Find Your Best
Chase Freedom® Student Credit Card
vs. Journey Student Rewards from Capital One
Updated: December 5, 2024
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The Chase Freedom® Student credit card and Journey Student Rewards from Capital One cards are great for students who want to build credit while earning rewards. The Journey Student Rewards card doesn’t charge an annual fee or foreign transaction fees, but its high APR may leave some consumers with a revolving balance uneasy. Conversely, the Chase Freedom® Student credit card has foreign transaction fees on all international purchases. Both cards offer an identical 1% cash back on all eligible purchases, making them quite similar.
MoneyGeek compares the two so you can decide which is best for you.
Comparison Overview: Chase Freedom® Student Credit Card vs. Journey Student Rewards from Capital One
- Chase Freedom® Student Credit CardJourney Student Rewards from Capital One
- Has Annual Fee
- Has Balance Transfer Offer
- Has APR Offer
- Cash Back Rewards
- Travel Rewards
Chase Freedom® Student Credit Card At a Glance
Because of its simple unlimited 1% cash back rewards and no annual fee, the Chase Freedom® Student credit card is excellent for college students. You will also receive a $20 bonus on each of your first five account anniversaries if you keep your account active and in good standing. However, a 3% foreign transaction fee applies to all purchases made outside of the United States.
- Chase Freedom® Student Credit Card
A solid card with rewards students are sure to appreciate
- 1-5% Cash BackRewards Rate
- 19.99% VariableAPR
- $0Annual Fee
- Good–ExcellentRecommended Credit
Pros
- Small, but attainable welcome offer
- Simple rewards structure with no cap
- Anniversary bonuses for good standing
- No annual fee
Cons
- Low rewards rate
- No intro APR
Rewards
- Earn unlimited 1% cash back on all purchases.
- Get 5% cash back on Lyft rides until March 31, 2025.
Introductory Offers
- Earn a $50 bonus after making your first purchase within the first three months.
Perks & Benefits
- Receive a $20 Good Standing Reward after each account anniversary, up to 5 years.
- Enjoy a complimentary three-month DashPass membership.
APRS, Fees, and Penalties
- No annual fee.
Journey Student Rewards from Capital One At a Glance
The Journey Student Rewards from Capital One card has no annual fee or foreign transaction fees, and it’s most beneficial to students who make their payments on time. The cash back program allows you to earn 1% cash back on all eligible purchases, and if you pay on time, you’ll earn a total of 1.25% for that month. Paying on time will also earn you free streaming membership credits worth up to $60 per year.
- Journey Student Rewards from Capital One
Best student credit card with up to 1.25% cash back
- up to 1.25% Cash BackRewards Rate
- 29.99% VariableAPR
- $0Annual Fee
- Limited–FairRecommended Credit
Pros
- Earn 1% cash back on all your purchases, with a jump to 1.25% cash back when you pay your bills on time.
- There is no annual fee or foreign transaction fee.
- After six months, Capital One will reexamine your credit profile to see if you are eligible for a higher credit line. This can give students more purchasing power and flexibility without opening another card.
Cons
- High APR on purchases
- Lack of robust benefits
- Cardholders receive 1% cash back on all purchases.
- Pay your bill on time and receive a 0.25% cash back bonus on top of that.
- $0 fraud liability policy provides peace of mind.
- There are no foreign transaction fees, which is great for travelers.
- You have unlimited access to CreditWise from Capital One so you can check in on your credit profile at any time.
- There’s no cosigner required, although one may be helpful.
- When making purchases online, you can generate virtual card numbers so that your actual card number is kept private.
Comparison Summary
MoneyGeek’s Chase Freedom® Student credit card vs. Journey Student Rewards from Capital One comparison below will be useful for those comparing the two cards, looking to choose one.
Card Detail | Comparison Summary |
|---|---|
Travel Coverage and Purchase Protection | New purchases using the Chase Freedom® Student credit card are covered for 120 days against damage or theft up to $500 per claim/$50,000 for each account. For trips canceled or cut short by a covered event, you can receive up to $1,500 per person and $6,000 per trip for your prepaid, non-refundable fares. The Journey Student Rewards from Capital One card doesn’t come with any travel protection benefits. Winner: Chase Freedom® Student credit card |
Welcome Bonus | The Capital One Journey Students Rewards card offers no new cardmember bonus. However, with the Chase Freedom® Student credit card, you will receive a $50 bonus after making one purchase within the first three months of account opening. Winner: Chase Freedom® Student credit card |
Rewards | With the Journey Student Rewards card, you get 1% cash back on all purchases, plus an additional 0.25% cashback if you pay your bills on time. The Chase Freedom® Student credit card also gives you 1% cash back on every purchase you make. Winner: Journey Student Rewards from Capital One |
Annual Fee | Neither card has an annual fee. Winner: Tie |
Loyalty Programs | Both the cards do not belong to any loyalty programs. Instead, rewards can be redeemed as statement credits, direct deposit or checks. Winner: None |
Which Card Should You Get?
The answer will depend on what you look for in your student card. Each factor must be weighed before making a final decision.
Who Should Consider the Chase Freedom® Student Credit Card?
MoneyGeek named the Chase Freedom® Student credit card one of the Best Credit Cards for Students and Young Adults. Aside from the fact that it doesn't work well for international transactions, it's a great option for the following students:
Students looking to improve their credit scores. By paying responsibly, you can build a credit history or improve your credit score.
Students who already have a credit card but are looking for one with a simple rewards program. The 1% unlimited cash back is an easy reward that can be redeemed for a statement credit or check.
Students who don’t travel internationally or make overseas transactions online.
≫ More: Read Our Full Review
Who Should Consider the Journey Student Rewards from Capital One?
The no annual fee Journey Student Rewards from Capital One Card also comes with no foreign transaction fees, making it a great card to travel with. It’s also one of MoneyGeek’s Best Credit Cards for Students and Young Adults. The card is best suited for these types of students:
Students who travel internationally or make overseas transactions.
Students who pay their bills on time. The card rewards you with an extra 0.25% cashback for being a responsible payer, in addition to the 1% unlimited cashback.
≫ More: Read Our Full Review
EXPERT OPINION
Both of these cards are closely identical to one another, but given the instant $50 bonus you get with the Chase Freedom® Student credit card, that’s the card I would choose. However, be mindful that student credit cards aren’t designed to reward you a ton. They are designed to help you build your credit score. So once your credit score is in a solid place, consider moving on from your student credit card to a regular consumer credit card.
Other Helpful Decision-Making FAQs
For those who are still undecided, here are some things to keep in mind while analyzing the differences between the Chase Freedom® Student credit card and the Journey Student Rewards from Capital One credit cards.
Is the Chase Freedom® Student credit card better than the Journey Student Rewards from Capital One card?
Both the cards have no annual fee and offer 1% unlimited cash back. However, the Chase Freedom® Student credit card charges a foreign transaction fee of 3%, which makes the Journey Student Rewards from Capital One card a significantly better choice for those traveling overseas. But with a $50 sign-up bonus on the Chase Freedom® Student credit card, the better card may be the Chase Freedom® Student credit card.
Can you get the Chase Freedom® Student credit card if you have the Journey Student Rewards from Capital One?
The Freedom Student and Journey Student Rewards cards are issued by seperate credit card companies, so yes, you can have both.
Can you switch from the Chase Freedom® Student credit card to the Journey Student Rewards from Capital One?
Yes. However, they are nearly the same card, so switching may not be overly beneficial.
What’s harder to get, the Chase Freedom® Student credit card or the Journey Student Rewards from Capital One card?
Both cards are designed for students with little to no credit history, so both cards have similar requirements to be approved.
How much do you have to spend for the Chase Freedom® Student credit card vs Journey Student Rewards from Capital One to get the welcome bonus?
The Journey Student Rewards from Capital One card doesn’t offer a welcome bonus. The Chase Freedom® Student credit card offers a $50 bonus after making one transaction of any amount within the first three months.
Still Not Sure About These Cards? Consider These Options
You may want to look at other student credit cards if you can't decide between Chase Freedom® Student credit card and Journey Student Rewards from Capital One. However, if you’re unsure if a student credit card is right for you, you may want to continue improving your credit score and be eligible for a cash back or rewards card.
Learn more about credit cards in general
Find Your Best
About Doug Milnes, CFA
Doug Milnes is a CFA charter holder with over 10 years of experience in corporate finance and the Head of Credit Cards at MoneyGeek. Formerly, he performed valuations for Duff and Phelps and financial planning and analysis for various companies. His analysis has been cited by U.S. News and World Report, The Hill, the Los Angeles Times, The New York Times and many other outlets.
Milnes holds a master’s degree in data science from Northwestern University. He geeks out on helping people feel on top of their credit card use, from managing debt to optimizing rewards.
sources
- Chase. "Chase Freedom® Student credit card." Accessed December 5, 2024.
- Capital One. "Journey Student Credit Card from Capital One." Accessed December 5, 2024.
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Editorial Disclosure: Opinions, reviews, analyses and recommendations are the author’s alone and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. Learn more about our editorial policies and expert editorial team.
Advertiser Disclosure: MoneyGeek has partnered with CardRatings.com and CreditCards.com for our coverage of credit card products. MoneyGeek, CardRatings and CreditCards.com may receive a commission from card issuers. To ensure thorough comparisons and reviews, MoneyGeek features products from both paid partners and unaffiliated card issuers that are not paid partners.