Now, let's take a closer look at how these cards compare in a few important areas.
Chase Freedom Unlimited vs. Discover it® Cash Back: Annual fee
These are both no annual fee cards. You can carry either of them (or both, if you want) without worrying about yearly bills.
Winner: Tie
Chase Freedom Unlimited vs. Discover it® Cash Back: Welcome offer
The welcome offer for the Chase Freedom Unlimited® is as follows: 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.
With the Discover it® Cash Back, Discover will match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year. This is a dollar-for-dollar match of all the cash back you earn over the first year using the card. If you earn $300 in cash back, Discover will add another $300 after the end of the cardholder's first year. Because this is an unlimited match, it can be much more valuable than Chase's welcome offer, especially for big spenders. The welcome bonus is only available to new cardholders.
Winner: Discover it® Cash Back
Chase Freedom Unlimited vs. Discover it® Cash Back: Intro APR
The Chase Freedom Unlimited® has a 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers. After the intro period ends, a 20.49% - 29.24% Variable APR applies going forward. It has an intro balance transfer fee of 3% ($5 minimum) for transfers made within 60 days of account opening and Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater. after that.
The Discover it® Cash Back matches those intro rates. It also has a 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers. After the intro period ends, a 18.24% - 28.24% Variable APR applies. It charges a 3% intro balance transfer fee, up to 5% fee on future balance transfers (see terms)*.
Winner: Tie
Chase Freedom Unlimited vs. Discover it® Cash Back: Rewards
One of the best things about the Chase Freedom Unlimited® is that it earns an unlimited 1.5% on purchases, and it also offers bonus categories. Most rewards cards with bonus categories earn 1% on non-bonus purchases. This Chase card earns:
- 5% on travel purchased through Chase Travel
- 5% on Lyft rides through March 31, 2025
- 3% on dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services
- 3% at drugstores
- 1.5% on other purchases
The Discover it® Cash Back is known for having rotating bonus categories. These change every quarter, and you need to activate them to earn the bonus rate. It earns 5% in these bonus categories when you activate them, up to the quarterly spending cap of $1,500. It earns 1% on other purchases.
The Chase Freedom Unlimited® has a big edge here. Fixed bonus categories are much easier to manage, especially because you don't need to activate them. There may be quarters where Discover's rotating categories don't work well for you. Chase also doesn't put a spending cap on its bonus categories. And the Chase Freedom Unlimited® offers a higher rate for non-bonus spending: 1.5% vs. 1%.
Winner: Chase Freedom Unlimited®