Are you tired of missing out on bonus rewards for your everyday purchases? Look no further than the Chase Freedom Unlimited® card. With its flat 1.5% cash back on all purchases, this card allows you to earn a significant amount of rewards on expenses that don’t typically fall into bonus categories.
Earn Rewards on Everyday Expenses
Retailers like Costco, Amazon, Target, and Walmart often don’t offer bonus rewards for purchases. However, with the Chase Freedom Unlimited® card, you can rack up a surprising number of points on these everyday expenses. This makes it the perfect card for those looking to maximize their rewards potential.
TIME’s Take on Chase Freedom Unlimited
The Chase Freedom Unlimited® card is a solid choice for anyone looking for a flat-rate earnings card. While the 1.5% cash back may not seem impressive at first, it becomes more valuable when combined with other rewards cards from Chase. By redeeming your points for travel, you can get even greater value from your rewards.
This card is recommended for everyday use, whether you’re making small purchases or larger ones. It can be a significant earner for cardmembers looking to get the most out of their everyday spending.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- 1.5% cash back on all purchases
- No annual fee
- 0% Intro APR on Purchases for 15 months and Balance Transfers for 15 months
- Additional 5x cash back on travel purchased through the Ultimate Rewards program, 3x on dining, and 3x on drugstore purchases
- Extra 1.5% earned in the first year up to $20,000
Cons:
- 5% cash advance and balance transfer fees
- 3% foreign transaction fee
- Only available for cardholders with a good credit score
Who is the Card For?
The Chase Freedom Unlimited® card is perfect for cardholders who want to maximize their earnings on everyday spending categories. With its 1.5% cash back on all purchases, this card earns a surprising number of rewards at merchants that don’t typically fall into a bonus category.
The card also works well alongside other Chase cards, such as Chase Sapphire Preferred®. By pairing it with a premium rewards card, you can transfer your points for travel redemptions that offer far greater value.
To have the best odds of approval, potential cardholders should have a good credit score of 670 or above.
Features
Cash Back Earnings for Everything
The key feature of the Chase Freedom Unlimited® card is its 1.5% cash back on every purchase. While other cash back cards offer similar rewards, this card’s relationship with the Ultimate Rewards program makes it even more valuable.
Elevated Bonus Categories
In addition to the 1.5% cash back on everything, the Chase Freedom Unlimited® card also offers bonus categories for dining, drugstores, and travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards. This means you can earn 3x points on dining and drugstore purchases, and 5x points on travel bookings.
Time to Pay Down Debt
With the intro APR on balance transfers, the Chase Freedom Unlimited® card allows you to transfer a balance and work on paying down debt without accruing interest. This feature gives you a little extra time to get your finances in order.
The Fine Print
When considering any credit card, it’s important to understand the interest rates and fees involved. Here’s what you need to know about the Chase Freedom Unlimited® card:
Interest Rates
- Regular APR: [regular_apr_type]
- Intro APR: [intro_apr_rate,intro_apr_duration] and [balance_transfer_intro_apr,balance_transfer_intro_duration]
- Cash advance APR: [cash_advance_apr]
- Penalty APR: 29.99%
Fees
- Annual fee: [annual_fees]
- Cash advance fee: [cash_advance_fee]
- Balance transfer fee: [balance_transfer_fees]
- Foreign transaction fee: [foreign_transaction_fee]
- Late payment fee: [late_payment_fee]
- Returned payment fee: $40
Additional Hidden Perks
The Chase Freedom Unlimited® card offers a number of additional perks that shoppers and travelers will find valuable. These perks include:
- Purchase protection: New purchases are insured against theft or damage for up to 120 days, with $500 per claim and $50,000 per account coverage.
- Extended warranty protection: When you purchase an item with the card, an additional year is added to the manufacturer’s warranty.
- Fraud monitoring and liability protection: Chase actively monitors for fraud and provides liability protection for unauthorized charges.
- Auto rental collision damage waiver: When you pay for a rental car with the card, you’re insured for theft and collision coverage.
- Trip cancellation and interruption coverage: Cardholders are eligible for up to $1,500 reimbursement per person for covered events.
- Travel and emergency assistance services: Chase has a benefits administrator available for assistance with emergency situations away from home.
- Free credit score: You have access to your credit score whenever you want to see it.
What Could Be Improved
While the Chase Freedom Unlimited® card offers great benefits, there are areas that could be improved. Other cards offer higher cash back earnings than the 1.5% offered by this card. Additionally, using the card abroad incurs expensive foreign transaction fees. Lastly, the card is limited to cardholders with a good credit score, so if you’re looking to build credit, this may not be the best option.
Card Alternatives
If you’re looking for alternatives to the Chase Freedom Unlimited® card, here are a few options to consider:
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[Card Alternative 1]: This card offers unlimited matched cash back, with Chase automatically matching all the cash back you earn at the end of your first year. Plus, there is no limit to how much cash back you can earn. Don’t miss out on this special offer ending soon.
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[Card Alternative 2]
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[Card Alternative 3]
Bottom Line
The Chase Freedom Unlimited® card has minimal downsides, with its impressive cash back earning potential and lack of an annual fee. When combined with a premium rewards credit card from Chase, you can maximize your cash back or Ultimate Rewards earnings.
Keep in mind that the card’s drawbacks, such as high APR, cash advance fee, balance transfer fee, penalty APR, and foreign transaction fee, are consistent with other cards on the market.
If you already have a premium rewards card with Chase or need a solid everyday earner, the Chase Freedom Unlimited® card is definitely worth considering. Start maximizing your cash back and Ultimate Rewards earnings today!
For more information, visit Personal Finances Blog.