Chase Freedom Unlimited® Credit Card

Chase Freedom Unlimited® Credit Card

Strong everyday baseline: You earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases, with rewards tracked as points (e.g., $1 = 100 points)

The Freedom Unlimited is Chase’s simplest “always-on” cash-back card: 1.5% back on everything, plus elevated earn on travel through Chase Travel (5%), dining (3%), and drugstores (3%), all with a $0 annual fee.

Its real power move is ecosystem-driven: Freedom Unlimited earns “cash back” that’s tracked as points (100 points = $1). If you also hold a premium Ultimate Rewards card (e.g., Sapphire/Ink that enables transfers), you can combine points and unlock airline/hotel partner transfers.

At a Glance

  • Welcome Offer: 3 Months
  • Rewards Rate:
    • 5% total cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel
    • 3% on dining at restaurants (including takeout and eligible delivery)
    • 3% on drugstore purchases
    • 1.5% on all other purchases
  • Annual Fee: $0
  • Intro APR: 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers; then a variable APR (creditworthiness-based).
  • Balance Transfer Fee: $5 or 3% within 60 days; then $5 or 5% after.
  • Foreign Transaction Fee: 3% of the amount of each transaction in U.S. dollars.
  • Cash Back rules: rewards don’t expire as long as your account is open; no minimum to redeem.

Overview

Freedom Unlimited is built for people who want:

  • a “default card” that earns more than 1% everywhere (1.5%), and
  • a few high-frequency bonus categories (travel via Chase, dining, drugstores) without quarterly activation or caps.

It’s also a common “Chase stack” feeder card because the rewards are tracked as points and can be combined with other Chase cards.

Rewards & Benefits

The Everyday Points Engine

  • 1.5% on everything makes this a strong baseline card for uncategorized spend.
  • 3% dining + 3% drugstores covers two categories that hit most budgets weekly.
  • 5% on Chase Travel is the “portal bonus” lane if you prefer to book through Chase’s travel platform.

Redemption Mechanics

  • Chase explicitly states that cash back rewards are tracked as points, and $1 in cash back = 100 points.
  • If you have multiple Chase cards, you can combine/transfer points between your cards andwith one member of your household (rules apply).
Practical implication: By itself, the Freedom Unlimited is a cash-back card (1¢ per point). If you pair it with the right premium UR card, it can effectively become a “1.5 points per dollar” card, enabling point transfers.

Fees & Requirements

  • Annual fee: $0
  • Foreign transactions: 3% fee (so it’s generally a bad choice for international spend).
  • Balance transfer & intro APR: 0% for 15 months; transfer fee structure noted above.
  • Notes/edge cases: Chase’s pricing page also includes a “this account may not be eligible for balance transfers” note—so treat BT capability as “usually yes” but not guaranteed for every approval.

Protections & Perks

Core protections

From the Guide to Benefits applicable to Freedom Unlimited:

  • Auto Rental Coverage: reimburses theft/collision damage up to $60,000; secondary in the U.S., and generally primary outside the U.S. (availability varies by country/rental agency rules).
  • Extended Warranty Protection: extends eligible U.S. manufacturer warranties by 1 additional year; coverage limits include $10,000 per item and $50,000 per account (see benefit details/terms).
  • Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance: up to $1,500 per covered traveler and $6,000 per trip.

Partner perks

  • Lyft: Earn 2% total cash back on rides through September 2027 when you pay with eligible Freedom cards (including Freedom Unlimited).
  • DoorDash: Freedom cardmembers get 6 months of DashPass (activation required by the published deadline), plus up to $10 off quarterly on eligible non-restaurant orders through Dec 31, 2027, per Chase’s Freedom benefits page.

Who It’s Best For

  • Set-and-forget spenders: You want a single default card with 1.5% everywhere and common bonus categories.
  • Chase ecosystem builders: You plan to pair with a premium Ultimate Rewards card and combine points.
  • Dining + drugstore-heavy budgets: The 3% categories do real work with minimal effort.

Who Should Skip It

  • International travelers: the 3% foreign transaction fee wipes out most of the upside abroad.
  • Maximizers who’ll activate categories: if you’re willing to track quarterly categories, Freedom Flex can out-earn this card in those quarters.

Compare

Bottom Line

Freedom Unlimited is a top-tier $0-fee “default” card: simple earning, broad usefulness, strong baseline rate. It’s even better if you treat it as an Ultimate Rewards feeder by pairing it with a premium UR card and combining points.

Pros

  • Strong everyday baseline: You earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases, with rewards tracked as points (e.g., $1 = 100 points)

  • Bonus categories: The card layers on 5% back on travel booked through Chase Travel, plus 3% back on dining (including takeout/eligible delivery) and 3% back at drugstores

  • Solid protections: Benefits can include trip cancellation/interruption coverage and extended warranty coverage (terms, limits, and eligibility apply)

Cons

  • Foreign transaction fee: Purchases made in foreign currencies or processed outside the U.S. are subject to a 3% foreign transaction fee

  • Not the top flat-rate earner: Since the base earn rate is 1.5% everywhere, a true 2% flat-rate card can outperform it on uncategorized spend

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