Chase Freedom Unlimited (r) Review
If you’re looking to travel more efficiently, cheaper and better, a rewards credit card is one of your best options.
Despite how many times I have talked about this topic, some travelers (or those who would like to travel) still hesitate to apply for one. Many people are hesitant to get one because they think it is a scam or don’t want an annual fee.
If you’re in that camp, today I want to discuss a credit card that may be the perfect introduction to the world of points and miles: the Chase Freedom Unlimited(r).
This card offers great value, with no annual fee and solid earning potential. This card is a great standalone option with a lot of earning potential. It also has no annual fee. This card is a favorite of both newbies as well as seasoned travelers. In this post, I will explain why you should keep the Chase Freedom Unlimited in your wallet, and how to use it to convert everyday purchases into free trips. What is the Chase Freedom Unlimited card? The Chase Freedom Unlimited is a credit cards issued by Chase. It has no annual fee, and it offers 1.5% cashback on all purchases. This is a great card for those who are new to earning points and miles. They don’t have to worry about different rates of earnings across categories. If you want to take your rewards game to the next level, you can combine this card with a Chase Sapphire to maximize your earning potential (more below).
This card earns you the following:
5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase TravelSM
5% cash back on Lyft rides (through March 2025)
3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services
1.5% cash back on all other purchases
Current welcome offer: an extra 1.5% cash back on everything you buy on up to $20,000 spent in the first year
- You can redeem this cash back against your next statement or choose to get it directly deposited into your bank account. You can also get more from this card if you combine it with a Chase Sapphire card (more information coming soon). The Chase Freedom Unlimited offers a variety of benefits and perks. Since there is no annual fee on this card, all of these benefits are just bonuses.
- Access to Chase Offers, an ever-changing selection of deals for various merchants , including online shopping, gas stations, delivery services, clothing brands, and hotels, among many other sectors (you could really see anything here)
- Complimentary three months of DashPass when you activate by January 31, 2025 (through which members get up to $10 off quarterly on non-restaurant DoorDash orders)
- Secondary Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver
- Trip cancellation/interruption insurance (up to $1,500 per person and $6,000 per trip for your prepaid, nonrefundable passenger fares, if your trip is canceled or cut short by sickness, severe weather, or other covered situations)
Purchase protection (covers your new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft up to $500 per claim and $50,000 per account)
Extended warranty protection
Combining with a Chase Sapphire Card
- While this card is a great cash-back card in its own right, it’s best when paired with a more premium Chase card that earns transferable points. You can combine this card with the Chase Sapphire Reserve (r) or Chase Sapphire Preferred (r) cards. These cards have fees. This is because, if you hold both of these cards, the cashback earned on your CFU can be converted into valuable Chase Ultimate Reward points. The Freedom Unlimited earns only cash back. This allows you to pool the points from both cards and access Chase’s airline and hotel partners. While getting cash back may be easier and more appealing, I find that points are much more valuable. You can usually get 2 cents for every point you transfer to travel partners. Why not have just one Chase Sapphire Card and not Freedom Unlimited? While this is a great option, and many people choose to do so, having two cards in the same “family”, allows you to maximize your earning categories by earning the same kind of points. You don’t want too many cards that earn different points and you can’t combine. You can earn 1.5x on all purchases by holding the Chase Sapphire Preferred and the Chase Freedom Unlimited. This is a rare thing for a travel credit card. Both Sapphires only offer 1x on purchases.
- If you hold the Chase Sapphire Preferred and the Chase Freedom Unlimited, for example, you’d earn:
- 1.5x on all purchases (CFU)
- 2x on all travel (CSP)
- 3x on drugstores (CFU)
- 3x on dining, including takeout and eligible delivery services (both cards)
5x on Lyft (until March 2025, both cards)
5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel (both cards)
Lastly, since the CFU does have a foreign transaction fee, you won’t want to use this card when traveling. Consider the CSP your travel card, and the CFU your everyday card. The CFU will earn you more on every purchase. The two cards work well together. The CFU
has no annual fee. It also offers a solid rewards structure with at least 1,5% cash back on all purchases. The Chase Freedom Unlimited card is perfect for anyone who wants a simple-to-use credit card with a higher-than-average earnings rate. When combined with another Chase card, it gives you the opportunity to move into the world of points and miles. If you already own a Sapphire card you can continue to improve your game by adding the CFU into your wallet. This will maximize your rewards for all purchases. As with any other credit card, it’s not worth getting if you have a balance on your account or intend to. The interest rates on travel credit cards can be high. This card is no exception. This card is not suitable for people with bad credit. You need to have good or excellent credit in order to qualify. Check out our list of the best credit card for people with bad credit to start improving your credit score. This card counts towards Chase’s 5/24 rule. You can’t have more than five credit cards in 24 months. You may not be able get this card if you have already opened 5 credit cards in the last two years.
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The Chase Freedom Unlimited card is an excellent choice for anyone looking to add to their current points-and miles collection or to start out. It’s a great way to get started in the world of miles and points. If you’re looking to maximize your points, you can combine it with the premium Chase card in the future. This is a great way to start your journey towards mastering miles and points. Book Your Trip: Tips and Tricks for Logistical Planning
Book your Flight
Find cheap flights by using Skyscanner. My favorite search engine is Skyscanner because it searches all websites and airlines in the world, so I know that no stone will be left unturned.
Book Your Accommodation
You can book your hostel with Hostelworld. Booking.com is the best option if you don’t want to stay in a hostel. It consistently offers the lowest rates for hotels and guesthouses.
- Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
- Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. This is comprehensive coverage in the event of an accident. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:
- Want to Travel for Free?
- Travel credit cards allow you to earn points that can be redeemed for free flights and accommodation — all without any extra spending. Want to travel for free?
- Travel cards let you earn points which can be redeemed for flights and accommodations for no extra cost. Visit my guide on choosing the best card to see my favorite deals and to learn how to get started. Ready to book your trip?
- Check out my resource page to find the best travel companies. Here are all the companies I use to travel. You can’t go far wrong with them. They are top-of-the-line and the best you can get.
