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Chase Freedom Unlimited vs U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve: Which Is Better In 2025?
July 1, 2025
Editor's Picks
- Chase Freedom Unlimited®: This card is great for earning consistent rewards on everyday spending, particularly on dining and at drugstores, without an annual fee.
- U.S. Bank Altitude® Reserve Visa Infinite®: This premium travel card is best for frequent travelers and tech-savvy users who make purchases with a mobile wallet.
Chase Freedom Unlimited® Breakdown
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Why We Like It
Here’s a closer look at why the Chase Freedom Unlimited® stands out in a crowded field of cash back cards.
- With no annual fee, all the cash back you earn is pure value added to your wallet.
- It offers a strong 3% cash back on dining and drugstore purchases, plus a solid 1.5% on everything else.
- You would need to spend over $19,000 in general purchases on a competing 2% cash back card with a $95 annual fee just to break even with this card's baseline rewards (publisher-formulated estimate).
Pros
- Its reward structure is a powerful hybrid, offering a solid flat rate on all purchases while also giving you a boost in common spending areas like dining and drugstores.
- The rewards you earn are highly flexible. You can redeem them for cash back or travel, or pool them with a premium Chase card to significantly increase their value.
- It comes packed with valuable benefits typically found on premium cards, such as purchase protection, extended warranty, and trip cancellation insurance.
Cons
- It carries a foreign transaction fee, making it a less-than-ideal choice for international travel.
- To unlock the full potential of your rewards, you need to pair it with a premium Chase travel card.
- Approval typically requires a good to excellent credit score, which may be a hurdle for some applicants.
U.S. Bank Altitude® Reserve Visa Infinite® Breakdown
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Why We Like It
Here’s a breakdown of why we think the U.S. Bank Altitude® Reserve Visa Infinite® is a compelling choice.
- It offers a high rewards rate of 3x points on both travel and mobile wallet purchases.
- Cardholders receive valuable travel perks, including a Priority Pass Select membership and a statement credit for the Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee.
- The $325 annual travel credit effectively lowers the $400 annual fee to just $75 if you use the full credit (publisher-formulated estimate).
Pros
- High rewards rate on travel and, notably, on mobile wallet purchases.
- A generous annual travel credit and complimentary airport lounge access add significant value for travelers.
- Flexible point redemptions, including a unique feature that allows you to redeem points instantly for purchases as you make them.
Cons
- It carries a high annual fee.
- You must be an existing U.S. Bank customer to apply.
- The card has limited transfer partners, which restricts reward flexibility.
U.S. Bank Altitude® Reserve Visa Infinite® vs Chase Freedom Unlimited®
Categories
When deciding which is better, Chase Freedom Unlimited® or U.S. Bank Altitude® Reserve Visa Infinite®, it's crucial to understand their core strengths and who they're designed for.
- Chase Freedom Unlimited® is a fantastic cash back card. It's ideal for everyday spenders seeking consistent rewards without needing to track rotating bonus categories.
- U.S. Bank Altitude® Reserve Visa Infinite® is a premium travel rewards card. It is designed for frequent travelers who want to earn rewards on travel and mobile wallet purchases.
Redemption
Chase Freedom Unlimited®: You can redeem your rewards for cash back, gift cards, or travel booked through the Chase portal. The points you earn can also be transferred to a premium Chase travel card to potentially increase their value.
U.S. Bank Altitude® Reserve Visa Infinite®: Points are most valuable when redeemed for travel through the U.S. Bank Rewards Center. You also have the flexibility to redeem them for merchandise, gift cards, or as a statement credit.
Travel Perks
- Travel Portal: The Chase Freedom Unlimited® provides access to the Chase Ultimate Rewards® portal for booking travel. In contrast, the U.S. Bank Altitude® Reserve Visa Infinite® cardholders use the U.S. Bank Rewards Center, where points are worth more when redeemed for travel.
- Foreign Transaction Fees: For international travelers, the U.S. Bank Altitude® Reserve Visa Infinite® is the clear winner as it does not charge foreign transaction fees. The Chase Freedom Unlimited® does have a foreign transaction fee.
- Airport Lounge Access: The U.S. Bank Altitude® Reserve Visa Infinite® includes a complimentary Priority Pass™ Select membership, granting access to a global network of airport lounges. The Chase Freedom Unlimited® does not come with any lounge access benefits.
Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos
To make the comparison process easier, you can use a tool like Kudos, which helps you find the best cards based on your actual spending habits.
- Test drive a credit card: Simulate your potential earnings with a new card based on your real transaction history before you apply, with no impact on your credit score.
- Personalized recommendations: Get data-driven suggestions for which of the nearly 3,000 cards in the system will earn you the most rewards.
- Approval odds analysis: Receive a detailed analysis of your likelihood of being approved for a card based on your credit report.
- Welcome offer guarantee: If you find a better public welcome offer within three months of approval, Kudos will match it.
- Kudos Boost rewards: Earn extra rewards on top of your credit card rewards when you shop at participating stores.
Who Should Choose the Chase Freedom Unlimited®?
The Chase Freedom Unlimited® is an excellent choice for everyday spenders and those new to rewards, offering a straightforward earning structure without the hassle of tracking rotating categories. It's also a strategic pick for existing Chase customers who can pair it with a premium card to maximize the value of their Ultimate Rewards® points. Ultimately, as detailed in our comprehensive guide, this card is ideal for anyone seeking strong purchase protections and travel benefits without paying an annual fee.
Who Should Choose the U.S. Bank Altitude® Reserve Visa Infinite®?
The U.S. Bank Altitude® Reserve Visa Infinite® is best suited for existing U.S. Bank customers who travel frequently and can take full advantage of its premium travel perks. This card heavily rewards tech-savvy spenders who make regular purchases using mobile wallets like Apple Pay or Google Pay, as these transactions earn 3x points. Ultimately, the ideal cardholder is someone who can offset the annual fee by maximizing the annual travel credit, lounge access, and flexible point redemptions, as detailed in this card review.
Alternatives to Consider
If our deep dive into the Chase Freedom Unlimited® vs. U.S. Bank Altitude® Reserve Visa Infinite® comparison has you feeling like neither card is the right fit, don't fret. The credit card landscape is full of excellent alternatives that might better suit your financial goals and spending habits.
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Tips for Application Success
Before You Apply
- Check your credit score - Most premium cards require a good to excellent credit history for approval.
- Review issuer requirements - Some cards require an existing relationship with the bank before you can apply.
- Plan your spending - Ensure you can comfortably meet any minimum spending requirements for a welcome offer.
Application Strategy
- Consider card pairings - Some cards offer greater value when combined with others from the same issuer.
- Follow the right application path - Certain cards may require an existing banking relationship to apply.
- Avoid forcing spend - Only apply if you can meet welcome offer requirements through your normal spending.
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
What are the annual fees for the Chase Freedom Unlimited® and U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve®?
The Chase Freedom Unlimited® has no annual fee, making it a cost-effective choice for everyday spending. In contrast, the U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve® card has a significant annual fee that is offset by its premium travel benefits.
Can I combine points from the Chase Freedom Unlimited® with other Chase cards?
Yes, you can transfer points earned with your Chase Freedom Unlimited® to a premium Chase card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or Chase Sapphire Reserve®. This strategy allows you to redeem them for potentially greater value through the Chase Ultimate Rewards® travel portal.
Which card is better for beginners?
For those new to credit card rewards, the Chase Freedom Unlimited® is generally the better starting point due to its lack of an annual fee and straightforward rewards structure. The U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve® is geared more towards experienced users who can maximize its premium travel credits and perks to justify the annual cost.
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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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