The new Barclaycard Freedom: is it an improvement?

In May this year, Barclaycard scrapped their Freedom rewards scheme and promised an "exciting" replacement.

Now that replacement is here and it's called, drum roll please: Freedom.

To be fair, though, the name is about the only thing that hasn't changed.

What's new?

Anyone could collect points under the old rewards scheme, even those with Barclaycard's poor credit option, the Initial.

The new Freedom scheme is much more like any other rewards scheme in that it's currently limited to holders of just one credit card.

Gone, too, is Freedom's 1% cash back, replaced by a much more conventional system of points.

Here's how cardholders can collect:

At that rate, points are likely to accrue pretty quickly. Although the actual returns are fairly modest.

So, for example, to get a £5 Freedom voucher, you'd have to spend:

At the time of writing, new applicants for the card can get up to £30 in Freedom vouchers within the first three months.

There's a minimum required spend to get that reward but it's a nice little boost.

How can you spend it

Also new are many of the retailers where you can spend your hard earned points.

By moving to a points and reward voucher model Barclaycard appear to have recaptured many of the mainstream businesses which seemed to have abandoned their over complicated old scheme (although not for earning, see below).

So on the high street, for example, where Freedom used to rely on fairly small or specialised brands such as Blue Inc, Hawes & Curtis and Petroleum now Phillip Green's big hitters - Wallis, Dorothy Perkins and Burtons among others - plus Next, Boots, M&S and more are up for grabs.

Vouchers for days out have had a massive upgrade too.

Sovereign Luxury Travel (us neither) used to be the best travel reward Freedom had to offer. Now, there are triple points up for grabs on a huge range of attractions including all the major theme parks and cinemas and big chains like Premier Inn and Marriott.

In eating out the scheme has gained big names like Starbucks, Strada and Pizza Hut, although it's a real shame that Yo! Sushi, Pizza Express and Spaghetti House are no longer taking part.

All in all, it's become far easier to get high quality rewards through Barclaycard Freedom.

There's likely to be something here for just about everyone.

What's not new: limited points partners

On the downside, just like its predecessor the new Freedom scheme suffers from a limited number of earning partners which severely restricts the amount cardholders can actually earn.

At the time of writing, spending with only the following retailers will net cardholders triple points:

• Curry's / PC World
• BHS
• Goldsmith's
• Cafe Rouge
• Bella Italia
• Strada

Unless you're a serious jewellery shopper or Cafe Rouge devotee, it's unlikely you'll actually be able to rack up many points at the tripled rate.

That's a real shame and we assume Barclaycard are working on getting more companies on board.

Until then, Freedom compares unfavourably with, for example, Santander's 123 card which triples points on petrol stations and many forms of public transport, albeit with a cap on earning.

To compare the card with other current deals you can take a look at our rewards comparison table here.

Our calculations include initial bonus points and an approximate value of the rewards in pounds and pence.