VISAVisa Signature

Chase Freedom Unlimited

Earn 1.5% on everything plus 5% on travel and 3% on dining

The Chase Freedom Unlimited delivers effortless rewards with 1.5% cash back on every purchase, plus elevated rates of 5% on Chase Travel, 3% on dining and drugstores, and no annual fee. When paired with a Chase Sapphire card, your cash back transforms into Ultimate Rewards points transferable to airline and hotel partners at 1:1 ratios.

Annual Fee: $0
cash back · Welcome Bonus: $200
Highest rate (conditional): Up to 5% (Travel portal)

Terms checked against the issuer on October 10, 2026

Apply on Chase's site

At a Glance

Annual Fee: $0
Authorized User Fee: $0
Foreign Transaction Fee: 3%
Network: Visa Signature
Rewards Currency: Cash
Point Valuation: 1¢ (cash back)
Credit Required: Good to Excellent

Welcome Offer

Bonus: $200 cash back

Spend: $500

Period: 3 months

Earning Rates

Combine Hotels & Flights

5%
Travel
Travel purchased through Chase Travel portal — No annual cap
5%
Hotels
5%
Flights
5%
Car Rentals
3%
Dining
Restaurants including takeout and delivery — No annual cap
3%
Drugstores
Drugstore purchases — No annual cap
2%
LyftLimited time
Earn 2% total cash back on qualifying Lyft products and services through September 30, 2027
1.5%
All Other
Unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases — No annual cap

Earning Scenarios

5% on Chase Travel Bookings

Book through Chase Travel's portal and earn 5x points on flights, hotels, rental cars, cruises, and activities—no blackout dates or restrictions.

Book a $2,000 vacation through Chase Travel and earn 10,000 points—worth $100 in cash back, or up to $150 on select Points Boost flights and hotels when combined with a Sapphire Preferred.

3% at Restaurants

Earn 3x points on dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services like DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub.

Spend $500/month on dining and earn 18,000 points per year—worth $180 in cash back, or up to $270 on select Points Boost flights and hotels when combined with a Sapphire Preferred.

3% at Drugstores

Earn 3x points on all purchases at drugstores—from prescriptions to health essentials to everyday items.

Spend $200/month at CVS or Walgreens and earn 7,200 points per year—worth $72 in cash back.

1.5% on Everything Else

No categories to track or activate. Earn 1.5x points automatically on groceries, gas, utilities, streaming, shopping, and all other purchases.

Spend $2,000/month on non-bonus categories and earn 36,000 points per year—worth $360 in cash back, or up to $540 on select Points Boost flights and hotels when combined with a Sapphire Preferred.

Benefits & Perks

Annual Credits & Statement Credits

1 credits

$60

first-year / eligibility-dependent

Free DashPass membership for 6 months
Get 6 months of DashPass with $0 delivery fees on DoorDash and Caviar orders, plus quarterly grocery credits through 2027.
$60
One-time

Insurance & Protections

7 protections

Up to $6,000 trip cancellation and interruption coverage
$1,500
Get reimbursed up to $1,500 per person and $6,000 per trip for prepaid fares when sickness or weather cancels your plans.
Up to $500 protection for damaged or stolen purchases
$500
Covers new purchases against damage, theft, or loss for 120 days from purchase, up to $500 per item.
24/7 fraud monitoring
Continuous fraud monitoring with instant alerts via text, email, or phone when unusual purchases appear on your card.
Zero Liability on unauthorized charges
You won't be held responsible for unauthorized charges made in store, online, or via mobile device.
Free rental car coverage when you decline counter insurance
Secondary coverage for theft and collision damage on rentals when you pay with this card and decline the rental company's insurance.

Show all 7 protections

24/7 lost/stolen card assistance worldwide
Emergency card replacement and cash disbursement services available 24/7 worldwide for lost or stolen cards.
Add an extra year to manufacturer warranties
Extends warranties by one year on purchases with 3-year or shorter original warranties, up to 4 years total coverage.

Dining Out

3% cash back at restaurants

$3 back on a $100 dinner

No annual fee

Explore 5,512 New York restaurants with this card

Stack a dining program

Rakuten Dining

5% back at 20,618 participating restaurants, on top of this card's 3%, once you join and link this card.

How Rakuten Dining works

+$5

cash back, or ≈$5.50 as points

Chase Ultimate Rewards

View Program

Chase Ultimate Rewards stands as the most versatile transferable points program, combining best-in-class hotel transfers, strong airline coverage, and valuable portal redemptions. The crown jewel is the World of Hyatt transfer, widely considered the best hotel transfer value in the industry, at 4:3 since October 1, 2026 (1,000 points become 750 Hyatt points). With 14 transfer partners spanning all three major alliances, Ultimate Rewards offers flexibility for both domestic and international travel. Southwest Rapid Rewards is a 1:1 partner, one of two transferable currencies (with Bilt) that reach Southwest. Chase's Southwest card terms do not say whether transferred points count toward the Companion Pass. Points Boost is card-specific: the Sapphire Preferred can reach up to 1.5 cents per point on select flights and hotels through Chase Travel, while the Sapphire Reserve can reach up to 2 cents per point. Pay Yourself Back values also depend on the card and current offer. This combination of transfer flexibility and fixed-value options makes Ultimate Rewards useful for both beginners and optimization experts.

Currency: Ultimate Rewards points

Point Value: 1.8 cpp

Range: 1.5–2.05 cpp

Program Ratings

PointsNav

8.7/10#1 in Transferable Points

Broad Coverage

10/10

Everyday Usefulness

10/10

Earn/Redeem Efficiency

8/10

Policy Fairness

8/10

Ease Of Holding

8/10

Product/Transfer Quality

8/10

Recent Changes & News

Jun 23, 2025policy change

Points Boost replaces fixed portal multipliers for new Sapphire cardholders, changing CSR from guaranteed 1.5cpp to variable 1.0-2.0cpp

Jan 1, 2025new card

Chase Sapphire Reserve Business card launched with 150,000 point welcome bonus and $120K annual spend threshold

Apr 1, 2024new partner

Air Canada Aeroplan added as 14th transfer partner with instant transfers and 10% bonus for Chase Aeroplan cardholders on 50K+ transfers

Jan 1, 2024enhancement

The Edit luxury hotel collection launched for Sapphire Reserve holders with breakfast, $100 credit, and room upgrades

Sweet Spots — Best Redemptions

Route / Property	Points	Book With	Cabin/Type	Value / Region
Intra-Europe in Economy on a Partner	3,500	British Airways Avios	economy	Europe
Intra-Europe in Economy	3,500	Iberia Plus	economy	Europe
Short Haul Intra-Europe	4,000	British Airways Avios	economy	Europe
Intra-Europe in Economy on a Partner	4,000	Virgin Atlantic Flying Club	economy	Europe
Intra-Europe in Economy	7,500	Flying Blue	economy	Europe
Intra-Europe on Star Alliance	8,000	United Mileageplus	economy	Europe
Domestic US in Economy	4,600	Jetblue Trueblue	economy	United States
Domestic US in Economy on a Partner	6,300	United Mileageplus	economy	United States
Domestic US and Canada in Economy	7,100	Air Canada Aeroplan	economy	United States
Domestic US in Economy on a Partner	7,500	Virgin Atlantic Flying Club	economy	United States
Domestic US in Economy on a Partner	13,500	British Airways Avios	economy	United States
Domestic US in Economy on a Partner	15,000	Singapore Krisflyer	economy	United States
US to Europe in Economy	6,000	Virgin Atlantic Flying Club	economy	Europe
US to Europe in Economy	13,000	Aer Lingus Avios	economy	Europe
US to Europe in Economy	16,000	Iberia Plus	economy	Europe
US to Iceland in Economy on a Partner	17,000	Jetblue Trueblue	economy	Europe
US to Europe in Economy	25,000	Flying Blue	economy	Europe
US to Europe in Economy	26,700	United Mileageplus	economy	Europe
US to Europe in Economy	35,000	Air Canada Aeroplan	economy	Europe
US to Hawaii in Economy	8,000	Southwest Rapid Rewards	economy	United States

Showing top 20 of 54 sweet spots

Reviews & Analysis

Third-Party Rankings & Ratings

5 sources

Bankrate5/5

PointsNav—

Ranked #77 of 119

WalletHub5/5

Forbes Advisor4.5/5

The Points Guy4/5

Category Rankings (1 category)

Rental Cars#1

How It Compares

Best-in-class flat-rate cash back card with 1.5% everywhere and bonus categories (5% Chase Travel, 3% dining/drugstores). No annual fee, lengthy 0% intro APR, and transfers to travel partners when paired with Sapphire. Ideal for Chase ecosystem builders and balance transfer seekers.

Editorial Review

Lenny PappanoPointsNavFeb 8, 2026

This beginner-friendly card makes it easy to explore the points and miles hobby without a large commitment, but it lacks strong rewards. For better long term value, you will need to consider other Chase cards instead.

Key Takeaways

This is a good beginner card if you want to get your feet wet in the points and miles hobby. It has no annual fee, so there’s no financial commitment, and it will help you learn the basics of spending categories and points multipliers. While it’s a simple card to obtain and use, it doesn’t offer a ton of value. We recommend taking the time to read up on points and miles, then taking a leap of faith by getting one of the Chase Sapphire cards instead. Each Sapphire card has an annual fee—starting at $95 for the Preferred—but delivers strong returns through the Ultimate Rewards transfer ecosystem.

Why This Card Could Be Right For You

If you’re new to the points-and-miles hobby, the Chase Freedom Unlimited credit card can be a helpful introduction. It has relatively simple rules to help you learn about spending categories, and it offers a base rate of 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day.

Additional cash-back categories: 5% on travel booked through the Chase portal, 3% on dining (including takeout and eligible delivery), and 3% on drugstore purchases.
No annual fee: You won’t need to worry about an extra cost just for holding the card.

However, if you plan to use points for travel, you’ll need cards that charge an annual fee to maximize your rewards. Pairing the Freedom Unlimited with a Chase Sapphire card (Preferred or Reserve) or an Ink Business Preferred card lets you convert your cash back into Chase Ultimate Rewards points—often considered the most valuable points in the game.

In addition, the Freedom Unlimited comes with:

Purchase protection
Trip cancellation and interruption insurance
Fraud monitoring
Extended warranty protection
Auto rental coverage

With these features, the Chase Freedom Unlimited card can be an excellent starting place before moving on to cards that earn more substantial points and miles.

Read full review (3 more sections)

When The Usual Advice Doesn't Apply

There are a few scenarios where this card may not be the best fit:

1. You want points and miles specifically for travel, and this card only offers cash back on its own. (You can transfer the cash back to Ultimate Rewards points, but you need another Chase card to do so.)

2. This card might take up a coveted spot in your 5/24 limit.

What to Know About Chase Ultimate Rewards

Chase Ultimate Rewards is our most valued point system.

These points are the most flexible of any credit card points. You can transfer points to their partners at 1:1 ratios (typically the highest-value redemption option)
Or you can book travel directly through the Chase portal, including cruise, car rental, or specialty hotels.
The quality of their transfer partners (Hyatt, United & Southwest) is unmatched. As is the value you can get when you transfer.
You can get a “multiplier effect” on your Chase Ultimate Rewards points when you have either of Chase’s Sapphire cards by taking advantage of Points Boost.
We view Ultimate Rewards as the points “savings account” to top off a partner reward system for a flight or hotel. Or to book travel items directly through the Chase travel portal.

How The Chase Freedom Unlimited Credit Card Fits In The Chase Ultimate Rewards Ecosystem

Chase offers many cards, but we’ll keep things simple if you’re just starting out. In addition to the Freedom Unlimited, there are two other Chase Freedom cards:

Freedom Rise – Similar to the Unlimited, it offers 1.5% cash back on all purchases so you don’t have to worry about categories.
Freedom Flex – Offers 5% back in quarterly rotating bonus categories (e.g., groceries, gym memberships, hair/nail/spa services, or Norwegian Cruise purchases).

Once you’ve tried one of the Freedom cards, consider a Chase Sapphire card if you want to turn your cash back into Ultimate Rewards points that can transfer to hotel and airline partners for free travel. The Chase Sapphire Preferred is the lower-tier option, with a $95 annual fee and a $50 hotel credit each year to help offset that cost. It also offers 3x points on dining and 2x on travel, plus 25% more value when booking through the Chase portal.

If you want even more value, perks, and benefits, look at the Chase Sapphire Reserve. It has a higher annual fee ($795), but you’ll immediately offset part of that with a $300 travel credit. You’ll also get additional statement credits and various other perks. The Sapphire Preferred offers 75,000 bonus points and the Reserve 100,000. However, remember that you can only receive a Sapphire sign-up bonus once every 48 months, so choose wisely if you plan to open one of these cards.

Pros and Cons

Pros

+1.5% cash back on every purchase with no caps or categories
+5% on Chase Travel, 3% on dining and drugstores
+$200 bonus after $500 spend in 3 months
+0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers
+$0 annual fee with Visa Signature benefits
+Transfer points 1:1 to airlines/hotels with Sapphire card
+No minimum redemption amount

Cons

-3% foreign transaction fee
-1.5% base rate lower than Freedom Flex's 5% rotating categories
-Points worth only 1 cent without Sapphire card pairing
-No premium travel insurance or lounge access
-Lower welcome bonus than Sapphire cards

Who It's Best For

Best For

Set-it-and-forget-it earners who want automatic 1.5% everywhere
Chase ecosystem users pooling points with Sapphire cards
Balance transfer seekers with 0% intro APR for 15 months
New credit builders wanting simple rewards structure
High-volume spenders who exceed rotating category caps

Not Ideal For

International travelers (3% foreign transaction fee)
Category maximizers who prefer 5% rotating bonuses
Those seeking premium travel perks or lounge access
Users who won't pair with Sapphire for transfer value

The Math: Is $0 Worth It?

First-year value includes $200 welcome bonus

Welcome bonus$200

Annual credits (60% utilization)$36

Annual fee-$0

Net first-year value+$236

Credit Utilization (60%)

DoorDash DashPass Subscription$36

Excludes earning value, lounge access, insurance, and elite status

Total Value Captured

$36

Annual Fee

-$0

Net Annual Value

+$0

Details & Terms

Application Rules

Rule	Details
One Freedom Unlimited bonus per 24 months	This product is available to you if you do not have this card and have not received a new cardmember bonus for this card in the past 24 months.
5/24	Chase applications will be declined if 5 new cards have been added to your personal credit report in the past 24 months.
Chase 2/30	You'll be declined if you apply for a third Chase card of any kind within 30 days
Chase 4/6	Chase will decline your application you apply for a 5th Chase card (personal or BUSINESS) in 6 months

Payment Terms

Purchase APR	18.49%–27.99% (Variable)
Cash Advance APR	28.74% (Variable)
Foreign Transaction Fee	3%
Authorized User Fee	$0

Card Family

Freedom family

Card	Tier	Annual Fee	Note
Chase Freedom Flex	mid	$0	More complex with rotating 5% categories

Product changes available between family members without a new credit inquiry.

FAQs

Is it better to use Chase points for travel or cash back?

Cash back redemptions return only 1 cent per point. Booking travel through the Chase Travel Portal can be worth up to 2 cents per point with the Chase Sapphire Reserve for Points Boost redemptions. Transferring points to airline or hotel partners can deliver even higher value, up to 7-10 cents per point.

What is the most efficient way to redeem Chase points?

The most efficient way to redeem Chase points is to transfer them to travel partners. Transfers deliver outsized value, often well more than 2 cents per point. Booking through the Chase Travel Portal is easier, but learning partner awards maximizes long-term value and flexibility.

Which Chase card is best for rewards?

The two Chase Sapphire Reserve cards, personal and business, offer the biggest signup bonuses and most perks, but they also carry higher annual fees. The Chase Sapphire Preferred is an excellent alternative for travelers who want strong value and transferable points with a lower fee.

Can you book Airbnb through Chase Travel?

You cannot book Airbnb through Chase Travel, as Airbnb is not a direct transfer partner. Chase does offer vacation rentals in its portal for select cardholders. Log in to Chase Travel, and if your card is eligible you will see options to search hotels or vacation homes.

Who has more lounges, Chase or Amex?

American Express provides access to more lounges than Chase through the Global Lounge Collection, which includes Centurion Lounges, Delta Sky Clubs, and other partner lounges. The premium cards from both reward systems offer access to the most lounges.

Media & Resources

Video Reviews

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