The best perks rarely come free in the world of travel rewards credit cards. Lounge access, TSA PreCheck or Global Entry credits, and luxury travel benefits are usually reserved for cards with hefty annual fees.
High-end cards like the *chase sapphire reserve* pack a punch when it comes to benefits, but that doesn’t mean it should be your go-to for everyday spending. That’s where the no-annual-fee *chase freedom unlimited* really shines – especially when you factor in its big, new welcome bonus.
Right now, you can earn $250 cash back (or 25,000 points) after spending $500 in the first three months of card opening.
On its own, it’s an excellent cashback card, but pair it with powerhouse travel cards like the *chase sapphire preferred* or the Sapphire Reserve, and that cash back transforms into valuable Chase Ultimate Rewards points, helping you rack up rewards even faster.
Here’s why the Chase Freedom Unlimited is one of the best no-annual-fee credit cards out there—and how to maximize its benefits for travel.
Learn more about the *chase freedom unlimited*
Benefits Overview
- Welcome bonus: bonus_miles_full
- Introductory APR: intro_apr_rate,intro_apr_duration
- Regular APR: reg_apr,reg_apr_type
- Earn 5% cashback on travel booked through Chase Travel℠
- Earn 3% cashback on dining (including takeout and on eligible delivery services and at drugstores
- Earn unlimited 1.5% cashback on all other purchases after your first year with the card
- Subject to the Chase 5/24 rule, so you won't get approved for the Chase Freedom Unlimited if you've opened five or more credit cards (from any bank, not just Chase) in the last 24 months.
- No Annual Fee!
Full Breakdown of the Chase Freedom Unlimited Card
Sign-Up Bonus
With the *chase freedom unlimited*, you can currently earn a $250 bonus (or 25,000 points) after spending $500 in the first three months. This is an outstanding offer on a no-annual-fee card, and since you can turn the cash bonus into more valuable Chase Ultimate Rewards by pairing the Freedom Unlimited with a Sapphire card, it has the potential to be even better than advertised.
But remember: No matter how many points you can earn, credit cards are serious business. Whether it requires $500 in spending or $20,000, you should never open a credit card and make charges you can't afford to pay off in full each month.
Learn more about the *chase freedom unlimited*
A 0% Introductory APR Period
Introductory 0% APR periods are not common on travel rewards credit cards. But if it's something you're looking for, the Freedom Unlimited card has a 0% introductory APR for your first 15 months of card membership. That introductory rate is valid for both new purchases and balance transfers from existing lines of credit.
After that introductory period, you'll be subject to a variable APR which is currently at reg_apr,reg_apr_type.
3% Back on Dining & Drugstore Purchases
While the Freedom Unlimited Card earns a minimum of 1.5% cash back (or 1.5x Chase Ultimate Rewards points) on every dollar you spend, there are a few categories where you can earn more.
You'll earn an unlimited 3% cash back (or 3x points) on dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services like DoorDash, GrubHub, and more. You'll also earn an unlimited 3% cash back on drugstore purchases at retailers like Walgreens, CVS, and others.
If you hold either the Sapphire Preferred or Reserve, you'd also earn 3x points per dollar spent on dining transactions. But neither card offers any bonus on drugstore spending.
If that's an area where you spend a lot, the Freedom Unlimited Card is a great option.
5% Back on Travel Booked Through Chase
The Freedom Unlimited Card earns an unlimited 5% cash back on travel booked through Chase Travel℠.
Compare that to the Sapphire Reserve, which earns 10x points per dollar spent on hotels and car rentals and 5x points per dollar spent through Chase Travel℠. The Sapphire Preferred, meanwhile, earns 5x points on all travel purchases through Chase Travel℠. So, if you hold either of those cards, there isn't much reason to make your Chase Travel℠ purchases on a Freedom Unlimited card – especially since both Sapphire cards come with built-in travel insurance.
But if you don't hold one of those cards, it can be a nice way to earn bonus cash back for travel bookings.
Unlimited 1.5% Cashback on All Other Spending
Beyond the bonus categories already mentioned, the Chase Freedom Unlimited earns an unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase you make.
That makes this card a good one to keep at the top of your wallet and use for purchases that you'd normally earn just 1% cashback (or 1x point per dollar) with other credit cards.
Foreign Transaction Fees
One thing to be aware of with the Freedom Unlimited Card is that it doesn't waive foreign transaction fees. That means if you use your card for purchases abroad, you'll be subject to a fee of 3% of the purchase price in U.S. dollars.
That's common for most cards that don't charge an annual fee, but it's still something to be aware of if you're traveling outside the U.S.
No Annual Fee
One of the biggest draws to the Chase Freedom Unlimited card is that it doesn't charge an annual fee.
It's a great option to pair with Chase's top travel cards that do charge an annual fee to help you earn more points. But even on its own, it's a great cashback card with good earning rates.
Our Analysis
The Chase Freedom Unlimited Card is one of our favorite no-annual-fee credit cards, and this bonus makes it all the more desirable.
It's a solid card on its own, but it becomes even more valuable when you pair it with either the *chase sapphire preferred* or *chase sapphire reserve*. That's because even though the card earns cash back, it's rewarded in the form of Chase Ultimate Rewards, which can be combined with other cards to be used for travel redemptions.
So, if you hold one of those other cards that earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points, you can instead use these rewards directly through the bank's travel portal for flights and hotels or transfer them to any of Chase's transfer partners to book award travel.
Because Ultimate Rewards points redeemed in the portal are worth either 1.25 or 1.5 cents each, depending on which card you have, that $250 bonus could be redeemed for more than $300 worth of travel – not bad for a no-annual fee card.
Even if you don't want to transfer the cash back into your Chase Ultimate Rewards balance, it's still one of the best cashback credit card offers out there, period.
Who is Eligible?
The card is subject to the Chase 5/24 rule, so that's something you'll need to consider before applying.
Unfamiliar with Chase's 5/24 rule? Here's what it boils down to:
- If you have opened five or more credit cards in the past 24 months from any bank credit card issuers (not just Chase cards), you will not be approved for Chase credit cards, regardless of your credit score or history with Chase Bank.
- The rule does not count credit inquiries but rather new cards you have applied for and been approved.
So, if you have opened five or more new credit cards in the past 24 months, you will likely not be approved for this card.
You also won't be eligible to apply if you have previously received a bonus on the Freedom Unlimited card in the past 24 months.
Bottom Line
This new offer on the Chase Freedom Unlimited card is sneaky good. With the current offer, you can earn a $250 (or 25,000 points) bonus after spending $500 in the first three months. But if you've got a Chase Sapphire (or Ink Preferred) Card in your wallet, this bonus is even more valuable than advertised.
If this no-annual-fee card seems like the perfect fit for you, be sure to take advantage of the bigger bonus while you can!
Learn more about the *freedom unlimited*.