Chase Freedom Unlimited® Review

A classic question we usually get is, how can I get the most cashback with a credit card? And the Chase Freedom Unlimited® is up there in the rankings.

Not only can you get solid cashback earn with this, but you can also convert the cashback earned on this card to Chase points.

If you are looking for a new card that has no annual fee while earning high percentages in cashback earned, the Chase Freedom Unlimited® might be the card for you.

The Chase Freedom Unlimited® is my second credit card ever and it's a favorite in my wallet.

What is the Introductory Offer?

With the Chase Freedom Unlimited®, you can earn $200 cashback after spending just $500 in the first three months from the account opening.

It is a strong intro offer, especially for a no annual fee card. And the cashback earned with the welcome bonus can be converted into Chase Ultimate Rewards points.

What are the main features of the Chase Freedom Unlimited®?

There are some noteworthy features of this strong no annual fee card:

• 1.5% cashback on all purchases at minimum
• 0% intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers
• 3% cashback on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout purchases
• Earn 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠

If you have a big purchase coming up, the 0% APR for the first 15 months from account opening is very appealing. You get piece of mind knowing that a big expense like a new computer can be paid as late as 15 months out… all while still avoiding interest (just make sure to make the minimum monthly payment).

The 3% cashback on drugstore purchases and at restaurants is probably among the best feature of this card. These are two categories that I frequent. It is an excellent earn rate for a card with no annual fee. Not only does this card have the 3% cashback earn at drugstores and restaurants, but it also boasts 1.5% cashback on all other purchases. For someone who is just starting off in the credit card game, you can be comforted knowing you are getting solid cashback on all purchases.

The earn rate on this card is simple and straightforward which means you don't have to haggle over choosing categories or thinking about when to use it.

And don’t forget about the 5% earned on travel purchased through Chase Travel. Chase has a travel portal you can use to book flights and hotel stays. The prices aren’t usually desirable on the portal but it's good to check as a potential way to book to see if you can snag a deal.

Personally this card has served me well. The Chase Freedom Unlimited® card was my second card after the Discover it® Student Cash Back Card. It was easy to get approved for as I had my Discover it® Student Cash Back Card for about a year and had also built up my credit score by paying off student loans.

Once I got the card, I made sure to hit the welcome bonus requirements so I could convert the cashback earned into Chase points. The earn rate on drugstores and restaurants was excellent for a few years and I still use the card to this day for purchases outside of select categories.

And I still use the Chase Freedom Unlimited® to this day! Although I have gotten better earning rates for restaurants with the American Express Gold card with 4x membership rewards per dollar spent, I still use the Chase Freedom Unlimited® for everyday purchases. For categories that don't typically have higher earn rates, the Chase Freedom Unlimited® is a good set it and forget it card.

Who is the Chase Freedom Unlimited® best for?

The Chase Freedom Unlimited® can be for a wide range of credit card users. From folks just starting out in the credit card space to experts with dozens of cards.

Let’s start with credit card beginners. Like I stated previously, the Chase Freedom Unlimited® was my second card ever. I now have more than 10. You may ask how did I get there? The Chase Freedom Unlimited® played a big part.

Upon getting the Chase Freedom Unlimited® I was determined to achieve the welcome bonus and immediately cash out for cashback. However, I had heard that the cashback earned could be transferred to Chase points for travel. Intriguing. I decided to look into it. I learned that although I could not transfer Chase points to Chase’s travel partners on my Chase Freedom Unlimited®, I could eventually do this with a Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or Chase Sapphire Reserve®.

The Chase Freedom Unlimited® is great for someone in college or just starting out in the professional world. You can collect easy cashback earn or accumulate Chase points. Once you have the spend required to handle a Chase Sapphire Reserve® or Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, you can then use one of the two to cash in on those chase points you earned with the Chase Freedom Unlimited®. And when you transfer to one of Chase’s travel partners its at a 1:1 rate.

For experts with a ton of cards, the Chase Freedom Unlimited® is still a viable card for all those miscellaneous purchases. For example, You could use an American Express Gold card for 4x back on dining purchases, the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card for office supply purchases, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® for 4x cashback earn (that can be converted to points) and the Chase Freedom Unlimited® for ALL other purchases. It can be a great card to use when you are not sure what category a particular purchase falls into or when you know none of your cards have outsized earn rates in comparison.

Chase Freedom Flex® vs Chase Freedom Unlimited®—Which card is better for you?

Both cards offer impressive benefits for no annual fee cards. When deciding what card is better for you, it depends how you think of your spending.

The Chase Freedom Flex® has a cool feature where you can earn 5% cashback on rotating categories every quarter. For example, this quarter you can earn 5% cashback on gas, entertainment and Instacart purchases. You also get 3% cashback on dining and drugstore purchases like the Chase Freedom Unlimited®. You receive exactly the same welcome bonus as the Chase Freedom Unlimited® where you get $200 cashback after spending $500 in the first three months from account opening.

The Chase Freedom Flex® does not have the same cashback earn however for all other purchases besides its rotating categories and dining and drugstore earn rates. You get 1% cashback on all other purchases while the Chase Freedom Unlimited® gets you 1.5% cashback. This would be the main reason as to why you might choose the Chase Freedom Unlimited® over the Chase Freedom Flex®.

Otherwise if you don’t mind doing the extra work of keeping track of the rotating categories and activating the earn for those respective categories, then the Chase Freedom Flex® is an excellent choice. The Chase Freedom Flex® also has a unique benefit where you receive cellphone protection. This benefit can help cover damage or theft on your cellphone. It is important to note that you must pay your monthly phone bill with this card in order to be eligible for these claims.

Another cool benefit with the Chase Freedom Flex® is that you get 6 months of complimentary Dashpass. If you often order food delivered from restaurants or grocery stores, this can be as nice plus. With Dashpass, you receive $0 delivery fees, lower service fees and the potential to earn 5% cashback on Doordash pickup orders.

This benefit can be a nice trial run before you go for a card like the Chase Sapphire Reserve® as you receive complimentary Dashpass for 12 months along with $5 off a restaurant order per month and two $10 off coupons for non-restaurant orders (could use at drugstores or supermarkets for instance).

All these coupons and rotating categories are nice to have with the Chase Freedom Flex®, but it can also serve as a reminder of the simplicity and straightforward cashback earning system with the Chase Freedom Unlimited®. No hassle. No keeping track of coupons or a variety of categories.

Final Remarks

The Chase Freedom Unlimited® is a great card for someone who already has built up some credit and is looking for an everyday use card. The 1.5% cashback earn on all purchases has to be the best feature of the card. The 3% on dining and drugstores along with the $200 cashback on $500 spent are nice little bonuses. And the fact that its a no annual fee card means you can get it and never worry about taking it out of your wallet. A card you can use for a lifetime, using it on categories that don't have extra earn rates.