Is the Chase Freedom a Visa or Mastercard? (Oct. 2024)
Updated:
Writer: Brittney Mayer
Brittney Mayer, Credit Analyst
Brittney is a Credit Strategist and Finance Expert who has spent years honing her knowledge of the credit industry both personally and professionally. Brittney applies her more than a decade of research experience to crafting in-depth consumer guides designed to help CardRates readers make better, more informed financial decisions.
Lillian Guevara-Castro brings more than 30 years of editing and journalism experience to the CardRates team. She has worked at The Atlanta Journal and Constitution, Gwinnett Daily News, Gainesville Sun, and The New York Times, where she covered demographics, consumer issues, and the business and financial sectors. Lillian has a degree in journalism and communications from Georgia State University and brings her fact-checking expertise to ensure Digital Brands content is accurate and engaging.
Ashley Fricker has more than a decade of experience as a finance contributor and editor, and has specialized in the credit card industry since 2015. Her credit card commentary is featured on national media outlets that include CNBC, MarketWatch, Investopedia, and Reader's Digest, among many others. She has worked closely with the world’s largest banks and financial institutions, up-and-coming fintech companies, and press and news outlets to curate comprehensive content and media. Ashley holds a bachelor's degree in multimedia journalism from Florida Atlantic University.
As you rummage through your wallet, trying to decide which credit card you should use to make your next purchase, you may find yourself asking, “Is the Chase Freedom a Visa or Mastercard?” Let’s take a quick look at the differences between these two major credit card networks and why it matters.
If you’re a regular credit card user, chances are relatively good that you’ve encountered the rare merchant that doesn’t accept a particular credit card network. And it always seems that whichever network they do accept is the one for which you don’t have a card on hand.
Given the frequency of these experiences, it’s safe to say that your credit card network still matters, even in today’s digital day and age when acceptance is more prevalent. So it’s a valid concern if you can’t identify the network on which your credit card operates, particularly for the popular Chase Freedom® cards.
Chase Freedom Unlimited® is a Visa, Chase Freedom Flex℠ is a Mastercard
Most Chase cards operate on the Visa network, but the new Chase Freedom Flex℠ operates on the Mastercard network. All Chase bank debit and ATM cards also operate on the Visa network.
Our in-house credit card experts rate Chase® cards based on:
Reward rates and redemptions
Regular and promotional APRs
Signup bonuses
Annual and other fees
Travel insurance and credits
We also consider other cardholder needs and data points specific to the category. We then compare it to similar card offers and evaluate the terms before assigning a numerical value, in which 5.0 represents the best. Ratings are updated as issuer changes occur, and issuers have no influence on our ratings.
Our in-house credit card experts rate Chase® cards based on:
Reward rates and redemptions
Regular and promotional APRs
Signup bonuses
Annual and other fees
Travel insurance and credits
We also consider other cardholder needs and data points specific to the category. We then compare it to similar card offers and evaluate the terms before assigning a numerical value, in which 5.0 represents the best. Ratings are updated as issuer changes occur, and issuers have no influence on our ratings.
INTRO OFFER: Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back!
Enjoy 6.5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 4.5% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 3% on all other purchases (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year).
After your first year or $20,000 spent, enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.
No minimum to redeem for cash back. You can choose to receive a statement credit or direct deposit into most U.S. checking and savings accounts. Cash Back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open!
Enjoy 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 20.49% - 29.24%.
No annual fee – You won't have to pay an annual fee for all the great features that come with your Freedom Unlimited® card
Additional Disclosure: The information related to Chase Freedom Flex℠ credit card has been collected by CardRates.com and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card.
So, what caused all the confusion in the first place? It all comes down to business — and money.
While the Discover and American Express networks mostly distribute their own in-house and co-branded credit cards, Visa and Mastercard credit cards are typically issued by third-party banks like Citibank, Chase, and U.S. Bank. As a side effect, some bank issuers can offer cards from both Visa and Mastercard in their card profiles.
That being said, specific credit card products are usually only associated with a single network, though there are some cards that break that mold. Indeed, at one point, the original Chase Freedom® card (now the Chase Freedom Flex℠) was issued for both Visa and Mastercard credit card networks (much to the confusion of its cardholders).
But, as usually happens in business (and bureaucracy) — contracts change. Chase’s partnership with Mastercard mostly fizzled around 2014, spurring the changeover to Visa. Mid-year, Chase phased out its Mastercard products, giving existing cardholders new Visa cards to replace the decommissioned Mastercard credit and debit cards.
Of course, that changed in 2020, when Chase launched the new Chase Freedom Flex℠ in partnership with Mastercard. Freedom Flex features World Elite Mastercard benefits, including cell phone insurance, ShopRunner, Lyft credits, and more.
Comparing the Benefits of Visa vs. Mastercard Credit Cards
Since the most obvious difference between credit card processing networks is acceptance, it makes sense to start there. For the most part, acceptance rates are pretty neck-and-neck for Visa and Mastercard in the U.S. In almost all cases, if a merchant accepts one, they accept both.
The main exception to this general principle is when specific brands have exclusive contracts with a particular network. The most popular example is the wholesale club, Costco, which currently has an exclusive contract with Visa which means it only accepts credit cards that operate on the Visa network.
This ValuePenguin chart shows the number of merchants that accept each of the major credit card networks.
And that relatively equal rate of acceptance is similar around the globe, with both cards being accepted in over 200 countries. The same exception applies as in the U.S., however, as some foreign merchants may have specific business reasons to use one network over others. A good example of this is found in Canada, where Walmart Canada has stopped accepting Visa cards.
The biggest factor for many merchants that determines whether they accept a particular credit card network is generally the cost. Processing transactions isn’t free, and networks charge merchants fees for every credit card transaction.
Overall, Visa and Mastercard fees aren’t too far apart in merchant costs, though Mastercard charges slightly more than Visa. Discover also charges similar fees to Visa and Mastercard, coming out somewhere in the middle. All three networks are significantly less expensive for merchants than American Express, however.
The Big Difference is in the Benefits
Beyond acceptance and transaction costs, the major differences between Visa and Mastercard come in the form of fringe benefits. Depending on the network (and the issuer), you’ll receive certain benefits from your card that can include things like purchase protection, warranty extensions, and rental car insurance.
The quality and amount of benefits you receive will typically vary based on whether you have a standard or premium card. Both Visa and Mastercard offer three tiers of cards, with the top-tier cards providing much more extensive benefits than the base models.
In particular, Visa’s three tiers include Visa Traditional, Visa Signature®, and Visa Infinite®. All members receive the same standard perks that include services like lost or stolen card reporting and emergency card replacement. Cardholders also receive an auto rental collision damage waiver and access to Roadside Dispatch®.
In addition, Visa Signature® members also receive warranty extensions and travel assistance. At the top status tier, Visa Infinite® members get everything from the lower tiers, plus extra perks that include return protection, travel accident insurance, trip delay, cancellation, and interruption coverage, and lost luggage reimbursement.
The three Mastercard tiers are the Standard/Gold Mastercard®, World Mastercard®, and World Elite Mastercard®. Similar to Visa, all three Mastercard tiers have access to the same basic benefits, including Mastercard Global Service which provides virtual emergency assistance that can help you find an ATM, report a lost or stolen card, and replace your card.
One tier up, the World Mastercard® cardholders also get access to special concierge services, enhanced price protection, and access to the World Luxury Hotels & Resorts program. And World Elite Mastercard® members get access to all of the above, plus a whole host of extra travel discounts and savings programs.
As diverse as the benefits may be, one thing to keep in mind is that no matter which network you have, specific issuers can add or augment your card benefits. For example, Chase upgrades the rental car insurance from secondary to primary for its Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card Visa Signature®. Check your specific credit card to see what perks and benefits you have available.
See the Best Visa Credit Card Offers
As one might assume of the credit card network that holds the lion’s share of the global credit card transaction volume, a good chunk of the available credit cards sport a Visa logo on their faces. For those who are a fan of the Freedom® switch to Visa (or who just like what the network has to offer), options abound.
Those in the market for a Visa card can choose from any number of issuing banks — with the obvious exclusions of Discover and Amex — including Chase and Wells Fargo. Some issuers may offer both Visa and Mastercard, while others are strictly Visa partners. Start exploring Visa with some of our top-rated offers below.
Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card
4.9/5.0
About this rating
Our in-house credit card experts rate Visa® offers based on:
Reward rates and redemptions
Regular and promotional APRs
Signup bonuses
Travel insurance and credits
Annual and other fees
General approval rates
Issuer reputation
We also consider other cardholder needs and data points specific to the category. We then compare it to similar card offers and evaluate the terms before assigning a numerical value, in which 5.0 represents the best. Ratings are updated as issuer changes occur, and issuers have no influence on our ratings.
Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card
4.9/5.0
About this rating
Our in-house credit card experts rate Visa® offers based on:
Reward rates and redemptions
Regular and promotional APRs
Signup bonuses
Travel insurance and credits
Annual and other fees
General approval rates
Issuer reputation
We also consider other cardholder needs and data points specific to the category. We then compare it to similar card offers and evaluate the terms before assigning a numerical value, in which 5.0 represents the best. Ratings are updated as issuer changes occur, and issuers have no influence on our ratings.
$200 online cash rewards bonus after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.
Earn 3% cash back in the category of your choice, automatic 2% at grocery stores and wholesale clubs (up to $2,500 in combined choice category/grocery store/wholesale club quarterly purchases) and unlimited 1% on all other purchases.
Choose 3% cash back on gas and EV charging station, online shopping/cable/internet/phone plan/streaming, dining, travel, drug store/pharmacy or home improvement/furnishings purchases.
If you're a Bank of America Preferred Rewards® member, you can earn 25%-75% more cash back on every purchase. That means you could earn 3.75%-5.25% cash back on purchases in your choice category.
No annual fee and cash rewards don’t expire as long as your account remains open.
0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases, and for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the Intro APR offer ends, a Variable APR that’s currently 18.74% - 28.74% will apply. A 3% Intro balance transfer fee will apply for the first 60 days your account is open. After the Intro balance transfer fee offer ends, the fee for future balance transfers is 4%.
Contactless Cards - The security of a chip card, with the convenience of a tap.
This online only offer may not be available if you leave this page or if you visit a Bank of America financial center. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.
0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days (Balance Transfer Fee 3% for 60 days from account opening, then 4%)
18.74% - 28.74% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers
$0
Excellent/Good
Additional Disclosure: Bank of America is a CardRates advertiser.
Our in-house credit card experts rate Visa® offers based on:
Reward rates and redemptions
Regular and promotional APRs
Signup bonuses
Travel insurance and credits
Annual and other fees
General approval rates
Issuer reputation
We also consider other cardholder needs and data points specific to the category. We then compare it to similar card offers and evaluate the terms before assigning a numerical value, in which 5.0 represents the best. Ratings are updated as issuer changes occur, and issuers have no influence on our ratings.
Our in-house credit card experts rate Visa® offers based on:
Reward rates and redemptions
Regular and promotional APRs
Signup bonuses
Travel insurance and credits
Annual and other fees
General approval rates
Issuer reputation
We also consider other cardholder needs and data points specific to the category. We then compare it to similar card offers and evaluate the terms before assigning a numerical value, in which 5.0 represents the best. Ratings are updated as issuer changes occur, and issuers have no influence on our ratings.
Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
$300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $900 toward travel.
Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2027.
1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
Our in-house credit card experts rate Visa® offers based on:
Reward rates and redemptions
Regular and promotional APRs
Signup bonuses
Travel insurance and credits
Annual and other fees
General approval rates
Issuer reputation
We also consider other cardholder needs and data points specific to the category. We then compare it to similar card offers and evaluate the terms before assigning a numerical value, in which 5.0 represents the best. Ratings are updated as issuer changes occur, and issuers have no influence on our ratings.
Our in-house credit card experts rate Visa® offers based on:
Reward rates and redemptions
Regular and promotional APRs
Signup bonuses
Travel insurance and credits
Annual and other fees
General approval rates
Issuer reputation
We also consider other cardholder needs and data points specific to the category. We then compare it to similar card offers and evaluate the terms before assigning a numerical value, in which 5.0 represents the best. Ratings are updated as issuer changes occur, and issuers have no influence on our ratings.
INTRO OFFER: Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back!
Enjoy 6.5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 4.5% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 3% on all other purchases (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year).
After your first year or $20,000 spent, enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.
No minimum to redeem for cash back. You can choose to receive a statement credit or direct deposit into most U.S. checking and savings accounts. Cash Back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open!
Enjoy 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 20.49% - 29.24%.
No annual fee – You won't have to pay an annual fee for all the great features that come with your Freedom Unlimited® card
If you are bummed about the Chase Freedom Flex℠ switch and still holding a Visa grudge — or simply want the benefits and acceptance that come with using a Mastercard — don’t fret. You still have plenty of great options for the Mastercard you crave, many of which offer fair purchase rewards and valuable intro-APR offers.
In fact, dozens of banks have strong partnerships with Mastercard. They include several major issuers, like Bank of America, Citibank, and HSBC, as well as smaller community banks and credit unions (though many will offer cards from both networks). You can explore some of our favorite Mastercard options below.
Our in-house credit card experts rate Mastercard® offers based on:
Reward rates and redemptions
Regular and promotional APRs
Signup bonuses
Travel insurance and credits
Annual and other fees
General approval rates
Issuer reputation
We also consider other cardholder needs and data points specific to the category. We then compare it to similar card offers and evaluate the terms before assigning a numerical value, in which 5.0 represents the best. Ratings are updated as issuer changes occur, and issuers have no influence on our ratings.
Our in-house credit card experts rate Mastercard® offers based on:
Reward rates and redemptions
Regular and promotional APRs
Signup bonuses
Travel insurance and credits
Annual and other fees
General approval rates
Issuer reputation
We also consider other cardholder needs and data points specific to the category. We then compare it to similar card offers and evaluate the terms before assigning a numerical value, in which 5.0 represents the best. Ratings are updated as issuer changes occur, and issuers have no influence on our ratings.
Earn a one-time $200 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening
Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day
$0 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees
Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options. Terms apply
No rotating categories or sign-ups needed to earn cash rewards; plus, cash back won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how much you can earn
0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months; 19.99% - 29.99% variable APR after that; balance transfer fee applies
Our in-house credit card experts rate Mastercard® offers based on:
Reward rates and redemptions
Regular and promotional APRs
Signup bonuses
Travel insurance and credits
Annual and other fees
General approval rates
Issuer reputation
We also consider other cardholder needs and data points specific to the category. We then compare it to similar card offers and evaluate the terms before assigning a numerical value, in which 5.0 represents the best. Ratings are updated as issuer changes occur, and issuers have no influence on our ratings.
Our in-house credit card experts rate Mastercard® offers based on:
Reward rates and redemptions
Regular and promotional APRs
Signup bonuses
Travel insurance and credits
Annual and other fees
General approval rates
Issuer reputation
We also consider other cardholder needs and data points specific to the category. We then compare it to similar card offers and evaluate the terms before assigning a numerical value, in which 5.0 represents the best. Ratings are updated as issuer changes occur, and issuers have no influence on our ratings.
Earn a one-time $200 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening
Earn unlimited 3% cash back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services and at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®), plus 1% on all other purchases
Earn 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases
Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options. Terms apply
No rotating categories or sign-ups needed to earn cash rewards; plus cash back won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how much you can earn
0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months; 19.99% - 29.99% variable APR after that; balance transfer fee applies
Our in-house credit card experts rate Mastercard® offers based on:
Reward rates and redemptions
Regular and promotional APRs
Signup bonuses
Travel insurance and credits
Annual and other fees
General approval rates
Issuer reputation
We also consider other cardholder needs and data points specific to the category. We then compare it to similar card offers and evaluate the terms before assigning a numerical value, in which 5.0 represents the best. Ratings are updated as issuer changes occur, and issuers have no influence on our ratings.
Our in-house credit card experts rate Mastercard® offers based on:
Reward rates and redemptions
Regular and promotional APRs
Signup bonuses
Travel insurance and credits
Annual and other fees
General approval rates
Issuer reputation
We also consider other cardholder needs and data points specific to the category. We then compare it to similar card offers and evaluate the terms before assigning a numerical value, in which 5.0 represents the best. Ratings are updated as issuer changes occur, and issuers have no influence on our ratings.
Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
Overall, the differences between Visa and Mastercard are likely not very noticeable for most shoppers in general. So many U.S. merchants accept both networks that it’s rare to run into one that doesn’t — though it does happen. Outside the U.S., acceptance rates are still fairly close, meaning even the typical traveler likely won’t see much difference.
At the same time, the differences are there. Furthermore, if you’ve ever taken advantage of purchase price protection, rental car insurance, or other fringe benefits of being a cardholder, the differences between the two networks can be a lot more important.
In the end, though, there’s no perfect network for everyone. Your best bet to ensure universal acceptance is to carry more than one credit card so you can have access to multiple networks (and don’t forget that ATM card when traveling abroad — parking kiosks, ticket booths, and smaller merchants still prefer cash).
If you’re not sure of which network your card operates on and you have the card handy, simply look for the network’s logo on the front or back of your card. Discover cards always operate on the Discover network, and American Express cards always operate on the American Express network, so you’ll only see those logos. For Visa and Mastercard credit cards, you should have both a bank logo (e.g., Chase), as well as the network logo.
Advertiser Disclosure
CardRates.com is a free online resource that offers valuable content and comparison services to users. To keep this resource 100% free, we receive compensation for referrals for many of the offers listed on the site. Along with key review factors, this compensation may impact how and where products appear across CardRates.com (including, for example, the order in which they appear). CardRates.com does not include the entire universe of available offers. Editorial opinions expressed on the site are strictly our own and are not provided, endorsed, or approved by advertisers.