Chase Slate Edge vs. Chase Freedom Unlimited 2024

Both the Chase Slate Edge® * The information for the Chase Slate Edge® has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. and Chase Freedom Unlimited® credit cards offer generous introductory balance transfer deals for over a year, but if you want the card that has more bells and whistles, the Freedom Unlimited is the way to go. 

Unlike the Slate Edge Card, you can use Freedom Unlimited to earn a welcome bonus and earn up to 5% cash back. That said, neither card is a good option if you think you’ll carry a balance after the introductory interest period ends since both cards have a potentially high ongoing APR of almost 30%. 

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Chase Freedom Unlimited®

BLUEPRINT RATING

Our ratings are based on specific use cases for each card. We compared this card to others in the same category and developed our rankings based on this criteria, along with our editorial input. Note that although we chose this card as the best in its category, the right card for you will depend on your own financial circumstances.

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On Chase Bank USA, NA’s secure website

BLUEPRINT RATING

Our ratings are based on specific use cases for each card. We compared this card to others in the same category and developed our rankings based on this criteria, along with our editorial input. Note that although we chose this card as the best in its category, the right card for you will depend on your own financial circumstances.

Welcome bonus

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.

Up to $300 cash back

Annual fee

$0

Regular APR

20.49% – 29.24% Variable

Credit score

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.

(700 – 749) Good, Excellent

Earn 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3% cash back on dining and drugstores and 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.

Editor’s take

Pros

• No annual fee.
• Introductory APR periods on purchases and balance transfers.
• Generous welcome bonus.

Cons

• Can’t transfer points to travel partners unless paired with another card.
• Charges foreign transaction fees.
• There’s a balance transfer fee.

The Chase Freedom Unlimited® charges no annual fee and comes with a robust rewards program, a generous welcome bonus and a useful list of benefits.

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 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

Chase Slate Edge vs. Chase Freedom Unlimited overview

Rewards and benefits

Cash back

Chase’s Freedom Unlimited card is the only one of these two that gives you rewards, which you’ll earn in the form of cash back. 

As a cardholder, you’ll need to pay attention to the specific terms in order to maximize the cash-back potential. 

For example, you can earn 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3% cash back on eligible dining and drugstore purchases and 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.

Redeeming rewards

When you earn cash back with Chase Freedom Unlimited, you’ll receive it in the form of Chase Ultimate Rewards® points — 100 points for every $1 earned — that you can redeem in a few different ways:

• Statement credit or direct deposit 
• Gift cards 
• Chase Ultimate Rewards travel
• Amazon purchases ($0.80 redemption value)

When you book a trip through Chase Travel℠, you can also redeem points to pay for some or all of the cost of plane tickets, hotels, car rentals and cruises.

Transfer partners

Once you earn at least 1,000 points with your Freedom Unlimited Card and you have another Chase travel card such as the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, Chase Sapphire Reserve® or the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card * The information for the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. , you have the option to transfer them to a handful of travel partner sites. Chase’s travel partners include:

• Airlines: 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 MileagePlus and Virgin Atlantic Flying Club.
• Hotels: IHG® Rewards Club, Marriott Bonvoy and World of Hyatt.

What’s the best way to use Chase Ultimate Rewards? Here are some ideas

Welcome bonus

The Freedom Unlimited is the only one of these two Chase cards that comes with a welcome bonus. The card offers 1.5% back on everything bought in the first year on up to $20,000 in spending, which is worth up to $300.

Travel benefits

Both of these credit cards provide auto rental collision damage waivers. With the Freedom Unlimited card, however, you get the additional travel benefit of trip cancellation/interruption insurance for up to $1,500 per person and $6,000 per trip (for prepaid, non-refundable passenger fares).

Winner for rewards and benefits: Chase Freedom Unlimited.

Fees and charges

The fees and charges on these two credit cards are nearly identical. Perhaps the most significant difference is that the introductory APR offer on Chase Freedom Unlimited card is 0% intro APR for the first 15 months on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 20.49% to 29.24%. An intro transfer fee of either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater, applies in the first 60 days. After that, a fee of either $5 or 5% of each transfer applies. While the Slate Edge card offers 0% intro APR for the first 18 months 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 each transfer, whichever is greater, applies on transfers made in the first 60 days. After that, a fee of either $5 or 5% of each transfer, whichever is greater applies, so Freedom Unlimited cardholders could find themselves paying interest charges sooner on any leftover balance.

If you apply for either of these no-annual-fee cards, note that Chase’s balance transfer fee jumps to the ongoing balance transfer fee after the first 60 days on both cards. If you transfer $10,000, that’s the difference of a $300 fee versus $500 fee.

FEES	CHASE SLATE EDGE	CHASE FREEDOM UNLIMITED
Annual fee	$0	$0
Foreign transaction fee	3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars	3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars
Balance transfer	Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.	Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.

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Winner for fees and charges: No winner.

Special offers

Introductory APR

Chase’s Slate Edge and Freedom Unlimited credit cards both give you introductory APR on balance transfers and purchases. For the longer introductory period, you’ll want to choose Slate Edge, since the promotion lasts for 18 months, versus Freedom Unlimited’s 15 months.

Just be sure to try to pay off your balance before the introductory period ends to avoid sky-high interest charges. Even with good credit, you might end up with a high APR. By comparison, the average credit card has an APR of 22.63%, according to the Federal Reserve’s most recent data from February 2024.

Additional offers

The Freedom Unlimited credit card is loaded up with additional offers.. Here’s what’s currently available through Chase partners when you open this card:

• DoorDash: Complimentary three-month DashPass membership with $0 delivery fee on DoorDash and Caviar. After that, you get 50% off for nine months. 
• Lyft: Earn 5% cash back on rides through March 31, 2025.
• Instacart: Complimentary three-month Instacart+ membership and $0 delivery fee, and you can earn $10 in quarterly statement credits through July 31, 2024.

If you apply for Freedom Unlimited, you’ll want to take note of the deadline to enroll for each of these offers. Additionally, note when the offersend, since you’ll automatically be charged recurring fees after that if you don’t cancel the DashPass and Instacart+ memberships. 

Conversely, Slate Edge cardholders only get the DoorDash and Instacart+ LTOs.

Automatic term adjustments

For Slate Edge cardholders, Chase offers some unique opportunities to improve your card terms after you open the account. Here’s how your terms can improve:

• Annual 2% rate reduction: If you make on-time payments for a year and spend at least $1,000 on the card, you’ll be considered for an automatic rate reduction of up to 2% each year until your APR reaches the Prime Rate plus 9.74%.
• Automatic credit limit increase: You can be considered for an automatic increase to your credit limit if you spend at least $500 in the first six months of account opening.

While both of these features make the Slate Edge card more attractive, potential applicants should note that Chase neither guarantees these adjustments nor clarifies exactly how to qualify for them. 

Winner for special offers: Chase Slate Edge.

Additional perks

Purchase protection

Whether you go with Chase’s Freedom Unlimited card or the Slate Edge card, you’ll get up to $500 in purchase protection per claim (and $50,000 per account) for up to 120 days, plus a one-year extended warranty on certain purchases.

Roadside emergency assistance 

The Chase Slate Edge gives you access to roadside dispatch, but you’ll have to pay for any roadside assistance you receive.

Trip cancellation/interruption insurance

Freedom Unlimited cardholders get an additional benefit if a trip is canceled or cut short due to sickness, severe weather or other covered situations up to $1,500 per person and $6,000 per trip.

Winner for additional perks: Chase Freedom Unlimited.

Chase Slate Edge might be right for you if:

• You want a longer balance transfer period. 
• You have a clear plan to pay off your balance transfer within 18 months. 
• You plan to pay off your full balance on this high-APR card each month after the 0% introductory period ends.

Chase Freedom Unlimited might be right for you if:

• You want a balance transfer credit card that gives you cash-back rewards.
• You don’t mind tracking spending categories and timelines on special offers.
• You will pay off your full balance on this high-APR card each month after the introductory period ends.

Bottom line

Chase Slate Edge and Chase Freedom Unlimited both have unique features, but don’t let that distract you from the terms that matter. Both cards can be dangerous choices for balance transfers, since the interest charges are steep for any balance you carry after the introductory period expires. 

As for the rewards you earn with the Freedom Unlimited card, you’ll want to consider how much you’ll really spend in the high cash-back categories. If groceries or gas are your biggest expenses, you might want to choose a card that rewards you even more generously for those purchases.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)