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If you don’t already have a Chase Freedom Unlimited??credit card, right now might be the perfect time to consider one. While it’s already a top-notch?no-annual-fee credit card with potentially flexible rewards, the card’s welcome bonus makes it a no-brainer.
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Earn an extra 1.5% on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) — worth up to $300 cash back. That’s 6.5% on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards?, 4.5% on dining and drugstores, and 3% on all other purchases.
Credit Score ranges are based on FICO? credit scoring. This is just one scoring method and a credit card issuer may use another method when considering your application. These are provided as guidelines only and approval is not guaranteed.
New Chase Freedom Unlimited card holders can currently earn 6.5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel?, 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).
But beyond the welcome bonus, the Chase Freedom Unlimited is a great everyday credit card. It earns a standard 1.5% cash back on everything you buy, and you can redeem rewards as a statement credit or as a deposit into your checking or savings account, among other options.
On top of that, the Chase Freedom Unlimited has a trio of bonus categories. You’ll earn 5% cash back on travel purchases made through Chase Travel?, 3% cash back on dining and 3% cash back at drugstores, all with no annual cap.
The Freedom Unlimited also earns 5% cash back on Lyft rides through March 2025, and offers a three-month complimentary DoorPass membership, along with 50% off DashPass for the following nine months.
Other benefits of the?Chase Freedom Unlimited?include a 15-month 0% introductory APR on both purchases and balance transfers (20.49% - 29.24% Variable APR afterward), which could be a good option if you’re facing some unexpected expenses and need to?temporarily carry some debt. You’ll also get purchase protection and extended warranty protection with the card.
Chase Freedom Unlimited credit card benefits
The Chase Freedom Unlimited is a great choice for those who want to earn cash back with their credit card but also have the option for greater flexibility when it comes to their credit card rewards. That’s because there’s a way to get even more from the card than just cash back.
If you pair the Chase Freedom Unlimited with a premium?Chase Travel??card — such as the?Chase Sapphire Preferred? Card?or?Chase Sapphire Reserve??— you can convert your cash back from the Freedom Unlimited into Chase Travel? points at a ratio of 1 cent for 1 point, and transfer the points to your premium Chase card.
Once you’ve converted your rewards to points, you can redeem them based on the options available on your premium card. That means you can use them at the Chase travel portal, where your points are worth between 1.25 cents apiece with the Chase Sapphire Preferred and 1.5 cents apiece with the Chase Sapphire Reserve.
That means when you pair the Chase Freedom Unlimited with the Chase Sapphire Preferred, the 1.5% cash back you earn on all your purchases with the Freedom Unlimited can turn into 1.875 cents per point in value when redeemed for travel.
But believe it or not, there’s one more way to get even more value for your Chase Freedom Unlimited rewards. Once you’ve converted your cash back to points with a premium Unlimited Rewards credit card, you can also transfer them to any of Chase’s airline and hotel loyalty partners, such as World of Hyatt, Marriott Bonvoy, Southwest Rapid Rewards and United MileagePlus, at a 1-to-1 ratio.
While transferring points to Chase’s airline and hotel partners requires doing some homework and learning about these programs to really maximize them, the value can far exceed even the increased redemptions of the Chase travel portal. That’s why frequent flyer website The Points Guy values Chase Travel? points at 2 cents apiece.
At that rate, the 1.5% cash back you earn on everyday purchases with the Chase Freedom Unlimited could be equivalent to a return of 3 cents per point. So, if you’re hoping to head on a great vacation as travel returns, you’ve got that option with your Chase Freedom Unlimited rewards.
One other point to keep in mind is that the Chase Freedom Unlimited is subject to Chase’s “5/24” rule. This is an unpublished Chase application restriction that means that if you’ve gotten five or more personal credit cards across all banks in the last 24 months, your application for a new Chase card will be automatically denied. Most people don’t apply for credit cards that often, so you likely won’t have to worry too much about 5/24, but it’s something to keep in mind.
We receive compensation from our partners for Featured Offer placements, which impacts how and where their offer is displayed.
Earn an extra 1.5% on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) — worth up to $300 cash back. That’s 6.5% on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards?, 4.5% on dining and drugstores, and 3% on all other purchases.
Credit Score ranges are based on FICO? credit scoring. This is just one scoring method and a credit card issuer may use another method when considering your application. These are provided as guidelines only and approval is not guaranteed.
Is the Chase Freedom Unlimited card right for you?
If you’re looking for a no-annual-fee card that offers not only a solid welcome offer but potentially flexible rewards, then the answer to the above question is yes! Especially if you’re able to couple it with another Chase Travel? card, the Chase Freedom Unlimited is definitely worth a look as a great everyday credit card that you can use almost anywhere you go.
Editorial Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines, hotel chain, or other commercial entity and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of such entities.
This content is for educational purposes only and is not intended and should not be understood to constitute financial, investment, insurance or legal advice. All individuals are encouraged to seek advice from a qualified financial professional before making any financial, insurance or investment decisions.
Note: While the offers mentioned above are accurate at the time of publication, they're subject to change at any time and may have changed or may no longer be available.
