Learn more about the Chase Freedom Unlimited
Chase Freedom Unlimited rewards
The rewards program is one of the biggest benefits of the Chase Freedom Unlimited card.
It’s important to note that while the Freedom Unlimited card is called a cash-back card, the rewards program uses a point system. Every purchase earns Chase Ultimate Rewards points you can redeem for cash back or use with other redemption partners.
Welcome bonus
Chase has an attractive welcome bonus for new cardholders: In your first year, you can get an extra 1.5% back on your first $20,000 of charges. That’s a significant bump, especially if you plan to book travel — all your purchases in the Chase Travel portal will earn 6.5%. If you book a qualifying $2,000 vacation, you’ll get $130 in cash back. Note: this offer is available through our site but may not be available if you apply through the Chase site or another website.
Earn Chase Freedom Unlimited rewards
With the Chase Freedom Unlimited card, you’ll earn 5% when you book travel in the Chase Travel portal and 3% for eligible purchases at restaurants and drugstores. All other purchases earn a flat 1.5%. In your first year, you can also get an extra 1.5% back on your first $20,000 of charges.
Redeem Chase Freedom Unlimited rewards
There are several ways to redeem the rewards you earn with the Chase Freedom Unlimited card. The easiest is to redeem them for cash — with this option, each point is worth 1 cent. If you accumulate 50,000 points, you’ll get $500 in cash back.
Are you a frequent traveler? You can maximize point value by pairing the Freedom Unlimited card with another premium Chase credit card offering, such as Chase Sapphire Reserve®, Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, or Ink Business cards. Then, you can pool your points and redeem them for a higher value on bookings in the Chase Travel portal. With Sapphire Preferred and Ink, you’ll get 1.25 cents per point; with the Sapphire Reserve card, points are worth 1.5 cents each.
There are plenty of ways to redeem your rewards:
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Direct deposit or statement credits. Chase will deposit your cash back into a bank account or apply them as a statement credit to reduce your Freedom Unlimited balance. This option has a redemption rate of 1 cent per point.
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Travel bookings in the Chase portal. Use your points to book trips in the Chase Travel portal for 1 cent per point.
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Purchases on Amazon or PayPal. Buy items using either service, but keep in mind that you’ll get just 0.8 cents for each point.
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Purchases at Apple. Use your points to buy products at Apple, and you’ll get 1 cent per point.
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Gift cards. You can buy gift cards via Chase; each point is worth 1 cent.
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Pay with points. Some merchants allow you to make purchases using Chase Travel points. The typical redemption rate is 0.8 cents per point.
Chase Freedom Unlimited benefits
In addition to the rewards program, the Chase Freedom Unlimited credit card comes with a variety of benefits you can use at home and on the road. Keep in mind that the card is available in Visa Platinum and Visa Signature versions, so your benefits may vary depending on which type you qualify for.
Travel benefits
For travelers, the Chase Freedom Unlimited card offers a range of interesting perks.
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Trip cancellation and interruption insurance. Book travel using your Freedom Unlimited card, and Chase will pay you back up to $1,500 per person (maximum of $6,000 for a trip) if you have to cancel your vacation or end it early. This benefit applies to cancellations and interruptions that happen because of severe weather and illness, among others.
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Auto rental collision damage waiver. This waiver reimburses you for theft or damage to a rental car, towing charges and any loss-of-use fees the rental agency charges. To qualify, you must pay for the rental using your Freedom Unlimited card and decline the loss and damage waivers available through the rental company.
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Visa Signature travel benefits. If you’re approved for the Visa Signature version of the Chase Freedom Unlimited card, you’ll get benefits including special status at luxury hotels, extra car rental benefits and a concierge to help with bookings.
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Travel and emergency assistance services. If you’re traveling, you can use this service to get medical referrals, translations, legal referrals and help with emergency services such as transportation, ticket replacements and messages.
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Bonus points on Lyft. When you use your card to pay for Lyft rides, you’ll earn 5% back — an increase of 3.5%.
If you intend to use the card for your daily purchasing needs, here are some benefits you can expect.
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Purchase protection. Chase will cover your purchases for 120 days. If they’re damaged or stolen, you can be reimbursed for up to $500 per item, with a $50,000 account maximum.
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Extended warranty protection. This perk gives you an extra year of protection beyond the manufacturer’s original warranty. Warranties up to three years qualify.
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Doordash membership. With Freedom Unlimited, you get a free three-month membership to Doordash DashPass, which comes with free delivery and lower service fees.
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Instacart. Buy an Instacart+ membership, and get three months free. This service includes discounted service fees and free delivery.
Card services
On top of travel and shopping benefits, the Chase Freedom Unlimited card also comes with several services to help protect you against fraud and stay on top of your credit.
Services include:
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Free access to your credit score. Keep an eye on your credit profile with the included Credit Journey service. It also includes tools to help you spot identity fraud and build credit.
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24/7 fraud monitoring. Chase monitors your card activity around the clock and lets you know about unusual purchases immediately.
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Zero liability protection. You’re not responsible for unauthorized purchases that happen if your information is stolen.
Chase Freedom Unlimited card fees, rates & limit
Like many rewards cards, the Chase Freedom Unlimited comes with a range of fees.
The card offers a 0% introductory annual percentage rate (APR) for purchases and balance transfers. Your credit profile will determine your credit limit and rates after the intro period.
Freedom Unlimited fees
The Chase Freedom Unlimited has a $0 annual fee, which is somewhat unusual for a card with such attractive benefits. If you transfer a balance from another card within 60 days of opening the account, you’ll pay 3% of the amount or $5, whichever is greater. After that, you’ll pay the greater of $5 or 5%. Cash advances with Freedom Unlimited cost $10 or 5% of the advance — whichever is higher. Late payments come with fees of up to $40.
If you spend time overseas, use the card with care. The Chase Freedom Unlimited foreign transaction fee is 3%. Spend $2,000 in another country, and you’ll be hit with $60 in fees.
Chase Freedom Unlimited interest rates
Here are the main annual percentage rates (APR) for the Chase Freedom Unlimited card:
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Regular APR: 20.49% - 29.24%
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Purchase intro APR: 0% for the first 15 months
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Balance Transfer APR: 0% APR for the first 15 months, 20.49% - 29.24% after that
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Cash advances: 29.99%
It’s critical to make payments on time — if you don’t, Chase can raise your APR to 29.99%. The bank may do the same if one of your payments is returned. This rate could remain in place for the lifetime of the account.
Chase Freedom Unlimited credit limit
If you’re approved for the Visa Platinum version of the Chase Freedom Unlimited card, you’ll have a minimum credit limit of $500. The Visa Signature comes with a minimum limit of $5,000. Your actual credit limit may be higher, depending on your qualifications.
How the Chase Freedom Unlimited card compares
With its valuable welcome offers and $0 annual fee, the Freedom Unlimited stands out among similar credit cards. The increased earning rates for travel, restaurants and drugstores are nice, particularly if your purchases tend to fall into these categories. The rewards tiers aren’t complicated, so you can earn points without a great deal of thought. After the first year, however, most purchases earn rewards at a rate of 1.5% — not bad, but not quite as high as many other cards.
The Freedom Unlimited has one major drawback: the penalty APR. Just one late payment could increase your regular APR by as much as 9.5%, in addition to the $40 late fee. Worse yet, Chase could decide to keep you at that elevated rate indefinitely.
Chase Freedom Unlimited card vs. Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Both the Chase Freedom Unlimited and Chase Sapphire Preferred cards earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points. While the Freedom Unlimited card has no annual fee and a welcome bonus of 20,000 points after spending $500 in three months, the Sapphire Preferred charges $95 per year and offers 60,000 bonus points if you spend $4,000 in three months. The Sapphire Preferred is the clear winner when it comes to travel cards — rewards are worth 25% more when you book through the Chase Travel portal.
Read our Chase Sapphire Preferred Card review
Chase Freedom Unlimited card vs. Chase Freedom Flex card
Competition is tight when you compare Chase Freedom Unlimited vs. Freedom Flex. Both cards have a $0 annual fee, similar APRs (including intro offers) and a decent welcome offer.
The Flex, which is another Chase Freedom credit card, has a less attractive rewards package. Where Freedom Unlimited offers a 1.5% bonus on all purchases for the first year, Flex offers an extra 5% per quarter on $1,500 worth of purchases in gas stations and grocery stores. Travel, restaurants and drugstores earn the same rewards rate on both cards. For other purchases, the Flex earning rate is just 1%, compared to Freedom Unlimited’s 1.5% rate.
Is the Chase Freedom Unlimited card right for me?
The Chase Freedom Unlimited card is a good option if you want a solid and straightforward cash-back rewards program. It’s particularly attractive during the first year, thanks to the extra 1.5% in rewards. If you spend $20,000, that’s an extra $300 in cash rewards. [Note: this offer is available through our site but may not be available if you apply through the Chase site or another website]. After that, you’ll still earn a decent 5% on any travel bookings you make in the bank’s portal — a nice perk for regular travelers.
This card could also be a good option if you need to transfer a balance. You’ll pay nothing in interest for 15 months, which can save you a great deal of money.
How do I apply for the Chase Freedom Unlimited card?
You can learn more about the Chase Freedom Unlimited card and apply online. It’s a quick process that requires contact information, basic financial details and employment data.
Your odds of approval are based on factors such as your debt, credit history, credit score and ability to pay. There is no Chase Freedom Unlimited credit score requirement, but you may have an easier time getting approved if your score falls between 670 and 850. If you do get approved, you’ll be able to link it to your digital wallet through the Chase mobile app for instant use of your new credit card.
