The Chase Freedom Unlimited® (see rates and fees) offers cardholders a lot of perks for a card with no annual fee. Plus, you can also take advantage of a generous intro APR, which can be valuable if you need to finance a large purchase.
Below, CNBC Select breaks down the Chase Freedom Unlimited rewards, benefits and fees to help you decide if it's the right card for you.
The Chase Freedom Unlimited® is a no-annual-fee card that earns generous cash-back on everyday purchases and a lucrative welcome bonus.
- Users get a high rewards rate and strong welcome bonus
- Purchases and balance transfers get long intro APR
- No annual fee
- Travelers face a foreign transaction fee
- Few rewarding ongoing benefits
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening
- Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase TravelSM, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 1.5% on all other purchases.
- No minimum to redeem for cash back. You can use points to redeem for cash through an account statement credit or an electronic deposit into an eligible Chase account located in the United States!
- Enjoy 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 18.24% - 27.74%.
- 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, alerts, and more.
- Member FDIC
Balance transfer fee
Intro fee of either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater, in the first 60 days. After that, either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
Foreign transaction fee
3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars
Welcome bonus
The Chase Freedom Unlimited is currently offering a generous welcome bonus. Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening.
Benefits
The Chase Freedom Unlimited is a good card to use for big-ticket items because it comes with purchase protection and extended warranty protection. You'll also receive rental card collision coverage (secondary), trip cancellation and interruption insurance and travel and emergency assistance.
You can also enroll to receive six months of complimentary DoorDash DashPass when you activate by Dec. 31, 2027. Plus, you'll receive up to $10 off one non-restaurant DoorDash order every quarter through Dec. 31, 2027 (with an active DashPass membership).
How to earn and redeem cash back
Earning
The Chase Freedom Unlimited earns cash back at the following rates.
- 5% back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠
- 3% back at drugstores
- 3% back on dining at restaurants (including takeout and eligible delivery services)
- 1.5% on all other purchases.
Redeeming
The rewards don't expire as long as your account is open. The Freedom Unlimited offers a variety of redemptions that typically provide a value of one cent per point, including:
- Gift cards
- Travel
- No minimum to redeem for cash back. You can use points to redeem for cash through an account statement credit or an electronic deposit into an eligible Chase account located in the United States!
Plus, you earn cash back as Ultimate Rewards® points, one cent in cash back is one point. That means you can transfer points to Chase's travel partners if you have another Chase-Ultimate-Rewards-earning card that enables transfers, like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees) or Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card (see rates and fees).
Not only do these cards allow you to convert points at a 1:1 ratio to airline miles or hotel points, but they can potentially increase the value of each point when you're booking through Chase Travel℠.
Rates and fees
There is no annual fee with the Chase Freedom Unlimited®, but there is a 3% fee charged on foreign transactions. (Check out CNBC Select's best credit cards with no foreign transaction fees.)
New cardholders can take advantage of a 15-month 0% intro APR offer from account opening on new purchases and balance transfers (then an 18.24% - 27.74% variable APR). There's an intro balance transfer fee of either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater, on transfers made within 60 days of account opening. After that, it's either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
Card comparison
Chase Freedom Unlimited® vs. Chase Freedom Flex®
The Chase Freedom Flex® is an excellent cash-back card for maximizing your spending in a variety of categories.
- Long intro APR for purchases and balance transfers
- Rewarding quarterly bonus categories
- No annual fee
- Bonus categories are capped each quarter
- Has a foreign transaction fee
Rewards
- 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate (then 1%)
- 5% cash back on travel booked through Chase Travel℠
- 3% on drugstore purchases and on dining (including takeout and eligible delivery services)
- 1% cash back on all other purchases
Balance transfer fee
Intro fee of either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater, on transfers made within 60 days of account opening. After that, either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
Foreign transaction fee
3%
The Chase Freedom Flex® shares many similar features to the Freedom Unlimited, such as no annual fee and a generous intro APR for purchases and balance transfers.
With the Freedom Flex features valuable bonus categories, you'll earn 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in rotating bonus categories each quarter you activate (then 1% cash back) and 1% cash back on all other purchases. Check out the full Chase Freedom cash-back calendar for more information.
Chase Freedom Unlimited® vs. Citi Double Cash® Card
The Citi Double Cash® Card is one of the best no-annual-fee cash-back cards thanks to its straightforward rewards structure.
- Balance transfers get a long intro APR
- Generous flat-rate cash-back rewards structure
- No annual fee
- Travelers face a foreign transaction fee
- Intro APR only applies to balance tranfer
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.
- Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases. To earn cash back, pay at least the minimum due on time. Plus, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked with Citi Travel.
- Balance Transfer Only Offer: 0% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 18 months. After that, the variable APR will be 17.49% - 27.49%, based on your creditworthiness.
- Balance Transfers do not earn cash back. Intro APR does not apply to purchases.
- If you transfer a balance, interest will be charged on your purchases unless you pay your entire balance (including balance transfers) by the due date each month.
- There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, your fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5).
Balance transfer fee
There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. A balance transfer fee of 5% of each transfer ($5 minimum) applies if completed after 4 months of account opening.
Foreign transaction fee
3%
If you want to earn a higher cash-back rate on everyday purchases, consider the Citi Double Cash® Card, which offers 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases. Plus, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked with Citi Travel.
The card is also good for anyone looking to consolidate their debt because it offers a generous intro APR for balance transfers.
Is the Chase Freedom Unlimited right for you?
The Chase Freedom Unlimited card is ideal if you want a simple way to maximize the cash back you earn on everyday spending. Its rewards become even more valuable when paired with another Chase credit card, like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see rates and fees) or Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card. By pairing the Freedom Unlimited with one of the above cards, you transform this cash-back credit card into a travel credit card that earns flexible rewards.
The Freedom Unlimited is valuable, however, other no-annual-fee cards can earn more rewards. Several flat-rate cash-back credit cards earn at least 2% cash back on every purchase, compared to a minimum of 1.5% cash back with the Freedom Unlimited. Other cards have generous bonus spending categories that make them more rewarding for specific purchases. So it's important to understand your spending habits, which will help you hone in on the right credit card.
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