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Chase Freedom Unlimited®: Unlimited Cash Back, $0 Annual Fee

Cory Santos

| Last updated on January 26th, 2024

Chase Freedom Unlimited®

Chase Freedom Unlimited®
Excellent-Good
BestCards refers to a variation of FICO Score 9, which is one of many different types of credit scores. A financial institution may use a different score when deciding whether to approve you for a credit card. Please note that the range shown here is our own estimation and not a guarantee of credit needed to be approved for any given card. Recommended Credit: Excellent / Good
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None Annual Fee

Chase Freedom Unlimited®

  • 20.49% to 29.24% Variable Regular Purchase APR
  • 20.49% to 29.24% Variable Balance Transfer APR
  • 29.99% Variable Cash Advance APR
  • 0% for 15 months from account opening date Intro Purchase APR

At a Glance

The Chase Freedom Unlimited® credit card is a reliable option for customers looking to pair an attractive cash back rewards program with generous introductory interest rates. Cardholders can redeem for cash, travel, and more.

  • Best Benefits
  • Rates & Fees
  • Why Should You Apply?
  • INTRO OFFER: Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back!
  • Enjoy 6.5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 4.5% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, 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 Chase travel purchased through Ultimate Rewards®, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.
  • No minimum to redeem for cash back. You can choose to receive a statement credit or direct deposit into most U.S. checking and savings accounts. Cash Back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open!
  • Enjoy 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 20.49% - 29.24%.
  • No annual fee – You won't have to pay an annual fee for all the great features that come with your Freedom Unlimited® card
  • Keep tabs on your credit health, Chase Credit Journey helps you monitor your credit with free access to your latest score, real-time alerts, and more.
  • Member FDIC
  • Intro Purchase APR: 0% for 15 months from account opening date
  • Regular Purchase APR: 20.49% to 29.24% Variable
  • Intro Balance Transfer APR: 0% for 15 months from account opening date
  • Balance Transfer APR: 20.49% to 29.24% Variable
  • Balance Transfer Transaction Fee: Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
  • Cash Advance APR: 29.99% Variable
  • Cash Advance Transaction Fee: Either $10 or 5% of the amount of each transaction, whichever is greater
  • Penalty APR: Up to 29.99% Variable
  • Foreign Transaction Fee: 3% of the transaction amount in U.S. dollars
  • You are looking for a low-rate credit card to perform a balance transfer
  • You prefer straightforward rewards earnings rather than quarterly categories requiring activation
  • You'll make at least $500 in purchases in the first 90 days
  • You do't want to pay an annual fee

In-Depth Review: Chase Freedom Unlimited Credit Card

The Chase Freedom Unlimited® credit card is a reliable option for customers looking to pair an attractive cash back rewards program with generous introductory interest rates. Cardholders can redeem for cash, travel, and more.

Credit Needed

Applicants will need “good” to “excellent” credit to get approved for the Freedom Unlimited®. While Chase doesn’t specify precise credit scores needed for its credit card offers, Experian says those with good credit usually have FICO scores of at least 670, with excellent scores starting at 800. In contrast, VantageScore scores of at least 700 are considered good, with excellent scores starting at 750. Please note that these numbers can vary between different bureaus.

Guide to Rewards

The Chase Freedom Unlimited® card has a standout feature – the ease of earning rewards. While cash-back credit cards are not new, certain aspects of Chase Freedom Unlimited® make them worth considering.

How to Earn Rewards

Here is a quick rundown of how to earn rewards with the Chase Freedom Unlimited®:

  •  5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
  •  3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service
  • Unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.

Limited-time Bonus Rewards

Even better, Chase has a few limited-time bonus categories. The first, as seen above, Freedom Unlimited cardmembers earn 5% on qualifying Lyft rides through March 2025. This additional perk is an added travel benefit that increases the overall value of the money proposition with the card.

New accounts also qualify for three complimentary months of DoorDash DashPass. DashPass provides free delivery on all DoorDash orders over $12.

The second offer is a new card member welcome offer: 5% back on gas and groceries for the first year. New accounts earn 5% back at gas stations and grocery stores (excluding Walmart and Target) until the end of their first 12 months, or the first $12,000 spent, whichever comes first.  Again, this excellent offer provides additional value – especially for daily commuters, parents, or anyone looking to save money while driving or picking up the weekly groceries.

How to Redeem Rewards

The value of Chase credit cards comes from the versatility of their rewards. Chase Freedom Unlimited cardmembers can use points (Chase tallies cash back as points – 1X points per 1% back) for statement credits or deposits into existing Chase banking accounts.

Additionally, cardholders can use points through the Chase Ultimate Rewards® portal. Redemption options include:

  • Gift cards
  • Amazon and Apple purchases
  • Products and travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards

Remember that using points through Amazon causes a 20% reduction in points value, so 100 points translate to $.80 rather than $1. However, other offers, like travel, may provide a higher value than one cent per point.

Points never expire if the Chase account is open and in good standing. Cardmembers can move points from one Chase credit card to another for the best value. Even better, Chase has no minimum amount required for redeeming points.

Tips for Maximizing Rewards

To make the most of your Chase Freedom Unlimited card, here are a few tips to help you maximize your rewards:

  • Use the card for everyday spending to earn cash back on every purchase.
  • Link your Chase Freedom Unlimited card with other Chase credit cards that offer Chase Ultimate Rewards to pool your rewards and increase their value.
  • Take advantage of any bonus categories or promotions that Chase offers to earn additional cash back or rewards.
  • Pay your balance in full and on time each month to avoid interest charges and maximize the card’s benefits.

Other Card Features

Since the Chase Freedom Unlimited is a Visa product, cardmembers have access to the typical Visa benefits and protections. These benefits include:

Zero Fraud Liability Cardholder Inquiry Services Emergency Card Replacement
Roadside Dispatch and Auto Collision Damage Waiver Lost/Stolen Card Reporting ID Navigator from Norton

Chase Freedom Comparison

Because of the similar names, you might think the Chase Freedom Flex, Freedom Unlimited, and regular Chase Freedom are one and the same, but you’d be mistaken. The cards differ greatly, not just because the Freedom (not the Flex) is currently unavailable to new applicants. Here’s how the two Freedom Cards compare:

 

Chase Freedom Unlimited Chase Freedom Flex Chase Freedom
Annual fee No annual fee No annual fee No annual fee
Rewards Earn 5% back on Chase travel, 3% on dining and drugstores, and 1.5% on everything else Earn 5% on up to $1,500 on combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate Earn 5% on up to $1,500 on combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate
Intro APR 0% intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers N/A

Editor’s Take

Chase Freedom credit cards enjoy widespread popularity. After all, Chase is one of the largest credit card issuers in the United States. Despite that, I personally don’t have Chase Freedom Unlimited – but I know several people that do. Based on that, here are my personal thoughts on the card:

If you frequently find yourself running out for last-minute groceries, snacks, or even just a late-night fill-up, the Freedom Unlimited is a very useful tool. The card is robust enough to outperform most basic reward cards in all categories, even some cash back cards that charge an annual fee.

While I don’t have a Chase Freedom Card of any kind, I do have other Chase cards, and I can say that Chase is excellent at rolling out exclusive offers and limited-time bonus categories. Take the 5% back on Lyft, the 5% back on gas and groceries, and endless promotions like Month of More.

What We Like About the Card

There is plenty to like about the Chase Freedom Unlimited®.

Rewards

Firstly, the card offers at least 1.5% cash back on every purchase, which is a high return for a card with no annual fee. This is even before taking into account the additional tiered categories. In comparison, the Chase Freedom Flex℠ card provides 1% cash back on all purchases outside of the bonus categories. Additionally, once you spend $1,500 each quarter in the featured 5% categories with the Flex card, your cash back rewards revert to the 1% level.

With the Chase Freedom Unlimited®, there is no cap on earning 1.5% cash back or on the other tiered categories. This means that you can continue earning rewards without any limitations.

When it comes time to redeem those rewards, Chase provides a lucrative and expansive platform.

One dollar equals one hundred points, so even if you only earn 1.5 points per dollar spent, you will accumulate 100 points after spending $67. This becomes even more advantageous when you spend on three, earning three points per dollar, or book travel through the Ultimate Rewards® portal, earning five points per dollar. Many cash-back reward cards restrict when you can redeem your points, requiring you to reach certain thresholds, such as redeeming in increments of $25.

However, with Chase Freedom Unlimited®, there are no such limitations. You can redeem your points for cash without meeting any specific criteria. These redeemed points can be directly deposited into an eligible checking or savings account or used to purchase travel, gift cards, products, or services. Additionally, you can combine these Chase Ultimate Rewards® points with points earned from other cards in the system, potentially increasing their value.

Travel

Renowned for its cash back rewards, the Chase Freedom Unlimited® credit card is not typically associated with travel. However, as we mentioned earlier, some individuals utilize the card for travel purposes due to the option of redeeming rewards through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. It is important to note several travel benefits that come with this card. The key travel perks of the Chase Freedom Unlimited® include:

  1. Trip cancellation/trip interruption insurance: If your trip is canceled or cut short due to covered situations such as illness or injury, this insurance offers reimbursement up to $1,500 per person and $6,000 per trip for your pre-paid non-refundable passenger fares.
  1. Travel and emergency assistance services: Should you encounter any issues away from home, this service provides legal and medical referrals and other travel and emergency assistance.
  1. Auto rental collision damage waiver: This benefit covers theft and collision damage for most cars in the U.S. and abroad. It is important to note that in the U.S., this coverage is secondary to your personal insurance.
  1. Roadside Dispatch: In a roadside emergency, such as a tow, jump start, tire change, or lockout service, this benefit is available to assist you.

While Chase Freedom Unlimited® is primarily known for its cash-back rewards, it also offers valuable travel benefits that individuals should be aware of when considering using the card for their travel expenses.

Things to Consider Before Applying

That’s not to say everything is wonderful when traveling with the Chase Freedom Unlimited®. One of the major disadvantages of the card is its foreign transaction fee. If you frequently travel outside of the United States or frequently make online purchases in a foreign currency. In that case, it may be more beneficial to consider another option, such as the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, which does not impose this fee. For context, let’s say you took an international trip and used your Chase Freedom Unlimited® card to make $3,000 worth of purchases. In that case, you would have to pay an additional $90 in fees.

Furthermore, the fixed-tiered structure of the Chase Freedom Unlimited® card is one of its attractive features. However, you can earn higher rewards using a card with rotating or bonus-earning categories. For example, the Chase Freedom Flex℠ card offers quarterly bonuses that give you up to 5% cash back on spending in categories like groceries and gas. Now, the updated rewards program for Freedom Unlimited® goes a long way in addressing this drawback. However, there is a possibility that it may be going too far. The expanded range of details and categories associated with Freedom Unlimited® makes it excellent for earning rewards and requires you to keep up with more information and strategies.

Chase Freedom FAQs

  • Chase credit cards require a good or excellent credit score to qualify. This means you will likely need a credit score of around 680/690 or higher to qualify for any of the Freedom credit cards – including the Chase Freedom Unlimited.
  • Yes. Chase customer can hold both the Chase Freedom (no longer available to new applicants), Freedom Unlimited, and the Freedom Flex Card at the same time. 
  • Chase’s 5/24 rule means that you can’t be approved for most Chase cards if you’ve opened five or more personal credit cards (from any card issuer) within the past 24 months.
  • Chase will often automatically increase your credit limit about every 12 months, but an increase is never guaranteed.
  • Chase Bank uses Experian for checking credit scores and gauging applications.
  • Chase doesn’t publicly disclose a maximum credit limit for the Chase Freedom Unlimited, but anecdotal evidence from readers places the upper end of the credit limit as $20,000 or higher.

Chase doesn’t reveal the top end of its credit limits. However, cardholder reports indicate that Freedom Unlimited offers credit lines over $20,000, with a ceiling of potentially $30,000.

Chase Ratings

How does Chase Freedom Unlimited stack up to users and reviewers? Here is a selection of expert reviews for the card, as well as an overview of JP Morgan Chase as a bank:

Should You Apply for the Chase Freedom Unlimited?

The Chase Freedom Unlimited® is specifically designed for individuals who are not particularly fond of keeping track of rotating cash-back categories. Instead, it caters to those who prefer to distribute their spending across various categories and appreciate the flexibility of redeeming Chase Ultimate Rewards® points for cash or a wide range of products and services. Additionally, this card serves as an excellent complement to other Ultimate Rewards®-earning cards in one’s wallet.

However, it may not be the ideal choice for individuals who frequently travel internationally or those who enjoy strategically utilizing their credit cards to maximize rewards in categories that change every quarter.

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