The *chase freedom unlimited* is one of those cards that’s almost too easy to recommend.
Its current limited-time sign-up bonus is a big reason why: Earn $250 cash back after spending just $500 in the first three months of card membership.
But the Freedom Unlimited's appeal goes well beyond that: There’s no annual fee, it earns solid rewards on everyday purchases, and it doesn’t require much strategy to get value out of it. For a lot of people, that’s exactly what they want: A card they can swipe without thinking and still feel like they’re doing pretty well.
But that simplicity comes with a tradeoff. While the Freedom Unlimited is a great “default” card, it isn't the best option for hardcore travelers. In order to turn that cashback into points, you'll need to have another (pricier) Sapphire Card, and you'll get dinged with foreign transaction fees when you go to swipe it outside of the country.
Even still, if simple is what you're after – or if you currently have a Sapphire Card in your wallet – this card and its limited-time bonus offer are worth a good hard look.
Learn more about the *chase freedom unlimited*
Benefits Overview
- bonus_miles_full
- Earn 5% cashback on travel booked through Chase Travel℠
- Earn 3% cashback on dining, including takeout and delivery services
- Earn 3% cashback at drugstores
- Earn unlimited 1.5% cashback on all other purchases
- 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
A Closer Look at the Card's Benefits
Welcome Offer
Here's the current bonus: Earn $250 after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening. That $250 bonus is obviously quite valuable on its own, but if you also hold a Chase Sapphire or *chase ink preferred*, you can turn it into 25,000 ultra-valuable Chase Ultimate Rewards to redeem for travel.
Just remember: No matter how many points you can earn, credit cards are serious business. Whether it's $500 or $5,000, 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*
Earning Points
On paper, the earning rates are straightforward: 3% back on dining and drugstores, 5% on travel booked through Chase Travel, and 1.5% on everything else.
That 1.5% base rate is what makes the Freedom Unlimited so appealing. You don’t have to track categories, activate bonuses, or juggle multiple cards – just swipe it and go.
The best way to think about the Freedom Unlimited is not as your primary card, but as your fallback card.
It’s what you use for:
- Purchases that don’t fall into a bonus category
- Everyday spending when you don’t want to think about which card to use
- Filling the gaps in a multi-card setup
If you’re only using one card? It still works – but you’re leaving some value on the table.
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 a card that doesn't charge an annual fee. So if you plan to travel abroad, you'll want to make sure you have a different card that won't incur these fees.
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.
Pair It With a Chase Sapphire Card
As we've covered already, the *chase freedom unlimited* is technically a cashback credit card. But one of its best benefits is the ability to convert that cash back to Chase Ultimate Rewards points.
In order to do so, you must hold either the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card or Sapphire Reserve or even the *chase ink preferred*.
Considering the Chase Freedom Unlimited card typically earns an unlimited 1.5% cash back (or 1.5 Ultimate Rewards points) per dollar spent, it can be better to use it for your spending rather than your Preferred or Reserve card.
When you turn cash back earned from the Freedom Unlimited card into Chase Ultimate Rewards points, each cent is worth 1 Ultimate Rewards point.
Read More: How to Transfer & Combine Points Between Your Chase Credit Cards
Chase also makes it easy to combine points within the same household. So if you don't have a card that earns Ultimate Rewards points but a spouse or significant other does, you can send the cashback earned from the Freedom Unlimited to them, and it will redeem at a higher rate.
Read more: How to Combine Chase Points with Another Cardmember
Our Take
The Freedom Unlimited is at its best when you don’t want to think about which card to use for which purchase. It’s a great “default” card – something you can pull out for nearly any purchase and know you’re getting a decent return without having to track categories or juggle multiple cards.
If you want the absolute highest return on every purchase, this probably won’t be your best option (on its own). And if you often travel internationally, the foreign transaction fees are a real downside.
Before you apply, ask yourself: Do you want to maximize rewards – or simplify your wallet?
- If you want simplicity, this card delivers.
- If you want maximum value, you can do better with a card like the *capital one venture card*, which earns unlimited 2x miles on every purchase.
When paired with a Chase Sapphire Card, the Freedom Unlimited becomes infinitely more valuable as it unlocks the ability to turn your cashback into more valuable Chase points to use for travel.
Who's Eligible?
Like all Chase credit cards, the Chase Freedom Unlimited is subject to the Chase 5/24 Rule.
If you're not familiar, the 5/24 rule is a hard-and-fast restriction rolled out years ago to limit card applicants from opening credit cards for the sole purpose of earning bonus points. If you've heard of the phrase “churning,” that's exactly what this rule is designed to crack down on.
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 the Freedom Unlimited, or any other Chase credit card, for that matter.
The rule is not officially published through any of Chase's platforms. Case in point: If you ask about it in a Chase branch, many employees have likely not heard of it. But for this reason alone, we always suggest starting with Chase credit cards before focusing on cards issued by other banks.
You also won't be able to get the Freedom Unlimited card if you have earned a bonus on the card in the past 24 months.
Chase also recommends having a good to excellent credit score to get approved. That means if your credit score isn't at least 700, getting approved for the card may be difficult.
Related Reading: The Best Credit Cards to Get if You are Under the Chase 5/24 Rule
Bottom Line
The *chase freedom unlimited* is a no-nonsense option that will allow you to earn solid rewards on every dollar you spend.
It has no annual fee, provides a solid welcome offer bonus, and if you pair it with a Chase Sapphire or Ink Preferred card, you'll have the ability to turn the cashback into valuable Chase Ultimate Rewards points.
Learn more about the *chase freedom unlimited*
Can the points transfer from the Unlimted also go to a Chase Ink?
Yep, they can transfer to the Chase Ink Preferred and any card that earns Chase Ultimate Rewards points.