Chase Freedom Unlimited vs Amex Gold: Which Is Better In 2025?

American Express® Gold Card Breakdown

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Why We Like It

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Here’s a closer look at why the American Express® Gold Card (See Rates & Fees) is a top contender for foodies and frequent flyers alike.

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• It offers a powerful rewards rate on spending at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets, plus a generous Welcome Offer for new cardmembers (Terms Apply).
• Cardmembers receive annual statement credits for both dining and Uber, which provide consistent value throughout the year (Terms Apply).
• The card’s flexible points can be transferred to a wide range of airline and hotel partners, making it a great choice for savvy travelers (Terms Apply).

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_{Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.}

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Pros

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• High rewards earning potential on spending at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets (Terms Apply).
• Valuable annual credits for both dining and Uber provide consistent monthly value (Enrollment required; Terms Apply).
• Flexible travel rewards program with numerous airline and hotel transfer partners and no foreign transaction fees (Terms Apply).

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Cons

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• The card has a high annual fee.
• Annual credits are broken down into monthly increments, and some benefits require enrollment (Terms Apply).
• It’s not as widely accepted as Visa or Mastercard, and the top rewards rate for U.S. supermarkets is capped each year (Terms Apply).

American Express® Gold Card vs Chase Freedom Unlimited®

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Categories

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When considering which is better, the Chase Freedom Unlimited® or Amex Gold, it's important to look at where each card shines. The best choice ultimately depends on your primary spending habits.

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• Chase Freedom Unlimited®: This card is ideal for everyday spenders who want consistent rewards on all purchases, with bonus rewards for dining and at drugstores.
• American Express® Gold Card: This card is tailored for foodies and travelers, offering its highest rewards on purchases at restaurants, at U.S. supermarkets, and on flights.

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Redemption

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Chase Freedom Unlimited®: Rewards can be redeemed for cash back, gift cards, or travel booked through the Chase portal. The points offer straightforward value for those who prefer simple redemption options.

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American Express® Gold Card: Points are most valuable when transferred to Amex's extensive network of airline and hotel partners, making the card ideal for maximizing travel rewards. While other redemption options exist, they generally provide less value.

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Travel Perks

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• Chase Freedom Unlimited®: While it provides access to the Chase Ultimate Rewards® portal for booking travel, this card is less suited for international trips as it carries a foreign transaction fee. It does not offer airport lounge access.
• American Express® Gold Card: This card is built for travel, with no foreign transaction fees. Cardholders gain access to The Hotel Collection, which provides an experience credit on eligible hotel stays of two nights or more (Terms Apply). However, it does not include airport lounge access.

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Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos

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To make the best choice, you can use a tool like Kudos to compare top-rated cards based on your own spending habits.

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• Test drive credit cards: Use your real spending data to see personalized earnings projections before you apply. The Test Drive feature calculates potential annual rewards and net value (rewards minus fees) for nearly 3,000 cards.
• Approval odds: Receive a detailed analysis of your approval odds based on your credit report.
• Welcome offer guarantee: If you find a better welcome offer for a card you got through Kudos within three months, Kudos will match it.
• Rewards and insights: Track your spending, monitor your credit score, and earn extra rewards through Kudos Boost when shopping at participating stores.
• Autofill at checkout: The platform can automatically select and fill in the best card from your wallet at checkout to maximize rewards on every purchase.

Who Should Choose the Chase Freedom Unlimited®?

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The Chase Freedom Unlimited® is an excellent choice for everyday spenders who want a straightforward way to earn consistent rewards without tracking rotating categories. It's particularly well-suited for those new to credit card rewards or anyone seeking valuable purchase and travel protections without an annual fee. Furthermore, it serves as a powerful companion card for seasoned Chase users looking to maximize their Ultimate Rewards® points by pairing it with a premium card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred®.

Who Should Choose the American Express® Gold Card?

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The American Express® Gold Card is tailored for food enthusiasts who spend heavily on both dining out at restaurants worldwide and groceries at U.S. supermarkets. This cardholder is also a travel enthusiast who books flights directly with airlines and is savvy enough to take full advantage of the card's monthly statement credits for dining and Uber. Ultimately, it's for someone whose lifestyle and spending habits in these key areas can easily earn enough rewards to outweigh the $325 annual fee.

Alternatives to Consider

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If this Chase Freedom Unlimited® vs. American Express® Gold Card comparison has you convinced that neither is the right fit, don't worry. There are plenty of other excellent rewards cards that might be better suited to your spending habits and financial goals.

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Tips for Application Success

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Before You Apply

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• Check your credit score - Most premium rewards cards require a good to excellent credit history for approval.
• Plan your spending - Make sure you can naturally meet the minimum spend to earn the welcome offer.
• Review the benefits - Ensure the card’s rewards categories and credits align with your everyday spending habits.

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Application Strategy

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• Know the issuer's rules - Some issuers have policies that can affect your approval odds based on recently opened accounts.
• Consider card pairings - Certain cards, like the Chase Freedom Unlimited®, provide more value when paired with a premium travel card from the same issuer.
• Enroll in benefits - Cards like the American Express® Gold Card may require you to activate certain benefits to receive statement credits. Terms Apply.

Our Methodology

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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.

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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

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Is the American Express® Gold Card worth the annual fee?

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Whether the American Express® Gold Card is worth its annual fee depends entirely on your spending habits. If you can take full advantage of the card's dining credits and high rewards rates on groceries and restaurants, you may find it provides significant value. Terms Apply.

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What is the Chase Freedom Unlimited® best for?

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The Chase Freedom Unlimited® is an excellent choice for an everyday spending card, especially for those who want straightforward rewards without an annual fee. It offers a strong flat rewards rate on all purchases, with bonus rewards in common categories like dining and drugstores.

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Can I have both the Chase Freedom Unlimited® and the American Express® Gold Card?

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Yes, you can absolutely hold both cards at the same time, as they are issued by different banks. Many cardholders use them together to maximize rewards across a wide range of spending categories.

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Which card has a better welcome offer?

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Welcome offers for both cards change periodically, so one is not consistently better than the other. It's always best to review the current welcome offer for the American Express® Gold Card and the bonus for the Chase Freedom Unlimited® to see which is more valuable for you. Terms Apply.

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