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Chase Freedom Flex vs United Club: Which Is Better In 2025?
July 1, 2025
Editor's Picks
- Chase Freedom Flex®: This card is ideal for savvy spenders looking to maximize cash back through rotating quarterly categories and everyday purchases like dining and drugstore spending.
- United Club℠ Card: This premium card is best for frequent United Airlines flyers who want luxury travel perks like United Club lounge access and free checked bags.
Chase Freedom Flex® Breakdown
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Why We Like It
Here’s a closer look at what makes the Chase Freedom Flex® a compelling choice.
- The card combines high-earning 5% rotating quarterly categories with consistent 3% cash back on everyday spending like dining and drugstores.
- It comes packed with valuable, practical benefits like cell phone protection and purchase protection, which are uncommon for a no-annual-fee card.
- Since the card has no annual fee, your break-even is $0, meaning every reward you earn is pure value. (publisher-formulated estimate)
Pros
- With no annual fee, the card offers a cost-free way to accumulate valuable rewards.
- Features a versatile rewards program, combining high-value rotating categories with consistent cash back on everyday spending like dining and drugstore purchases.
- Includes valuable cardholder protections, such as cell phone coverage and extended warranty, which are uncommon for cards in its class.
Cons
- Bonus categories require quarterly activation and have spending limits, which can be inconvenient to track.
- The card charges a foreign transaction fee, making it a poor choice for spending abroad.
- Strict credit requirements and application rules may make it difficult for some to qualify.
United Club Breakdown
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Why We Like It
This section breaks down why we like the United Club℠ Card.
- You get a complimentary United Club membership, which provides access to over 45 United Club locations and participating Star Alliance lounges across the globe.
- The card includes Premier Access® travel services, giving you priority check-in, security screening, boarding, and baggage handling.
- With free first and second checked bags for you and a companion saving you up to $320 per roundtrip, the card can pay for itself in just a couple of trips (publisher-formulated estimate).
Pros
- Comprehensive travel benefits, including a full United Club membership for lounge access and a free checked bag allowance for you and a companion.
- Priority airport services through Premier Access®, which offers expedited check-in, security screening, boarding, and baggage handling.
- Valuable perks for loyalists, such as the ability to earn Premier Qualifying Points (PQPs) toward elite status through card spending and complimentary Avis President's Club status.
Cons
- A high annual fee that can be difficult to justify if you don't regularly take advantage of the card's premium perks.
- The card's benefits are heavily skewed toward United Airlines, making it less valuable for travelers who aren't loyal to the airline or its partners.
- Fewer bonus categories for earning rewards on everyday spending compared to other premium travel cards.
United Club vs Chase Freedom Flex®
Categories
When asking which is better, the Chase Freedom Flex® or United Club℠ Infinite Card, the answer depends entirely on your personal spending habits and travel style.
- Chase Freedom Flex®: This card is an excellent choice for no-fee card seekers who want to maximize rewards through a combination of rotating and fixed bonus categories.
- United Club℠ Infinite Card: This premium card is designed for United loyalists and frequent flyers who can take full advantage of its travel-centric benefits.
Redemption
Chase Freedom Flex®: Rewards are earned as points that can be redeemed for cash back, travel, gift cards, and more, offering a high degree of flexibility for cardholders.
United Club℠ Infinite Card: Rewards are earned as United MileagePlus miles, which are primarily redeemed for flights with United and its airline partners, as well as for seat upgrades and other travel-related perks.
Travel Perks
- Travel Portal: The Chase Freedom Flex® gives cardholders access to the Chase Ultimate Rewards® portal to book travel. The United Club℠ Infinite Card is deeply integrated with the United Airlines ecosystem, with miles being most valuable when redeemed directly for United flights.
- Lounge Access: The Chase Freedom Flex® does not offer complimentary lounge access. In contrast, the United Club℠ Infinite Card includes a full United Club℠ membership, granting access to United Club lounges and participating Star Alliance™ partner lounges.
- Foreign Transaction Fees: The Chase Freedom Flex® charges a fee for transactions made abroad. The United Club℠ Infinite Card does not have foreign transaction fees, making it a better choice for international travel.
- Additional Perks: As a premium travel card, the United Club℠ Infinite Card comes loaded with benefits like priority boarding, free checked bags on United flights, a statement credit for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS, and comprehensive travel insurance. The Chase Freedom Flex® offers some travel protections but lacks the extensive perks found on a high-end travel card.
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Who Should Choose the Chase Freedom Flex®?
The Chase Freedom Flex® is an excellent choice for savvy spenders who enjoy maximizing rewards through rotating bonus categories without paying an annual fee. It's particularly well-suited for those who frequently dine out or shop at drugstores and want to earn elevated rewards on those purchases. Additionally, it's a key component for cardholders building a "Chase trifecta" strategy to pool Ultimate Rewards® points, as detailed in this comprehensive review.
Who Should Choose the United Club?
The United Club℠ Card is tailor-made for frequent United flyers, particularly business travelers who prioritize comfort and efficiency at the airport. International travelers will also find significant value in the complimentary United Club membership, which grants access to participating Star Alliance lounges worldwide, and the card's robust travel protections. Additionally, loyalists looking to earn or maintain United MileagePlus Premier status can leverage the card's spending structure to accumulate Premier Qualifying Points (PQPs).
Alternatives to Consider
If our comparison of the Chase Freedom Flex® and the United Club℠ Infinite Card has you feeling like neither is the perfect fit, you're not alone. These cards cater to very different users, so let's explore a few other options that might better suit your spending habits and financial goals.
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Tips for Application Success
Before You Apply
- Check your credit score: Premium cards often require an excellent credit score for approval.
- Plan your spending: Make sure you can meet the welcome offer's spending requirement without forcing it.
- Know the rules: Be aware of issuer-specific policies, like the Chase 5/24 rule.
Application Strategy
- Time your application: Align it with large planned purchases to help meet spending requirements naturally.
- Choose the right fit: Select a card whose benefits match your lifestyle, such as a premium travel card for frequent flyers.
- Consider the ecosystem: See how a new card can work with your existing cards to create a powerful multi-card strategy.
Our Methodology
We evaluate nearly 3,000 credit cards across the U.S. market — far more than the ~150 cards commonly featured on sites that focus only on products tied to affiliate commissions. Our goal is to provide a comprehensive, unbiased view of the credit card landscape so you can make confident, data-driven decisions.
Our editorial team combines deep industry experience with rigorous verification standards. While our experts surface the most relevant recommendations in our guides, you can also explore the full dataset yourself through our card explorer tool, which includes thousands of cards — more than 95% of which do not provide us with commissions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I have both the Chase Freedom Flex℠ and the United Club℠ Infinite Card?
Yes, it's possible to hold both cards simultaneously, which can be a strategic way to maximize rewards across different spending types. This allows you to use the Freedom Flex℠ for its rotating bonus categories and the United Club℠ Infinite Card for its premium United Airlines perks.
Which card is better for someone who doesn't travel frequently?
For infrequent travelers, the Chase Freedom Flex℠ is generally the more practical choice due to its $0 annual fee and rewards on everyday spending. The high annual fee on the United Club℠ Infinite Card is best justified by frequent flyers who can maximize its travel-centric benefits.
Can I transfer points from the Chase Freedom Flex℠ to United Airlines?
Points earned with the Chase Freedom Flex℠ can be transferred to United MileagePlus, but only indirectly. You must first pool your points with a premium Chase card, such as the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, before you can transfer them to airline partners.
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Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are those of Kudos alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
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