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Chase Freedom Unlimited Review: Big Cash Back and an Innovative Bonus

Review Updated
Lyle Daly
By: Lyle Daly

Our Credit Cards Expert

Nathan Alderman
Check IconFact Checked Nathan Alderman
Many or all of the products here are from our partners that compensate us. It’s how we make money. But our editorial integrity ensures our experts’ opinions aren’t influenced by compensation. Terms may apply to offers listed on this page.

The Chase Freedom Unlimited® is a high-value cash back card that's perfect for a one-card wallet. It has a robust rewards program, an impressive sign-up bonus, and a long 0% intro APR, all for no annual fee. Find out if it's right for you in this Chase Freedom Unlimited® review.

Ratings Methodology

Chase Freedom Unlimited®

Apply Now for Chase Freedom Unlimited®

On Chase's Secure Website.

Chase Freedom Unlimited®
Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
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Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
 = Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Credit Score: Circle with letter I in it. Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.
Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Good/Excellent (670-850)
Apply Now for Chase Freedom Unlimited®

On Chase's Secure Website.

Credit Score Circle with letter I in it. Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.

Good/Excellent (670-850)

Intro APR Circle with letter I in it. 0% Intro APR on Purchases and Balance Transfers for 15 months

Purchases: 0% Intro APR on Purchases, 15 months

Balance Transfers: 0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers, 15 months

Regular APR

20.49% - 29.24% Variable

Rewards Circle with letter I in it. 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

1.5% - 5% cash back

Annual Fee Circle with letter I in it. N/A

$0

Welcome Offer Circle with letter I in it. Earn an extra 1.5% on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) — worth up to $300 cash back. That's 6.5% on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 4.5% on dining and drugstores, and 3% on all other purchases.

Up to $300 cash back

  • This card would be highly-rated based on its unlimited 1.5% - 5% cash back rates & 0% Intro APR offer alone. But the innovative sign-up bonus (worth up to $300 cash back) makes it particularly good if this would be your primary credit card. With the bonus, you’ll earn 4.5% cash back on dining and drugstores, 6.5% on travel booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, and 3% on all other purchases (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year). After the bonus, you’ll still earn the regular cash back rates on every purchase.

    • Innovative sign-up bonus
    • Purchase and travel protections
    • Robust rewards program
    • Great intro APR
    • No annual fee
    • Foreign transaction fee
    • INTRO OFFER: Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back!
    • Enjoy 6.5% 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; 4.5% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 3% on all other purchases (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year).
    • After your first year or $20,000 spent, enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1.5% cash back 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 20.49% - 29.24%.
    • 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

Full Chase Freedom Unlimited review

This credit card is a good fit for: Consumers who want to maximize their cash back or pay off balances over time at a 0% intro APR.

Top perks

Few no annual fee cards are as feature-packed as the Chase Freedom Unlimited®.

Welcome offer worth up to $300

You can earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you spend in your first year, up to $20,000 spent. That offer could be worth up to $300.

SEE MORE: Best Credit Card Sign-Up Bonuses

Lucrative cash back program

The Chase Freedom Unlimited® is great for earning cash back. Here are its cash back rates:

  • 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel
  • 3% cash back on drugstores, restaurants, takeout, and eligible food delivery
  • 1.5% cash back on all other purchases

There are plenty of cards that earn a high flat rate, such as 1.5% or 2% back. And there are lots of cards with bonus categories. The Chase Freedom Unlimited® is a rarity in that it has bonus categories and earns 1.5% on everything else.

COMPARE RATES: Best Cash Back Credit Cards

0% intro APR for 15 months

This Chase card has a 0% intro APR for the first 15 months from account opening. It applies to purchases and balance transfers, which means you can use this card to pay off large expenses over time or consolidate credit card debt. There are cards with longer intro periods, so if that's what you need, it's worth looking at more credit card reviews. But the Chase Freedom Unlimited® has a competitive 0% intro APR, especially considering everything else it offers.

The go-to 20.49% - 29.24% Variable APR applies after the intro period. To make the most of this perk, aim to pay off your entire balance before the intro period ends.

Purchase and travel protections

This card has several built-in protections that apply to eligible purchases. They include:

Protections like these can give you peace of mind and reimburse you for covered events. To learn more about how they work and what's covered, review the guide to benefits that comes with this credit card.

Credit card comparison

We recommend comparing options to ensure the card you're selecting is the best fit for you. To make your search easier, here's a short list of standout credit cards.

Offer Our Rating Welcome Offer Rewards Program APR Learn More
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
 = Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
$200 cash rewards Circle with letter I in it. $200 online cash rewards bonus after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening 1.5% cash back

Intro: Circle with letter I in it. 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases. 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the intro APR offer ends, 18.24% - 28.24% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers will apply. Balance transfers include a fee of 3% for 60 days from account opening, then 4%.

Purchases: 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases

Balance Transfers: 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days

Regular: 18.24% - 28.24% (Variable)

Apply Now for Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards credit card

On Bank of America's Secure Website.

Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
 = Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Best for travel and points transfers 		60,000 bonus points Circle with letter I in it. Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠. 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining and 2x on all other travel purchases Circle with letter I in it. Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.

Intro: Circle with letter I in it. N/A

Purchases: N/A

Balance Transfers: N/A

Regular: 21.49%-28.49% Variable

Apply Now for Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

On Chase's Secure Website.

Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
 = Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Best for cash back on rotating categories 		Discover will match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year. Circle with letter I in it. N/A 1% - 5% Cashback Circle with letter I in it. Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases—automatically.

Intro:

Purchases: 0%, 15 months

Balance Transfers: 0%, 15 months

Regular: 17.24% - 28.24% Variable APR

Apply Now for Discover it® Cash Back

On Discover's Secure Website.

Rates & Fees External Link Icon

What could be improved

This Chase cash back card doesn't have any huge flaws, but there is an area it could improve.

Foreign transaction fee

Like many (but not all) cash back cards, the Chase Freedom Unlimited® charges a foreign transaction fee of 3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars. If you like to explore the world, you'll be better off with a travel credit card -- or a cash back card with no foreign transaction fee.

Suggested credit score

The Chase Freedom Unlimited® is designed for people with good credit and better, with a FICO® Score of at least 670. The card will be hard to get with a much lower credit score.

That's not to say applicants with lower scores can't get the card. In fact, some people have reported approval with a score in the low to mid-600s. Credit scores are heavily weighted in the approval decision, but the reality is that other factors also play a role.

Another consideration before you apply is the number of credit cards you've opened in the previous 24 months. If you've opened five or more, Chase's 5/24 rule could lead to an automatic rejection.

RELATED: What Credit Score Do I Need for a Chase Credit Card?

TIP

How to increase your Chase rewards

Chase's rewards credit cards are popular, partly because you can combine rewards if you have multiple Chase cards. A common strategy is to get a Chase travel card and one or two Chase cash back cards, with three-card combos being referred to as a Chase Trifecta. This allows you to earn bonus rewards in more spending categories.

Chase Freedom Unlimited vs. Chase Freedom Flex

The Chase Freedom Flex℠ offers a similar deep bench of perks. The main difference between the two offers is that the Chase Freedom Flex℠ earns 5% cash back in rotating categories you activate quarterly (capped on up to $1,500 of spending) and 1% back on non-bonus spending. The Chase Freedom Unlimited® doesn't have those rotating bonus categories, but it has a higher cash back rate of 1.5% on all non-bonus spending and a different sign-up bonus structure.

Otherwise, the cards are close twins with a $0 annual fee and 0% intro APR offers. Cardholders who can make the most of the quarterly bonus cash back categories will earn more with the Chase Freedom Flex℠, so it's worth crunching your budget numbers to nail down the right option.

For more information, check on this guide on Chase Freedom Unlimited® and Chase Freedom Flex℠ card benefits.

Check out the best Chase credit cards

The Chase Freedom Unlimited is right for you if:

With such a wide range of benefits for no annual fee, the Chase Freedom Unlimited® can work for all kinds of cardholders. It will definitely be a good fit if you:

  • Want to stick to a one-card wallet and earn high cash back rates on most of your expenses
  • Have big purchases to pay off over time or need a a balance transfer offer
  • Have other Chase credit cards and want to add more to increase your rewards

See our full list of top picks: Best Credit Cards

Our credit card methodology

At The Motley Fool Ascent, we rate credit cards on a five-star scale (1 = poor, 5 = best). Our rating criteria includes rewards rates, welcome bonuses, fees, and perks like travel credits and 0% intro APR offers to evaluate our ratings.

We combine these factors with an evaluation of brand reputation and customer satisfaction to ensure you're getting the best card recommendations. Learn more about how The Ascent rates credit cards.

FAQs

  • No, the Chase Freedom Unlimited® is made of plastic.

  • To refer a friend, go to the Chase Refer-A-Friend page. Enter your last name, ZIP code, and the last four digits of your credit card number. If referrals are available for your account, you'll receive a URL that you can share through text or social media.

  • The Chase Freedom Unlimited® is a Visa credit card.

Our Credit Cards Experts

Lyle Daly
By: Lyle Daly

Writer

Lyle Daly is a personal finance writer who specializes in credit cards, travel rewards programs, and banking. He writes for The Ascent and The Motley Fool, and his work has appeared in USA Today and Yahoo! Finance. He was born in California but currently lives as a digital nomad with a home base in Colombia.

Nathan Alderman
Check IconFact Checked Nathan Alderman

Fact checker

Nathan Alderman has worked with The Motley Fool since 2005, making errors his arch-enemies in a variety of roles including a six-year stint as the dedicated fact-checker for The Motley Fool's premium newsletter services. As The Ascent's Compliance Lead, he makes sure that all the site's information is accurate and up to date, which ensures we always steer readers right and keeps various financial partners happy. A graduate of Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism, Nathan spends his spare time volunteering for civic causes, writing and podcasting for fun, adoring his wife, and wrangling his two very large young children.