Credit Cards » Credit Card Reviews » Chase Freedom Unlimited Card: 2023 Review
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Chase Freedom Unlimited Card: 2023 Review

The Chase Freedom Unlimited card sets itself apart because it has a higher percentage of cash back, 1.5% on each purchase. It also has a good sign up bonus and an introductory rate of 0% APR.
Author: Andrew O'Malley
Andrew O'Malley

Writer, Contributor

Experience

Andrew O’Malley has a BSc in Economics and Finance. He has worked in the finance industry as a risk analyst and is now pursuing a career in writing. In recent years, he has written for a number of leading publications. He studied Economics and Finance and has been fascinated with the financial markets since his teens.

Review & Fact Check: Baruch Mann (Silvermann)

Baruch Mann (Silvermann)

Financial Expert, The Smart Investor CEO

Experience

Baruch Mann (Silvermann) is a financial expert and founder of The Smart Investor. Above all, he is passionate about teaching people how to manage their money and helping millions on their journey to a better financial future.
Author: Andrew O'Malley
Andrew O'Malley

Writer, Contributor

Experience

Andrew O’Malley has a BSc in Economics and Finance. He has worked in the finance industry as a risk analyst and is now pursuing a career in writing. In recent years, he has written for a number of leading publications. He studied Economics and Finance and has been fascinated with the financial markets since his teens.

Review & Fact Check: Baruch Mann (Silvermann)

Baruch Mann (Silvermann)

Financial Expert, The Smart Investor CEO

Experience

Baruch Mann (Silvermann) is a financial expert and founder of The Smart Investor. Above all, he is passionate about teaching people how to manage their money and helping millions on their journey to a better financial future.

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Chase Freedom Unlimited®

chase freedom unlimited card

Rewards Plan

1.5% – 5% 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

Sign up Bonus

Up to $300 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

Credit Rating

Good – Excellent

0% Intro

15 months on purchases and balance transfers

Annual Fee

$0

APR

19.74% – 28.49% variable

On Chase’s Secure Website

Chase Freedom Unlimited®

chase freedom unlimited card

On Chase’s Secure Website

Rewards Plan

1.5% – 5% 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

Sign up Bonus

Up to $300 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

0% Intro

15 months on purchases and balance transfers

PROS

CONS

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.

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. 

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.

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. 

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. 

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.

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.

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:

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.

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.

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. 

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.

chase freedom unlimited card

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?

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. 

freedom unlimited application

Next, specify your statement and communication delivery preference. 

Now, take your time to read through the E-Sign Disclosure as well as the Pricing & terms. 

freedom_unlimited_card application process disclosure

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:

AMEX Blue Cash Preferred Card review

chase_sapphire_preffered

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

Andrew O'Malley

Andrew O'Malley

Andrew O’Malley has a BSc in Economics and Finance. He has worked in the finance industry as a risk analyst and is now pursuing a career in writing. In recent years, he has written for a number of leading publications. He studied Economics and Finance and has been fascinated with the financial markets since his teens.
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AMEX Blue Cash Preferred Card review

Rewards Plan:
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
Welcome Bonus: $250 $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months

American express everyday card review 2021

Rewards Plan:
1X – 2X 2X at U.S. supermarkets (up to $6,000 each year), then 1x on all purchases
Welcome Bonus: 10,000 points 10,000 points after you spend $1,000 in purchases on your new card within the first 3 months

American Express Cash Magnet

Rewards Plan:
1.5% unlimited 1.5 percent cash back on all purchases
Welcome Bonus: $200 $200 statement credit for spending $2,000 in the first 6 months of account opening

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The product offers that appear on this site are from companies from which this website receives compensation. 

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Editorial Note: Opinions expressed here are author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.

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In order to determine the best possible credit cards, we look at things like fees, interest rates and rewards. We do this with companies that are associated with us as partners as well as other offerings. From there, we make a decision about what the best card is related to different categories and needs. We focus on interest rate cost & fees, especially the cost of carrying a balance, rewards – cards accumulate rewards in different currencies—points, miles, cash back—and their values vary widely usability – cards that accept a wide range of credit profiles and offer simple solutions for things like checking your credit score or contacting. We also consider customer reviews.

We look at cards related to good or excellent credit ratings that will then provide a range of different benefits and improvements for someone who has these scores. We also look at low fees when it comes to those who have lower credit scores.