Chase Freedom Unlimited vs Apple Card
Side-by-side comparison across fees, rewards, welcome bonuses, and eligibility.
Chase Freedom Unlimited wins 3-2. No-fee everyday card; pairs perfectly with Sapphire Preferred Apple Card is still the right call if apple ecosystem users — daily cashback, instant in wallet..
Side-by-side
| Criterion | Chase Freedom Unlimited | Apple Card |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | = No annual fee | = No annual fee |
| Joining fee | = None | = None |
| Top reward rate | 5% (travel) | · 3% (shopping) |
| Base reward rate | 1.5% | · 1% |
| Forex markup | · 3% | No FX fee |
| Welcome bonus | = $200 cash back after $500 spend in first 3 months + 5% gas/groceries on first $12K | = No welcome bonus — daily cashback model |
| Fee waiver threshold | = N/A (no fee) | = N/A (no fee) |
| Min income | = — | = — |
| Min credit score | · 670 | 660 |
| Editorial rating | 4.6/5 | · 4.4/5 |
Benefits compared
Chase Freedom Unlimited
- 5% on travel via Chase Ultimate Rewards
- 3% on dining (incl. takeout & delivery)
- 3% on drugstore purchases
- 1.5% on everything else
- No annual fee
- 0% intro APR for 15 months
Apple Card
- 3% Daily Cash on Apple purchases + select merchants (Uber, Walgreens, T-Mobile)
- 2% Daily Cash on all Apple Pay transactions
- 1% Daily Cash on physical-card purchases
- No annual fee, no foreign transaction fee, no late fees
- High-yield savings account at 4.4% APY
- Privacy-first: no purchase data sold
FAQ
›Chase Freedom Unlimited vs Apple Card: which is better?
Chase Freedom Unlimited wins on more dimensions (3 vs 2). But the right answer depends on your specific spending pattern — see the calculator below.
›Can I get both?
Yes — if your credit profile supports it, holding both is the optimal play. Use Chase Freedom Unlimited for its best categories, Apple Card for its best categories. Just watch the combined annual fees against your spend.
›Which one has the better welcome bonus?
Chase Freedom Unlimited: $200 cash back after $500 spend in first 3 months + 5% gas/groceries on first $12K. Apple Card: No welcome bonus — daily cashback model.