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The Chase Freedom Unlimited® is one of our favorite credit cards. It sports no annual fee, earns up to 5% cash back on purchases, and its rewards are even more valuable when paired with an Ultimate Rewards-earning card. What's more, the Freedom Unlimited has an intro offer where you can score a $200 bonus after meeting the minimum spending requirement.
Here's why you might consider adding the Freedom Unlimited to your wallet.
- Intro Offer: Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening
- Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 1.5% on all other purchases.
- No minimum to redeem for cash back. You can choose to receive a statement credit or direct deposit into most U.S. checking and savings accounts. Cash Back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open!
- Enjoy 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 18.99% - 28.49%.
- No annual fee - You won't have to pay an annual fee for all the great features that come with your Freedom Unlimited® card
- Keep tabs on your credit health, Chase Credit Journey helps you monitor your credit with free access to your latest score, alerts, and more.
- Member FDIC
- Rates & Fees
- Earn 5% on purchases through Chase Travel℠
- Earn 3% on dining at restaurants
- Earn 3% on drugstore purchases
- Earn 1.5% on all purchases
Page Contents
Why Should You Get the Freedom Unlimited?
The Freedom Unlimited is a well-rounded, no-annual-fee credit card. And if you're a new applicant for it, you can earn a $200 bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening.
While this bonus amounts to almost 50% return on the first $500 you spend on your card in the first three months, the card has much more to offer, like purchase protection, travel insurance, and lucrative earning rates — even on purchases that don't fall into a special bonus category.
When you use your card, you'll earn 5% on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3% on dining at restaurants and drugstores, and 1.5% on other eligible purchases. That's a great return, but you can supercharge your rewards if you pair the Freedom Unlimited with a credit card that earns Ultimate Rewards points.
Related: Our Full Review of the Freedom Unlimited
Pair the Freedom Unlimited with an Ultimate Rewards-Earning Card for Max Value
To get the most value from the rewards you earn on the Freedom Unlimited, it's worth pairing it with a card that earns Ultimate Rewards points. Doing so unlocks access to Chase’s transfer partners, where points can be worth significantly more for award flights and hotel stays.
On average, Chase Ultimate Rewards points are worth 1.95¢ each when transferred to travel partners like Virgin Atlantic or World of Hyatt, which is far better than the 1¢ per point you'd get through Chase Travel℠, Pay Yourself Back, or when redeeming for gift cards.
Plus, combining cards lets you maximize bonus categories for different kinds of purchases. Some of the best Ultimate Rewards-earning cards include the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (Rates & Fees), Chase Sapphire Reserve® (Rates & Fees), and the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card (Rates & Fees). And these cards have solid welcome offers, too.
By using the right mix of Chase cards, you can squeeze even more value from every dollar you spend.
Freedom Unlimited Application Restrictions
Chase has strict application rules, and the most important one to keep in mind is its 5/24 policy (here's how to check your status for free). If you’ve opened five or more new credit cards in the past 24 months (based on what’s showing on your credit report), you likely won’t be approved for the Freedom Unlimited or any other Chase card.
In addition, Chase imposes a 2/30 rule, meaning you can only open two personal credit cards (or one personal and one business card) within a 30-day period.
There’s also a 24-month restriction specifically for the Freedom Unlimited, which you’ll find in the application terms. This rule determines eligibility based on when you last earned a bonus on the card:
“This product is not available to either (i) current cardmembers of this credit card, or (ii) previous cardmembers of this credit card who received a new cardmember bonus for this credit card within the last 24 months.”
Related: Why Starting With Chase Cards Matters if You're Under 5/24
Final Thoughts
The offer on the Freedom Unlimited deserves your attention. It's not very often a no-annual-fee card offers such a strong bonus.
But beyond the sign-up bonus, the Freedom Unlimited remains a valuable long-term card thanks to its solid earning rates on everyday spending. But to get the most out of it, you’ll want to pair it with a premium Ultimate Rewards card, such as the Sapphire Preferred. These cards unlock the ability to transfer points to Chase's airline and hotel partners, which are the key to maximizing your rewards.
If you’re eligible and looking to build a strong Chase rewards strategy, now’s a great time to apply for the Freedom Unlimited.
- Intro Offer: Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening
- Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 1.5% on all other purchases.
- No minimum to redeem for cash back. You can choose to receive a statement credit or direct deposit into most U.S. checking and savings accounts. Cash Back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open!
- Enjoy 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 18.99% - 28.49%.
- No annual fee - You won't have to pay an annual fee for all the great features that come with your Freedom Unlimited® card
- Keep tabs on your credit health, Chase Credit Journey helps you monitor your credit with free access to your latest score, alerts, and more.
- Member FDIC
- Rates & Fees
- Earn 5% on purchases through Chase Travel℠
- Earn 3% on dining at restaurants
- Earn 3% on drugstore purchases
- Earn 1.5% on all purchases
For rates and fees of the cards mentioned in this post, please visit the following links: Chase Freedom Unlimited® (Rates & Fees), Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (Rates & Fees), Chase Sapphire Reserve® (Rates & Fees), and Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card (Rates & Fees)
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