Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card vs Chase Freedom Unlimited
Both cards cost $0/yr. The Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card leads on everyday spending; the Chase Freedom Unlimited on travel.
Card data as of November 13, 2026.
Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit CardBank of America · No annual fee
Chase Freedom UnlimitedChase · No annual fee
Overview
- Annual fee
- Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card$0Chase Freedom Unlimited$0
- Welcome offerCurrent public offer
- Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card$250 cash backChase Freedom Unlimited$200 cash back
- Rewards
- Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit CardCash backChase Freedom UnlimitedCash back
- Foreign transaction fee
- Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card3%Chase Freedom Unlimited3%
- Network
- Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit CardVisa SignatureChase Freedom UnlimitedVisa Signature
Earn ratesPer $1 spent
- Dining
- Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card1.5%Chase Freedom Unlimited3%Highest
- Drugstores
- Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card1.5%Chase Freedom Unlimited3%Highest
- Everything else
- Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card1.5%Chase Freedom Unlimited1.5%
Statement creditsAs the issuer states them · — means none on record
- Dining & delivery
- Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card—Chase Freedom Unlimited
- Free DashPass membership for 6 months · $60 one-time
- Other credits
- Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card
- 3% balance transfer fee
- 0% APR 15 months
Chase Freedom Unlimited—
Perks & access— means none on record
- Other perks
- Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card
- No annual fee
Chase Freedom Unlimited- 24/7 travel assistance when you're away from home
Protections & insuranceLimits where published · — means none on record
- Trip insurance
- Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card—Chase Freedom Unlimited
- Up to $6,000 trip cancellation and interruption coverage · up to $1,500
- Rental car
- Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card—Chase Freedom Unlimited
- Free rental car coverage when you decline counter insurance
- Purchase & returns
- Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card—Chase Freedom Unlimited
- Up to $500 protection for damaged or stolen purchases
- 24/7 fraud monitoring
- Zero Liability on unauthorized charges
- Extended warranty
- Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card—Chase Freedom Unlimited
- Add an extra year to manufacturer warranties
- Other protections
- Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card—Chase Freedom Unlimited
- 24/7 lost/stolen card assistance worldwide
Pros & cons
- Pros
- Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card
- Unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases
- No annual fee
- $250 welcome bonus after $1,000 spend
- 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers
- No category tracking required
Chase Freedom Unlimited- 1.5% cash back on every purchase with no caps or categories
- 5% on Chase Travel, 3% on dining and drugstores
- $200 bonus after $500 spend in 3 months
- 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers
- $0 annual fee with Visa Signature benefits
- Cons
- Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card
- 3% foreign transaction fee
- Flat 1.5% rate, no bonus categories
- Lower earning rate than category-specific cards in bonus areas
- No premium perks or travel benefits
Chase Freedom Unlimited- 3% foreign transaction fee
- 1.5% base rate lower than Freedom Flex's 5% rotating categories
- Points worth only 1 cent without Sapphire card pairing
- No premium travel insurance or lounge access
- Lower welcome bonus than Sapphire cards
Expert Analysis
The Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card and Chase Freedom Unlimited are two of the most popular cards in their category, and choosing between them comes down to which rewards structure better matches your spending. Both deliver strong value, but in meaningfully different ways.
The Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card's strongest category is All Purchases Ongoing at 1.5X, while the Chase Freedom Unlimited leads with 3X on Dining. Overall, the Chase Freedom Unlimited wins in more bonus categories (2 vs 0) — so the better choice depends on where you spend the most.
Both cards carry a $0/yr annual fee, so the decision comes down purely to rewards structure and benefits — there's no fee math to worry about.
Key Differences
- Chase Freedom Unlimited earns 3X on Dining vs 1.5X for the other
- Chase Freedom Unlimited earns 3X on Drugstores vs 1.5X for the other
Spending Scenarios
Which card wins in real-world spending situations?
$400/month on dining
Chase Freedom UnlimitedChase Freedom Unlimited earns 3X vs 1.5X. Over a year, that's 14,400 vs 7,200 points — a 7,200-point advantage.
$80/month on drugstores
Chase Freedom UnlimitedChase Freedom Unlimited earns 3X vs 1.5X. Over a year, that's 2,880 vs 1,440 points — a 1,440-point advantage.
Who Should Get Which?
Get the Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card if:
The Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card is a well-rounded card at $0/yr that works for a variety of spending patterns.
Get the Chase Freedom Unlimited if:
The Chase Freedom Unlimited is ideal for cardholders who prioritize spending heavily on dining and drugstores. At $0/yr, it delivers strong no-fee value for its target audience.
Upgrade & Downgrade Path
These cards are from different issuers, so switching between them requires a new application. Many rewards enthusiasts hold both to maximize earn rates across different spending categories — the annual fee total may be worth it if you're actively using both cards' bonus categories.
Consider which card's rewards ecosystem better fits your redemption goals. Transferable points programs offer more flexibility for travel redemptions.
Category-by-Category Winner
The Chase Freedom Unlimited wins in 2 of 2 categories. The Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card leads in 0. 4 more categories depend on booking channel or caps.
Travel
Depends: via issuer travel portal
Chase Freedom Unlimited earns 5X when conditions are met; Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card earns 1.5X (1.5X without restrictions)
Hotels
Depends: via Chase Travel portal - the Chase Travel travel rate restated per bookable subcategory, as Capital One and Citi portal rates are recorded
Chase Freedom Unlimited earns 5X when conditions are met; Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card earns 1.5X (1.5X without restrictions)
Flights
Depends: via Chase Travel portal - the Chase Travel travel rate restated per bookable subcategory, as Capital One and Citi portal rates are recorded
Chase Freedom Unlimited earns 5X when conditions are met; Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card earns 1.5X (1.5X without restrictions)
Car Rentals
Depends: via Chase Travel portal - the Chase Travel travel rate restated per bookable subcategory, as Capital One and Citi portal rates are recorded
Chase Freedom Unlimited earns 5X when conditions are met; Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card earns 1.5X (1.5X without restrictions)
Dining
Chase Freedom Unlimited earns 3X vs 1.5X
Drugstores
Chase Freedom Unlimited earns 3X vs 1.5X
Year One vs Ongoing Value
Modeled net value (bonus categories at unconditional rates, caps applied). Spend mix: dining 15%, groceries 15%, gas 10%, travel 10%, everything else 50%. Statement credits use the same recurring usable estimates as each card's detail page; first-year-only credits count in year one only. Welcome offers valued at each card's program rate shown on this page.
Both scenarios favor the Chase Freedom Unlimited on net value (rewards, usable credits, fees, and welcome offer).
| Scenario | Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card | Chase Freedom Unlimited | Ongoing winner | Year-one winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Light spender: $1,000/month | Rewards: $180 Credits (our usable estimate): $0 − Annual fee ($0) Ongoing: $180 Year one: $430 | Rewards: $373 Credits (our usable estimate): $0 − Annual fee ($0) Ongoing: $373 Year one: $603 | Chase Freedom Unlimited | Chase Freedom Unlimited |
| Heavy spender: $4,000/month | Rewards: $720 Credits (our usable estimate): $0 − Annual fee ($0) Ongoing: $720 Year one: $970 | Rewards: $1,490 Credits (our usable estimate): $0 − Annual fee ($0) Ongoing: $1,490 Year one: $1,720 | Chase Freedom Unlimited | Chase Freedom Unlimited |
Which Card Is Right for You?
Get the Chase Freedom Unlimited if you:
- +Spend $300+/month on restaurants and dining out
The Bottom Line
Both scenarios favor the Chase Freedom Unlimited on net value (rewards, usable credits, fees, and welcome offer).
Frequently Asked Questions
- Which card earns more rewards, the Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card or Chase Freedom Unlimited?
- Both cards earn 1.5X on everyday purchases. The difference is in bonus categories — check the earn rate comparison above for a full breakdown.
- Should I get the Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card or the Chase Freedom Unlimited?
- Both cards have the same $0/yr fee. Choose based on which bonus categories match your spending — check the earn rate comparison above.
Editorial disclosure: CardRewards.ai is an independent comparison service. Card data comes from issuers' published terms; catalog last published November 13, 2026, and each card page shows when its terms were last checked. Card issuers do not influence our rankings or content.