We are an independent, advertising-supported comparison service. Our goal is to help you make smarter financial decisions by providing you with interactive tools and financial calculators, publishing original and objective content, by enabling you to conduct research and compare information for free - so that you can make financial decisions with confidence.
Bankrate has partnerships with issuers including, but not limited to, American Express, Bank of America, Capital One, Chase, Citi and Discover.
Written by
Jacqueline DeMarco
Jacqueline DeMarco is a contributor to Bankrate covering personal finance, including credit cards, rewards credit cards and travel credit cards. In addition to Bankrate, she has contributed to LendingTree (including Student Loan Hero and ValuePenguin), Credit Karma, Fundera, Chime, MagnifyMoney, SoFi and Northwestern Mutual.
Edited by
Brooklyn Lowery
Brooklyn Lowery is a Senior Editor on the Bankrate credit cards education team where she focuses on helping everyday consumers leverage credit cards as powerful tools in their personal finance toolbox.
At Bankrate we strive to help you make smarter financial decisions. While we adhere to strict editorial integrity , this post may contain references to products from our partners. Here's an explanation for how we make money . The content on this page is accurate as of the posting date; however, some of the offers mentioned may have expired. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Any opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer.
Bankrate logoAt Bankrate, we have a mission to demystify the credit cards industry — regardless or where you are in your journey — and make it one you can navigate with confidence. Our team is full of a diverse range of experts from credit card pros to data analysts and, most importantly, people who shop for credit cards just like you. With this combination of expertise and perspectives, we keep close tabs on the credit card industry year-round to:
At Bankrate, we focus on the points consumers care about most: rewards, welcome offers and bonuses, APR, and overall customer experience. Any issuers discussed on our site are vetted based on the value they provide to consumers at each of these levels. At each step of the way, we fact-check ourselves to prioritize accuracy so we can continue to be here for your every next.
Bankrate logoBankrate follows a strict editorial policy, so you can trust that we’re putting your interests first. Our award-winning editors and reporters create honest and accurate content to help you make the right financial decisions.
We value your trust. Our mission is to provide readers with accurate and unbiased information, and we have editorial standards in place to ensure that happens. Our editors and reporters thoroughly fact-check editorial content to ensure the information you’re reading is accurate. We maintain a firewall between our advertisers and our editorial team. Our editorial team does not receive direct compensation from our advertisers.
Bankrate’s editorial team writes on behalf of YOU – the reader. Our goal is to give you the best advice to help you make smart personal finance decisions. We follow strict guidelines to ensure that our editorial content is not influenced by advertisers. Our editorial team receives no direct compensation from advertisers, and our content is thoroughly fact-checked to ensure accuracy. So, whether you’re reading an article or a review, you can trust that you’re getting credible and dependable information.
Bankrate logoYou have money questions. Bankrate has answers. Our experts have been helping you master your money for over four decades. We continually strive to provide consumers with the expert advice and tools needed to succeed throughout life’s financial journey.
Bankrate follows a strict editorial policy, so you can trust that our content is honest and accurate. Our award-winning editors and reporters create honest and accurate content to help you make the right financial decisions. The content created by our editorial staff is objective, factual, and not influenced by our advertisers.
We’re transparent about how we are able to bring quality content, competitive rates, and useful tools to you by explaining how we make money.
Bankrate.com is an independent, advertising-supported publisher and comparison service. We are compensated in exchange for placement of sponsored products and services, or by you clicking on certain links posted on our site. Therefore, this compensation may impact how, where and in what order products appear within listing categories, except where prohibited by law for our mortgage, home equity and other home lending products. Other factors, such as our own proprietary website rules and whether a product is offered in your area or at your self-selected credit score range, can also impact how and where products appear on this site. While we strive to provide a wide range of offers, Bankrate does not include information about every financial or credit product or service.
The Chase Freedom Unlimited® is one of the top no-annual-fee cash back credit cards on the market today — and for a good reason. It started out as a flat-rate cash back credit card offering 1.5 percent cash back on each purchase, but today, with the addition of boosted rewards categories, you can earn as much as 5 percent cash back on certain purchases.
The perks don’t stop at earning cash back rewards. To really maximize the value of a Chase Freedom Unlimited card, read on to learn about all of the card’s benefits.
To start, the Chase Freedom Unlimited offers:
The sign-up bonus, also called a welcome bonus, can boosts earning even more. New cardholders earn and extra 1.5 percent on all purchases up to $20,000 spent in the first year. That means you could earn an additional $300 cash back if you max out the spending during your first year as a cardholder.
Importantly, although the Chase Freedom Unlimited is advertised as a cash back credit card, it technically earns Rewards points that can be redeemed at a 1:1 ratio for cash back or, for maximum value, combined with Ultimate Rewards you earn with a premium Chase card.
The Freedom Unlimited is an especially good choice for financing a large purchase or paying off existing credit card debt without paying additional money in interest.
It offers an introductory 0 percent annual percentage rate (APR) for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers, followed by a variable APR between 20.49 percent and 29.24 percent. While this isn’t the longest zero-interest offer on the market, the card’s solid rewards rates and added perks will continue to bring you value long after your debt or purchase is paid off, which earns this card a spot among the best balance transfer cards.
There is a balance transfer fee if you go the debt payoff route: $5 or 3 percent of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater. This fee is valid for the first 60 days of card ownership, after which it jumps to 5 percent or $5, whichever is greater.
The market is full of luxury rewards cards for travel enthusiasts, and while the Freedom Unlimited isn’t quite geared toward premium travel perks there’s still plenty to like for those who take the occasional trip. The card’s travel benefits include:
If you’re renting a car, you can get rental car insurance against theft or collision damage if you pay with your card. This coverage is secondary to your own car insurance, so if you need it, you’ll need to file a claim with your own car insurance first.
Another nice perk is trip cancellation and interruption insurance. With this benefit, if your trip is canceled or cut short because you got sick or caught in a snowstorm, for example, you can be reimbursed for up to $1,500 per person (max of four people) and $6,000 per trip against fares and tickets you’ve already paid.
Ever run into a problem while you’re traveling or commuting? You can call Chase’s Benefit Administrator for emergency help, as well as for medical and legal referrals. Note, you will have to pay for the costs of these services, but access to help is free.
It’s frustrating to have an expensive purchase break or get stolen not long after you bought it. Thankfully, the Freedom Unlimited offers purchase protection and extended warranty protection, both of which can help you recover from these sorts of unfortunate events. Further, you’ll stay protected against fraud with Chase’s zero liability fraud protection.
If your purchase is stolen or damaged within 120 days of buying it, you can be reimbursed for up to $500 per claim ($50,000 per account) with Chase’s purchase protection perk.
If your purchase had a warranty with it, you might be eligible for an extended warranty through Chase. This one’s a little tricky, though, as it only applies to U.S. manufacturers’ warranties of three years or less. But if your item is eligible, Chase will give you an additional year of warranty on that item.
For example, if you used your card to buy a $300 Fitbit that originally came with a one-year warranty and it dies after 18 months, you may be able to get reimbursed with Chase’s extended warranty benefit.
If any unauthorized purchases are made with your Freedom Unlimited card or account information, Chase won’t hold you responsible.
If you’re a foodie — whether you enjoy ordering takeout or getting groceries delivered for a special dinner at home — be sure to take advantage of these Freedom Unlimited perks:
With the Freedom Unlimited, you’ll get a complimentary three-month DoorDash DashPass membership, after which you’ll be automatically enrolled for an additional nine months at 50 percent off (if you choose to keep the service). This membership gets you access to unlimited deliveries with a $0 delivery fee on orders over $12 along with reduced service fees, but you’ll need to activate the perk by Dec. 31, 2025.
There’s a lot to love when it comes to the Chase Freedom Unlimited, and it can bring you even more value if you pair it with a premium Chase credit card.
One of the best ways to boost your rewards is to pair Freedom Unlimited with another card in the Chase Ultimate Rewards product suite, because you can transfer your points between Chase cards.
For example, your points are worth 25 percent more with the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card when you redeem toward Ultimate Rewards travel and a whopping 50 percent more toward Ultimate Rewards travel with the Chase Sapphire Reserve®. These cards come with annual fees, though, so you’ll need to decide if applying is worth the increased redemption value.
For the best possible value, you’ll want to transfer your points to a travel partner. According to Bankrate’s latest valuations, Chase Ultimate Rewards are worth about 2.0 cents each when transferred to a high-value Chase travel partner. You can only transfer your Freedom Unlimited points, though, if you also hold a premium Chase card, such as one of the Sapphires or the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card. Combine your Freedom Unlimited points under one of those cards to pursue the most redemption value.
Additionally, boosted rewards from the welcome bonus can also be quite useful to you, especially since it lines up with the intro APR offer on purchases. You can earn rewards on big purchases and take advantage of the intro APR period to pay off your balance interest-free for the first 15 months (20.49 percent to 29.24 percent APR applies after the intro period). Remember, you won’t earn rewards on balance transfers.
While it’s one of the best cash back cards on the market, Chase Freedom Unlimited’s benefits may be enough to pique the interest of occasional travelers, too — especially if you already own (or are looking to own) a Chase Sapphire travel card. And if you’re hoping to finance a large purchase that you can pay off within a low-interest introductory period, pay off existing credit card debt or take advantage of additional travel and purchase protections, even better.
Either way, as long as you pay your bills responsibly and on time, Chase Freedom Unlimited can help you reach your financial goals.
