Chase Slate vs. Chase Freedom Unlimited: which is better?

If you want to compare Chase Slate Edge℠ and Pursuit of Unlimited Freedom®*, you will first notice that they have a few things in common. Both cards are issued by Chase, have no annual fees, and offer attractive starting annual interest rates on new purchases and balance transfers.

However, the Freedom Unlimited and Slate Edge cards cater to different types of consumers: those with significant credit card debt and those who need a payout window but would like to be rewarded.

Here’s a closer look at the Chase Freedom Unlimited vs. Chase Slate Edge comparison, including comments on how to choose between the two.

Card details

Map	Chase Slate Edge℠	Pursuit of Unlimited Freedom®
Interest rate	No awards	5% cashback on trips purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards 5% back on Lyft purchases (until March 2025) 3% for purchases in restaurants and pharmacies 1.5% on all other purchases
Bonus for registration	No signup bonus	Get an additional 1.5% refund on everything you buy (up to $20,000 spent in the first year)
Annual fee	$0	$0
Introductory year (balance transfers and new purchases)	0% APR for 18 months (from 19.24% to 27.99% variable APR after)	0% APR for 15 months (19.24% to 27.99% variable APR after)

Chase Slate Edge vs. Chase Freedom Unlimited

Welcome offer

Chase Slate Edge	The pursuit of unlimited freedom
Nobody	Get an additional 1.5% refund on everything you buy (up to $20,000 spent in the first year)

Winner: Chase Freedom Unlimited

If you need a credit card with an incentive to sign up, Chase Freedom Unlimited is the clear winner. As a new cardholder, you can earn up to an additional $300 in cash.

Meanwhile, Chase Slate Edge doesn’t have a welcome offer.

Interest rate

Chase Slate Edge	The pursuit of unlimited freedom
Nobody	5% cashback on trips purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards 5% back on Lyft purchases (until March 2025) 3% for purchases in restaurants and pharmacies 1.5% on all other purchases

Winner: Chase Freedom Unlimited

Chase Slate Edge does not earn rewards for purchases. Meanwhile, Chase Freedom Unlimited earns you at least 1.5% cash back on every purchase.

Although its reward rate is sold as cashback, you will actually earn Ultimate Rewards points for your purchases, which can be redeemed for cashback worth 1 cent per point. For those looking to combine points earned with other Ultimate Rewards cards for a potentially higher redemption value, this could be an additional selling point.

April Opening Offer

Chase Slate Edge	The pursuit of unlimited freedom
0% APR at the beginning on purchases and balance transfers for 18 months (from 19.24% to 27.99% with a variable annual interest rate after)	0% per annum at the beginning on purchases and balance transfers within 15 months (from 19.24% to 27.99% per annum floating later)

Winner: Chase Slate Edge

Both Chase Slate Edge and Chase Freedom Unlimited offer a 0 percent initial annual percentage rate on purchases and balance transfers, but Slate Edge pulls ahead with an additional three months, competing with other balance transfer cards with one of the longer initial periods on the market.

In terms of balance transfer fees, both cards charge $5 or 3 percent of each transfer amount (whichever is greater) for the first 60 days. After that, the fee increases to $5 or 5 percent, whichever is greater.

What card should you get?

If you have a balance and need a simple balance transfer card to pay it off (or want to pay for a large purchase), the Chase Slate Edge is a great addition to your wallet. And if you’d rather be rewarded during any of these processes, Chase Freedom Unlimited is the clear winner.

• If you really need 18 months at 0% APRA: Cardholders who have credit card debt that they cannot pay off in a shorter initial period, say 12 or 15 months, will use Chase Slate Edge effectively. However, once the initial APR period is over, you may find that the long-term value of the card is insufficient as it does not offer a reward structure. Alternatively, you can take advantage of other maximum balance credit cards that offer up to 18 months with zero interest and ongoing rewards.
• If you like to receive rewards, but you have card debt: Chase Freedom Unlimited really gives you the best of both the 0% introductory APR card and the cashback card thanks to a fairly generous reward structure and a 15-month introductory APR offer. This is a great card for those who have a small amount of card debt to pay off but are still looking for rewards.
• If you have another Ultimate Rewards card: Those who also have other Ultimate Rewards cards, such as the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card, should add Freedom Unlimited to their wallet to maximize more of their purchases. Unlike Sapphire Preferred, Freedom Unlimited earns 3 percent on pharmacy purchases and 1.5 percent cash back on all other purchases. If you rack up a decent pile of Rewards through Freedom Unlimited, you can transfer them to your Sapphire Preferred and redeem for 25% more if you use them to book travel through the Ultimate Rewards portal.

bottom line

The best card for you will depend on your specific situation. If you have a large credit card balance that you would like to transfer, Chase Slate Edge is the way to go. However, if your balance is low and you prefer to earn rewards, Chase Freedom Unlimited has the upper hand.

*All information about Chase Freedom Unlimited® has been independently collected by CreditCards.com and has not been verified by the issuer.

Dan Miller is a freelance writer and founder of PointsWithACrew.com, a website that helps families travel for free or cheap. His home is in Cincinnati, but he tries to travel the world as much as possible with his wife and six children.