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The Chase Freedom Flex℠ is one of the most popular cash back credit cards on the market, thanks to its rotating bonus categories and fantastic protections. However, it has long charged a foreign transaction fee, which limits its utility for travelers who frequently find themselves outside the U.S.
Luckily, Chase just sent out an email to cardholders explaining that foreign transaction fees would be going away soon. Here's what to know.
Freedom Flex Dropping Foreign Transaction Fees
When you use certain credit cards outside the U.S., you might be charged a foreign transaction fee. It's typically 3% of the purchase, and while that might not seem like a lot, it can add up quickly. If you spend $1,000 during your European vacation, you're paying an extra $30 just for using your credit card.
While premium cards don't normally charge foreign transaction fees, many no-annual-fee or cash-back credit cards do. Right now, the Freedom Flex charges a foreign transaction fee of 3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars. That means the fee wipes out any earnings you get from your card.
However, starting September 20, 2026, Chase is eliminating foreign transaction fees on the Freedom Flex. That means you'll be able to earn 5% on rotating bonus categories (up to $1,500 per quarter), 5% on travel purchased through Chase, 3% on dining at restaurants and drugstore purchases and 1% on other eligible purchases, including on purchases made abroad.
This puts the Freedom Flex in much more direct competition with the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card, another popular no-annual-fee card with no foreign transaction fees.
- Earn 5% on up to $1,500 on combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate
- Earn 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠
- Earn 3% on dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services
- Earn 3% on drugstore purchases
- Earn 1% on all other purchases
Freedom Flex Also Losing Cell Phone Protection
All good things come at a price. The cell phone protection currently available to Freedom Flex cardholders will be discontinued on September 20, 2026, and will only cover eligible losses incurred through September 19, 2026.
As someone who spends the vast majority of the year outside the U.S., I think this is a fair trade-off. You can still get cell phone protection with a variety of cards, including:
- Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card (Rates & Fees): Up to $600, subject to a $25 deductible
- Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card: Up to $800, subject to a $50 deductible
- American Express Platinum Card®: Up to $800, subject to a $50 deductible
Is it frustrating when a card loses a benefit? Sure, but being able to use your card abroad without incurring foreign transaction fees is likely much more valuable than a cell phone protection benefit that you may or may not use over the life of the card.
- Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases
$395
- 10X miles per $1 on hotels and rental cars booked via Capital One Travel
- 5X miles per $1 on purchases through Capital One Entertainment
- 5X miles per $1 on flights when booking via Capital One Travel
- 5X miles per $1 on vacation rentals booked via Capital One Travel
- 2X miles per $1 on all other eligible purchases
$895Rates & Fees
(Terms apply)
- Earn 5X points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel® (up to $500,000 in purchases per calendar year).
- Earn 5X points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel®.
- Earn 5X points on Fine Hotels + Resorts® and The Hotel Collection bookings.
Bottom Line
It's not uncommon for issuers to serve up great news with bad news lurking behind it. Today's news is no exception, but it's positive nonetheless. Starting September 20, 2026, you will be able to use your Freedom Flex for purchases abroad without incurring a foreign transaction fee.
This will be a fantastic way to maximize quarterly bonus categories, or simply to earn 3% on pharmacy purchases abroad. Only time will tell if this change will extend to its sister card, the Chase Freedom Unlimited® (Rates & Fees). If so, this would be a powerful duo to keep in your wallet on international trips.
For rates and fees of the cards mentioned in this post, please visit the following links: American Express Platinum Card® (Rates & Fees), and Chase Freedom Unlimited® (Rates & Fees)
