The Chase Freedom Flex℠ packs in a deep bench of perks, including among the best cash back programs and one of the biggest bonuses for a no-annual-fee card. Find out if it's right for you in this Chase Freedom Flex℠ review.
Apply Now for Chase Freedom Flex℠
On Chase's Secure Website.
Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
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.
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. 5.00/5
Apply Now for Chase Freedom Flex℠
On Chase's Secure Website.
-
Deserves to be top of wallet for many cardholders due to some of the highest cash back rates for essentials, a big sign-up bonus, and no annual fee.
-
- Competitive cash back bonus
- Lucrative cash back program
- Travel rewards
- Great intro APR
- No annual fee
- Foreign transaction fee
-
- Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening.
- 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate. Enjoy new 5% categories each quarter!
- 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 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 unlimited 1% 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!
- 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 15.24% - 23.99%.
- No annual fee - You won't have to pay an annual fee for all the great features that come with your Freedom Flex℠ card
- Keep tabs on your credit health - Chase Credit Journey helps you monitor your credit with free access to your latest score, real-time alerts, and more.
Apply Now for Chase Freedom Flex℠
On Chase's Secure Website.
Full Chase Freedom Flex review
This credit card is a good fit for: Consumers who want to earn lots of cash back in a variety of bonus categories. Everyone from budget-conscious shoppers to big spenders can get plenty of value from this versatile rewards card.
Top perks
$200 sign-up bonus
You only need to spend $500 on purchases in the first three months to receive this $200 bonus. With such a low spending minimum, it's one of the easiest sign-up bonuses to get.
Cash rewards program
The Chase Freedom Flex℠ has a long list of bonus categories. Here are the card's cash back rates:
- 5% back on up to $1,500 in combined quarterly purchases in bonus categories that you activate
- 5% back on travel that you book using Chase Ultimate Rewards points.
- 3% back at restaurants, which includes takeout and orders through eligible delivery services
- 3% back at drugstores
- 1% back on all other purchases
With so many popular categories where you can earn bonus cash back, this card is great for maximizing your credit card rewards.
No annual fee
You can add the Chase Freedom Flex℠ to your wallet free of charge. You get excellent value from no-annual-fee cards that earn rewards because you get money back on your spending and the card itself doesn't cost a dime.
0% intro APR
For the first 15 months, this card has an 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers. If you have a large expense coming up that you can't pay for in full right away or want to pay off debt faster, the Chase Freedom Flex℠ gives you plenty of time to do so.
No redemption minimum
A helpful and underrated perk of Chase credit cards is that you can redeem any amount of rewards you want, even as little as $0.01 in cash back. There are credit cards that make redemptions more inconvenient by requiring you to hit a minimum amount of cash back first, such as $20 or $25.
Other benefits to consider
The the Chase Freedom Flex℠ includes some valuable benefits beyond its flagship lineup of perks. These include:
- Cell phone protection: When you pay your monthly cell phone bill with your Chase Freedom Flex℠, you'll receive complimentary protection against covered theft or damage.
- Credit score for free: Chase's Credit Journey app is a useful tool to get a credit score for free, along with helpful tips, protections, and alerts.
Learn more: A guide to Chase Freedom Flex card benefits
Alternatives to consider
- If you want a potentially more lucrative sign-up bonus: The Discover it® Cash Back also offers 5% back on rotating quarterly bonus categories you activate, up to a $1,500 quarterly spending cap. What makes this card even better is that Discover matches all the cash back you earn in your first year for new cardholders.
- If you want to earn travel rewards: The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is made for those who prefer travel points over cash back. It starts you off with a big sign-up bonus. It charges a modest annual fee, but occasional to frequent travelers will get their money's worth.
As of May. 17, 2022
|
|
| Discover it® Cash Back | Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card |
|
Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00 stars
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.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. |
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50 stars
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.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. |
|
Apply Now for Discover it® Cash Back
On Discover's Secure Website. |
Apply Now for Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
On Chase's Secure Website. |
| Rates & Fees | |
|
Credit Rating Requirement: |
Credit Rating Requirement: |
|
Cashback Match |
80,000 points |
|
1% - 5% Cashback |
1x - 5x points |
|
Intro APR: Purchases: 0% Intro APR, 15 months Balance Transfers: 0% Intro APR, 15 months |
Intro APR: Purchases: N/A Balance Transfers: N/A |
|
Regular APR: 12.24% - 23.24% Variable APR |
Regular APR: 16.24% - 23.24% Variable |
|
Annual Fee: $0 |
Annual Fee: $95 |
|
Highlights:
|
Highlights:
|
|
Apply Now for Discover it® Cash Back
On Discover's Secure Website. |
Apply Now for Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
On Chase's Secure Website. |
Show More
Show Less
|
|
What could be improved
Foreign transaction fee
The Chase Freedom Flex℠ has a 3% foreign transaction fee. Considering so many of the top credit cards have done away with these types of fees, we'd like to see Chase do the same.
Find the best credit card for your needs
Compare credit card rewards, fees, APRs, and more using our side-by-side comparison tool.
Suggested Chase Freedom Flex credit score
If you want to apply the Chase Freedom Flex℠, we'd recommend a FICO® Score of 670 or higher. Chase's rewards credit cards are targeted at consumers with good or excellent credit, and this one is no different. Keep in mind, however, that your credit score alone doesn't guarantee approval or denial.
There's one other factor that's crucial any time you apply for a Chase credit card, and that's the number of credit cards you've opened in the past two years. Chase's 5/24 rule means applicants who have already opened five or more credit cards in the last 24 months will typically get an automatic denial.
Related: What credit score do I need for a Chase credit card?
TIP
How to increase your Chase rewards
Chase's credit cards are popular, and there's no overlooking the fact that it's partly because you can combine Chase Cards and double your Ultimate Rewards points. This strategy requires carrying two Chase credit cards, typically a combination of a rewards card and a travel card, and is known as the Chase trifecta. By placing certain category purchases on the card that has a higher rewards rate, cardholders can optimize rewards earned.
Chase Freedom Flex vs. Chase Freedom Unlimited
Chase offers another Freedom-branded cash-back card that shares some of the same features. The main difference and potential benefit is that the Chase Freedom Unlimited® doesn't have rotating 5% quarterly bonus categories like the Chase Freedom Flex℠ and it's base 1% cash back rate . Instead, it earns 1.5% back as the base rate, and still offers bonus cash back in certain categories. Additionally, the Chase Freedom Flex℠ has a different sign-up bonus structure.
There's no annual fee for either of these rewards credit cards, and they both offer an equal 15-month 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers. You'll need to calculate whether you expect to earn more rewards with the rotating bonus categories of the Chase Freedom Flex℠ or the higher flat rate of the Chase Freedom Unlimited® to know which one is better for you.
This credit card is right for you if:
Considering all the perks of the Chase Freedom Flex℠, it work well for you in any of these situations:
- You want a cash back card that earns bonus rewards on everyday purchases.
- You don't want to pay an annual fee.
- You have one or more big purchases you'd like to pay off over time or want to use balance transfer strategies with a 0% intro APR.
FAQs
-
The credit limit for the Chase Freedom Flex ranges from under $500 to over $20,000 depending on your income and credit history. Most cardholders receive credit limits in the $300-$5,000 range.
-
The Chase Freedom Flex is a World Elite Mastercard.
-
The Chase Freedom Flex usually isn't hard to get if you have good credit. A FICO® Score of 670 or higher gives you a strong chance of being approved. Chase also has a rule that it only approves applicants who have opened fewer than five credit cards in the last 24 months, so you'll need to meet this requirement to qualify for the card.
About the Author
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.
Share This Page
We're firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. The Ascent does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team. The Motley Fool has a Disclosure Policy. The Author and/or The Motley Fool may have an interest in companies mentioned.
The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Visa.
The Ascent is a Motley Fool service that rates and reviews essential products for your everyday money matters.
Copyright © 2018 - 2022 The Ascent. All rights reserved.
About The Ascent
Legal