Chase Freedom Unlimited review: A great card for beginners and pros alike
Editor's Note
Chase Freedom Unlimited overview
The no-annual-fee Chase Freedom Unlimited? is perfect for beginner and advanced award travelers. While many cards offer 1% back on purchases outside of bonus categories, you'll earn 1.5% back on non-bonus spending with the Freedom Unlimited. And if you pair this with a card that earns premium Chase Ultimate Rewards points, you can convert your rewards into fully transferable points, doubling their value. Card rating*: ????
*Card rating is based on the opinion of TPG's editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.
At first glance, the Chase Freedom Unlimited might seem like a tame cash-back card. But there's a lot more to it than meets the eye.
With no annual fee and a simple earning structure, it's a great card for beginners, provided they have a credit score of at least 670. It's also an excellent card pairing for more premium options like the Chase Sapphire Preferred? Card and Chase Sapphire Reserve?, making it a valuable addition to many larger card portfolios.
Let's examine what makes this card so deceptively great, and whether it deserves a spot in your wallet.
Chase Freedom Unlimited pros and cons
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Chase Freedom Unlimited welcome offer
With the Chase Freedom Unlimited, new cardholders can earn an additional 1.5% cash back on all purchases (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year), worth up to $300 cash back.
And it's even more valuable if you also have a card that earns Chase Ultimate Rewards points, meaning you can transfer your cash back to points and move them to one of Chase's transfer partners.
Also, since this is a Chase card, remember it's subject to Chase's 5/24 rule.
Related: The best time to apply for these Chase cards based on offer history
Chase Freedom Unlimited benefits
The trade-off for cards without an annual fee is that they tend to come with fewer perks than their more premium counterparts. Still, the Freedom Unlimited has some nice features worth highlighting:
- Rental car protection: You'll have rental car insurance that covers theft and damage up to the actual cash value of most rented cars.
- Trip cancellation and interruption insurance: You'll be covered for up to $1,500 per person and up to $6,000 per trip for eligible travel expenses on your card if severe weather, illness or other covered situations result in the cancellation or interruption of your travel plans.
- Roadside dispatch: You'll get access to pay-per-use roadside assistance that will connect you with service providers when you have issues on the road.
- Extended warranty protection: You can extend the time period of warranty coverage by one additional year on original eligible warranties of three years or less.
- Purchase protection: Your purchases are protected against theft and damage for 120 days after the date of purchase.
If you don't have another card with more robust travel insurance and shopping protections, this is a decent amount of coverage for a card with no annual fee.
Related: Why the Chase Freedom Unlimited is great for college students
Earning cash back on the Chase Freedom Unlimited
With the Freedom Unlimited, you'll normally earn:
- 5% back on travel booked through Chase Travel?
- 3% back on dining (including takeout and eligible delivery services)
- 3% back at drugstores
- 1.5% back on all other purchases
While none of the bonus categories are show-stoppers, finding a card with bonus categories and a flat rate higher than 1% for all additional purchases is unusual. The bonus categories are nice, but the ability to earn 50% more on non-bonus spending makes this card shine.
For instance, TPG reader Kate Trimble appreciates how the Freedom Unlimited earns "Cash/points back on every purchase" (via a TPG newsletter survey).
Note: Reader-submitted responses have not been edited, reviewed or approved by the issuers nor reflect TPG's opinions of these cards.
If you're looking for a card that earns more than 1% back on non-bonus spending, this is an excellent choice.
Related: The best cards to pair with the Freedom Unlimited
Redeeming cash back on the Chase Freedom Unlimited
You can redeem the cash back earned on your Freedom Unlimited as a statement credit or for a direct deposit into most U.S. checking and savings accounts at a value of one cent per point. You can also redeem your rewards for gift cards or use them to book travel through the Chase Travel portal for the same value.
You can also pay directly with your points at Amazon.com, but you'll get a lower value going this route.
With the right card pairing, you can turn your rewards into transferable Chase Ultimate Rewards points and utilize Chase's valuable transfer partners for even more value.
Related: Why the Chase Sapphire Preferred and Freedom unlimited are the perfect beginner card combo
Transferring cash back with the Chase Freedom Unlimited
Alone, the Freedom Unlimited is a true cash-back card and doesn't allow you to transfer your rewards to travel partners.
However, if you also have the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card, the Chase Sapphire Reserve or the Ink Business Preferred? Credit Card, you can combine your rewards and unlock Chase's full list of hotel and airline partners.
TPG staffers particularly love the option to transfer our Chase Ultimate Rewards to World of Hyatt. Some of us, like TPG director of content Summer Hull, prefer to use these rewards to book higher-end Hyatts that might otherwise be out of budget. Alternatively, some are like me and prefer to stretch our rewards by using them for great deals on Hyatt's Category 1 properties.
In addition to World of Hyatt, Chase's other transfer partners include valuable options like United MileagePlus, British Airways Executive Club and Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer. You'll find excellent options with Chase's transfer partners, regardless of your travel style and preferences.
Related: How to redeem Chase Ultimate Rewards for maximum value
Which cards compete with the Chase Freedom Unlimited?
One option might be a better fit if you want to focus on earning cash-back rewards. Like the Freedom Unlimited, they earn cash-back rewards and don't carry an annual fee.
- If you want to earn 5% back on rotating categories: The Chase Freedom Flex? earns 5% back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in quarterly bonus categories after you activate. Like the Freedom Unlimited, it earns rewards you can transfer to Chase's partners with the right card pairing. For more details, check out our full review of the Chase Freedom Flex.
- If you want to earn 3% back on different categories: The Blue Cash Everyday? Card from American Express earns 3% cash back spent at U.S. supermarkets, U.S. online purchases and U.S. gas stations each year (up to $6,000 for each category, then 1%) and 1% on all other purchases. Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout. For more details, check out our full review of the Amex Blue Cash Everyday.
- If you want to earn more on non-bonus spending: The Citi Double Cash? Card (see rates and fees) earns 2% back on all purchases (1% when you buy and 1% as you pay). For more details, check out our full review of the Citi Double Cash.
For additional options, please see our lists of the best cash-back cards and the best cards without an annual fee.
Related: Chase Freedom Flex vs. Chase Freedom Unlimited
Is the Chase Freedom Unlimited worth it?
Since the Freedom Unlimited doesn't carry an annual fee, you can feel great about earning rewards without justifying what you pay to keep it each year. You can maximize your rewards-earning potential if you already have a Chase Ultimate Rewards points-earning card. However, if you're focused solely on cash-back rewards, you'll likely want a card with a higher earning rate.
Related: How to choose a cash-back card
Bottom line
The Chase Freedom Unlimited is a great card for everyday, non-bonus spending and can provide incredible value when paired with a more premium Chase card. Whether you're a beginner or a pro looking for a complementary card to add to your portfolio, the Freedom Unlimited is an excellent choice.
Apply here: Chase Freedom Unlimited