Chase Freedom Unlimited Review
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Written by
Jasmin Baron
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Edited by
Emily Gadd
The Chase Freedom Unlimited® card is a stellar option for anyone looking for a cash back credit card that will also allow you to save money on interest with a generous intro APR period on purchases and balance transfers. With no annual fee and many additional perks, it is easy to see why it is such a popular option.
Purchase and Balance Transfer APR
0% Intro APR on Purchases and Balance Transfers for 15 months, then 18.99% – 28.49% Variable
Intro Bonus
Intro Offer: Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening
Cash Back
1.5% – 5% 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
Recommended Credit Score
Good – Excellent
670 – 850*
Annual Fee
$0
CardCritics™ Opinion
The Chase Freedom Unlimited® card offers a generous and unlimited base rate of 1.5% cash back on all of your purchases while also providing an even higher rate on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, dining at restaurants and purchases at drugstores. You can earn a welcome bonus of $200 cash back after you spend $500 on purchases in the first three months of account opening. You can also save money on interest with a lengthy intro APR on purchases and balance transfers. Plus, if you hold other Chase cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, you can combine your rewards to make them even more valuable.
Our Critical Analysis:
Chase Freedom Unlimited®
- Base rate is higher than other similar cards
- No annual Fee
- Lengthy intro APR period on purchases & balance transfers
PROS
- Has a foreign transaction fee
CONS
Ongoing Rewards
We really like that the Freedom Unlimited card offers a straightforward way to earn cash back while also providing some enticing bonus categories that will allow you to earn even more. At a minimum, you will earn:
- An unlimited 1.5% cash back on purchases
- 5% on travel purchased through Chase Travel
- 3% on drugstores purchases
- 3% on dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services
When it comes time to redeem these rewards, there is no minimum to redeem for cash back and your cash back rewards will never expire as long as your account remains open.
For those cardholders who have another Chase card that earns rewards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, you’ll have the ability to combine your point balances across cards which can make them even more valuable since you will then be able to transfer them at a 1:1 ratio to Chase’s travel partners.
Bonus Worth $200
The Freedom Unlimited card comes with a welcome bonus worth $200 in cash back after you spend $500 on purchases in the first three months of account opening.
Generous Intro APR
Those seeking a 0% intro APR will be happy to hear that the Freedom Unlimited card allows you to pay no interest for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers. After the introductory rate the 18.99% – 28.49% Variable APR will apply.
There is an intro balance transfer fee of either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater in the first 60 days. The ongoing balance transfer fee after the first 60 days is either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
Additional Benefits
The additional perks offered to card holders are impressive, especially considering that there is no annual fee. Your Freedom Unlimited card comes with built-in protection benefits like:
- Fraud monitoring
- Extended warranty protection
- Purchase protection
- Zero liability protection
When it comes to travel, this card offers:
- Auto rental collision damage waiver
- Trip cancellation/interruption insurance
- Travel and emergency assistance services
What Makes the Freedom Unlimited Stand Out?
The Freedom Unlimited card is a strong choice for those seeking a straightforward cash back card with no annual fee and a solid introductory APR offer.
Since this card doesn’t come with any confusing terms and conditions or complicated quarterly reward activation, customers can focus on earning and redeeming their rewards however they’d like. The best part is that they still earn unlimited cash back with every purchase, no matter what.
Is It the Right Card For You?
The Freedom Unlimited may be the right fit for you if any of the following apply:
- You want to earn cash back on all of your purchases without tracking categories
- You have good to excellent credit and you are looking for a simple rewards structure and no annual fee
- You want to earn elevated rewards on dining or shopping at drugstores
- You have another Chase card and want to maximize the benefits of Chase Ultimate Rewards by combining points
Card Details From Chase
- 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
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about the Chase Freedom Unlimited® to help you decide if it’s the right card for you:
What credit score is needed for the Chase Freedom Unlimited® card?
The Freedom Unlimited requires good to excellent credit. Typically a FICO credit score of 670 or above meets this criteria. However, having a credit score of 670 or above does not guarantee approval since other factors are taken into consideration.
Does the Chase Freedom Unlimited® charge an annual fee?
No, the Freedom Unlimited comes with a $0 annual fee.
What welcome bonus does the Chase Freedom Unlimited® offer?
Intro Offer: Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening
Does the Chase Freedom Unlimited® offer an intro APR?
The Freedom Unlimited comes with a 0% Intro APR on Purchases and Balance Transfers for 15 months, then 18.99% - 28.49% Variable.
Editorial Note: Any opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed are those of the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer.
*CardCritics™ references a FICO® 8 score, which is one of many different types of credit scores. A financial institution may use a different score when evaluating your application.
