Rewards Plan
Sign up Bonus
Credit Rating
0% Intro
Annual Fee
APR
- Cash Back Rewards
- Sign Up Bonus
- No Bonus Categories
- Foreign Transaction Fee
On Chase’s Secure Website
Rewards Plan
Sign up Bonus
0% Intro
PROS
- Cash Back Rewards
- Sign Up Bonus
CONS
- No Bonus Categories
- Foreign Transaction Fee
APR
19.74% - 28.49% variable
Annual Fee
$0
Balance Transfer Fee
$5 or 5%
Credit Requirements
Good – Excellent
Chase Freedom Unlimited®, issued by Chase Bank,is a great cash back card for those with good to excellent credit. The card offers 5% on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards, 3% on dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services, 3% on drugstore purchases and 1.5% cash back on all purchases.
It considered as one of the highest in the industry without having an annual fee or the hassle of figuring out which month for which type of purchases gets cash back. The cash back feature is straightforward, unlike some other rewards cards that require you to jump through hoops to maximize the rewards.
In addition, you can earn a decent sign up bonus - 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. This bonus has a low threshold compared to other cards. Lastly, the Chase Freedom Unlimited offers generous intro APR on purchases and balance transfers.
- Cash Back
- Protection & Free Credit Score
- Other Benefits
- Sign Up Bonus
- No Annual Fee
- 0% APR Intro
- Pool Points
- High APR
- Low Bonus Rewards Ratio
- Balance Transfer Fee
- Foreign Transaction Fee
How hard is it to get a Chase Freedom Unlimited card?
It is not very hard to get this type of card once you meet all of the straightforward requirements. Therefore, you will be able to get up and running with this type of card in no time.
Should you move to Chase Freedom Unlimited card?
This is a good fit for people who are looking for good cashback rates that do not change. It provides them with a level of predictability when making purchases.
What are the top reasons NOT to get it?
If you are looking for higher flat cashback rates. You may also travel a lot and not want to pay the 3% foreign exchange transaction charge that comes with this card.
In This Review..
Benefits
Let’s take a look at the benefits of the Chase Freedom Unlimited card and see if it’s the right one for your wallet or not.
- Cash Back
The card offers 5% on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards, 3% on dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services, 3% on drugstore purchases and 1.5% cash back on all purchases. There is no specific purchase needed to earn the reward, it is on every purchase. You also do not have to wait to use that cash.
Many other credit cards have thresholds you must meet in order to use the cash back, such as hitting $50 before using the money. With Chase Freedom Unlimited, the cash back also does not expire.
- Protection & Free Credit Score
The Chase Freedom Unlimited card has zero liability, purchase protection, chip- enabled security and auto rental collision damage waiver. These features help give you peace of mind.
Also, The Chase Freedom Unlimited card will also update you monthly with what your credit score is. You can check this by signing into your online account. This is offered through Credit Journey and is based on your Transunion credit report.
- Other Benefits
There are a couple of other opportunities you can take advantage of in order to increase your bonuses with the Chase Freedom Unlimited card.
Also, you can get $100 for referring a friend.
- Sign Up Bonus
You can get a 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 bonus after signing up by spending . This bonus has a low threshold compared to other cards.
In fact, many other credit cards have sign-up bonuses that require thousands to be spent in the first few months in order to get the bonus.
- No Annual Fee
Many of the rewards cards that offer higher rewards than Chase Freedom Unlimited have annual fees which end up eating into the rewards. The Chase Freedom Unlimited card does not have an annual fee.
- 0% APR Intro
If you are looking to save money on interest, the Chase Freedom Unlimited card offers 15 months on purchases and balance transfers. Then, the APR will be 19.74% – 28.49% variable.
- Pool Points
If you hold other cards with Chase such as the business credit card product or Ink Business Preferred, you can pool your points to earn even bigger rewards, cash back, or travel points. This is a great feature but be aware that rewards are not always a dollar for dollar transfer. Usually cashback is the best value.
Drawbacks
Here are the most important cons you should consider before apply:
- High APR
The APR for the Chase Freedom Unlimited card is a 19.74% – 28.49% variable, which is high for a card that requires borrowers with good credit histories.
- Low Bonus Rewards Ratio
There are other rewards cards that offer higher bonuses on certain spending categories, such as gas. The Chase Freedom Unlimited does not include those types of bonuses. It also does not have increased bonuses during certain months which can increase the cash back.
For example, another card might have 5% back on all travel spending for the month of May. The Chase Freedom Unlimited card does not provide these.
- Balance Transfer Fee
There is a balance transfer fee required if you want to take advantage of the introductory 0% APR rate. The intro fee is $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater, on transfers made within 60 days of account opening
After that, the regular fee is $5 or 5% of the transfer, whichever is bigger. This fee is upfront and will be added to your debt load when transferred.
- Foreign Transaction Fee
Chase Freedom Unlimited has a 3% fee for each transaction in another country. If you are traveling outside of the US you may want to leave this card at home.
Rewards Simulation: How Much You Can Earn?
The best way to see if the Freedom Unlimited Card is the right choice for your needs, is to calculate the amount of rewards and benefits you suppose to earn.
Keep in mind that this is a general breakdown of expenses, so make sure to adjust it to your own consumer preferences and spending habits.
| |
|---|---|
Spend Per Category | Chase Freedom Unlimited |
$15,000 – U.S Supermarkets | $225 |
$3,000 – Restaurants
| $90 |
$1,500 – Airline | $75 |
$1,500 – Hotels | $75 |
$4,000 – Gas | $60 |
Estimated Annual Value | $665 |
Where to Redeem Your Rewards?
With the Freedom Unlimited card, cardholders earn 5% on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards, 3% on dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services, 3% on drugstore purchases and 1.5% cash back on all purchases.
Chase offers several ways to redeem your rewards. These include:
- Statement credit or a direct deposit: There is no minimum to redeem your rewards as a statement credit and direct deposits are acceptable for most U.S checking and savings accounts.
- Travel rewards. You can use the Chase Ultimate Rewards platform to access competitive rates for travel products including hotel stays and flights.
- Gift cards: Chase has a variety of gift card options including for dining, entertainment and shopping.
- Amazon shopping: You can also use your rewards to pay for all or part of eligible Amazon.com orders when you link your card to your Amazon account.
Leverage Your Card Smartly
Here are some pointers to help you make the most of your Chase Freedom Unlimited:
- Spend on top tier rewards: Because the cashback rates remain constant, you can easily plan ahead of time with this credit card. As a result, you can plan your purchases and calculate how much cashback you will receive.
- Introduce Chase to your family and friends. You can earn $100 for each referral who obtains a Chase credit card that is part of the program.
- Try Chase Ultimate Rewards – Chase offers a couple of great travel benefits and redemption ratio through the Chase rewards portal – if you tend to travel, it can save you money.
How To Apply For Chase Freedom Unlimited Credit Card?
- 1.
Visit the Chase Freedom Unlimited Credit Card homepage and click “Apply as a guest.” A page appears to get you started, which includes your names, mailing address, date of birth, etc.
- 2.
Next, specify your statement and communication delivery preference.
- 3.
Now, take your time to read through the E-Sign Disclosure as well as the Pricing & terms.
- 4.
Lastly, agree to the certifications and click “Submit.”
Is the Chase Freedom Unlimited Right for You?
If you don't have time for calculations, you spend more than $1,500 monthly and you don't have specific places where you spend you money, the Chase Freedom Unlimited can be a great option for you.
It sets itself apart because it has, on average, a higher percentage of cash back, 1.5% on each purchase, as well as higher cash back for specific categories. It also has a good sign up bonus and an introductory rate of 0% APR.
Compare The Alternatives
There are other credit cards that do offer comparable cash back rewards – we’ve summarized the most popular cards which can use as an alternative to the Chase Freedom Unlimited card:
 |
|
| |
|---|---|---|---|
Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card | Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express | Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card | |
Annual Fee | $0
| $95 ($0 intro for the first year)
| $95
|
Rewards |
1.5%
1.5% cash back on all purchases
|
1-6%
6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%) and selected U.S. streaming subscriptions, 3% cash back on transit
and U.S. gas stations, 1% cash back on other purchases
|
2X – 5X
5x total points on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards, 3x points on dining and online grocery purchases and 2x on other travel purchases. Plus, earn 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases
|
Welcome bonus |
$250
$200 cash bonus once you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening
|
$250
$250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months
|
60,000 points
60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
|
Foreign Transaction Fee | None | 2.70% | 0%
|
Purchase APR | 19.74% – 29.74% variable
| 18.99% – 29.99% Variable
| 20.74% – 27.74% variable APR
|
FAQ
There is no limit in place for the Chase Freedom Unlimited card, which allows you to use up your rewards over the course of time without having to worry about no longer being able to earn rewards.
Yes, when you rent the car and pay for all of its cost with this card and do not accept coverage from the rental company. Please review the terms and conditions before to make sure you're covered.
There are no specific income requirements in place when you are using this type of card and it does not usually ask for proof of income requirements from you.
You go to the Ultimate Rewards section that Chase offers and you can choose between the options as to how exactly you utilize the rewards.
Review Cash Back Credit Cards
Wells Fargo Active Cash
American Express Blue Cash Preferred
American Express Everyday
Bank of America Cash Rewards
Capital One Quicksilver
Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards
Capital One Savor Rewards
Capital One SavorOne Rewards
Chase Freedom Flex
Chase Freedom Unlimited
Citi Double Cash
U.S. Bank Altitude Go
U.S. Bank Cash+ Visa Signature
SoFi Card
TD Cash Card
Alliant Cash Back Visa Signature
