Quicksilver vs Freedom Unlimited
It depends on how you spend: the Quicksilver wins for 0 of our three profiles and the Freedom Unlimited for 2. Below: what each card pays after fees for three spending profiles, the break-even, and a live calculator for your own numbers. Card terms verified Oct 5, 2026.
Simulated results
Five years, welcome offers counted when the profile's own spending reaches them, points valued as cash (Capital One cash back at 1.0¢, Chase points at 1.0¢). Merchant credits like Uber or DoorDash aren't counted for typed profiles; they show up in the break-even instead.
| Profile | Quicksilver: year 1 | then yearly | 5 years | Freedom Unlimited: year 1 | then yearly | 5 years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Everyday spender About $2,000 a month, mostly groceries and errands, one trip a year. | $560 | $360 | $2,000 | $605 | $405 | $2,227 |
| Balanced About $3,500 a month with a few trips a year and regular dining out. | $830 | $630 | $3,350 | $893 | $693 | $3,665 |
| Frequent traveler About $5,000 a month, heavy on flights, hotels and restaurants, some trips abroad. | $1,100 | $900 | $4,700 | $1,100 | $900 | $4,700 |
The break-even
Everyday spender
Quicksilver trails Freedom Unlimited by $45 a year. It has no extra perks we left unpriced that could close that gap.
This flips if Capital One cash back are worth more than 1.13¢ each to you (we're using 1.0¢).
Balanced
Quicksilver trails Freedom Unlimited by $63 a year. It has no extra perks we left unpriced that could close that gap.
This flips if Capital One cash back are worth more than 1.1¢ each to you (we're using 1.0¢).
Frequent traveler
Quicksilver and Freedom Unlimited come out even for your spending.
Try it with your spending
Starts from the Balanced profile. Change any number, or drop in your statements; they're read on this device and never uploaded.
The live calculator needs JavaScript. The tables above are precomputed.
The live calculator needs JavaScript. The tables above are precomputed.
Side by side
| Term | Quicksilver | Freedom Unlimited |
|---|---|---|
| Issuer and network | Capital One, Mastercard | Chase, Visa |
| Annual fee | None | None |
| Requires | Nothing extra | Nothing extra |
| Welcome offer | $200 after $500 in 3 months | 20,000 points after $500 in 3 months |
| Earning | 5% cash back on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel · 5% cash back on Capital One Entertainment ticket purchases · 1.5x on everything else | 5% on travel purchased through Chase Travel · 3% on dining at restaurants (incl. takeout and eligible delivery) · 3% at drugstores · 2% total on Lyft rides/products in the Lyft app through 9/30/2027 · 1.5x on everything else |
| Rewards currency | Capital One cash rewards | Chase Ultimate Rewards points |
| Statement credits | None | $10 quarterly DoorDash promo on a non-restaurant order |
| Lounges | None | None |
| Foreign transaction fee | None | 3% |
| Authorized users | No fee | No fee |
| Availability | Open to new applicants | Open to new applicants |
| Verified | Oct 5, 2026 | Oct 5, 2026 |
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