Chase Freedom Unlimited® 2024 Review: Everything in Detail

You may have seen a variety of credit cards in the market, so it might be confusing to choose the right credit card. Sometimes there are users who make big purchases on credit or they want to consolidate other credit debt. In such a case, the Chase Freedom Unlimited card is perfect for you. It provides 0% APR for 15 months with 0 annual fees and comes along with several benefits. We are here to resolve your confusion as today we are going to discuss the Chase Freedom Unlimited review with you.

Chase Freedom Unlimited Credit Card Description

Our Rating: 4.9/5

Chase Freedom Unlimited comes up with 0% APR for 15 months on balance transfers & purchases. If you do most of your purchases on credit or want to combine the credit card debt then this card is for you. Once your intro period finishes, you have APR & fees at the normal rate. It offers rewards of 5% on travel & 1.5% on other purchases. You can also get 20,000 points if you pay $500 in 1st 3 months & get 5% cashback after spending 12,000 on groceries. 

Key Features

Let’s see what are its key features you must know before using this card:

1. Fees

• Balance transfer fee: $5 or 5% of the amount transferred
• Annual fee: $0
• Cash advance fee: $10 or 5% of the amount 
• Intro balance transfer fee: $5 or 3% of the amount transferred 
• Late payment fee: Up to $40
• Foreign transaction fee: 3%

You should keep in mind that it will charge foreign settlement fees of 3%. There are several cards that don’t charge any foreign settling fees. If you often travel overseas then this card is not for you. 

2. Interest Rates

• Intro purchase APR: 0% for 15 months
• Purchase APR: 18.74%–27.49% (variable)
• Cash advance APR: 26.49% (variable)
• Penalty APR: Up to 29.99% (variable)
• Balance transfer APR: 18.74%–27.49% (variable)
• Intro balance transfer APR: 0% for 15 months

3. Rewards

The rewards offered by Chase Unlimited freedom crest cards are wide & they are very profitable. It grants a wide variety of rewards that can cover most of your spending that’s why we give it a rating of 4.5/5. The bottom rate is 1.5% and it is more than the standard rate which helps you to earn better on non-grouping purchases. It doesn’t grant distinct rewards for gas so, this may not be a sound card for road trippers & commutes.

4. Cash Advances

Chase Freedom Unlimited allows you to withdraw cash from an ATM because it has a cash advance feature. But for that, you have to pay a fee which is $10 or 5% of the amount that you are withdrawing, and the APR that it will charge will be 26.49% (variable).

5. Balance Transfers

When your account is opened the balance you transfer to Chase Unlimited will be 0% APR for 15 months. As soon as this period finishes you have to pay the normal APR which is 18.74%–27.49% (variable). For 60 days the balance transfer fee will be $5 or 3% then you have to pay more fees which are $5 or 5%. 

It also has many limitations that the amount you transfer inclusive of fees & interest charges will not be above your credit limit. You can’t transfer the amount other than Chase Bank a/c. 

6. Penalty APR

In case you miss any payments then you have a penalty APR which is 29.99%. It depends upon them that they can even cancel your intro APR if you pay the amount in 60 days or you take more days then they can charge a penalty APR on you. 

7. Credit Reporting

It reports to all 3 agencies so, your report will get upgraded on the basis of your financing activities.

8. Rewards Program

Chase Unlimited Freedom makes use of “credit card point programs” that can provide you:

• 5x points on travel if you book it through “Chase Ultimate Rewards”.
• Get 3x points on “dining which includes takeout, and restaurants”.
• Again 3x points on “drugstores”.
• Last 1.5x on other purchases.

For eligible purchases, it includes hotels, flights, and other ventures.

9. Redeem Chase Unlimited Freedom Points

You have 7 methods that you can use to redeem points on this card. These points can vary on the basis of the redemption method. Generally, they redeem at “1:1” which means 1 point is worth 1 cent. 

You can add more points to your card if you book travel with the Chase portal or by purchasing any gift card at a discount rate. If you want cashback on your points then you can get it on statement credit/Pay Yourself Back® program.

Below are the 7 methods:

• Gift Cards
• Statement credit is applied to the monthly bill
• Merchandise
• Statement credit applied to past purchases
• Book Chase Experiences/Chase Dining
• Travel booked through the Chase portal
• Transfer to partner hotel/airline programs

10. Welcome Bonus

You can also get 20,000 points if you pay $500 in 1st 3 months & get 5% cashback after spending 12,000 on groceries. 

11. Credit Limit for Chase Unlimited Freedom

The Chase Freedom Unlimited card’s credit limit ranges between $500 to $5000. Your creditworthiness will be decided by the credit limit. If you want to increase your credit limit then you can request them but there can be a tough inquiry as it can drop the credit score. They will not give you approval if you are not able to prove that you are a good borrower. 

For that you have to wait for six months then after that, you should apply for a limit increase. They will review the a/c if you are qualified then they will increase the limit. 

Chase Freedom Unlimited Benefits

Have a look at the benefits of the Chase Freedom Unlimited credit card:

1. My Chase Loan

You can take the My Chase loan out by using the unused credit with the help of this card. It is like a cash advance in which “what you borrow gets subtracted from the available credit limit” and the minimal “loan amount is $500”. After looking at your spending & a few factors they will tell you how much amount you can withdraw.

For My Chase loan, you don’t need to have a credit check or even no need to prepay. You will also get less APR than normal purchase APR but it will depend on the creditworthiness.

2. Other Benefits

It also provides various other benefits which you can see below:

• Purchase Protection: You can get reimbursement in less than 120 days if you have made any new purchase and it gets damaged or lost. The insurance organization will give you $500 as a claim which aggregates $50,000/ a/c.
• Extended Warranty Protection: You can add next year to your warranty of US-manufactured products so that you can qualify for the warranty for 3 years/less.
• Trip abolition or Disruption insurance: If you want to come back home early or for any reason, you need to cancel the trip, and then the company will refund you $1500/ person. It will be applicable only on prepaid & non-refundable fares. 
• Auto Rental Crash Damage Waiver: A waiver of liability for crash damage/theft of covered vehicles is available if you pay your full auto rental price with your Chase Freedom Unlimited.
• Travel & Emergency Support Services: With the help of this service you can contact the Administrator who will guide you to medical, legal, or any other emergency support.

There are a few other advantages for cardholders:

• It allows you to use the card before you get it through a digital wallet. 
• You can divide purchases of $100 into periodic payments with My Chase Plan.
• You have a chance to see VantageScore from the Experian report and anybody can see it as it is not restricted only to cardholders.
• You can earn 5% cashback on your Lyft rides from March 2025.
• Get DashPass membership for free from DoorDash for up to three months and also a 50% discount for nine months on your membership. 

How to Obtain a Chase Freedom Unlimited?

To obtain this Chase card you need a credit score & you have to apply online for that you need to go through some criteria that we are mentioning below:

• Credit Score

The score that you need to have a Chase Unlimited Freedom credit card ranges from “670 to 850 on your FICO score of 700 to 850 on the VantageScore scale”. If you have a score like this then it is not compulsory that you will get approved because it also sees other factors. So, if you have a score below the good credit range then look for another card. 

• Application & Approval

To apply you don’t need to go anywhere you can just apply online. If your information is correct then they can qualify you for “Platinum or Signature” a/c. So, the age for applying for this card should be 18 years. But, there are two exceptions: for Alabama & Nebraska the age will be 19 years and for Puerto Rico, it should be 21 years. 

Who Should Get Chase Freedom Unlimited?

Here is the list for whom this credit card is meant:

• Everyday Rewards Seekers: Although Chase Unlimited Freedom is a basic card with few benefits on travel. But, it doesn’t mean that it is not a great card for regular use. It provides 1.5% rewards on purchases while the normal rate is 1%. You also get rewards points on dining and also get a DoorDash membership for three months.
• Travelers: If you use this card then you can get high rewards on traveling and also you can add redeem points. Also, you can transfer the points to “Chase’s 11 airline partners” and you can get more rewards in return. It is a great opportunity that if you are a member of this program then you can get benefits like lounge access, and get tickets at a discount rate. 
• Debt Consolidators: This card offers 0% APR for 15 months on balance transfers and a very low fee which is $5 or 3% for 1st 60 days of possession of the card. If you think that you can pay the balance within 15 months then this card is a great choice. If you need more time then you can look for other cards that can offer 18 to 21 months’ time. 

Other Alternatives

In order to make a decision if you should use a Chase Freedom Unlimited credit card or not, you should look for other alternatives too:

1. Chase Freedom FlexSM Credit Card

Our Rating: 4.8/5

If you are looking for a low cashback rate in order to get extra through revolving classification then Chase freedom FlexSM is perfect for you. Other things are similar to what you have seen for Chase Unlimited Freedom. 

2. Chase Sapphire Preferred Card

Our Rating: 4.6/5

The Chase Sapphire card is quite similar to the Chase Unlimited Freedom card in terms of fees, and APR. But, it encourages travel spending  & redemption programs with Chase Ultimate Rewards. So, if you are looking for a card that can give you more rewards or points for traveling then you can go for this card. 

3. Citi Double Cash Card

Our Rating: 4.5/5

This card offers a long intro APR period and an easier reward method than Chase Unlimited Freedom. It offers a 2% cashback reward on every purchase. It is an ideal option for users who want their card to remain in use after the intro APR ends.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. Is Chase Freedom Unlimited hard to get?

To get Chase Freedom Unlimited, you need excellent credit for approval. So, it becomes a bit hard to approve.

Q2. What’s the limit on Chase Freedom Unlimited?

The limit on Chase Freedom Unlimited is $500 minimum but it can go up to $5000. 

Q3. Is Chase Freedom Unlimited a beginner card?

Yes, it is a good beginner card. If you are using a credit card for the 1st time then Chase Freedom is the best card you can go for.

Q4. Can one get the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card if they have Chase Freedom Unlimited?

Yes, you can apply for a Chase Sapphire Preferred Card if you are satisfied with your Chase Freedom Unlimited.

Q5. Is Chase Freedom Unlimited a good everyday card?

Yes, it comes up with 0 annual fee & 5% rewards on travel.

Final Say

Chase Freedom Unlimited received a score of 4.9/5 from us. It offers purchases and balance transfers with 0% APR for 15 months. However, if you do not go out so regularly, we advise you to use a credit card with a reduced annual cost. We sincerely hope you found this information beneficial. Please inform us if you have any additional questions.