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Other benefits increase this card's value proposition, including an introductory annual percentage rate (APR) on purchases and balance transfers, travel insurance, and consumer protections, like purchase protection against damage or theft and extended warranties. When you combine these benefits with the rewards and $0 annual fee, the Chase Freedom Unlimited®'s popularity makes a lot of sense.
While the Chase Freedom Unlimited® comes with an intro APR offer for purchases and balance transfers and plenty of perks, consumers typically pick this card for the cash back. Here's an overview of the card's rewards rates, earning potential, and redemption options.
The Chase Freedom Unlimited® offers a few different reward tiers, all unlimited, meaning there are no caps on the amount of cash back you can earn, even if you use your card for all your regular spending and bills throughout the year.
Cardholders earn:
These rewards are offered on top of the sign-up bonus of $200 when new cardholders spend at least $500 on purchases within three months of account opening.
Expert intel: To get an idea of how much in rewards a cardholder could earn within a year, imagine a cardholder makes the following purchases (on average) each month:
In this scenario, the cardholder would earn $44.50 in cash back per month and $534 in cash back over one year. Add on the card's generous sign-up bonus, and potential Year One rewards add up to $734.
Cash back credit cards from Chase, including the Chase Freedom Unlimited®, offer a range of easy redemption options.
Cardholders can redeem rewards for:
Expert intel: Many cardholders who like to travel also pair the Chase Freedom Unlimited® with a premium travel credit card, like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® or the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, to increase their redemption options. By pairing these cards and pooling all rewards in a Sapphire account, they can transfer their rewards to Chase travel partners or redeem points for travel through Chase at a higher redemption value.
Either way, you can redeem rewards through the user's online Chase account or the Chase mobile app.
The Chase Freedom Unlimited® received an average score of 4.7 out of 5 based on our credit card review methodology. While the card and issuer received the top score of 5 in Features and Benefits, Security, and User Experience, we made some deductions in the Rates and Fees and Customer Service categories.
In the sections below, we dig into the details behind each category score.
The Chase Freedom Unlimited® has a $0 annual fee, and its intro APR for purchases and balance transfers is another major benefit. If used as a balance transfer credit card, the Chase Freedom Unlimited® also has an intro balance transfer fee of 3% (minimum $5) on transfers made within 60 days of account opening, which aligns with industry standards.
The card received a less-than-perfect score in this category due to its 3% foreign transaction fees and the high variable APR it charges after the introductory period ends.
Chase Freedom Unlimited® benefits are substantial despite the card's lack of an annual fee. Notable perks include the intro APR offer, trip cancellation and interruption insurance, auto rental coverage (secondary coverage in the U.S.), purchase protection against damage or theft, and extended warranties.
Chase offers standard encryption on its website and mobile app, as well as enhanced security features like multi-factor authentication. Mobile app users can even secure their account with biometric identification through fingerprint or facial recognition technology.
Chase boasts a highly-rated mobile app with a 4.4 out of 5 rating on Google Play and 4.8 out of 5 stars in the App Store.
All card information is easily found online, and Chase is known for its overall transparency. Rewards earned on Chase credit cards are notorious for their superior value and ease of use.
Chase phone customer service is known for being excellent, and the company replies to secure messages in a timely manner. The issuer makes opening or closing this card easy, and users can call to inquire about upgrading to a premium credit card from Chase.
Unfortunately, JPMorgan Chase is not accredited with the Better Business Bureau (BBB), and the nonprofit notes the financial institution has been on the receiving end of recent government actions for marketplace conduct on its website.
The issuer's customer service team is available 24/7, and the response times tend to be fast. You can reach Chase credit card customer service by phone (1-800-432-3117) or on its social media channels (tweet Chase at @ChaseSupport or message them on Facebook or Instagram.)
When we tested these channels:
Chase Freedom Unlimited® customers tend to keep this card for the long haul even when it's not top-of-the-wallet, a factor that's likely due to its $0 annual fee. However, many use this card to maximize rewards over time, either through its minimum rewards rate of 1.5% cash back on all purchases or its bonus rewards categories.
Travel rewards expert Lee Huffman of travel blog Bald Thoughts falls into that category. The writer says he uses the Chase Freedom Unlimited® to earn extra rewards on everyday purchases that would only earn 1% cash back or 1X points if he used other cards.
"I also like to use it for 3% cash back on household and prescription purchases at drugstores," Huffman says.
The expert says the Chase Freedom Unlimited® can also make sense for consumers due to its limited-time 0% APR offer for purchases and balance transfers. That said, Huffman warns about using the card to earn rewards while taking advantage of the intro APR offer.
If used for balance transfers, for example, he only recommends it to people who are disciplined enough to avoid spending on the card until they're debt-free. If used to earn rewards while enjoying the limited-time 0% APR on purchases, cardholders should have a plan to pay off their purchases completely before the intro offer ends.
Credit card rewards expert Aaron Hurd of Cards and Points also believes the Chase Freedom Unlimited® is a smart choice for consumers who want to enjoy consumer protections for travel and purchases they make.
Hurd points out that getting purchase protection, return protection, car rental insurance (even if secondary in the U.S.), and trip cancellation and interruption insurance for no annual fee is "a great deal."
Hurd also says the card really shines when paired with the Chase Sapphire Preferred® or Chase Sapphire Reserve® since that gives users access to high-value redemption options available on premium cards. If you pool all rewards you earn with Chase credit cards in a Chase Sapphire Reserve® account, for example, you unlock the option to transfer points to Chase airline and hotel partners and get 50% more value for points if used for travel through Chase.
Reddit users also seem to agree that the Chase Freedom Unlimited® is most useful when paired with other Chase credit cards, particularly when consumers get the "Chase trifecta" — a combination of three Chase credit cards (Unlimited, Sapphire, and a Chase business credit card) that let them maximize their rewards on all purchases and redeem them for maximum value.
If you don't want to pair the Chase Freedom Unlimited® with another card, some argue it's still a good travel credit card due to its rewards rates for travel and included travel benefits.
Expert intel: “Ideal customers for the Chase Freedom Unlimited® are people who travel a lot and don’t traditionally stay in the same hotel brand or fly with the same airline. After all, cardholders receive a 5% cash back bonus on all qualifying travel expenses that they can use as they see fit. You also get built-in trip cancellation and trip interruption insurance on qualified travel purchases.” — Domenick D'Andrea, financial adviser at DanDarah Wealth Management
Most experts would agree that the Chase Freedom Unlimited® is a better-than-average credit card, and the fact that it's been available since 2016 proves its overall popularity with cardholders. Not only does it come with a $0 annual fee and an intro APR offer that applies to both purchases and balance transfers, but it also boasts generous rewards and a slew of ancillary cardholder perks.
Potential customers need good or excellent credit to qualify, which can be a major roadblock for credit newcomers who are just starting to build credit for the first time. This also makes the Chase Freedom Unlimited® a poor option for people with fair or poor credit due to past missteps. And, if you plan to travel overseas frequently, you should know that this card charges 3% in foreign transaction fees.
Still, there are ample reasons to consider this card, whether you want one rewards credit card for all your spending or plan to pair up cards to maximize rewards on everything you buy. At the end of the day, the Chase Freedom Unlimited® should be on your list if you have the credit to qualify and want to earn flexible rewards for each dollar you spend. If you also have (or plan to have) a premium travel credit card from Chase, the Unlimited's value proposition increases.
In order to create a comprehensive, factual review of the Chase Freedom Unlimited® Credit Card, we considered a range of factors that matter to consumers the most. Card details we assessed and compared include rewards rates and redemption options, rates and fees, features and benefits, account security, user experience, and customer service.
Our review of the Chase Freedom Unlimited® took all these factors into account, along with several first-hand experiences of current cardholders and overall consumer sentiment found online.
Does the Chase Freedom Unlimited® Credit Card Have Foreign Transaction Fees?
The Chase Freedom Unlimited® charges 3% in foreign transaction fees when you use it for purchases outside the U.S. If you travel internationally on a regular basis, consider pairing it with another card that doesn't charge this fee.
What Credit Score Do You Need for the Chase Freedom Unlimited® Credit Card?
While Chase considers its approval process and requirements proprietary information, anecdotal evidence suggests applicants need good credit or better to qualify for this card. This requirement means having a FICO score of 670 or higher before you apply.
How Much Annual Income Do I Need for the Chase Freedom Unlimited® Credit Card?
Chase doesn't list a minimum income requirement for this card. However, you'll have a better chance of being approved if you show you have adequate income to pay your monthly credit card bill. Other factors, like employment and credit score, also come into play when you submit a credit card application with Chase.
Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain.
