The best welcome bonus available online on the Chase Freedom Unlimited isn’t the best bonus you can get on the card. Doctor of Credit tipped us off to a Reddit thread that mentions that the gas and grocery offer is back in-branch.
Both Doctor of Credit and the Reddit thread cite the in-branch bonus as $300 after $500, plus 5% back on gas and groceries, but this was not the offer we found in-branch.
As of January 12, 2026, the in-branch exclusive offer is the following:
Earn 5% cash back on gas station and grocery store purchases (excluding Target® and Walmart®) on up to $12,000 spent in the first year.
Plus, earn a $200 bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
Chase Freedom Unlimited® in-branch offer terms
This is a total of 5% cash back on gas and grocery purchases, meaning you’ll get 3.5% cash back on top of the 1.5% cash back you would normally get for these purchases. If you spent $12,000 on gas and groceries without the offer, you’d earn $180 cash back, meaning that the marginal rewards of the 5% offer are up to $420, plus the $200 you can earn after spending $500.
My take: This is the offer to get, but in-branch exclusives frustrate me.
This Chase in-branch offer is by far the best offer on the Freedom Unlimited. And if you are considering this card and live near a Chase branch, you should absolutely visit a Chase branch and speak with a banker to see if this offer is available.
I find it a bit frustrating that Chase is keeping this offer as an in-branch exclusive. This isn’t really a criticism of Chase, but rather a criticism of the practice of having in-branch exclusive offers generally.
Inconsistent offers are confusing. Generally, I’m a fan of the same offer being available everywhere. Applying for a card only to find out that you could have gotten a better offer elsewhere is not a great feeling.
But even more concerning is that in-branch exclusive offers create bad incentives for publishers, bloggers, and influencers. The vast majority of people writing about credit cards and travel rewards make money from credit card affiliate links. And if the best offer is an in-branch exclusive that a content creator can’t get paid for, then there is a financial incentive against promoting the best offers.
In my business, I choose to post the best public offer that is a.) available online that b.) I can link to directly, even if I don’t get paid for it. And if I know about a better offer, I try to very clearly guide you to where there might be better offers. For me, this is a business decision—I’m betting that a strategy of building long-term loyalty with readers and viewers will win, even if it comes at the expense of a few credit card sales.
Unfortunately, the number of publishers that do the same are vanishingly small, and readers are the ones who lose out. If Chase made it possible to get paid by promoting the best offer, that would change the incentives so that consumers would more consistently see the best offers.
At a glance: About the Chase Freedom Unlimited®
The Chase Freedom Unlimited® is an excellent choice for a use-anywhere card, thanks to its 1.5% cash back rewards and extended warranty benefit.
Chase Freedom Unlimited® welcome offer
Welcome offer: Earn a $300 bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
This bonus is marketed as cash back, but is awarded as Ultimate Rewards points.
Chase often offers better in-branch bonuses on this card that you won’t see online.
Annual fee: $0
Rewards
- 5% on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠.
- 3% on dining at restaurants, including eligible takeout and delivery services.
- 3% drugstore purchases.
- 1.5% on other purchases.
Rewards are marketed as cash back, but earned as Chase Ultimate Rewards® points.
Ultimate Rewards® can be combined across cards you hold. If you hold a premium Ultimate Rewards card, you can transfer your points to Chase’s transfer partners or use your points for increased value when you book travel through Chase Travel℠. For more about using Ultimate Rewards, check out our guide on the Ultimate Rewards program.
Benefits
Consumer insurance benefits
Travel insurance benefits
- Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance.
- Auto Rental Coverage.
- Roadside Assistance.
- Travel and Emergency Assistance.
Partner benefits and statement credits
- 6 months of complimentary access to DashPass.
Subject to auto-renewal at the current monthly rate. Activate by December 31, 2027.
Rates and Fees
- Annual fee: $0
- Foreign transaction fee: 3% of the amount of each transaction in U.S. dollars.
Read more about the Chase Freedom Unlimited
Learn more about the Chase Freedom Unlimited®:
- Read our review of the Chase Freedom Unlimited.
- Learn why we think the Freedom Unlimited is one of the best cards out there.
- Discover how to maximize your rewards in our guide to Ultimate Rewards.
