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Chase Freedom Unlimited® Review: The Best 1.5% Cash Back Card on the Market

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Posted by Choose FI

Choose FI has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Choose FI and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any of these entities. American Express is a ChooseFI advertiser.

Disclosures
The Chase Freedom Unlimited® card is a straightforward, no annual fee, cash back credit card with an interesting new welcome offer Chase Freedom Unlimited®

If you’re a fan of Chase’s other credit cards, but want one for everyday use, the Chase Freedom Unlimited® credit card is one you should strongly consider.

Here's a quick overview of what the Chase Freedom Unlimited® offers:

  • Earn an unlimited 1.5% cashback on all purchases
  • 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.
  • With the special offer, earn 6.5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 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).
  • $0 annual fee

Chase Freedom Unlimited® features

The Chase Freedom Unlimited® card is the perfect card for anyone who wants a straightforward cashback credit card. Here are the details.

Annual fee

There’s a $0 annual fee for using the Chase Freedom Unlimited® credit card.

Rewards

The Chase Freedom Unlimited® card offers 1.5% cashback on all your purchases. These are unlimited rewards, meaning there’s no limit to the amount of rewards points you can earn, plus, your rewards never expire while you have the card open! So save them up for that family vacation you’ve been dying to go on.

You can also redeem your rewards at any time. There are no minimum rewards required to start redeeming.

Sign-up bonus

The Chase Freedom Unlimited® card offers an introductory bonus with a higher earnings rate. For the first year, Chase gives you an additional 1.5% cash back on every purchase made (up to $20,000 spent)!

Contactless pay

If you want to check out quickly using your Chase Freedom Unlimited® credit card, you can set up contactless and all you’ll have to do is tap your card at any checkout counter that has the contactless symbol.

Extra features offered by the Chase Freedom Unlimited®

Free credit score

Chase has joined many of the credit card companies that offer you a free credit score, updated weekly. All you have to do is click on the 'Your Credit Score' section once you've logged into your Chase account.

Security

The Chase Freedom Unlimited® card (and all Chase cards) offer great security features to keep your account safe. They offer the following:

  • Fraud protection
  • Fraud alerts
  • Zero liability protection--meaning you'll never have to pay for any fraudulent charges made with your card
  • Purchase protection--This covers any new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft up to $500 per claim

Redemption option #1—Cash

If you get the Chase Freedom Unlimited® credit card, you likely want simple cash back. So, we’ll start the redemption process by talking about how you can redeem your rewards for straight cash back.

Like other Chase credit cards, the Chase Freedom Unlimited® earns Chase Ultimate Rewards® points. Unlike other cards, however, there’s no minimum needed to start redeeming rewards. To get cash back, you can choose to receive a statement credit or do direct deposit into most U.S. banks.

Redemption option #2—Book Travel

While we don’t recommend the Chase Freedom Unlimited® as the best travel rewards credit card, you can redeem your rewards through Chase Travel℠.

If you looking to earn more travel rewards than the Chase Freedom Unlimited® can offer, check out the Chase Sapphire Preferred® or Chase Sapphire Reserve®.

If you book through Chase Travel℠, your points can go towards:

  • Flights
  • Hotel stays
  • Car rentals
  • Vacation rentals
  • Cruises

Chase’s portal makes it easy to find flights and lodging, and they’ll tell you next to each flight/hotel/etc. how many points equals a free flight/stay.

You can transfer points to the over a dozen airline/hotel partners to really up the potential value of your points!

If you’d like to learn more about Chase Ultimate Rewards® here’s a full explanation.

Redemption option #3—Amazon

If you’re a frequent Amazon shopper, you can use your rewards through Amazon. All you have to do is link your Chase card to Amazon and you can use your points at checkout.

Your points can even count towards shipping and tax. 

Redemption option #4—Apple

You can now use your Chase Freedom Unlimited® rewards through Apple to pay for any purchases. Currently, 100 Chase points is equal to $1 at Apple.

Redemption option #5—Gift cards

Finally, if you want a simpler way to use your points, you can get your points credited to your account, or you can buy gift cards.

The Bottom Line

If you’re looking for a card that gives you the most bang for your buck and doesn’t require much work, the Chase Freedom Unlimited® card is what you've been looking for. It has no activation requirement, so you start earning cashback as soon as you get your card.

Many credit cards also limit the amount of rewards you can earn, but the Chase Freedom Unlimited® card lets you earn unlimited rewards. And finally, there’s no annual fee!

Learn how to apply for the Chase Freedom Unlimited®

Top Travel Rewards Offers

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

New To Travel Rewards? This Card Is For You!

Ready to unlock a world of free travel?
Start with the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Details: Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. | $95 annual fee


Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Most Flexible Travel Card

The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card can be used to offset almost any travel expense.

Details: $95 annual fee | 75,000 Miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening


Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

Most Flexible Travel Card

The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card can be used to offset almost any travel expense. $95 annual fee | Earn 90,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.


Choose FI has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Choose FI and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any of these entities. American Express is a ChooseFI advertiser.

Disclosures