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The Chase Freedom Unlimited and the Capital One Quicksilver both start from 1.5% cash back on every purchase, but they don't add the same bonus rates on top, and their rewards go to different places. Neither card wins for everyone; which one fits depends on where you spend, whether you use the card abroad, and what you want your rewards to become.
As of Oct 12, 2026, both issuers print a $0 annual fee and a 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers. Chase adds 3% on dining and drugstores and 5% on Chase Travel; Capital One adds 5% on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, with no foreign transaction fees.
Our own free tracker, RewardTracker.io, lets you track two cards free; a one-time $10 unlock adds the rest of the catalog on that account.
At a Glance
- Fees: Both cards print a $0 annual fee. The Freedom Unlimited charges a foreign transaction fee of 3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars, per the Chase pricing and terms page; the Quicksilver prints no foreign transaction fees on purchases made outside of the United States.
- Earn: Each starts at 1.5% on purchases. Freedom Unlimited adds 3% on dining (including takeout and eligible delivery), 3% on drugstore purchases and 5% on travel purchased through Chase Travel. Quicksilver adds unlimited 5% on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.
- Intro APR: Both print 0% for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers, followed by different variable APR ranges and balance transfer fees.
- Welcome offers: Each issuer prints its own offer and eligibility wording, covered in its section below.
- Rewards: Freedom Unlimited points can be combined with your other eligible Chase cards that have Ultimate Rewards. Quicksilver rewards don't expire for the life of the account and redeem as statement credit, check, covering a recent purchase, or gift cards.
- Fit: Freedom Unlimited fits spenders who eat out, shop at drugstores, book through Chase Travel or hold another Ultimate Rewards card. Quicksilver fits travelers who use a card abroad or book hotels and rental cars through Capital One Travel and want simple cash redemptions.
| Term | Freedom Unlimited | Quicksilver |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $0 | $0 |
| Foreign transaction fee | 3% | None on purchases outside the U.S. |
| Base earn | 1.5% | 1.5% |
| Intro APR on purchases and balance transfers | 0% for 15 months | 0% for 15 months |
| Variable APR after the intro period | 18.49%–27.99% | 18.74% - 28.74% |
Card fees, rates, intro APR terms, welcome offers and rewards terms can change, so check the Chase and Capital One pages before you apply.
Real-World Examples
- A frequent diner: Restaurant meals, including takeout and eligible delivery, earn 3% on the Freedom Unlimited and 1.5% on the Quicksilver.
- A trip abroad: A purchase made outside the United States carries no foreign transaction fee on the Quicksilver; the Freedom Unlimited adds a 3% foreign transaction fee per the Chase pricing and terms page.
- A rental car booked online: Booked through Capital One Travel, rental cars earn 5% on the Quicksilver. On the Freedom Unlimited, 5% applies to travel purchased through Chase Travel.
- A household already on Ultimate Rewards: Freedom Unlimited points can be moved to another Chase card with Ultimate Rewards belonging to you or one member of your household.
- Someone who wants plain cash: Quicksilver rewards don't expire for the life of the account and can be redeemed for any amount as statement credit, check, covering a recent purchase, or gift cards.
- A balance transfer soon after opening: The Freedom Unlimited's lower intro transfer fee applies only to transfers made within 60 days of account opening; the Quicksilver's 3% transfer fee applies to amounts transferred within the first 15 months.
Annual Fee and Foreign Transaction Fee on Each Card
- Freedom Unlimited: A $0 annual fee, as printed on the Chase product page and pricing and terms page. The pricing and terms page prints a foreign transaction fee of 3% of the amount of each transaction in U.S. dollars.
- Quicksilver: A $0 annual fee, with no foreign transaction fees on purchases made outside of the United States, as printed on the Capital One product page.
- Credit level: The Capital One product page notes the credit level for the Quicksilver as excellent.
How Each Card Earns
| Spending | Freedom Unlimited | Quicksilver |
|---|---|---|
| All other purchases | 1.5% | 1.5% |
| Dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services | 3% | 1.5% |
| Drugstore purchases | 3% | 1.5% |
| Travel purchased through Chase Travel | 5% | 1.5% |
| Hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel | 1.5% | 5% |
- Freedom Unlimited: Chase prints unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases plus the dining, drugstore and Chase Travel rates above.
- Quicksilver: Capital One prints unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day, plus the unlimited Capital One Travel rate above.
For a related decision about using Chase points, see our World of Hyatt card guide.
Welcome Offers
- Freedom Unlimited: The Chase product page prints: "Earn a $200 bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. This product is available if you do not have this card and have not received a new cardmember bonus for this card in the past 24 months."
- Quicksilver: The Capital One product page prints: "Earn $200 as a one-time cash bonus once you spend $500 within 3 months from account opening. This one-time bonus is available by clicking the Apply Now button on this page, and may not be available if you navigate away from or close this page. Existing or previous cardmembers are not eligible for this product if they have received a new cardmember bonus for this product in the past 48 months."
The headline offers match; the eligibility windows differ, at 24 months on the Chase page and 48 months on the Capital One page.
Intro APR Terms and Balance Transfer Fees
Freedom Unlimited
- 0% intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 18.49%–27.99%.
- Balance transfer fee: an intro fee of either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater, on transfers made within 60 days of account opening; after that, either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
Quicksilver
- 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers, then an 18.74% - 28.74% variable APR.
- Balance transfer fee: Capital One's rate and fee information lists 3% on the amounts transferred within the first 15 months, and 4% on the amount of each transferred balance that posts to your account at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer you.
What Freedom Unlimited Rewards Can Become
- Points, not dollars: Chase tracks Cash Back rewards as points, and each $1 in Cash Back rewards earned equals 100 points. You may also see "points" or "Ultimate Rewards points" for the points you can use.
- Combining: Per the Chase Freedom Unlimited Rewards Program Agreement, you can combine points with your other eligible Chase cards that have Ultimate Rewards, and you can move your points, but only to another Chase card with Ultimate Rewards belonging to you or one member of your household.
For what Ultimate Rewards points can do once combined, see our Chase Ultimate Rewards guide, and for two Chase cards with Ultimate Rewards, see our Sapphire Preferred and Sapphire Reserve comparison.
What Quicksilver Rewards Can Become
- No expiration: Per Capital One, rewards don't expire for the life of the account, and you can redeem cash back for any amount.
- Redemption options: Statement credit, check, covering a recent purchase, or gift cards.
Capital One's miles cards are covered separately in our Capital One miles guide and our Venture X review.
Who Each Card Fits
Freedom Unlimited fits
Someone whose spending leans on restaurants and drugstores, who books travel through Chase Travel, or who holds or plans another Chase card with Ultimate Rewards to combine points with. Watch the 3% foreign transaction fee on purchases abroad.
Quicksilver fits
Someone who wants the base rate plus 5% on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, uses the card outside the United States, and prefers cash redemptions that don't expire for the life of the account.
Both print no annual fee and the same intro APR length on purchases and balance transfers, so neither of those separates them.
If you're looking past a no-fee card, see our Ink Business Preferred and Sapphire Reserve comparison or our Venture X benefits checklist.
TL;DR – Verdict
As of Oct 12, 2026, neither card wins for everyone. The Freedom Unlimited fits diners, drugstore shoppers, Chase Travel bookers and anyone combining points with another Ultimate Rewards card. The Quicksilver fits travelers who want a 1.5% base rate plus 5% on Capital One Travel hotels and rental cars, no foreign transaction fee, and simple cash redemptions.
- Both print a $0 annual fee and a 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers.
- Their variable APRs after the intro period and their balance transfer fees differ; compare both pages if you plan to carry or move a balance.
- Freedom Unlimited points can be combined with your other eligible Chase cards that have Ultimate Rewards; Quicksilver cash back redeems as a statement credit, check, recent-purchase credit or gift cards.
FAQ
Which card fits me, the Freedom Unlimited or the Quicksilver?
It depends on your spending. The Freedom Unlimited fits if you spend on dining and drugstores, book through Chase Travel or hold another Ultimate Rewards card. The Quicksilver fits if you use a card abroad, book hotels or rental cars through Capital One Travel, or want cash redemptions that don't expire for the life of the account.
Do either of these cards charge an annual fee?
No. Both print a $0 annual fee as of Oct 12, 2026.
Which card charges a foreign transaction fee?
The Freedom Unlimited, at 3% of the amount of each transaction in U.S. dollars, per the Chase pricing and terms page. The Quicksilver prints no foreign transaction fees on purchases made outside of the United States.
How long is each card's intro APR?
Both print a 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers.
Can Freedom Unlimited points be combined with other Chase cards?
Yes, with your other eligible Chase cards that have Ultimate Rewards, and you can move points only to another Chase card with Ultimate Rewards belonging to you or one member of your household.
Do Quicksilver rewards expire?
Per Capital One, rewards don't expire for the life of the account.