Chase Freedom Unlimited overview

For occasional and frequent travelers, the no-annual-fee Chase Freedom Unlimited® (see rates and fees) is a good fit for the No-Annual-Feer. Most cards give you 1 1% back on purchases outside of bonus categories, but in many cards it’s just one-price. The Freedom Unlimited 5% refund on nonbonus spending with the freedom unlimited, according to . When you use this with a card which has premium Chase Ultimate Rewards points, then your rewards can be converted into fully transferable points. s **Card rating* ** ‘***,.

*Card rating is based on the opinion of TPG’s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.

Initially, the Chase Freedom Unlimited may look like a tame cash-back card at first glance. But there’s a lot more to it than the eye sees in .

I have a credit score of at least 670. It’s if you can start with no annual fee and an easy earning structure, it’ll be – for beginners. A great card combination is also available for more premium options such as the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees) and the chase Sapphire Reserve® (vis rates & charges), so it’s an important addition to many larger card portfolios.

Let’s examine what makes this card so great, and whether it deserves a spot in your wallet.

Chase Freedom Unlimited pros and cons

| Pros | Cons |
| — | — |
| * No annual fee * High earning rates * Unlimited cash back * Pair with another Chase card for more redemption options | * Lacks travel benefits * Charges foreign transaction fees |

Chase Freedom Unlimited welcome offer

New Chase Freedom Unlimited cardholders can earn $300 cash back if they spend $500 on purchases in the first three months from account opening to make it eligible for their cards. This offer ends Jan. 15, 2026, at 9 a.m. m,. EST EST .

That’s the highest offer on the card since March, making now a good time to apply.

THE POINTS GUY

If you also have a card that earns Chase Ultimate Rewards points, which means you can convert your cash back into points and transfer them to one of Chase’s transfer partners, the bonus is even more valuable.

Since this is a Chase card, do remember that it is subject to Chase’s 5/24 rule.

Related: Chase credit cards: Best time to apply based on offer history

Chase Freedom Unlimited benefits

For cards, the trade-off for card without annual fee is that they tend to have fewer perks than their more expensive counterparts. The Freedom Unlimited has some nice features, though, that are worth noting.

• Rental car protection You’ll get rental car insurance that covers reimbursement for theft and collision damage secondary to your personal insurance in the U.S. S.
• **Trip cancellation and interruption insurance*** If severe weather, illness or other covered circumstances cause your travel plans to be cancelled/interruption, you’ll pay up to $1,500 per person and up-to $6,000 per trip for eligible travel expenses on your card.
  ** * **Extended warranty protection*** You can extend the length of warranties coverage by one more year on original eligible warranties of three years or less.
• Purchase protection Your purchases are protected from theft and damage for 120 days after the date of purchase, up to $500 per item.

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That’s a decent amount of coverage for if you don’t have another card with more robust travel insurance and shopping protections, but no annual fee.

Related: Why the Chase Freedom Unlimited should be the first card in every student’s wallet

Earning cash back on the Chase Freedom Unlimited

With the Freedom Unlimited, you’ll normally earn:

• 5% back on travel booked through Chase Travel℠
• 3% back on dining (including takeout and eligible delivery services)
• 3% back at drugstores
• 1.5% back on all other purchases

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None of the bonuses are show-stoppers, but it is unusual to find a card with bonus categories and flat rate above 1% for all other purchases. It is a nice bonus category, but the ability to earn 50% more on nonbonus spending makes this card shine.

This is an excellent choice if you’re looking for a card that earns more than 1% back on nonbonus spending.

Related: The best cards to pair with the Chase Freedom Unlimited

Redeeming cash back on the Chase Freedom Unlimited

If you have a cash back earned from your Freedom Unlimited (or direct deposit) into most U.S. dollars, you can use it as’stuff credit’ or for – and to redeem the money back on your freedom unlimited account. S S. check & savings account at 1 cent per point. The same value is also available when you redeem your rewards for gift cards or book travel through Chase Travel with the reward.

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If you have the right card pairing, then your rewards can be transferred to transferable Chase Ultimate Rewards points and use Chase’s valuable transfer partners for even more value.

Related: New to travel rewards? Here’s the perfect beginner card combo

Transferring cash back with the Chase Freedom Unlimited

Alone, the Freedom Unlimited is a true cash-back card and doesn’t allow you to transfer your rewards to travel partners.

Nevertheless, if you also have the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card (the Chase sapient Reserve or the Ink Business Prefers® Credit Card) (see rates and fees), you can combine your rewards to unlock Chase’s full list of hotel and airline partners.

TANNER SAUNDERS/THE POINTS GUY

TPG staffers particularly value the option to transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points to World of Hyatt.

Like TPG senior director of content Summer Hull, some of us prefer these rewards to book high-end Hyatts that might otherwise be out of budget. But other staffers like to use our rewards for a great deal on Hyatt’s Category 1 properties.

In addition to World of Hyatt, Chase partners with other prestigious shows such as British Airways Club, Singapore KrisFlyer and United MileagePlus also have valuable programs in common.

Related: Chase Ultimate Rewards points: How to redeem for maximum value

Which cards compete with the Chase Freedom Unlimited?

If you are interested in cash-back rewards, there is a card that may be more suitable to fit your needs. Unlike Freedom Unlimited, these options also offer cash-back incentives as well as no annual payment “The Freedom unlimited” (as in the case of s) are not necessarily free.

• If you want to earn 5% back on rotating categories: The

Chase Freedom Flex®

In quarterly bonus categories (after you activate; on up to $1,500 in combined purchases), (see rates and fees) gets 5% back. As with the Freedom Unlimited, it makes you pay rewards that you can send to Chase’s partners when your partner is right card pairing. check out our full review of the Chase Freedom Flex.

• If you want to earn 3% back on different categories: The

Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express

U.S. 3% cash back for at $ S S. U.U, supermarkets and in supermarket. A , S. The U.S. and online retail purchases as well as the ‘s. S, meanwhile. Each year (up to $6,000 for each category per calendar year, then 1%); gas stations receive cash back in the form of Reward Dollars that can be used as a statement credit and at amazon. Checkout Com checkout – . Read more Watch our full review of Amex Blue Cash Everyday for details.

• If you want to earn more on nonbonus spending: The

Citi Double Cash® Card

The (see rates and charges) gets 2% back on all purchases (1% when you buy and 1% as you pay) Check out our full review of the Citi Double Cash for more details.

For additional options, check out our lists of the best cash-back cards and the best cards without an annual fee.

Related: Chase Freedom Flex vs. Chase Freedom Unlimited comparison: Rotating categories or flat cash back?

Is the Chase Freedom Unlimited worth it?

Since freedom unlimited does not charge you an annual fee, you can be very proud of earning rewards without blaming the money you pay to keep it each year. If you already have a Chase Ultimate Rewards points-earning card, you can make the most of your rewards-paying potential. But, if you’re just looking for cash-back rewards, you will probably want a card with higher earnings.

Related: How to choose a cash-back credit card

Bottom line

A good card for everyday nonbonus spending is the Chase Freedom Unlimited, which offers a great value when combined with equivalant Chase card. The Freedom Unlimited is a great choice for s, whether you’re just if you are new to the game or looking for ‘non-common card that can be added to your portfolio as supplementary cards.

Apply here: Chase Freedom Unlimited

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