- Chase Freedom Unlimited® is a no-annual-fee rewards card with a generous welcome offer and various benefits.
- This card earns Chase Ultimate Rewards® points that can be redeemed at a 1:1 value for cash back or travel.
- Freedom Unlimited cardholders can transfer points to another Ultimate Rewards earning card for even more value.
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14 Benefits of the Chase Freedom Unlimited® Card
Reviewed By
Blake Esken - Los Angeles Times
Chase Freedom Unlimited® benefits
The Chase Freedom Unlimited card is full of valuable perks, yet it has no annual fee. Loaded with a generous welcome offer that cardholders can “earn as they go,” a high reward rate in everyday categories, great partner benefits, and more, it’s easy to see why this card is highly regarded.
Read on to learn more about 14 benefits you can access with the Chase Freedom Unlimited card.
Advertiser Disclosure
Best for flexible rewards + no annual fee
Chase Freedom Unlimited®
Up to 6.5% Reward Rate
Enjoy 6.5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 4.5% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services, 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 travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.
Annual Fee
$0
Welcome Offer
Up to $300 cash back
Regular APR
20.49%-29.24% variable
Recommended Credit
Good/Excellent (670 - 850)
Why we like it
The Chase Freedom Unlimited is a workhorse of a card, earning solid rewards in everyday categories without charging an annual fee. Its rewards are more flexible than traditional cash-back credit cards and can be pooled with other Chase credit cards for additional value.
Rewards
1. Welcome offer
The welcome offer of the Chase Freedom Unlimited card is unique. Instead of requiring you to spend hundreds to thousands of dollars in a few months to earn, you earn as you go.
In your first year with the Freedom Unlimited card, you can get an extra 1.5% back on your first $20,000 of purchases. That means you’ll earn 6.5% back on travel through Chase Travel℠, 4.5% back on eligible purchases at restaurants and drugstores, and 3% back on everything else.
This increased rate can let you rack up an additional $300 in cash back on top of what you would have already earned (1.5% of $20,000 is $300)! But unlike other welcome offers where you don’t earn the bonus until meeting the minimum spend requirement; even if you don’t fully maximize your spending on Freedom Unlimited, you can still benefit from the elevated rate.
▶︎ See our picks: Best credit card welcome bonuses
2. Earning rewards
Chase Freedom Unlimited cardholders can earn 5% cash back when they book travel through Chase Travel, 3% for eligible purchases at restaurants and drugstores, and 1.5% on all other purchases. Through March 31, 2025, you can also get 5% cash back on Lyft rides.
While these rewards are marketed as cash back, they’re actually earned via points through the Chase Ultimate Rewards® program. If you spend $100 on travel through Chase Travel, you’ll earn 500 points. These points can be redeemed for cash back at a 1 cent per point (or $5 for 500 points) rate but can also be redeemed in various other ways.
3. Chase Travel
While you can redeem points for cash-back rewards, your Freedom Unlimited card also grants you access to the best-in-class Chase Travel platform where you can book flights, hotels, rental cars, and more.
These points are redeemed at the same rate for travel as they do for cashback — 1 cent per point. So if you’ve racked up 15,000 points, you can redeem those for a $150 hotel stay or $150 in cash back.
You can also redeem points for gift cards or merchandise through Amazon.com and more. Not all redemption methods are valued the same, though, so check to make sure you’re getting at least a 1-cent per point value.
▶︎ Learn more: Chase Ultimate Rewards point redemption values
4. Transfer points to other Chase cards
One of the best ways to maximize your Chase Ultimate Rewards points is through transferring rewards to another Ultimate-Rewards earning card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or Chase Sapphire Reserve®. Each boasts a higher redemption rate for travel through Chase Travel.
With the Sapphire Preferred, you can redeem for travel at a 1.25-cent per point rate. With the Sapphire Reserve, you can redeem at a 1.5-cent per point rate. This could lead to significant savings compared to Freedom Unlimited’s 1-cent per point redemption value.
▶︎ Learn more: Chase Sapphire Preferred vs Chase Freedom Unlimited and what is the Chase Trifecta?
Save on fees
5. No annual fee
There’s no need to worry about offsetting a yearly cost with the Chase Freedom Unlimited card, as it has no annual fee. As a result, it’s not quite as benefit-rich as some Chase credit cards but it’s still a great option for earning cash back on everyday purchases without the hassle of a yearly charge.
6. 0% introductory APR
Need to make a large purchase or balance transfer? The Chase Freedom Unlimited card can provide a brief respite from accruing expensive interest charges for a limited time. Cardholders can benefit from 0% introductory APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 20.49% - 29.24%.
You’ll still have to pay a balance transfer fee, but the cost is lower than normal during this intro period — $5 or 3% of the transfer amount, whichever is higher. After that, a fee of either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer applies.
While an interest-free period can be incredibly beneficial, plan how to effectively pay off that debt before the intro APR offer ends. After it’s over, any remaining balance will begin accruing interest, which can get expensive quickly. We don’t advise ever carrying a balance, as that cycle can trap you further and further in debt.
▶︎ Learn more: Best balance transfer credit cards and best 0% APR credit cards
Partner benefits
7. Free Instacart+ membership and statement credits
If you enroll in Instacart with your Freedom Unlimited credit card, you can receive a free three-month complimentary Instacart+ membership. With this benefit, you can enjoy perks like $0 delivery fees and reduced service charges on eligible orders. Enrollment ends July 31, 2024.
Additionally, you’ll get up to $10 in statement credits each quarter (through July 31, 2024) on eligible Instacart purchases made with this card.
8. Free DashPass membership
With DashPass, you can enjoy benefits like $0 delivery fees and reduced service fees on eligible orders. If you enroll with your Freedom Unlimited card by December 31, 2024, you can get three months of DashPass for free. But it doesn’t end there — you can also get 50% off your membership for the following nine months.
Shopping benefits
9. Purchase protection
If your package gets stolen from your front porch, there’s no need to worry. Your Chase Freedom Unlimited card covers damage, theft, and involuntary accidental separation on eligible purchases for up to 120 days after the purchase date. You can get up to $500 in coverage per claim and up to $50,000 total.
10. Extended warranty protection
If you buy an eligible item with your Freedom Unlimited card with a manufacturer’s warranty of three years or less, your card will automatically add another year of coverage. Your coverage matches the item’s original value (less shipping and handling fees), up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 in total.
11. Security protections
- Zero liability fraud protection. If your card gets into the hands of the wrong person, zero-liability fraud protection means you’re off the hook for any unauthorized charges.
- 24/7 fraud monitoring. Chase keeps an eagle eye on your account to monitor for any sketchy behaviors that could indicate fraud, helping to keep you safe from unauthorized charges.
- Chase Credit Journey. Sign up for free to monitor your VantageScore credit score, get alerts of possible identity theft, and gain personalized insights into your credit use with Chase Credit Journey.
Travel protections
12. Auto rental insurance
If you pay for a rental car with your Chase Freedom Unlimited card and then decline the rental car agency’s collision or damage coverage, your card will provide secondary auto rental theft and collision damage insurance.
13. Trip cancellation and interruption insurance
With the Freedom Unlimited card, you can receive reimbursement for non-refundable prepaid travel expenses if your trip is canceled or interrupted for covered reasons. This benefit is good for up to $1,500 per person and $6,000 per trip. Some covered reasons include accidental bodily injury, sickness, and severe weather.
These protections aren’t quite as comprehensive as with Chase Sapphire travel insurance but still provide added peace of mind while you’re away from home.
14. Travel and emergency assistance services
If you end up in an emergency while traveling, you can get assistance through your card’s benefits administrator. They can help you with medical referrals, prescription assistance, transportation, and more. Calling them is free but any services you require must be paid by the cardholder.
Maximizing your Chase Freedom Unlimited benefits
While the Chase Freedom Unlimited card has no annual fee and therefore no yearly cost to make up for, it’s still a good idea to plan how to maximize your benefits.
Here are a few tips to get the most out of your card:
- Pair with another Chase Ultimate Rewards earning card. If you already have a card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred or Chase Sapphire Reserve, even better. You can earn rewards on the Freedom Unlimited and transfer these points to a different card for higher redemption value.
- Pay attention to bonus categories. You’ll earn the most rewards by making purchases within the card’s bonus categories—travel, restaurants, and drugstores— so make sure you’re using it when paying for these expenses.
- Plan for the welcome bonus. Spending $20,000 in a year may sound like a lot, but that equates to less than $1,700 monthly. Even if you wouldn’t normally pay for things like your rent with this card, consider doing so for a year to help maximize the potential of the welcome offer.
- Calculate redemption value. Some redemption options are worth 1 cent per point while others are worth less. Some may even be worth more than a cent on a good day. Track and plan these redemption options accordingly to help you get the most value out of your points.
Chase Freedom Unlimited benefits: FAQ
What are the benefits of Chase Freedom Unlimited?
The Chase Freedom Unlimited® card has benefits like a high cash-back rate in everyday categories, a higher-than-average fallback rate for purchases not in those categories, a generous welcome offer, travel protections, and an intro APR offer.
Is it hard to get Chase Freedom Unlimited?
Chase Freedom Unlimited® isn’t as difficult to get as some credit cards, but we recommend having at least a 670 FICO credit score for your best chance at qualifying.
Is the Chase Freedom Unlimited good for travel?
The Chase Freedom Unlimited® card is a good beginner travel credit card, ideal for casual travel within the United States, but its foreign transaction fees and limited travel perks make it less than ideal for frequent travelers.
What credit score is needed for Chase Freedom Unlimited?
We recommend having at least a 670 FICO® Score before applying for the Chase Freedom Unlimited® card.
Is the Freedom Unlimited card a good credit card?
Yes! We love the Chase Freedom Unlimited card. Its flexible reward-earning through Chase Ultimate Rewards, lack of an annual fee, and various additional benefits make it a great everyday cash-back card.
How does the Freedom Unlimited card cash-back work?
Chase Freedom Unlimited earns cash back in the form of Chase Ultimate Rewards points. These points can then be redeemed at a 1:1 ratio for cash back (1 point = 1 cent) via a statement credit or direct deposit.
Is Freedom Unlimited good for gas?
The Chase Freedom Unlimited Card is a good credit card for gas, with 1.5% back on all purchases including gas. However, some credit cards may earn more on gas purchases, so if this is a category you spend a lot in, it may be worth considering other options.
What do you get with Chase Freedom Unlimited?
With the Freedom Unlimited, you can earn 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 3% back at restaurants, 3% back on drugstore purchases, and 1.5% on all other purchases— all for no annual fee.
About the Author
Jaiden Hart serves as a credit card writer and content manager at LA Times Compare. Beginning her career as an intern on the Compare team, she has since amassed considerable expertise and passion in the credit card industry.
Jaiden’s primary objective is to simplify the process of choosing and managing a credit card through engaging and honest content so individuals can more effectively maximize their benefits and meet their financial goals.
About the Reviewer
Blake Esken has over 15 years of experience in product management and has been a member of the Los Angeles Times staff for over five years.
As part of his role at the Los Angeles Times Commerce Team, Blake acts as the in-house reviewer and fact checker for LA Times Compare. He supervises all content for compliance and accuracy and puts to use skills he has honed through years of experience managing high-stakes projects for a range of industry-leading companies.
He has a strong background in data analysis, compliance, and communication, which allows him to support LA Times Compare through fact-checking in an effort to provide up-to-date and factual information across our content.
* Opinions expressed here are those of the LA Times Compare Cards Team and have not been reviewed or approved by any advertiser or entities included within this content. See our editorial policy for more details.
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