An honest review of the Chase Freedom Unlimited® credit card
The Chase Freedom Unlimited® card is a popular choice for folks with decent credit scores looking for a no-annual-fee card with a welcome bonus and the ability to earn cash back on purchases. Here's an inside look at the card, including an overview of its features, a look at some of its benefits and drawbacks, and an alternative card with similar features to consider.
Chase Freedom Unlimited® credit card quick facts
Annual fee | None |
Welcome bonus | $250 cash back after $500 spend in first 3 months |
Cash back (Chase Travel) | 5% when purchased through Chase |
Cash back (restaurants) | 3% |
Cash back (Drugstores) | 3% |
Cash back (other purchases) | 1.5% |
Cash back redemption | Statement credit or direct deposit into Chase account (no minimum to redeem) |
Cash back earning limit | None |
Foreign transaction fee | 3% |
Source: Chase
The welcome bonus: $250 cash back
As far as welcome bonuses go, the Chase Freedom Unlimited card is one of the easiest to secure, and $250 is nothing to scoff at, especially for a card with no annual fee. I had no trouble spending the $500 minimum in my first three months with this card.
I simply kept it in the front of my wallet and used it for all of my purchases until I reached the $500 dollar mark, which only took about a month and a half in my case.
The bonus, in this card's case, comes in the form of "Ultimate Rewards" points, which are worth a cent a piece when redeemed for cash or a statement credit. The 25,000 points you'll receive can take up to eight weeks to post to your account, but in many cases, they post much sooner.
If you choose not to redeem the bonus as a $250 statement credit or direct deposit into a Chase account, these points can also be spent through Chase Travel, where they may be worth up to 1.5 cents per point (up to $375 in value).
The cash back
Since dining is one of my main expenses outside of rent (I eat out more than I should), the restaurant cash back category was a big part of what drew me to this card. Folks who prefer to dine in will be happy to know that this category also includes takeout and delivery orders through apps like Uber Eats and DoorDash, so adding the card as your default payment method for those services is a great way to earn rewards without having to remember to use the card.
The Freedom Unlimited also offers 3% cash back at drugstores, including big players like CVS, Walgreens, and Rite Aid. Most local drug stores and mail-in pharmacies also count. Medication isn't a big expense for me personally, but for those with multiple prescriptions, this category can be a good earner.
The card also earns 5% cash back on Chase Travel purchases. All other purchases earn 1.5%, and there are no caps or limits to how much cash back you can earn in any of these categories annually.
Related: 4 great business travel cards that are worth the annual fee
The cons of the Chase Freedom Unlimited® card: What to consider before applying
Any time you apply for a credit card, it results in a hard inquiry on your credit, something that can temporarily lower your credit score, particularly if several hard inquiries are pulled over a relatively short period (like three to six months).
The Freedom Unlimited card typically requires a relatively high credit score in the good-to-excellent range, as well as a stable income. Bankrate, a firm that analyzes, reviews, and recommends financial products, recommends that applicants for this card have a credit score of at least 670.
One potential downside to consider, especially for prospective applicants who are drawn to this card for its Chase Travel rewards, is that it charges a foreign transaction fee of 3%. This means that while it's a good card to book travel with, it's not a good card to bring with you outside of the United States, as that foreign transaction fee essentially means that you'll be paying what feels like additional sales tax on every foreign purchase.
A similar, alternative card to consider
In addition to the Chase Freedom Unlimited, I also have the Capital One Savor card, and the two are quite similar.
Like the Freedom Unlimited, the Savor card has no annual fee and earns 3% cash back on dining. Instead of the Freedom Unlimited's drugstore category, it earns 3% cash back at grocery stores, which can be a more productive cash back category for people who don't shop at drugstores much. Its base rewards rate for other purchases, though, is lower than the Chase Freedom Unlimited at 1%.
A big upside to the Savor card is that, unlike the Freedom Unlimited, it does not charge foreign transaction fees, making it an ideal card to travel with.
It also offers a welcome bonus, but it is smaller than that of the Freedom Unlimited, at $200 after a $500 spend in the first three months.
Related: The easiest high-yield savings account to park your cash in
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This story was originally published April 28, 2026 at 4:45 PM.