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Chase Sapphire Reserve® vs Chase Freedom Unlimited®

Compare Rewards, Interest Rates, Fees, and Benefits

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Chase Sapphire Reserve is an ultra premium credit card for luxury travelers. How does it compare to Chase Freedom Unlimited, a cash back card? Read our comparison chart below.

Keep in mind, the Chase Sapphire Reserve has a $550 annual fee, while the Chase Freedom Unlimited has a $0 annual fee.

 Chase Sapphire ReserveChase Freedom Unlimited
 Apply NowApply Now
 

Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Chase Freedom Unlimited®

 

Credit Card Summary

 
  • Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
  • $300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement 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, 60,000 points are worth $900 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
  • 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 that lets 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 expire as 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
 

Credit Card Interest Rates & Fees

Introductory APR for PurchasesN/A0% introductory APR for 15 months
Introductory APR for Balance TransfersN/A0% introductory APR for 15 months
Purchase APR22.49% to 29.49% Variable based on your creditworthiness and other factors20.49% to 29.24% Variable based on your creditworthiness and other factors
Balance Transfers APR22.49% to 29.49% Variable based on your creditworthiness and other factors20.49% to 29.24% Variable based on your creditworthiness and other factors
Foreign Transaction Fee$03% of each transaction in U.S. dollars
Annual Fee$550 annual fee$0 annual fee
 

Credit Card Rewards & Benefits

Introductory Bonus Cash Back 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.
Introductory Bonus OfferEarn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠. 
Cash Back Rewards Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 1.5% on all other purchases.
Travel RewardsEarn 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.
1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
 
Airline Rewards1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs 
Hotel Rewards1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs 
Point RewardsEarn 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 
Airline Status$300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
Complimentary Priority Pass™ Select membership for access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide. One-time enrollment required for Priority Pass Select
 
Dining Rewards3x points on dining at restaurantsEarn 3% cash back on dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services
Airline Transfer PartnersChase airline transfer partners include United Airlines, Southwest Airlines, JetBlue, British Airways, Air Canada, Air France, Singapore Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, Iberia, Emirates, and Aer Lingus. 
 Go to issuer's official application, terms, and detailsGo to issuer's official application, terms, and details
 

CreditDonkey® Credit Card Reviews

 Chase Sapphire ReserveChase Freedom Unlimited
Pros & ConsPros:
  • Bonus points
  • Annual travel credit
  • Elite travel benefits
Cons:
  • $550 annual fee
  • No introductory annual fee
  • No intro APR
Pros:
  • Intro Cash Back Offer
  • Intro APR
  • No annual fee
Cons:
  • Foreign transaction fee
Bottom LineUltra premium credit card for luxury travelers... Read full reviewGreat cash back credit card for everyday purchases... Read full review
 Apply NowApply Now

See issuer's website for details including terms and conditions. While reasonable effort has been made to maintain accurate and updated information, the information shown on this site may vary, be out of date, or not applicable to you. All information is provided without warranty. When you click on the Apply Now button, you can review the terms and conditions on the issuer's website.

Blank fields may indicate the information is not available, not applicable, or not known to CreditDonkey. Please visit the issuer's website for details.

Editorial Note: This content is not provided by Chase. Any opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author's alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by Chase.


Articles on Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Chase Sapphire Reserve Review

With excellent rewards and premium travel benefits, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® is meant for frequent travelers. Read on to decide if the $550 annual fee is worth it for you.

Chase Sapphire Reserve Benefits

Chase Sapphire Reserve® has benefits you may not know. Don't waste these valuable perks. Read this guide to maximize Chase Sapphire Reserve benefits.

Chase Sapphire Reserve Credit Score

You usually need an excellent credit score for Chase Sapphire Reserve® (720+). But this is not the only factor. Here's how to improve your approval odds.

Chase Sapphire Reserve Lounge Access

Airport lounge access is one of the best benefit of Chase Sapphire Reserve®. Learn how to maximize this perk including what lounges you can enter, how to use it, and the guest policy.

Chase Sapphire Reserve Rental Car Insurance

Chase Sapphire Reserve® offers primary coverage for rental cars. Learn what this covers, how to use it, and how to file a claim.

Chase Sapphire Reserve Credit Limit

Many Chase Sapphire Reserve® users receive a credit limit of $10,000 - $25,000. Find out how Chase determines your credit limit and how to get an increase.
Chase Sapphire Reserve Priority Pass: What You Need to Know

Chase Sapphire Reserve Priority Pass

Priority Pass membership is one of Chase Sapphire Reserve® best benefits. Here is everything you need to know to sign up, activate and use it.

Articles on Chase Freedom Unlimited®

Chase Freedom Unlimited

With a cash back offer and no annual fee, does Chase Freedom Unlimited® live up to the hype? Read this in-depth review to see how it stacks up.

Chase Freedom Unlimited Benefits

Besides unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases, Chase Freedom Unlimited® offers valuable benefits. Don't overlook them.

Chase Freedom Unlimited Credit Score

Chase Freedom Unlimited® usually requires a good credit score (680+). But this is not the only deciding factor. Find out how to improve your odds.

Chase Freedom Unlimited Foreign Transaction Fee

Chase Freedom Unlimited® may not be a good travel partner. Here's what you need to know about its foreign transaction fees.

Chase Freedom Unlimited Credit Limit

Many Chase Freedom Unlimited® users receive a credit limit of $1,000 - $3,000. Find out how Chase determines your credit limit and how to get an increase.

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About CreditDonkey
CreditDonkey is a credit card comparison website. We publish data-driven analysis to help you save money & make savvy decisions.

Editorial Note: Any opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed on this page are those of the author's alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer.

†Advertiser Disclosure: Many of the offers that appear on this site are from companies from which CreditDonkey receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). CreditDonkey does not include all companies or all offers that may be available in the marketplace.

*See the card issuer's online application for details about terms and conditions. Reasonable efforts are made to maintain accurate information. However, all information is presented without warranty. When you click on the "Apply Now" button you can review the terms and conditions on the card issuer's website.

CreditDonkey does not know your individual circumstances and provides information for general educational purposes only. CreditDonkey is not a substitute for, and should not be used as, professional legal, credit or financial advice. You should consult your own professional advisors for such advice.

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