Chase Freedom Flex® Card
vs. U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card

Updated: July 25, 2024

Advertising & Editorial Disclosure

Shield Insurance

MoneyGeek partners with leading industry experts and advertisers to help you get to your financial happy place. Our content is accurate when posted but offers may change over time. We may receive compensation for partner advertisements, but our editorial team independently reviews and ranks products. Learn more about our editorial policies.

The Chase Freedom Flex® Card and the U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card are both strong contenders in the cash back category, offering no annual fees and enticing introductory APR offers. The U.S. Bank Cash+ edges out slightly with a higher cash back potential in selected categories.

But the Chase Freedom Flex Card's rotating quarterly bonus categories and rewards on travel and dining make it a compelling option, especially if you prefer the Chase ecosystem. Their rewards programs are versatile for various spending. While the U.S. Bank Cash+ may be the frontrunner for its slightly higher cash back score, the Freedom Flex should not be overlooked for its unique rewards structure and bonus categories.

Credit Card logo for Chase Freedom Flex® Card
Chase Freedom Flex® Card
Credit Card logo for U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card
U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card
MoneyGeek Rating
3.7/ of 5
MoneyGeek Rating
3.9/ of 5
On Issuer's Site
On Issuer's Site

Which Card Is Better for You?

You might prefer the Chase Freedom Flex if you're looking for a card that offers a substantial cash back bonus with a lower initial spend and enjoy maximizing rewards through rotating categories. Its introductory APR period on balance transfers is also slightly longer.

You might prefer the U.S. Bank Cash+ if you value the ability to choose your own cash back categories to align with your spending habits and prefer a higher cap on those categories. And if you anticipate carrying a balance, its slightly lower starting APR could be advantageous in the long run.

Head-to-Head Comparison: Card Details and Features

Evaluating features like APRs, fees, credit requirements, rewards and introductory offers will clarify which card is for you. For instance, if frequent dining out is part of your lifestyle, the Freedom Flex's 3% cash back on dining could sway your decision. Use this section to match card benefits with your spending patterns.

    discount icon

    Regular APR: U.S. Bank Cash+

    The U.S. Bank Cash+ offers a slightly lower starting APR at 19.74%, making it a better option if you’re seeking lower interest rates.

    annualFee icon

    Annual Fee: Tie

    Both the Freedom Flex and the U.S. Bank Cash+ have no annual fee.

    lowInterestAPR icon

    Introductory 0% APRs: Tie

    Both the Freedom Flex and the U.S. Bank Cash+ offer a 0% introductory APR for 15 months on both purchases and balance transfers, with a balance transfer fee of 3% (minimum $5).

    coins icon

    Rewards: U.S. Bank Cash+

    The U.S. Bank Cash+ edges out the Freedom Flex in rewards, offering 5% cash back on two categories of your choice on up to $2,000 in purchases each quarter, plus 5% back on prepaid travel booked through the Rewards Center. It also provides 2% back on an everyday category, like gas stations or groceries.

    The Freedom Flex Card offers 5% back on rotating categories and travel through Chase Travel℠, with 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service. However, the Cash+'s customizable rewards can be more lucrative if you strategically choose your categories.

    rewards icon

    Welcome Offers: Chase Freedom Flex Card

    The Freedom Flex offers a more advantageous welcome bonus, requiring a lower spend of $500 to earn a $200 bonus, compared with the U.S. Bank Cash+, which requires spending $1,000 for the same $200 bonus.

    creditApproved icon

    Recommended Credit Score: Tie

    Both the Freedom Flex and the U.S. Bank Cash+ require a credit score range of 670 to 850, indicating they are accessible if you have good to excellent credit.

    autopay icon

    Penalties and Fees: U.S. Bank Cash+

    The U.S. Bank Cash+ is slightly better for penalties and fees, primarily because it does not apply a penalty APR, unlike the Freedom Flex. Both cards charge up to a 3% fee on foreign transactions and have similar cash advance fees, but the U.S. Bank Cash+ has a marginally higher late fee of up to $41 compared with the Freedom Flex's up to $40.

    points icon

    Issuer Satisfaction: Freedom Flex

    Chase offers better issuer satisfaction with a rating of 4.1, compared to with U.S. Bank’s rating of 3.5.

    airplane icon

    Other Features & Perks: Tie

    Both cards offer unique perks that cater to different preferences. The Freedom Flex provides cell phone protection and exclusive access to a range of events through Chase Experiences. The U.S. Bank Cash+ offers a similar level of unique benefits tailored to its users, making this a tie based on individual needs and preferences.

Rewards Comparison

The U.S. Bank Cash+ card beats the Freedom Flex in reward flexibility and potential value. With the ability to select bonus categories, users who prefer to tailor their rewards to their spending patterns may find the U.S. Bank Cash+ card more appealing.

But the Freedom Flex offers strong rewards in travel and dining, which could be more beneficial if you frequently spend in these areas. Its rotating categories can also be lucrative if they align with your spending habits, but they require active management to maximize benefits.

U.S. Bank Cash+ Reward Categories

For the U.S. Bank Cash+ card, the pick-your-own categories include a diverse range of options, allowing for a customized rewards strategy. Eligible categories for the 5% cash back include:

  • Fast food
  • Home utilities
  • TV, internet, and streaming
  • Department stores
  • Cell phone providers
  • Electronics stores
  • Sporting goods stores
  • Movie theaters
  • Gyms/fitness centers
  • Furniture stores
  • Ground transportation
  • Select clothing stores

For the 2% cash back everyday category, choices include:

  • Grocery stores and grocery delivery
  • Restaurants
  • Gas stations
  • EV charging stations

These categories offer a high degree of personalization, catering to a variety of spending profiles. For more details on these categories, cardholders should review the latest enrollment options.

The table visually compares the rewards programs of the Freedom Flex and U.S. Bank Cash+.

Category
Freedom Flex
U.S. Bank Cash+

Rotating Categories/Selected Categories

5% on rotating categories (up to $1,500 in combined purchases each quarter upon activation)

5% on two categories of your choice ($2,000 purchase limit per quarter)

Travel

5% if purchased through Chase Travel

1%

Dining

3%

1% (5% if fast food is chosen)

Drugstore Purchases

3%

1%

Gas Stations

1%

2% (if chosen everyday category)

Redeeming Rewards

With the Freedom Flex, your points remain valid indefinitely, provided your account stays open, offering flexibility in when you choose to use them. Redemption options are diverse, including cash, gift cards and travel, but note that the value you get can vary depending on the redemption method you choose.

The U.S. Bank Cash+ requires at least $25 in cash back to redeem and limits redemptions to a statement credit or a deposit into a U.S. Bank account. And there's a 36-month expiration on cash back, necessitating more frequent redemptions to avoid loss of rewards.

Methodology

MoneyGeek evaluates credit cards like the Freedom Flex and U.S. Bank Cash+ based on their performance in various use cases. This approach ensures that the score reflects the card's performance in the scenario where it provides the most value.

For cash back cards, the primary factors we consider are the effective reward rate and the return on investment for offers. These elements — along with annual fees, introductory purchase rates and issuer satisfaction — contribute to a card's overall score. For a detailed understanding of our process, you can review our ranking methodology.

FAQ: Freedom Flex vs. U.S. Bank Cash+

What are the main differences in rewards between the Freedom Flex and the U.S. Bank Cash+?
Which card offers a better APR and for how long?
Are there any annual fees for either the Chase Freedom Flex® Card or the U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card?
How do the introductory offers compare between the two cards?
Can I avoid foreign transaction fees with either card?

About Doug Milnes, CFA


Doug Milnes, CFA headshot

Doug Milnes is a CFA charter holder with over 10 years of experience in corporate finance and the Head of Credit Cards at MoneyGeek. Formerly, he performed valuations for Duff and Phelps and financial planning and analysis for various companies. His analysis has been cited by U.S. News and World Report, The Hill, the Los Angeles Times, The New York Times and many other outlets.

Milnes holds a master’s degree in data science from Northwestern University. He geeks out on helping people feel on top of their credit card use, from managing debt to optimizing rewards.


*Rates, fees or bonuses may vary or include specific stipulations. The content on this page is accurate as of the posting/last updated date; however, some of the offers mentioned may have expired. We recommend visiting the card issuer’s website for the most up-to-date information available.
Editorial Disclosure: Opinions, reviews, analyses and recommendations are the author’s alone and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. Learn more about our editorial policies and expert editorial team.
Advertiser Disclosure: MoneyGeek has partnered with CardRatings.com and CreditCards.com for our coverage of credit card products. MoneyGeek, CardRatings and CreditCards.com may receive a commission from card issuers. To ensure thorough comparisons and reviews, MoneyGeek features products from both paid partners and unaffiliated card issuers that are not paid partners.