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Chase Freedom Unlimited®’s generous reward rate and lack of an annual fee make it one of our favorite cash-back cards ever. Especially with the current welcome offer of a 1.5% bump on everything (this offer is available through LA Times Compare but may not be through another site), you can earn serious rewards with this card.
The commercials hype this card up a lot, and we think it lives up to the hype. Its 1.5% back on everything is a higher fallback rate than many cash-back credit cards and can help you rack up rewards quickly on whatever you buy. You won’t have to pay an annual fee for card membership either.
And if you pair the Freedom Unlimited card with a premium Chase rewards card, you can pool your points together for additional value.
Freedom Unlimited doesn’t come without its fair share of drawbacks, however. You’ll have to pay a 3% foreign transaction fee if you use it outside the U.S., making it less than ideal for international travel. And the reward categories, while useful for some people, may not be great for heavy grocery shoppers or entertainment fiends— these purchases only earn 1.5% back.
SUMMARY
If you’re considering a cash rewards card, the Chase Freedom Unlimited® credit card stands out as a solid choice. Boasting valuable rewards, a generous welcome offer, and flexible redemption options, it offers plenty of appeal without the burden of an annual fee.
So, is the Chase Freedom Unlimited the right credit card for you? Let’s delve into its main features and terms to help you decide.
Enjoy 6.5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 4.5% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services, 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 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.
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Our review
Is the Chase Freedom Unlimited® card worth it?
The Chase Freedom Unlimited® card is a solid choice if you’re looking for a flexible cash-back rewards card with no annual fee. It offers a great reward-earning structure, with a fallback rate of 1.5%— half of a percentage higher than many cards in the same bracket. On top of that, it earns generously on travel purchases through Chase Travel℠, drugstore purchases, and dining purchases.
Plus, this Chase credit card comes with a solid welcome offer: a one-year, 1.5% bump on earning rates, so you can accumulate rewards quickly (Note: this offer is available through LA Times Compare but may not be available through another site). It’s especially appealing for travelers, thanks to higher earning rates on restaurants and bookings through Chase Travel.
The Chase Freedom Unlimited® offers impressive rewards for everyday spending. Cardholders earn 5% back on travel through Chase Travel℠, 3% back at restaurants and drugstores, and 1.5% on all other purchases. This card allows you to earn on the essentials, making it a great choice for anyone looking to maximize daily expenses.
No annual fee
The Freedom Unlimited’s lack of an annual fee is a major selling point. Many cards with similar reward structures charge yearly fees, but this one keeps it simple, letting you earn cash back without worrying about offsetting extra costs.
Welcome bonus
The Chase Freedom Unlimited® includes a fantastic welcome offer—an additional 1.5% cash back on every category in your first year, up to $20,000 in spending. This means you can earn up to 6.5% back on travel, 4.5% back at restaurants and drugstores, and 3% back on everything else.
While this offer isn’t quite as lucrative as some cards, we like how you can earn as you go along, rather than feeling like you need to meet a large spending requirement in a short time. If you’re only able to spend $17,000 in a year, you still benefit from the bonus rather than forfeiting your potential rewards.
Ability to pool points with other Chase cards
If you’re already using Chase’s premium cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or Chase Sapphire Reserve®, you can pool your points and increase their value via the infamous Chase Trifecta. Since Sapphire Preferred and Reserve have an extra 25% to 50% in point value through Chase Travel, this benefit can allow you to stretch those points even further.
What we don’t like
Bonus categories may not appeal to everyone
While the rewards are excellent for certain categories like travel, dining and drugstores, they may not appeal to everyone. For example, avid grocery shoppers or streaming service fanatics might find other cards more rewarding, as Freedom Unlimited only offers 1.5% back on those purchases.
Limited travel benefits
Although the card offers high rewards on travel purchases, it doesn’t come with many premium travel perks like lounge access or travel credits that some other cards provide. If you’re looking for these extras, you may want to look elsewhere.
Foreign transaction fees
One downside to the Freedom Unlimited® Card is the 3% foreign transaction fee. For those who frequently travel internationally, these fees can add up quickly (a $3 fee on every $100 spent!), making it less ideal as a travel card for world hoppers and globetrotters.
Pros and cons
Pros
High cash-back rate in various categories
Earn the welcome offer as you go
Comes with various consumer protections and perks
No annual fee
Cons
Spending categories may not be beneficial for some
Foreign transaction fees
High regular APR
Who is the Freedom Unlimited best for?
Chase Freedom Unlimited is best for those who prefer a simple, yet flexible rewards program. It’s perfect for people who want to earn cash back on everyday purchases without the need to track rotating categories or activate bonus rewards. The Chase Freedom Unlimited is a great card for restaurants as you can earn 3% cash back every time you dine out. This card would be ideal for individuals who can pair it with other Chase cards to maximize the value of their points through the Chase Ultimate Rewards® program.
Rewards
Earning rewards
With the Chase Freedom Unlimited card, you’ll earn:
5% when you book travel through Chase Travel
3% for eligible purchases at restaurants and drugstores
1.5% on all other purchases
In your first year, you can also earn an extra 1.5% back on your first $20,000 of charges, so you’d earn:
6.5% when you book travel through Chase Travel
4.5% for eligible purchases at restaurants and drugstores
3% on all other purchases
Redeeming rewards
There are several ways to redeem the rewards you earn with the Chase Freedom Unlimited card. The easiest is to redeem them for cash — with this option, each point is worth 1 cent. If you accumulate 50,000 points, you’ll get $500 in cash back.
Frequent travelers can maximize point value by pairing the Freedom Unlimited card with another premium Chase credit card offering, such as Chase Sapphire Reserve®, Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, or Ink Business cards. Then, you can pool your points and redeem them for a higher value on bookings through Chase Travel. With Sapphire Preferred and some of the Ink cards, you’ll get 1.25 cents per point; with the Sapphire Reserve card, points are worth 1.5 cents each.
There are plenty of ways to redeem your rewards:
Direct deposit or statement credits. Chase will deposit your cash back into a bank account or apply them as a statement credit to reduce your Freedom Unlimited balance. This option has a redemption rate of 1 cent per point.
Travel bookings through Chase. Use your points to book trips in Chase Travel for 1 cent per point.
Purchases on Amazon or PayPal. Buy items using either service, but keep in mind that you’ll get just 0.8 cents for each point.
Purchases at Apple. Use your points to buy products at Apple, and you’ll get 1 cent per point.
Gift cards. You can buy gift cards via Chase; each point is worth 1 cent.
Pay with points. Some merchants allow you to make purchases using Chase Travel points. The typical redemption rate is 0.8 cents per point.
Welcome offer
In your first year, you can get an extra 1.5% back on your first $20,000 of charges. That’s a significant bump, especially if you plan to book travel — all your purchases through Chase Travel will earn 6.5%. For example, if you book a qualifying $2,000 vacation, you’ll get $130 in cash back.
Note: this offer is available through our site but may not be available if you apply through the Chase site or another website.
The fine print
Fees
Annual fee: $0
Balance transfer fee: If you transfer a balance from another card within 60 days of opening the account, you’ll pay 3% of the amount or $5, whichever is greater. After that, you’ll pay the greater of $5 or 5%.
Cash advance fee: $10 or 5% of the advance — whichever is higher.
Late payment fee: Up to $40
Foreign transaction fee: 3%
Interest rates
Regular APR: 19.99% - 28.74%
Purchase intro APR: 0% for the first 15 months
Balance Transfer APR: 0% APR for the first 15 months, 19.99% - 28.74% after that
Cash advances: 29.74%
Credit limit
If you’re approved for the Visa Platinum version of the Chase Freedom Unlimited card, you’ll have a minimum credit limit of $500. The Visa Signature comes with a minimum limit of $5,000. Your actual credit limit may be higher, depending on your qualifications.
Trip cancellation and interruption insurance. Book travel using your Freedom Unlimited card, and Chase will pay you back up to $1,500 per person (maximum of $6,000 for a trip) if you have to cancel your vacation or end it early. This benefit applies to cancellations and interruptions that happen because of severe weather and illness, among others.
Auto rental collision damage waiver. This waiver reimburses you for theft or damage to a rental car, towing charges and any loss-of-use fees the rental agency charges. To qualify, you must pay for the rental using your Freedom Unlimited card and decline the loss and damage waivers available through the rental company.
Visa Signature travel benefits. If you’re approved for the Visa Signature version of the Chase Freedom Unlimited card, you’ll get benefits including special status at luxury hotels, extra car rental benefits and a concierge to help with bookings.
Travel and emergency assistance services. If you’re traveling, you can use this service to get medical referrals, translations, legal referrals and help with emergency services such as transportation, ticket replacements and messages.
Bonus points on Lyft. When you use your card to pay for Lyft rides, you’ll earn 5% back — an increase of 3.5%.
Shopping benefits
Purchase protection. Chase will cover your purchases for 120 days. If they’re damaged or stolen, you can be reimbursed for up to $500 per item, with a $50,000 account maximum.
Extended warranty protection. This perk gives you an extra year of protection beyond the manufacturer’s original warranty. Warranties up to three years qualify.
Doordash membership. With Freedom Unlimited, you get a free three-month membership to Doordash DashPass, which comes with free delivery and lower service fees.
Instacart. Buy an Instacart+ membership, and get three months free. This service includes discounted service fees and free delivery.
Card services
Free access to your credit score. Keep an eye on your credit profile with the included Credit Journey service. It also includes tools to help you spot identity fraud and build credit.
24/7 fraud monitoring. Chase monitors your card activity around the clock and lets you know about unusual purchases immediately.
Zero liability protection. You’re not responsible for unauthorized purchases that happen if your information is stolen.
How Freedom Unlimited compares
Chase Freedom Unlimited® vs. Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Both the Chase Freedom Unlimited and the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points. While the Freedom Unlimited card has no annual fee and a welcome bonus of a 1.5% reward-earning bump for the first $20,000 spent in the first year, the Sapphire Preferred charges $95 per year and offers 60,000 bonus points if you spend $4,000 in three months. The Sapphire Preferred is the clear winner when it comes to travel cards — rewards are worth 25% more when you book through Chase Travel.
Chase Freedom Unlimited® vs. Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express
When comparing the Chase Freedom Unlimited® card and the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express, both cards offer great cash back rewards but appeal to different spending habits and preferences. Both of these cards have no annual fee (see Amex rates and fees), but the Freedom Unlimited offers more rewards on dining, drugstore purchases, and travel. On the other hand, the Blue Cash Everyday offers more substantial rewards on purchases at U.S. supermarkets, U.S. gas stations, and U.S. online retailers. Neither is objectively better, as they’re both spectacular cards, but the best one for you depends on how you tend to spend your money.
Chase Freedom Unlimited® vs. Chase Freedom Flex® card
Competition is tight when you compare Chase Freedom Unlimited vs. Freedom Flex. Both cards have a $0 annual fee, similar APRs (including intro offers) and a decent welcome offer.
The Flex, which is another Chase Freedom credit card, has a less attractive rewards package. Where Freedom Unlimited offers a 1.5% bonus on all purchases for the first year, Flex offers an extra 5% per quarter on $1,500 worth of purchases in gas stations and grocery stores. Travel, restaurants and drugstores earn the same rewards rate on both cards. For other purchases, the Flex earning rate is just 1%, compared to Freedom Unlimited’s 1.5% rate.
Note: The information for the Chase Freedom Flex® has been collected independently by LA Times Compare. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
The bottom line
Should you get Chase Freedom Unlimited®?
If you’re in the market for a cash-back card with no annual fee, solid rewards on dining, travel, and drugstores, and you have a good credit score, the Chase Freedom Unlimited card could make a great addition to your repertoire. However, if you’re a serious traveler or your spending doesn’t align with Freedom Unlimited’s bonus categories, other cards may be a better fit.
The Chase Freedom Unlimited Card requires at least a good credit score for approval, so your chances are better if your FICO score is 670 or higher. If you have already established a good credit score, this would make a great beginner cash-back credit card and it’s one of our favorite credit cards for young adults.
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For rates and fees of the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express, please visit this page.
FAQs
Is the Chase Freedom Unlimited card a good credit card?
The Chase Freedom Unlimited is a good credit card. It has no annual fee, generous welcome offers and an easy-to-understand rewards program with flexible redemption options.
Who should get the Chase Freedom Unlimited® card?
You might decide to choose this credit card if you want a straightforward way to earn cash-back rewards. It’s also good if you plan to book travel through Chase Travel. You can use your rewards to pay for bookings, and you’ll earn a higher rate on every portal purchase.
Is it hard to get approved for the Chase Freedom Unlimited® card?
Overall, the Chase Freedom Unlimited is not an easy credit card to get, as it requires good to excellent credit. A higher credit score and a stronger credit profile can help you earn a higher credit limit and better card benefits.
What is the credit limit for the Chase Freedom Unlimited® card?
Credit limits vary by applicant. If you’re approved for the Visa Platinum Freedom Unlimited card, your limit will be $500 or higher. Qualify for the Visa Signature version, and you’ll have a limit of at least $5,000.
What credit score do you need for the Chase Freedom Unlimited® card?
Chase doesn’t give specific requirements for the Chase Freedom Unlimited credit score, but you may be more likely to be approved with a FICO score of at least 670.
Does the Chase Freedom Unlimited® have foreign transaction fees?
Unfortunately, yes. The Chase Freedom Unlimited has a 3% foreign transaction fee, so it may not be the best card for traveling overseas.
Does Chase Freedom Unlimited® earn points?
Technically, yes. Although Freedom Unlimited is marketed as a cash-back card, it earns Chase Ultimate Rewards points you can choose to redeem for cash back or transfer to various partners.
Sarah Stasik is well versed in personal finance thanks to her previous role as a Revenue Cycle Manager for a Fortune 500 healthcare company. Using her inside knowledge and expertise, Sarah often covers topics ranging from insurance and the economics of private healthcare to personal finance and small business management.
With more than a dozen years of writing experience, Sarah has tackled niches that range from technical advances in fintech to personal budgeting challenges. She has covered topics such as insurance and the economics of private healthcare, small business management and accounting, and credit and savings. Her writing focuses on making complex or seemingly daunting financial topics more accessible and providing helpful and relevant resources for readers.
* Opinions expressed here are those of the LA Times Compare Cards Team and have not been reviewed or approved by any advertiser or entities included within this content. See our editorial policy for more details.
All products or services are presented in this content without warranty. The information, including card details such as rates and fees, is accurate at the time of publish. Please visit each bank's website directly for the most current information.
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