Chase Freedom Unlimited® Review

If you want to travel cheaper, better, and longer, one of the best tools in your arsenal is a solid rewards credit card.

However, despite how often I talk about the topic, many travelers (or would-be travelers) are reluctant to discover it. They think it’s a scam, they don’t want to pay the annual fee, or they’re just generally wary of the whole thing.

If you’re in that camp, today I want to discuss a credit card that could be the perfect introduction to the world of points and miles: Chase Freedom Unlimited®.

This card offers great value, no annual fee and strong earning potential. It’s great as a standalone card with plenty of opportunities to grow your game once you’re ready. It is a favorite of both newbies and seasoned travelers.

So, in this post, I’ll reveal why the Chase Freedom Unlimited deserves a spot in your wallet and how you can use it to turn everyday shopping into a free ride.

What is Chase Freedom Unlimited?

Chase Freedom Unlimited (sometimes called CFU) is a credit card issued by Chase. What I like about it is that it has a $0 annual fee and offers 1.5% cash back on all purchases. Perfect for points and miles for beginners who don’t want to worry about earning different amounts in different categories.

Plus, if you want to step up your game, you can combine it with the Chase Sapphire card to supercharge your rewards-earning abilities (more on that below).

This card earns you the following:

• 5% cash back on trips purchased through Chase Travel^SM
• 5% cash back on Lyft rides (through March 2025)
• 3% cash back on drug and restaurant purchases, including takeout and applicable delivery services
• 1.5% cash back on all other purchases
• Current welcome offer: 1.5% cash back on all purchases up to $20,000 spent in the first year

You can either use this amount again on your next statement or choose to have it deposited directly into your bank account.

But you can get even more out of this card when you combine it with one of Chase’s Sapphire cards (more on this soon).

Benefits and Benefits of Chase Freedom Unlimited

In addition to these excellent income levels, you will get access to many benefits and advantages. And, since it has a $0 annual fee, all those are bonuses.

• Access to Chase Offers, an ever-changing selection of deals from a variety of retailers, including online shopping, gas stations, delivery services, clothing brands, and hotels, among many other categories (you can see anything here)
• Three months of DashPass coverage when used by January 31, 2025 (where members receive up to $10 off quarterly non-DoorDash restaurant orders)
• Second Car Rental Injury Termination
• Trip cancellation/interruption insurance (up to $1,500 per person and $6,000 per round of prepaid, non-refundable fares, if your trip is canceled or shortened by illness, severe weather, or other covered circumstances)
• Purchase protection (covers your new purchase for 120 days against damage or theft up to $500 per claim and $50,000 per account)
• Extended warranty protection

Integrating with the Chase Sapphire Card

While this card is a great cash back card on its own, it’s even better when paired with a premium Chase card that earns transferable points. The Chase Sapphire Preferred®(CSP) or the Chase Sapphire Reserve® are two of the most popular, although you can do this with my favorite business card, the Ink Business Preferred®. (Note that these cards have fees.)

That’s because, if you hold one of these cards, you can convert your CFU earnings into valuable Chase Ultimate Rewards points. (Freedom Unlimited alone earns cash only.) That means you can combine the points you’ve earned from any card together and gain access to Chase’s major airline and hotel transfer partners.

While cashback is easy (and certainly tempting), I consider points to be very important. That’s because you can earn at least 2 cents per point you refer to travel partners (sometimes much more).

So why not have one Chase Sapphire card and not Freedom Unlimited?

While this is a great option (and what most people do), having two cards within the same “family” ensures that you increase the earning tiers while earning the same type of points. (You don’t want to expose yourself to too many different cards that earn you different types of points that you can’t combine.)

By holding both Chase Sapphire cards again Chase Freedom Unlimited, you can be sure to earn at least 1.5x points on every purchase, which is rare for a travel card (both Sapphires only earn 1x points on every purchase).

If you own Chase Sapphire Preferred and Chase Freedom Unlimited, for example, you can earn:

• 1.5x on every purchase (CFU)
• 2x on every move (CSP)
• 3x drug stores (CFU)
• 3x on meals, including takeout and eligible delivery services (both cards)
• 5x on Lyft (through March 2025, both cards)
• 5x on travel purchased with Chase Travel (both cards)

Finally, since CFU has a foreign currency, you won’t want to use this card when traveling. Think of the CSP as your travel card and the CFU as your everyday card with a high earning rate on all your purchases. Using both together is a great combination.

Benefits of CFU

• There is no annual fee
• Strong rewards structure, at least 1.5% back on everything
• It’s easy to recycle cash as a statement credit or direct deposit
• Great value when paired with the Chase Sapphire card

CFU problems

• 3% foreign transaction fee
• There aren’t a ton of benefits to travel

Whose card is this?

Chase Freedom Unlimited is perfect for those looking for an easy-to-use card that earns a better-than-average earning rate on all purchases. It also leaves room for growth in the world of points and miles when combined with a premium card from Chase. Plus, if you already have a Sapphire card, adding CFU to your wallet allows you to keep upping your game, increasing your rewards on every purchase.

As with any credit card, you shouldn’t get one if you already carry a balance or plan to carry one. Interest rates on travel credit cards are very high, and this one is no different. Points are not eligible if you pay interest each month.

This card is also not for anyone with poor credit, as you need good or excellent credit to qualify. (If that’s you, check out the best credit cards for bad credit to start improving your score today.)

Finally, this card counts according to Chase’s 5/24 rule (you can’t open more than five cards within 24 months). If you’ve opened five credit cards (any cards, not just Chase cards) within the past two years (or want to open more soon), you won’t be able to get this card or you might want to chase it now.

Whether you’re dipping your toes into the points and miles game or just want to keep up with your current list, the Chase Freedom Unlimited is a great card. With no annual fee and impressive earning rates, it’s the perfect gateway to the world of points and miles if you’re just starting out.

And, if you also want to take things up a notch, you can pair it with a premium Chase card down the road to increase your points. It’s a no-nonsense option that can start your journey to great learning points and miles.