and the embedded chip technology.

Credit requirements

At one point of time this card used to be marketed to people with average credit (in the range of 630 to 689), however, now it’s positioned towards people with good (690 to 719) to excellent (720 and upwards) credit. It’s possible that you may be approved for this card even if you have some minor credit blemishes, but major blemishes are most likely to rule you out. In general, people having FICO scores of high 600s and upwards are easily approved for the Chase Slate. People normally find it easier to qualify for Chase Slate compared to Freedom as there’s no reward component involved here.

Some more pros of the Chase Slate card

  • Good for people who are looking to pay off some high interest debt from another card in a well-planned manner. You get access to the Chase’s blueprint program that enables you to customize your debt-payoff plan as per your needs.
  • Good for people that require a longer duration of over 12 months to pay off their credit card debt.
  • No penalty APR comes as a handy feature for the balance carriers who are prone to missing the payment due dates.
  • Ideal for people who have accumulated unexpected card debt over a period of time and are looking for the ideal balance transfer card to overcome their card debt woes.

Some cons of the Chase Slate card

  • Not the best card for people who are after credit card rewards or cash back.
  • Not ideal for people with poor or average credit (below 690).
  • There is a limit of $ 15,000 that can be transferred from another card to this one. Hence, it may not be the best card for someone who has excessive card debt, over and above $ 15,000.
  • No balance transfers allowed from the existing Chase cards to this one.
  • The intro 0% APR period is not the longest one if compared to other prominent balance transfer cards like the Citi Diamond Preferred that comes with a 21-month 0% intro offer.
  • A 3% foreign transaction fee is a major drawback for frequent international travelers.

 

Chase Freedom Card

Card Benefits

  • You can get 5% cash back on your combined purchases of up to $ 1,500, in rotating bonus categories. It’s equal to a total of $ 75 in cash back rewards! Please note, you’ll need to activate these categories manually every quarter. New 5% cash back categories such as wholesale clubs, gas stations, grocery stores, restaurants and more are introduced every quarter.
  • An unlimited 1% cash back offer is available on purchases of all types. This is the default cashback offer which also becomes applicable after the exhaustion of the 5% cash back limit (of $ 1,500.
  • You can bag an introductory $ 150 bonus by spending at least $ 500 on any purchases during your first three months with the card. An additional $ 25 bonus can be had by adding the first authorized user to the card and making your first purchase inside the initial three months’ time.
  • There’s a 0% introductory APR applicable on the balance transfers and purchases made during the first 15 months. A variable APR of 23.24%, 19.24% or 14.24% becomes applicable after the expiry of the introductory time period.
  • Unlike the Chase Slate card, a balance transfer fee of 5% or $5 (whichever is higher) is applicable on any amount transferred from a different card. There’s no introductory 60 days offer here.
  • You’re protected with security features like fraud monitoring/alerts, built-in security and zero liability protection.

Credit requirements

It’s a slight bit tougher to get this card when compared to the Chase Slate as this one requires excellent credit (720 and upwards). Although a FICO score of 720 or higher would be ideal to qualify for the Chase Freedom, some people even in that range have been denied this card. On the other hand, some with even lower scores of around mid-600s have been approved, although with a lower credit limit, which is at least better than being denied.

Some more pros of the Chase Freedom card

  • An ideal option for people with good to excellent credit, who are looking to make the most of the cashback rewards quickly.
  • Excellent card for people who want to get their first credit card and are looking to use it extensively for their day-to-day purchases. Please note, purchases made on Amazon.com always have a 5% cash back offer during the holiday seasons.
  • Once you’ve accumulated $ 20 in the cashback rewards, you’re allowed to redeem that amount in the form of a statement credit, gift card, bank account deposit or purchases made at the Chase’s ultimate rewards shopping website.
  • Although there is a late fees involved in the Chase Freedom card, you don’t need to pay any penalty APR just like the Chase Slate card.

Some cons of the Chase Freedom card

  • Not the ideal card for people who like to earn their rewards in a well-planned manner. The rotating 5% cash back categories can be a big put-off for such people.
  • Not the ideal card for frequent international travelers as there’s a 3% foreign transaction fee applicable on international purchases.
  • The baseline 1% cash back offer is lower compared to the other competing cards.
  • The manual activation for the 5% cash back offer every quarter can be put-off for many people. Not activating these categories by the middle of the last month of the quarter can make this offer invalid.
  • You’re not provided the constant FICO score monitoring facility like the Chase Slate card.

Final Word

To conclude, if it’s a plain and nice balance transfer card you’re after, the Chase Slate should be your pick. It beats the Chase Freedom any given day in this department! On the other hand, if you rarely carry any credit card balance and have an excellent credit score, you’d be much better off with the Chase Freedom instead.

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Comparing the Discover it and Chase Freedom 5x Categories

There’s nothing like getting paid to pay. It some ways, the now popular cash back cards feel like they’re providing free money. As folks say, ‘if it seems too good to be true, it probably is’. Yes, cash-back cards are not the gravy train. As with any credit card balance, the 5% cash-back is quickly outweighed by the much more significant Annual Percentage Rate. However, a well-chosen cash-back card can be a valuable tool to keep in your wallet.

Two of the favorited cash-back cards are the Discover It and the Chase Freedom cards. They have reached this popularity because of their appealing 5% cash-back feature. In both cases, this attractive percentage is accessible to purchases that fall within certain categories. In order to choose one card over the other, the long-term factor that will affect your cash-back are these categories.

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The Similarities

For both cards, the categories that earn 5% change quarterly. Every three months, you need to shift your mental spending to take advantage of the increased percentage. If you purchase outside of the categories, you’ll receive 1% cash-back. The price is right for this card, as neither one has an annual fee. Both cards have the same spending limit on which you can earn the prized 5%. You can spend up to $1500 in the quarterly categories and therefore receive up to $75 in cash-back.

Category Authorization

Both cards also use a category activation system that requires the cardholder to activate their access to these categories. This activation means that you have to log in to your account online or call to confirm that you will be purchasing in these categories and want to earn 5% instead of that measly 1%. This extra step is seemingly unnecessary and a pitfall for those who forget to activate. You’d think that it’s straightforward that people who are using the card would want to access the better cash-back rate.

For the category authentication, both cards have their strengths within this system. Discover It has no end date for when you can authorize your card to access these categories. The Chase Freedom card authorization period ends about two weeks before the quarter closes, which could leave some people out in the cold. The Chase Freedom card , however, has a clear email and text reminder system to make sure that you don’t miss your window (and have the widest window possible). And once you activate it, it provides the 5% on all combined purchases made within the quarter.

Current Quarter

To begin, let’s look at this quarter: July to September 2016. The Discover It card will give you 5% back for purchases at home improvement stores and on Amazon.com. If you’re planning some small home renovations, this category could provide a big benefit. You could easily earn 5% ‘off’ of your reno, as the category is quite open as to the range of business it allows. Instead of providing a list of authorized establishments, Discover provides a description of the type of business. However, if you’re not planning renovations, the category isn’t that useful. Some Amazon.com purchases could provide certain cash-back opportunities, but likely you won’t near the same benefit.

The Chase Freedom card offers the 5% for restaurant tabs and purchases at wholesale clubs. Chase provides a lengthy list of the eligible restaurants, which they describe as places where their primary business is eat-in or sit-down dining. For example, almost every fast-food restaurant you can imagine is listed. However, hotel and casino restaurants, as well as grocery store cafes and bakeries are not eligible. However, you can earn 5% back at the grocery section of wholesale clubs, like Costco. This category is more useful to the average consumer, as food purchases, whether at restaurants or bulk groceries, are a common expense.

In the current quarter, you could be a big winner with Discover It’s home renovation plans and the more significant purchases that come along with that. However, most consumers will have better luck earning 5% back within the Chase Freedom restaurant and wholesale club category. You may not max out your $1500 allowance, but the category is still more accessible.

Next Quarter

Looking forward, we head to the last quarter of the year: October to December. Of course, this quarter holds the holiday shopping season. Both cards are holding out on the final category details. Perhaps the suspense adds to the end of year cheer, but it can make it difficult to pick the better holiday shopping companion.

We do know that the Discover It card will provide you with 5% on all your Amazon.com purchases. For those who don’t want to leave their home for the mall, this cash-back category could be a boon. The Chase Freedom card will continue to offer the 5% on wholesale club purchases. Looking towards the hearty eating season that it is, you could get all your holiday groceries at a great cash-back rate. However, the biggest winners of the quarter are yet to be announced.

Past Categories

Looking back to the fourth quarter of 2015, we can see what kinds of categories could appear. Of course, the categories change and are rarely the same year to year, but it provides some context. The Discover It card provided 5% at Amazon.com, department stores, and clothing stores. The Chase Freedom card provided the great rate at Amazon.com, zappos.com, audible.com and diapers.com. Here, the Discover It card seems to come out the better option based on the wide range of store types, rather than specific websites. However, the preference really depends on whether you like to shop online or in person.

Conclusion

For this year, the Chase Freedom cash-back card is the best card to earn higher cash-back on everyday purchases. Everyone needs to eat, and you could earn on food bills or restaurant tabs. Home renovation and online shopping at Amazon.com is more niche, though highly useful for those consumers who fall into that niche. However, the release of the fourth quarter categories will be a key comparison point. Keep an eye out for the announcement, as it will likely come out in mid-September.

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How do I redeem my Chase Freedom Points?

The Chase Freedom credit card is one of the most popular cash-back cards on the market. The Chase Freedom card is attractive because it does not impose a fee on card members, and current promotional interest rates offer 0% on both purchases and balance transfers for qualified applicants. Card members are also drawn to the Chase Freedom rewards program as a way to earn cash-back on all purchases. The card functions as a rotating bonus rewards program, meaning additional rewards points are earned during certain times of the year for specific retailers or categories of purchases. The card also offers a flat-rate cash back for purchases made outside the bonus categories throughout the year. Before learning how rewards can be redeemed, let’s take a look at how rewards are earned.

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Chase Freedom Rewards Potential

Card members with Chase Freedom earn 5% cash back on purchases made in bonus categories each quarter. As an example, bonus categories in the past have included grocery stores and restaurants, gas stations and home improvement stores, and wholesale clubs like Costco or BJs. To earn rewards in bonus categories, card members must activate the enhanced rewards program each and every quarter. Combined purchases of up to $1,500 in bonus categories are eligible for the 5% cash back reward.

In addition to the 5% cash back potential, Chase Freedom card members earn 1% on purchases that fall outside the quarterly bonus categories. Card members are no up against a limit as far as earning rewards is concerned, and the benefit is automatically activated at the time the card is opened. Additional rewards points may be earned through promotions for new card members, including a $150 cash back bonus when $500 or more in purchases are made using the card within the first three months after account opening. Adding an authorized user also earns card members $25 bonus cash back when a purchase is made within the same three-month time frame.

Chase Freedom rewards points do not expire, giving card members flexibility as to how rewards are used over time. But the greatest benefits to the Chase rewards program is the ability to redeem points in a variety of ways.

Redeeming for Cash

Chase Freedom rewards points can be redeemed for cash easily through the card issuer’s website, by calling a representative with Chase, or by visiting a Chase Bank branch location. Card members who opt for cash can use accumulated rewards points to obtain a statement credit to reduce the outstanding balance held on the card. Card members should note that a statement credit does not alter the minimum payment due. Alternatively, cash back can be redeemed as a direct deposit in to a checking or savings account held at a financial institution within the United States. For both statement credit and direct deposit redemptions, a minimum of 2,000 points – the equivalent of $20 – is required.

Redeeming for Gift Cards or Shopping

Chase Freedom card members also have the ability to redeem accumulated cash back rewards for select gift cards made available through Chase’s Ultimate Rewards site. Participating retailers include major stores such as Lowes, Home Depot, Target, Amazon and Apple (iTunes), and more than 70 partners make gift cards available through the Chase rewards program. While it is necessary to have the same minimum accumulated rewards balance of 2,000, gift cards can be redeemed in amounts as small as $5, or 500 points.

Chase Freedom rewards points may also be used to shop directly through certain partner sites, the most notable being Amazon.com. Through the Ultimate Rewards portal, card members with at least 2,000 points can link their individual Amazon.com account to Chase and utilize points at checkout. Card members who download the Chase Freedom mobile app have additional options for direct shopping with accumulated points. Through the app, card members select the merchant they wish to pay (more than 30 are available at this time), and the amount they want to spend. Chase creates a custom gift card specifically for that store that is available through the app. When the card member is ready to pay, they simply present the phone at checkout for the amount selected.

Redeeming for Travel

One of the most attractive ways to redeem points through Chase Freedom is on travel purchases. Through the Chase Ultimate Rewards site, card members have an overwhelming number of options including air fare, hotel stays and rental car reservations. Additionally, Chase aggregates a number of activities catered to family-friendly adventures or vacations, romantic getaways or outdoor fun. The site also provides a list of location-specific activities for card members, such as museum visits, new and noteworthy restaurants and community events.

Redeeming Chase Freedom rewards through the site also requires a minimum of 2,000 points, although some travel partners may require a higher number of points to make purchases. Any purchases made above and beyond the total available points value may be completed using the linked Chase Freedom credit card, and those balances earn points at the flat cash back rate of 1%.

Card members also have the opportunity to combine cash back rewards earned through the Chase Freedom credit card with other credit cards offered through Chase Bank. Moving points does not cost the card member anything, and it can be done as long as the card remains in good standing with Chase. All Chase cards that offer the Ultimate Rewards program are eligible for points transfer, as long as the card member is the same, a spouse or a domestic partner.

The Chase Freedom Ultimate Rewards program offers a number of ways to utilize cash back earned in either the bonus categories or through regular purchases that earn a flat rate. Card members have the opportunity to redeem accumulated rewards as statement credits for their Chase Freedom credit card balance, or via direct deposit into a bank account. Gift cards and shopping experiences are also available through the Ultimate Rewards site or through the Freedom rewards mobile app. Travel, activities and local events may also be purchases using cash back rewards through Chase Freedom. As long as the minimum amount of points are available, card members can use cash back however it best fits their needs.

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Discover it vs. Chase Freedom Card

In the universe of rewards credit cards, both Discover it and Chase Freedom stand out as top card options. Account holders not only have seemingly endless benefits with each card, the cash-back rewards are some of the best in the business. However, for newcomers to the credit card rewards playground, there are some nuances that make determining which card is the best a difficult task. Let’s take a closer look at both the Discover it and the Chase Freedom credit cards in terms of rewards potential, introductory bonuses and fees.

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Rewards Showdown

Both the Discover it and Chase Freedom credit cards offer robust rewards programs, but slight differences exist. First, the Discover it credit card offers 1% cash back on every dollar spent on purchases outside bonus categories that rotate on a quarterly basis. Purchases made within the bonus categories earn cardholders 5% cash back, up to a limit of $1,500 in total spending each quarter. Card members must sign up for the bonus categories as they rotate to ensure points are earned on applicable purchases, but the process is simply and free. Discover it bonus categories for cash back earnings are as follows for 2016:

  • January through March: Gas stations and ground transportation
  • April through June: Restaurants and movies
  • July through September: Home improvement stores and Amazon.com
  • October through December: Amazon.com (and others to be determined)

The Chase Freedom credit card also earns card members 1% on all purchases, with similar quarterly cash back bonuses of 5%. The bonus cash back categories do not require activation each quarter, but like the Discover it card, earnings are capped at $1,500 worth of spending. The cash back categories through Chase Freedom rotate each quarter, and for 2016 include:

  • January through March: Gas stations and local commuter transportation (not including Amtrak, tools or parking)
  • April through June: Grocery stores (not including warehouse clubs, Walmart or Target)
  • July through September: Restaurants
  • October through December: Holiday shopping with partner retailers to be determined

The fact that no additional step is needed to activate the bonus cash back rewards each quarter for the Chase Freedom card is certainly a bonus, but the category restrictions make the program slightly less attractive than Discover it. However, Discover it does not require a minimum number of points to accumulate prior to redemption; Chase Freedom card members must have earned at least $20 in cash back rewards prior to redeeming.

Upfront Bonuses

Only Chase Freedom offers an upfront cash back bonus for new card members within the first few months. Cardholders have the potential to earn $150 in cash after a minimum of $500 is spent on purchases within the first three months of account opening. The Discover it credit card offers a matching program for cash back earned, up to $200 additional cash, but the bonus is not immediate. Card members receive the matching cash back credit at the end of the first year after account opening, opposed to the first three months for Chase Freedom.

Comparison of Card Member Fees

For applicants seeking out low-cost rewards credit cards, both the Discover it and the Chase Freedom cards fit the bill. Both credit card options come with no annual fee, and no redemption fees for cash back earned. However, differences come into play as it relates to other costs associated with each credit card.

Discover it has an introductory interest rate of 0%, not just for purchases but for balance transfers as well. The promotional APR is honored for the first 12 months after account opening, after which time the standard rate and balance transfer ranges from 11.24% up to 23.24%. These interest rates are based on each applicant’s creditworthiness at the time of account opening, and rates may fluctuate over time based on broad market movements.

The Chase Freedom credit card also offers an attractive introductory interest rate for well-qualified borrowers. A 0% APR is in place for the first 15 months after account opening for both purchases and balance transfers. After the promotional period ends, card members are assessed interest on remaining balances as low as 14.24% up to 23.24%. All rates for purchases and balance transfers after the introductory rates expire are variable. Account holders looking for potentially lower interest after the promotional rate may find the Discover it card more attractive, while those looking for extended terms for 0% APR purchases or transfers may lean more toward the Chase Freedom card.

One of the other aspects that differentiates the Discover it card from the Chase Freedom card is the foreign transaction fee. Chase Freedom card members are assessed a 3% transaction fee for all purchases made outside the U.S., while Discover it cardholders are not assessed an additional fee for foreign transactions.

Additional Perks

One of the more helpful perks associated with the Discover it credit card is the free access to individualized credit scores through FICO reporting tools. Card members can view their FICO score for free through the Discover portal online, at any time. Additionally, Discover it card members have the benefit of a waived late payment fee for the first occurrence, and a single late payment does not mean a higher APR. These extra benefits are attractive to credit card users concerned about their credit health and status.

The Chase Freedom credit card does not currently provide access to credit monitoring or scores, but does protect card members who make a payment late. No penalty APR is imposed upon the first occurrence of a late payment, although a late payment fee will be assessed. Chase Freedom also offers superb protection against lost or damaged purchases liability protection against identity theft or fraud.

Final Thoughts

Both the Discover it and Chase Freedom credit cards offer smart, low-cost options for individuals looking for rewards programs. The Discover it card is a stronger choice for cardholders who purchase items or utilize their card overseas, or those who do not want to mess with accumulating a substantial number of points prior to redeeming for cash back. The Chase Freedom card is a great choice for individuals who do not want to activate the bonus cash back categories each quarter, or those who are seeking an extended 0% promotional period for purchase or balance transfers.

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Comparing the Chase Freedom and the Chase Freedom Unlimited Cards

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Comparing the Chase Freedom and the Chase Freedom Unlimited Cards

Chase is really changing the rules of the credit card game as they recently announced a new card to their credit card arsenal, the Chase Freedom Unlimited. Rumors spread that the Chase Freedom product will be discontinued, but as of press writing, Chase is still accepting applications for the latter card. So, given the confusing name, and the fact that one product may eventually replace the other, what is the difference between the Chase Freedom and the Chase Freedom Unlimited?

 

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Associated Fees

Both cards have no annual fees, which makes it easier to keep both of these great cards forever. As of press writing, both also have a 0% introductory APR on purchases or balance transfers for the first 15 months. This is useful if you are planning to carry a balance on your card, but hopefully you won’t need to use this feature. After the first 15 months, the APR will change depending on the bank’s judgment of your credit worthiness, so check your terms as soon as you get approved for either card. Both cards also charge foreign transaction fees, so they may not be the best cards to use when you are planning to travel overseas, since these fees add up.

Looking at the associated fees related to both the Chase Freedom and the Chase Freedom Unlimited, there’s not much difference between the two.

 

The Rewards

The Chase Freedom and the Chase Freedom Unlimited Card use the same point system: Chase Ultimate Rewards (UR), which is highly valuable as the points can be used as cash back or travel on the UR website. If you also have a Chase Sapphire Preferred or the Chase Ink card along with your Freedom card, you can  transfer to various airline partners such as British Airways, Southwest, and United. You can also transfer your Ultimate Rewards Points to hotel partners such as Hyatt, Marriott and IHG.

If you still can’t understand the intricacies of the different points/miles used by hotels and airlines, you may opt to use the Ultimate Rewards portal to book tours, cruises, airline tickets, or hotels for an average of 1.25 cents per point.

Since both credit cards use the same Ultimate Rewards points, and cash back system, which is highly valuable, we deem them to be equal to each other.

 

Sign-up Bonuses

The Chase Freedom card has occasional promotional sign up bonuses as high as 20,000 Ultimate Rewards points, equivalent to roughly $200 or more in travel rewards upon spending $2,000 in three months once approved. Normally, both cards offer between 10,000 – 15,000 Ultimate Rewards points, equivalent to roughly $100-$150 in rewards, depending on how you value them upon reaching the spend limit once approved. For this aspect, both cards are also equal.

 

Additional Perks

An additional perk that the Chase Freedom & Chase Freedom Unlimited have is the auto rental collision damage waiver, which is always included if you use either of these cards to purchase a rental car. This will save you a bit of money by declining the collision damage insurance that the rental car companies may be offering.

Both credit cards also offer purchase protection and roadside assistance, which are mostly given to Visa Signature cards. On the additional perks side, both cards are equal.

 

Earning Points

If you look at our first three points above, you’ll see that both cards are equal to each other. However, there is a big tie breaker: how each card earns points for every dollar you spend.

The Chase Freedom card is a favorite card for all travel aficionados. Why? Because the Chase Freedom is a unique cash back card that allows you to earn 5 points for every $1 spent on rotating categories every quarter, with a maximum of $1,500 spent.

If you spent more than $1,500 a quarter on a specific category, it will default back to 1 point to $1 spend. These categories are normally announced at least a few months in advance, so you have ample time to make plans if this is a good deal for your spending habits or not. Chase categories range from restaurants, movie theatres, Amazon, Department Stores, grocery stores, gas, ground transportation, home improvement stores, and many more. A downside to the Chase Freedom card is that it will require you to activate the quarterly bonuses on your card. If you forget to activate the 5x bonus, you’ll only get the normal point for every spend, which is 1 UR point to $1. Also be sure to double check the merchant that you are planning to use the card for, to see if it is coded in the category you’re expecting it to fall under. Check the visa merchant website if you want to know more about the coding.

The Chase Freedom Unlimited card, on the other hand, does not have rotating quarterly category bonuses, but instead gives 1.5 Ultimate Rewards points for every $1 you spend, no exceptions. This is especially good if you don’t want to bother remembering all the quarterly categories, therefore making it an excellent option for an everyday card.

So, which one is better? It depends on your spending habits: if you feel that you are going to use the card for everyday spending and not in a particular category, then the Chase Freedom Unlimited makes more sense to get. However, if you feel that you can make the most of the rotating quarterly bonuses (maximum of $1,500 per quarter), then the Chase Freedom is for you.

 

Conclusion

Looking at the cards more closely, it appears that they are almost equal in every aspect except for earning bonuses. So, which card should you get all things being equal? You can opt to get the Chase Freedom now (since there are rumors that it may be discontinued soon), then sign up for the Chase Freedom Unlimited a few months after. Taking into consideration Chase’s new 5/24 rule, it makes more sense to space out your applications accordingly, so that you can get both cards and enjoy the sign up bonuses that come with them. It all depends on your goals: whether you’ll want to use the card for travel or just as a regular cash back card, both the Chase Freedom and Chase Freedom Unlimited are great and should definitely be wallet staples.