The Chase Freedom Unlimited® offers cardholders a lot of perks for a card with no annual fee. Beyond a great rewards program, cardholders can get a DoorDash DashPass membership (which gets you free delivery on orders over $12 and lower service fees from hundreds of restaurants) free for the first three months and half-off for the next nine months. (You must activate by Dec. 31, 2024.) They can also benefit from earning 5% cash back on Lyft rides through March 2025.
Cardholders can also take advantage of 0% intro APR for the first 15 months from account opening on new purchases (then a 19.74% - 28.49% variable APR) So, if you're wanting to open a new credit card because you're planning to buy a big ticket item soon, this is the card to use.
Below, CNBC Select breaks down the Chase Freedom Unlimited rewards, benefits and fees to help you decide if it's the right card for you.
Chase Freedom Unlimited®
Rewards
Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 1.5% on all other purchases
Welcome bonus
Earn an extra 1.5% on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back. That's 6.5% on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 4.5% on dining and drugstores, and 3% on all other purchases.
Annual fee
$0
Intro APR
0% for the first 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers
Regular APR
19.74% - 28.49% variable
Balance transfer fee
Intro fee of either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater, on transfers made within 60 days of account opening. After that, either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
Foreign transaction fee
3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars
Credit needed
Excellent/Good
See our methodology, terms apply.
Pros
- No annual fee
- Rewards can be transferred to a Chase Ultimate Rewards card
- Generous welcome bonus
Cons
- 3% fee charged on foreign transactions
Chase Freedom Unlimited review
Welcome bonus
The Chase Freedom Unlimited is currently offering a generous welcome bonus of an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy on up to $20,000 spent in the first year. That's worth up to $300 cashback.
Benefits and perks
Cardholders can take advantage of a three-month complimentary DashPass membership through DoorDash and earn 5% cash back on Lyft rides. These perks are great for cardholders who are regularly ordering food or taking ride-hailing services.
The Chase Freedom Unlimited is a contactless card issued by Visa. You'll receive either a Visa Platinum or a Visa Signature card, depending on creditworthiness. Cardholders can benefit from purchase protection, extended warranty protection and auto rental collision damage waiver.
You can also get access to an online shopping portal that provides extra rewards on purchases made through a special Chase-provided link.
How to earn and redeem cashback
Earning
The Chase Freedom Unlimited earns cash back at the following rates:
- 5% on travel booked through the Chase Ultimate Rewards® portal
- 3% on dining at restaurants (including takeout and eligible delivery services) and at drugstores
- 1.5% on all other purchases
CNBC Select calculated how many rewards the average American can earn if they optimize the way they use their Chase Freedom Unlimited®. We worked with the location intelligence firm Esri, who provided us with a sample annual spending budget of $22,126.
The budget includes six main categories: groceries ($5,174), gas ($2,218), dining out ($3,675), travel ($2,244), utilities ($4,862) and general purchases ($3,953).
Here's a breakdown of how much cash back you can roughly earn in each category, annually:
- Groceries: $78
- Gas: $33
- Dining out: $110
- Travel: $112
- Utilities: $73
- General purchases: $59
- Total: $466
Cardholders can earn an estimated $766 in cash back the first year (including the cashback from the welcome bonus) and a total of $2,630 over five years.
Redeeming
The rewards don't expire as long as your account is open and there is no minimum to redeem cash back. Plus, the rewards can be converted into transferrable Ultimate Rewards points if you have another Chase-Ultimate-Rewards-earning card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, allowing you to potentially receive more value from your rewards.
Rates and fees
There is no annual fee with the Chase Freedom Unlimited®, but there is a 3% fee charged on foreign transactions. (Check out CNBC Select's best credit cards with no foreign transaction fees.)
New cardholders can take advantage of a 15-month 0% APR offer from account opening on new purchases and balance transfers (then a 19.74% - 28.49% variable APR). There's an intro balance transfer fee of either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater, on transfers made within 60 days of account opening. After that, it's either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
Card comparison
Chase Freedom Unlimited® vs. Chase Freedom Flex℠
Chase Freedom Flex℠
Rewards
5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate (then 1%), 5% cash back on travel booked through the Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3% on drugstore purchases and on dining (including takeout and eligible delivery services), 1% cash back on all other purchases
Welcome bonus
$200 cash back after you spend $500 on purchases in your first three months from account opening
Annual fee
$0
Intro APR
0% for the first 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers
Regular APR
19.74% - 28.49% variable
Balance transfer fee
Intro fee of either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater, on transfers made within 60 days of account opening. After that, either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
Foreign transaction fee
3%
Credit needed
Excellent/Good
Terms apply. Information about the Chase Freedom Flex℠ has been collected independently by Select and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of the card prior to publication.
The Chase Freedom Flex℠ shares many similar features to the Freedom Unlimited, such as no annual fee, discounts with DoorDash DashPass and GoPuff and a 0% intro APR for the first 15 months from account opening on on new purchases and balance transfers (after, 19.74% - 28.49% variable APR). The main difference lies in their reward rates.
With the Freedom Flex, you'll earn 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in rotating bonus categories each quarter you activate (then 1%) and 1% cash back on all other purchases. Check out the full Chase Freedom cash-back calendar for more rewards information.
Flex cardholders can also take advantage of World Elite Mastercard perks, which provide more premium benefits like cell phone protection and Mastercard Priceless experiences.
Chase Freedom Unlimited® vs. Citi® Double Cash Card
Citi® Double Cash Card
Rewards
2% cash back: 1% on all eligible purchases and an additional 1% after you pay your credit card bill
Welcome bonus
None
Annual fee
$0
Intro APR
0% for the first 18 months on balance transfers; N/A for purchases
Regular APR
18.99% - 28.99% variable
Balance transfer fee
For balance transfers completed within 4 months of account opening, an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer ($5 minimum) applies; after that, a balance transfer fee of 5% of each transfer ($5 minimum) applies
Foreign transaction fee
3%
Credit needed
Good/Excellent
See rates and fees. Terms apply.
If you want to earn a higher cash-back rate on everyday purchases, consider the Citi® Double Cash Card, which offers 2% cash back: 1% on all purchases and an additional 1% after you pay your credit card bill. There are no reward categories to keep track of and no welcome bonus.
The card is also good for anyone looking to consolidate their debt: The Citi Double Cash Card offers an introductory 0% intro APR for the first 18 months on balance transfers (then 18.99% - 28.99% variable APR). There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first four months of account opening. After that, your fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5).
Plus, if you forget to pay your card, Citi will waive your first late fee. (Though we recommend you pay off your credit card balance on time and in full each month to avoid interest charges.)
Is the Chase Freedom Unlimited right for you?
The Chase Freedom Unlimited card is ideal for anyone looking for a simple way to maximize cash back on everyday spending. Its rewards become even more valuable when paired with another Ultimate Rewards® card, like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, Chase Sapphire Reserve® or Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card, so it's especially great for those seeking to maximize rewards within the Chase system. And this card has no annual fee, it won't cost you anything except a credit inquiry.
Bottom line
The simple 1.5% cash-back program offered by the Chase Freedom Unlimited card makes it easy to use, and its 0% APR offer sets the card apart from other cards. You don't have to worry about paying the balance in full because you can pay it off over time. Just make sure you make at least the minimum payment on time and have a repayment plan set up.
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At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money. Every credit card review is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of credit card products. While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics. See our methodology for more information on how we choose the best credit cards.
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