Advertiser disclosure: Cards and Points has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Cards and Points and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers. Some or all of the card offers that appear on this site are from advertisers. Compensation may affect how and where card products appear on the site. The site does not include all card companies or all available offers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any of these entities. Terms apply to all credit card benefits.
The Chase Freedom Unlimited® is a no-annual-fee credit card that offers solid rewards everywhere, paired with bonus rewards on dining and drugstores and valuable consumer benefits like an extended warranty.
Cards and Points Rating: 5/5
The following offer is the best offer available online, but as of publication, there was a better offer available in-branch. See our coverage of the Chase Freedom Unlimited® welcome offers for more details.
Chase Freedom Unlimited® friend referral offer: Earn $200 after spending $500 in 3 months. (Annual fee: $0)
Earn a $200 bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. (Get this welcome bonus.)
More efficient than the current affiliate bonus for rewards on spending. Rewards are earned as Chase Ultimate Rewards® points
5% on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠. 3% at drugstores and on dining. 1.5% on other purchases. (More in our card review.)
This is a referral link. All information about the Chase Freedom Unlimited® has been collected independently by cardsandpoints.com.
Our 30 second review of the Chase Freedom Unlimited®
The generosity of the card’s rewards impresses us. Few other cards will give you 1.5% rewards everywhere paired with uncapped bonus rewards in meaningful categories. We also like that the card offers both purchase protection and extended warranty, making it a good choice to use when you buy expensive items like electronics.
Get the Chase Freedom Unlimited® if you want a single card to use everywhere or a card to use “everywhere else” that earns Ultimate Rewards®.
Likes
- 1.5% rewards everywhere.
- Bonus rewards in a wide variety of categories including restaurants, drugstores, and travel through Chase Travel℠.
- Points can be redeemed for 1 cent of cash back each.
- Offers synergies with other cards.
Dislikes
- No opportunity to earn 2x Ultimate Rewards® on any other card.
- Frequently-promoted affiliate welcome offer requires $20,000 of spending to maximize bonus.
Chase Freedom Unlimited® at a glance
Here’s what you need to know about the Chase Freedom Unlimited® Card.
Rewards
| Travel purchased through Chase Travel℠ | 5% | |
| Lyft rides through March 31, 2025 | 5% | |
| Dining at restaurants, including eligible takeout and delivery | 3% | |
| Drugstore purchases | 3% | |
| All other purchases | 1.5% |
Rewards are earned as Chase Ultimate Rewards® points.
Benefits
| Consumer insurance benefits Purchase protection Chase extended warranty protection | |
| Travel insurance benefits Secondary auto rental collision damage waiver insurance Trip cancellation/interruption insurance | |
| Travel benefits Travel and Emergency Assistance Services | |
| Third-party merchant benefits Complimentary 3 months of DashPass Complimentary 3 months of Instacart+ |
Terms
| Annual fee: annual_fees Foreign transaction fee: foreign_transaction_fee Balance transfer fee: balance_transfer_fees | |
| Intro APR on Balance Transfers: balance_transfer_intro_apr,balance_transfer_intro_duration Intro APR on Purchases: intro_apr_rate,intro_apr_duration Regular APR: reg_apr,reg_apr_type | |
| Helpful features Instant card access Credit journey Friend referral program |
Chase Freedom Unlimited® new cardmember welcome bonuses
The Chase Freedom Unlimited® currently offers three different welcome bonuses for new cardmembers. The best bonus is an in-branch bonus that we found in late April of 2024. See our coverage of that bonus for details. Here are the two bonuses available online:
Chase Freedom Unlimited 1.5% cash back on 20k spending offer
Chase Freedom Unlimited® offer: Extra 1.5% cash back on $20,000 spent in the first year. (Annual fee: $0)
bonus_miles_full (Get this welcome bonus.)
Better than the $200 after $500 bonus once you spend $13,334 in your first year. Rewards are earned as Chase Ultimate Rewards® points
5% on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠. 3% at drugstores and on dining. 1.5% on other purchases. (More in our card review.)
This is an affiliate link.
Chase Freedom Unlimited® $200 after spending $500 offer
Chase Freedom Unlimited® friend referral offer: Earn $200 after spending $500 in 3 months. (Annual fee: $0)
Earn a $200 bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. (Get this welcome bonus.)
More efficient than the current affiliate bonus for rewards on spending. Rewards are earned as Chase Ultimate Rewards® points
5% on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠. 3% at drugstores and on dining. 1.5% on other purchases. (More in our card review.)
This is a referral link. All information about the Chase Freedom Unlimited® has been collected independently by cardsandpoints.com.
Rewards: How to earn and use the rewards of the Chase Freedom Unlimited®
The Chase Freedom Unlimited® is marketed as a cash back card, but earns Ultimate Rewards® points. The best uses of your points that are available with the Freedom Unlimited are cash redemptions and gift cards that are on sale.
If you hold multiple credit cards that earn Ultimate Rewards, you can transfer your points between your own cards with no limitations. When you transfer your points to a premium Ultimate Rewards card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred®, you can get more value from the points you earn through travel redemptions with Chase Travel℠ and transfers to airline and hotel partners. (Learn more in our Guide to Ultimate Rewards.)
Here’s a bit more on how to earn and redeem the points you earn with the Chase Freedom Unlimited®.
Earning rewards
You can earn points on the Chase Freedom Unlimited® by spending on the card, shopping through Chase, referring a friend, and getting a new Freedom Unlimited card welcome bonus. Here are all of the ways to earn points with the Chase Freedom Unlimited.
Rewards from spending on your Chase Freedom Unlimited®
You’ll earn rewards when you use your card for everyday spending, plus you’ll earn rewards in bonus categories. Here’s what the Chase Freedom Unlimited® card earns:
| Travel purchased through Chase Travel℠ | 5% | |
| Lyft rides through March 31, 2025 | 5% | |
| Dining at restaurants, including eligible takeout and delivery | 3% | |
| Drugstore purchases | 3% | |
| All other purchases | 1.5% |
Shop through Chase: Points for shopping online
You can earn Ultimate Rewards® points by shopping online with the Shop through Chase® portal.
Shop through Chase typically offers a few points per dollar spent at merchant partners. Some merchants offer a large number of points when you sign up for a subscription service. You’ll also find coupon codes for additional discounts and free shipping on the site.
To earn points with Shop through Chase, go to https://ultimaterewardsearn.chase.com/ and sign into your Chase account. Select the account you want to earn points in and you’ll be taken to the Shop through Chase portal. Click through to an online partner to earn points.
The points you earn from the Shop through Chase portal will be in addition to the points you would normally earn from your card. You don’t even have to use your Chase card to checkout.
Refer a friend: Earn points when your friend gets a new credit card
If you hold the Chase Freedom Unlimited® card, you can refer a friend to your card and earn Ultimate Rewards® points.
Most Chase cards offer the ability to refer a friend. For each friend who gets a new Chase card through your referral link, you’ll earn points on the card your refer from, up to a maximum number of points per year.
To refer a friend to your Chase card, just go to https://referyourchasecard.com/ and enter your last name, zip code, and the last 4 digits of your card. If your card is eligible, you’ll see a referral link which you can send to your friend.
New cardmember welcome bonus: Get a new Chase Freedom Unlimited® card.
You can earn points when you get a new Chase Freedom Unlimited® card. We will always detail the best offer in our coverage of the best Chase Freedom Unlimited welcome offers. As of publication there were three different welcome offers available.
Using your rewards
Even though the Chase Freedom Unlimited® is marketed as a cash back card, the card earns Ultimate Rewards® points. This means you have several options for redeeming your rewards and a handful of ways to get more than 1 cent of value out of each of your points.
Here are the best ways to use your rewards with the Chase Freedom Unlimited®.
Cash back: 1 cent per point is your baseline redemption
Ultimate Rewards® can be redeemed for cash back. Regardless of what card you hold you will get 1 cent of value for each of your Ultimate Rewards points when you redeem for cash back.
To redeem your points for cash back, scroll to the Ultimate Rewards® panel in the Chase mobile app, select your account and click on “Redeem points” and select “Cash back.” If on the mobile or desktop website, log in and navigate to the Ultimate Rewards section of Chase.com or go to https://ultimaterewardspoints.chase.com/. Select “Convert to cash” from the menu and then select “Cash back.”
Gift cards: A good option when gift cards are on sale
Since you can always redeem Ultimate Rewards® for 1 cent per point of cash back, most gift card redemptions are a subpar use of points. Gift card redemptions only make sense when you can get more than 1 cent of value out of each of your points. Fortunately, Chase frequently offers a handful of gift card brands at a discount when you redeem your Ultimate Rewards.
To redeem Ultimate Rewards points for a gift card, scroll to the Ultimate Rewards® panel in the Chase mobile app, select your account, click on “Redeem points” and select “Redeem for gift cards.” Chase will show you or you can use the filter to select only gift cards that are on sale. If on the mobile or desktop website, log in and navigate to the Ultimate Rewards section of Chase.com or go to https://ultimaterewardspoints.chase.com/. Select “Shopping & Experiences” from the menu and then select “Redeem for gift cards.”
Combine points to take advantage of redemption options on other cards
Premium Ultimate Rewards® credit card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred®, Chase Sapphire Reserve®, and Chase Ink Business Preferred® offer redemptions through Chase Travel℠ at an increased value and point transfer partners. When you use the combine points feature of Ultimate Rewards to move your points to one of these cards, you can take advantage of these point redemption options.
Other redemption options you (usually) shouldn’t use
There are a few redemption Ultimate Rewards® redemption options that you shouldn’t use, usually because they provide less value than redeeming rewards for cash back:
- Pay with points at checkout usually gives you less than 1 cent per point of value and you won’t earn points on your purchase.
- Shop Apple offers a poor value. You’ll give up the opportunity to earn rewards on your purchase and usually only get 1 cent per point of value. Plus you can often get better pricing on Apple products when you purchase from another retailer, like Amazon.
Benefits
Here’s a rundown of the benefits offered by the Chase Freedom Unlimited®.
| Consumer insurance benefits Purchase protection Chase extended warranty protection | |
| Travel insurance benefits Secondary auto rental collision damage waiver insurance Trip cancellation/interruption insurance | |
| Travel benefits Travel and Emergency Assistance Services | |
| Third-party merchant benefits Complimentary 3 months of DashPass Complimentary 3 months of Instacart+ |
Consumer and purchase insurance benefits
Consumer insurance benefits protect the things you buy with your card. These benefits often include things like extended warranty and purchase protection. Here are the benefits offered on the Chase Freedom Unlimited®.
Extended warranty provides additional warranty coverage on items you purchase with your card. Chase’s extended warranty protection extends the time period of the U.S. manufacturer’s warranty by an additional year, on eligible warranties of three years or less. (Learn more about Chase extended warranty benefits)
Purchase protection protects the things you buy with your card from damage or theft for a certain amount of time after you buy them. Chase purchase protection covers your new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft up to $500 per claim and $50,000 per account.
Travel insurance benefits
Cards targeted toward travelers often offer travel insurance benefits that can protect you when you are traveling away from home. Terms and restrictions apply to all benefits.
Secondary auto rental collision damage waiver protects you against damage to or theft of your rental vehicle. For coverage to apply, you need to reserve and pay for your vehicle using your card and decline your car rental company’s collision damage waiver. Secondary coverages can cover your personal auto insurance deductible, but it requires you to file a claim with your personal automobile insurance if you are in an accident.
Trip cancellation and interruption insurance can reimburse you for prepaid travel expenses when your trip is canceled or interrupted for a covered reason. Chase Freedom Unlimited® trip cancellation and interruption insurance covers up to $6,000 for common carrier fares charged to your card.
Cards that pair well with the Chase Freedom Unlimited®
Because the Chase Freedom Unlimited® earns Ultimate Rewards points, there are a handful of other Chase cards that can make the rewards you earn more valuable and increase the total amount of rewards you earn. Here are some other cards you should consider.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred and Chase Sapphire Reserve are natural choices to pair with the Chase Freedom Unlimited® because they increase the value of the Freedom Unlimited’s rewards. Both of these cards open up the possibility to redeem Ultimate Rewards® points for increased value through Chase Travel℠. When you redeem your points through Chase Travel, you’ll get 25% more value with the Sapphire Preferred and 50% more value with the Sapphire Reserve. You’ll also get increased rewards on your travel purchases and have access to Chase’s airline and hotel transfer partners.
The Chase Freedom Flex℠ can help you earn more Ultimate Rewards points, thanks to its 5% rotating category rewards. Historically, rotating categories have included useful categories like grocery stores, Target, Amazon.com, gas stations, PayPal, wholesale clubs, and home improvement stores. The card also has a cell phone protection benefit, with the Freedom Unlimited lacks.
Small business owners can add a Chase Ink Business Cash® or a Chase Ink Business Preferred® to their wallet. The Ink Business Cash earns additional rewards in business-related categories and the Ink Business Preferred earns more rewards on travel while enabling redemptions through Chase Travel℠ for 25% more value and transfers to travel partners.
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express. Outside of limited-time welcome offers or rotating category bonuses on the Chase Freedom Flex, no card in the Ultimate Rewards® ecosystem earns much on gas or groceries. The Blue Cash Preferred can round out your wallet with its 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%) and 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations and on transit. You’ll also earn 6% cash back on select U.S. streaming services and 1% cash back elsewhere.
Alternatives to the Chase Freedom Unlimited®
If you want to carry single card that earns rewards everywhere with no annual fee, the TD Double Up Credit Card earns 2% cash back on all of your eligible purchases. You’ll also receive Visa benefits like cell phone protection, purchase security and extended warranty
Another good option for a single credit card to use everywhere that earns maximum rewards is the U.S. Bank Altitude® Reserve Visa Infinite® card. The card earns 3x rewards everywhere you use Apple Pay®, Google Pay™, or Samsung Pay. The card has a $400 annual fee, but that can be largely offset by $325 in annual credits that apply toward eligible travel and dining purchases. And if you redeem your points for travel, you’ll get a 50% value bonus, making the card effectively a 4.5%-everywhere-you-use-your-phone-to-pay card.
Small business owners might want to consider the Chase Ink Business Unlimited® card for its 1.5% cash back (also earned as Ultimate Rewards®). If you spend a lot month-to-month, keeping the spending on a business card can help you keep high balances off your personal credit report. Plus the card almost always has one of the best Ultimate Rewards new cardmember welcome bonuses.
When is the Chase Freedom Unlimited® right for you?
The Chase Freedom Unlimited® is likely a good fit for your wallet if you want a card with no annual fee to use on general purchases or if you already have other cards in the Chase Ultimate Rewards® ecosystem. If you spend a fair amount of money at drugstores or dining out, you’ll appreciate the cards 3% rewards in these categories. And if you don’t already have a card with an extended warranty benefit, charging your expensive electronics and similar purchases to Chase Freedom Unlimited is great way to add a little bit of extra protection to your stuff.
How to apply for the Chase Freedom Unlimited®
You can apply for the Chase Freedom Unlimited® online or in-branch. As of April 2024, the best offer was available as an in-branch exclusive offer. See our coverage of that bonus for details. Here are the two bonuses available online:
Chase Freedom Unlimited 1.5% cash back on 20k spending offer
Chase Freedom Unlimited® offer: Extra 1.5% cash back on $20,000 spent in the first year. (Annual fee: $0)
bonus_miles_full (Get this welcome bonus.)
Better than the $200 after $500 bonus once you spend $13,334 in your first year. Rewards are earned as Chase Ultimate Rewards® points
5% on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠. 3% at drugstores and on dining. 1.5% on other purchases. (More in our card review.)
This is an affiliate link.
Chase Freedom Unlimited® $200 after spending $500 offer
Chase Freedom Unlimited® friend referral offer: Earn $200 after spending $500 in 3 months. (Annual fee: $0)
Earn a $200 bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. (Get this welcome bonus.)
More efficient than the current affiliate bonus for rewards on spending. Rewards are earned as Chase Ultimate Rewards® points
5% on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠. 3% at drugstores and on dining. 1.5% on other purchases. (More in our card review.)
This is a referral link. All information about the Chase Freedom Unlimited® has been collected independently by cardsandpoints.com.
A few notes on applying for Chase cards
- 5/24 rule. Chase generally won’t approve you if your credit report is showing 5 or more new credit card accounts opened in the last 24 months. This rule is knows as the 5/24 rule. If you’re unsure if you are “under 5/24” you should check your 5/24 status before applying for a Chase card. Note that recently this rule seems to have softened, especially for Ink cards. See our coverage about Chase 5/24 for more.
- Only one Sapphire-branded card. You can only hold one Chase Sapphire-branded card at a time. This means you can have either a Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or a Chase Sapphire Reserve®, but not both.
- You can get a welcome bonus on a Chase card, even if you’ve had the card previously. How often you can earn a welcome bonus on a Chase card varies by card family.
- Most cards allow you to earn a welcome bonus if it has been at least 24 months since your last received a welcome bonus on the same card.
- Chase Sapphire-branded cards, such as the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and Chase Sapphire Reserve®, you can only earn a welcome bonus once every 48 months. (We published a separate article to help you determine if you can get a Sapphire welcome bonus.)
- Marriott cards have their own special rules.
- Chase will match an increased bonus. If you apply for a Chase card and the bank offers a higher bonus within 90 days, you can send Chase a secure message or call them to have your welcome offer matched.
- In-branch offers are sometimes better. Chase sometimes has better credit card welcome offers in-branch than it will publish on its own website or through affiliate networks. Check all channels to make sure you’re getting the best bonus.
- Chase business cards do not report to personal credit reports and do not impact your 5/24 status as long as they are current.
Frequently asked questions
Does the Chase Freedom Unlimited® offer cell phone protection?
The Chase Freedom Unlimited does not offer cell phone protection. That benefit is available on the Chase Freedom Flex card.
Is the Chase Freedom Unlimited a Visa or Mastercard?
The Chase Freedom Unlimited is issued as a Visa card. The similarly-name 5% rotating category card, the Chase Freedom Flex, is issued as a Mastercard.
Can the Chase Freedom Unlimited®’s points be transferred to airlines?
If you also hold a premium Ultimate Rewards® credit card, like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, you can transfer the points you earn with the Chase Freedom to airline and hotel partners.
Am I automatically enrolled in the DashPass membership on the Chase Freedom Unlimited card?
No. You must enroll in the complimentary DashPass membership.
Advertiser disclosure: Cards and Points has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Cards and Points and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers. Some or all of the card offers that appear on this site are from advertisers. Compensation may affect how and where card products appear on the site. The site does not include all card companies or all available offers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any of these entities. Terms apply to all credit card benefits.