Chase Freedom Unlimited Credit Card

Looking to earn high cash back on all your purchases for no annual fee? The Chase Freedom Unlimited Credit Card could be up your alley.

Here's the details on this card.

• 4 Chase Freedom Unlimited benefits
• 2 Chase Freedom Unlimited downsides
• Chase Freedom Unlimited vs Chase Freedom Flex credit cards
• Chase Freedom Unlimited vs Citi Double Cash
• Alternatives to the Chase Freedom Unlimited credit card
• FAQ

4 Chase Freedom Unlimited benefits

So what are some reasons to consider this card? Here are 4 things to like about the Chase Freedom Unlimited Credit Card.

3 Chase Freedom Unlimited categories

With the Chase Freedom Unlimited Credit Card, your earn rates will never fall below 1.5%.

You'll earn:

• 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards,
• 3% cash back on restaurants and drugstores, and
• 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.

It's a nice treat to see a card that offers bonus rewards on select categories, while still maintaining a base earn rate greater than 1%.

No annual fee

The best part about earning those rewards? This card has no annual fee. You'll be getting these high earn rates for no extra cost.

0% intro rate on purchases

Have some large purchases coming up? This card has an introductory interest rate of 0% for 15 months on new purchases.

Just make sure to pay off your balance before your 15 months are up, as the purchase APR rate varies from 14.99% to 23.74%.

Redeem rewards for more than cash back

Beyond the standard ways of redeeming cash back (i.e. statement credits or getting a check), the Chase Freedom Unlimited Credit Card has a few other ways to get your rewards.

You can redeem for:

• gift cards,
• travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards, and
• shop with points at Amazon.

Travel and purchase insurance included

Finally, there's a decent level of travel and purchase insurance coverage provided.

From basic extended warranty, to rental car coverage, as well as trip cancellation and interruption insurance, there's a little bit of everything included.

2 Chase Freedom Unlimited downsides

Is it perfect? Unfortunately no. Here are a couple of things to consider.

No intro balance transfer offer

Many no fee cash back credit cards include an intro APR balance transfer offer, helping save money on existing credit card debt.

There's no such offer here, so it won't be an avenue to save on credit card interest.

Standard foreign exchange fee of 3%

Many credit cards waive the typical 3% tacked on purchases made in foreign currency. Sadly, this is not one of them.

If you frequently make purchases that aren't in U.S. dollars, it's best to look for a different card.

Chase Freedom Unlimited vs. Chase Freedom Flex credit cards

So how does this card compare to the ?

The only real difference is in rewards. With the , you earn:

• 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories on each quarter you activate,
• 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards,
• 3% cash back on restaurants and drugstores, and
• 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.

What kind of bonus categories are there? It all varies, from different stores to different categories all together. You can see the current categories here.

So whether this card is worth it all depends on how much this is used.

Here's what both cards earn for annual rewards based on the following monthly spend.

Here we have the Freedom Flex as having better rewards.

However, as you spend less on the rotating categories, these cards will even up and become similar.

One strategy? Carry both cards. This way, you'll enjoy the best of both worlds, for no annual fee.

Chase Freedom Unlimited vs. Citi Double Cash

One other detailed comparison we'll make is with the .

The Citi card offers a much more simple rewards structure – earn 1% cash back on all purchases, and another 1% when you make your payment, for a total of 2%.

Based on our typical monthly spend of $2,000, here's how they compare for average earn rates.

The Citi Double Cash card offers slightly better rewards with a simpler structure, but the Chase card has better insurance and perks.

Alternatives to the Chase Freedom Unlimited credit card

Want some alternatives to the Chase Freedom unlimited card? Here are 4 other cards you can consider.

Here's how all 5 of these cards compare when it comes to average earn rate.

You can see that the Chase Freedom Unlimited Credit Card is middling when it comes to rewards.

FAQ

What does the Chase Freedom Unlimited credit card earn for rewards?

The Chase Freedom Unlimited earns the following rewards:

• 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards,
• 3% cash back on restaurants and drugstores, and
• 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.

All of these rewards are earned for no annual fee.

Can you have both the Chase Freedom Unlimited and Chase Freedom Flex credit cards?

Yes, you can have both the Chase Freedom Unlimited and Chase Freedom Flex credit cards in your wallet.

Does the Chase Freedom Unlimited have a balance transfer and purchase intro APR offer?

No, the Chase Freedom Unlimited credit card only has a purchase intro APR, and does not have a balance transfer offer.