Chase Sapphire Reserve Vs. Chase Freedom Unlimited (2024)

When you sign up for the Chase Sapphire Reserve® or the Chase Freedom Unlimited®, you can earn a welcome bonus based on your spending if you meet eligibility criteria.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve® offers a welcome bonus of 75,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. Points are worth 1 cent when redeemed for cash back or 1.5 cents when you book through Chase Travel. You may be able to receive an even higher value by transferring points to the card’s airline and hotel partners.

Anyone can take advantage of the Freedom Unlimited’s welcome offer simply by making a purchase on their card. New cardholders earn an additional 1.5% cash back on up to $20,000 spent in the first year, worth up to $300 cash back.

Winner: While there is no spending requirement to earn additional cash back with the Freedom Unlimited, the overall winner is the Sapphire Reserve. Its welcome bonus is much higher, and the card offers more redemption options.

Many rewards credit cards charge annual fees to help the bank cover the card’s benefits. When comparing the Chase Sapphire Reserve® against the Chase Freedom Unlimited®, their annual fees are at two opposite ends of the spectrum.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is a premium travel card offering valuable benefits, but it charges a $550 annual fee. Additionally, there is a $75 annual fee for every authorized user you add. While this card offers numerous benefits, you’ll need to decide if those benefits are worth the cost.

For budget-conscious consumers, the Chase Freedom Unlimited® has no annual fee. Without an annual fee, you’ll keep all of the cash back you earn.

Winner: The winner of this category is the Chase Freedom Unlimited® because you can keep it open for many years without worrying if it is worth it.

Chase Freedom Unlimited®

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See Also

Chase Freedom Unlimited vs. Sapphire Preferred: Sapphire Travels Better - NerdWalletChase Sapphire Preferred Card vs. Chase Freedom Unlimited Card [Detailed Comparison]Chase Freedom Unlimited Credit CardChase Freedom Flex: What to Know Before Applying - NerdWallet

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3.4

Forbes Advisor created additional star ratings so that you can see the best card for specific needs. This card shines for this use, but overall the star ratings may differ when compared to other cards.

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Up to 6.5X Reward Rate

Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on up to $20,000 spent in the first year, after that 5% cash backRead More

Welcome Bonus

Up to $300 cash back

Annual Fee

$0

Regular APR

20.49% - 29.24% Variable

Credit Score

Excellent, Good(700 - 749)

Our Expert Take

A good overall spending card that allows you to hold a balance on new purchases with a low introductory APR, pay no annual fee, and still earn at least 1.5% cashback on all purchases

Expert Commentary

Julian Kheel

Credit Cards and Travel Rewards Expert

With over 15 years of professional experience studying credit cards and travel loyalty programs, Julian Kheel has served as CNN’s senior editor covering travel and credit cards, as well as the editorial director for The Points Guy, and worked as a consultant for the biggest airlines. He is currently the CEO of Tripsight Inc., an award tools company that recently released Points Path, the first browser extension that automatically adds the prices of flights in miles into Google Flights search results to help travelers decide when to best use their travel rewards.

Julian first learned the ins and outs of credit card rewards and travel loyalty programs while flying more than 200,000 miles a year as a TV producer and director for World Wrestling Entertainment. (And yes, of course it’s all real.) He has previously written about travel and credit cards for U.S. News & World Report, Upgraded Points and Going, and created weekly columns for the travel websites Frequent Miler and Travel Codex.

In addition to appearing as a TV analyst to discuss travel and loyalty programs on national segments for CNN, Bloomberg News, CNBC’s “Squawk Box,” Yahoo Finance and Cheddar TV, Julian has also been featured on ABC and CBS Radio, and has been quoted in The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, and the Chicago Tribune on travel-related topics as well.

Julian Kheel

Julian Kheel

Credit Cards and Travel Rewards Expert

With over 15 years of professional experience studying credit cards and travel loyalty programs, Julian Kheel has served as CNN’s senior editor covering travel and credit cards, as well as the editorial director for The Points Guy, and worked as a consultant for the biggest airlines. He is currently the CEO of Tripsight Inc., an award tools company that recently released Points Path, the first browser extension that automatically adds the prices of flights in miles into Google Flights search results to help travelers decide when to best use their travel rewards.

Julian first learned the ins and outs of credit card rewards and travel loyalty programs while flying more than 200,000 miles a year as a TV producer and director for World Wrestling Entertainment. (And yes, of course it’s all real.) He has previously written about travel and credit cards for U.S. News & World Report, Upgraded Points and Going, and created weekly columns for the travel websites Frequent Miler and Travel Codex.

In addition to appearing as a TV analyst to discuss travel and loyalty programs on national segments for CNN, Bloomberg News, CNBC’s “Squawk Box,” Yahoo Finance and Cheddar TV, Julian has also been featured on ABC and CBS Radio, and has been quoted in The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, and the Chicago Tribune on travel-related topics as well.

Credit Cards and Travel Rewards Expert

The secret advantage of the Chase Freedom Unlimited is that it earns rewards that can be moved to other Chase credit cards instead of being redeemed for cash back. That means when you pair it with one of Chase’s cards that can transfer points to the bank’s airline and hotel partners, you’re effectively earning rewards that are even more valuable than advertised.

Pros & Cons

• Generous welcome offer for a no annual fee card
• Unlimited 1.5% minimum earn rate for cash-back rewards
• No minimum redemption amount

• Foreign transaction fee
• Ongoing balance transfer fee is high
• Requires a companion card to transfer points to travel partners

Card Details

• INTRO OFFER: Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) – worth up to $300 cash back!
• Enjoy 6.5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, our premier rewards program thatlets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 4.5% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 3% on all other purchases (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year).
• After your first year or $20,000 spent, enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.
• No minimum to redeem for cash back.You can choose to receive a statement credit or direct deposit into most U.S. checking and savings accounts. Cash Back rewards do not expireas long as your account is open!
• Enjoy 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 20.49% – 29.24%.
• No annual fee –You won’t have to pay an annual fee for all the great features that come with your Freedom Unlimited® card
• Keep tabs on your credit health, Chase Credit Journey helps you monitor your credit with free access to your latest score, alerts, and more.
• Member FDIC

Earn an extra 1.5% on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) — worth up to $300 cash back. That's 6.5% on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 4.5% on dining and drugstores, and 3% on all other purchases.

Credit Score ranges are based on FICO® credit scoring. This is just one scoring method and a credit card issuer may use another method when considering your application. These are provided as guidelines only and approval is not guaranteed.

The bonus categories for these cards are similar, yet each offers unique earning power over the other.

The Sapphire Reserve earns 5 points per dollar on flights and 10 points per dollar on hotels and car rentals when purchasing travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3 points per dollar on other travel and dining and 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases. Additionally, you’ll receive 10 points per dollar on Chase Dining purchases made through Chase.

With the Freedom Unlimited, cardholders earn 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3% cash back on eligible dining and drugstores and 1.5% on all other purchases, plus an additional 1.5% cash back on the first $20,000 in purchases the first year.

Winner: While the Chase Sapphire Reserve® offers higher bonus categories, the Chase Freedom Unlimited® is the winner here. It earns 50% more rewards on everyday purchases that don’t qualify for a bonus category, which make up the bulk of the average consumer’s monthly spending.

Even though the Chase Freedom Unlimited® is advertised as a cash-back credit card, both of these cards earn Chase Ultimate Rewards® points on purchases that can be redeemed for cash back, gift cards, travel and more. For each option, you’ll get one cent per point in value. You cannot transfer points from the Chase Freedom Unlimited® to airline and hotel partners unless you have another Ultimate Rewards credit card that offers this benefit, like the Sapphire Reserve.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve® provides cardholders with numerous redemption options. Not only can you redeem points for cash back, gift cards, travel and more like the Freedom Unlimited, but you can also transfer points to its partners on a 1:1 basis as we’ll discuss next. Additionally, you’ll get 50% more value when booking travel through Chase.

Winner: The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is the winner because it offers more redemption options than the Chase Freedom Unlimited®.

One of the main benefits of earning Chase Ultimate Rewards points is the ability to transfer to its airline and hotel partners. Cardholders can transfer points to partners on a 1:1 basis with the Chase Sapphire Reserve.

The Chase Ultimate Rewards transfer partners are:

• Aer Lingus AerClub
• Air Canada Aeroplan
• British Airways Executive Club
• Emirates Skywards®
• Air France-KLM Flying Blue
• Iberia Plus
• JetBlue TrueBlue
• Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer
• Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards®
• United Airlines MileagePlus®
• Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
• IHG® Rewards Club
• Marriott Bonvoy®
• World of Hyatt®

The Chase Freedom Unlimited® does not include this points transfer feature. To transfer your Freedom Unlimited points, you must first combine them with an eligible Chase Ultimate Rewards card.

Winner: The Chase Sapphire Reserve® wins this category easily because it’s the only one of these cards that enables points transfers to partners on its own without needing the help of another card.

Chase Sapphire Reserve®

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See Also

Which Chase Freedom Credit Card Should You Get? - NerdWallet

4.9

Forbes Advisor created additional star ratings so that you can see the best card for specific needs. This card shines for this use, but overall the star ratings may differ when compared to other cards.

Apply Now

On Chase Bank USA, NA's Website

Up to 10x Reward Rate

Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel throughRead More

Welcome Bonus

75,000 bonus points

Annual Fee

$550

Regular APR

22.49%-29.49% Variable

Credit Score

Excellent(750 - 850)

Our Expert Take

This card offers superior points earning rates if you spend frequently on travel and dining out. The $300 travel credit justifies much of the annual fee, and redeeming points for travel through Chase Travel℠ nets you a 50% bonus.

Expert Commentary

Lori Zaino

Credit Cards Writer

A credit card enthusiast and avid traveler, Lori has visited more than 60 countries, many of them using credit card points and frequent flyer miles. She has lived in Spain as a freelance writer and editor for around two decades, figuring out the best tips and tricks for using points and miles to live and travel abroad, and writing about it to share her knowledge every step of the way.

Lori Zaino

Lori Zaino

Credit Cards Writer

A credit card enthusiast and avid traveler, Lori has visited more than 60 countries, many of them using credit card points and frequent flyer miles. She has lived in Spain as a freelance writer and editor for around two decades, figuring out the best tips and tricks for using points and miles to live and travel abroad, and writing about it to share her knowledge every step of the way.

Credit Cards Writer

The Chase Sapphire Reserve card is one of the most valuable flexible rewards credit cards thanks to its lucrative bonus categories and easy-to-use travel credit. Cardholders can offset the annual fee and get great value when redeeming Chase Ultimate Rewards points earned on the card, thanks to partnerships with numerous airlines and hotels and its convenient travel booking portal, Chase Travel℠.

Pros & Cons

• $300 annual travel credit is incredibly flexible
• Generous welcome bonus
• Get 50% more value when you redeem points for travel through Chase
• Points transfer to valuable airline and hotel partners

• High annual fee
• High variable APR on purchases
• Excellent credit recommended

Card Details

• Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s $1,125 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
• $300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursem*nt for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
• Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
• Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Travel℠. For example, 75,000 points are worth $1125 toward travel.
• 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
• Access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select and up to $100 application fee credit every four years for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck®
• Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
• Member FDIC

Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $1,125 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

Credit Score ranges are based on FICO® credit scoring. This is just one scoring method and a credit card issuer may use another method when considering your application. These are provided as guidelines only and approval is not guaranteed.

This chart highlights a few of the additional perks and benefits of the Chase Sapphire Reserve® and the Chase Freedom Unlimited®.

Winner: The Sapphire Reserve is the clear winner here, with a wide array of benefits to be expected from a luxury travel credit card.

Although you should pay off your balances in full every month when focusing on rewards, it still makes sense to pay attention to each card’s APRs.

The Sapphire Reserve charges an interest rate of 22.49% - 29.49% variable APR on purchases and balance transfers. A balance transfer fee of either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater, applies. It does not include an intro 0% APR offer, so you can’t transfer a balance or avoid interest on purchases if you carry a balance. There are no foreign transaction fees.

New customers of the Chase Freedom Unlimited® get a 0% introductory APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 20.49% - 29.24% applies. An intro transfer fee of either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater, applies in the first 60 days of account opening. After that, a fee of either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer applies. Additionally, there is a foreign transaction fee of 3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars.

Both cards offer Chase Pay Over Time, which charges a monthly fee of 1.72% of the amount selected until the balance is paid in full.

Winner: The winner is the Chase Freedom Unlimited®. It offers a lower overall standard APR on purchases, plus it has an intro APR offer that new customers can take advantage of.

While both of these Chase Ultimate Rewards cards offer appealing benefits, they aren’t the best credit card for every situation. Here are a few reasons why another credit card may be a better option.

No Elite Status

Neither of these credit cards offers elite status as a benefit. Many airline and hotel credit cards offer automatic elite status just for having the card or accelerated status based on your annual spending. Additionally, you may earn bonus credits on charges with the partner, which can speed up your elite status qualification.

No Airline Benefits

Airline credit cards offer benefits that aren’t included with either of these Chase credit cards. When booking your flight with an airline credit card, you may receive the first checked bag for free, priority boarding and in-flight discounts. These features can save money and time while traveling.

Access to Different Transfer Partners

Chase Ultimate Rewards offers many popular airline and hotel transfer partners, but you may prefer different loyalty programs. For example, you may live near a Delta hub and prefer to earn Delta SkyMiles. In this situation, you may prefer a different card that earns those miles or points that transfer to that program since Chase Ultimate Rewards don’t transfer to Delta.

Whether you’re choosing the Chase Sapphire Reserve® or the Chase Freedom Unlimited®, you’ll get a solid rewards credit card.

The Sapphire Reserve is a luxury travel credit card offering airport lounge access, premier travel protections and numerous travel benefits in exchange for a premium annual fee. For a cash-back card with no annual fee, it’s hard to beat the Chase Freedom Unlimited®. It offers up to 5% cash back, an intro APR on purchases and balance transfers, and basic travel and purchase protections.

Our overall winner is the Chase Sapphire Reserve®. Although it has a high annual fee, its earning power, redemption options, travel credits and other benefits easily justify the cost if you travel regularly.