Chase Freedom Unlimited Benefits

Besides unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases, Chase Freedom Unlimited offers valuable benefits. Don't overlook them.

Chase Freedom Unlimited is a popular cashback card. It also has a few travel and purchase protections that you should know about. Read on to learn about them.

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Chase Freedom Unlimited Overview

• Intro Offer: Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back!
• Enjoy 6.5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 4.5% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 3% on all other purchases (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year).
• After your first year or $20,000 spent, enjoy 5% cash back on Chase travel purchased through Ultimate Rewards®, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.
• No minimum to redeem for cash back. You can choose to receive a statement credit or direct deposit into most U.S. checking and savings accounts. Cash Back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open!
• Enjoy 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 19.74% - 28.49%.
• No annual fee - You won't have to pay an annual fee for all the great features that come with your Freedom Unlimited® card
• Keep tabs on your credit health, Chase Credit Journey helps you monitor your credit with free access to your latest score, real-time alerts, and more.

Chase Freedom Unlimited Top Benefits

The Chase Freedom Unlimited is an excellent card for everyday use. All cardmembers get the following benefits.

Sign-Up Bonus

Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back!

Flat Rate Cash-Back

Enjoy 6.5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 4.5% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 3% on all other purchases (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year).

There are no rotating bonus categories to keep track of. There's no limit to how much cash-back you can get. This is a pretty decent earning rate for a card with no annual fee.

Again, you will earn cash back rewards in the form of Chase Ultimate Rewards points.

Your points never expire as long as your account is in good standing and you don't close the credit card.

Introductory APR

You get a 0% introductory APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers. After that, the current APR is 19.74% - 28.49% Variable.

This is really helpful if you have some large charges coming up. Just make sure you have a plan to pay off your balance by the time the intro APR ends.

Purchase Protection

If an item is damaged or stolen within 120 days from purchase, you can be reimbursed up to $500 per claim, with a max of $50,000 per account. This is for eligible purchases made in the U.S.

The Benefit Administrator will determine if the item is to be repaired, replaced, or reimbursed based on the damage. If the item was stolen, you must file a police report within 48 hours of the theft.

Extended Warranty Protection

For eligible purchases with a U.S. manufacturer's warranty of 3 years or less, you get an additional one year warranty added. You must have purchased the item with the card.

You get up to $10,000 per claim, with a maximum $50,000 per account. Make sure you keep the receipts.

Secondary Car Rental Insurance

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You get secondary coverage in case of damage or theft when you pay the entire eligible auto rental fee in full. You are covered up to the actual cash value of the car, within the U.S. and abroad for up to 31 days.

You must decline the rental company's Collision and Damage Waiver (which will also save you some money).

Secondary auto coverage means Chase will cover extra fees that your primary insurance doesn't cover (like the deductible). If you have no other coverage or are renting a car overseas, then you'll receive the full coverage.

Trip Cancellation/Interruption

If you've paid for your trip with the card, you can get reimbursed if your eligible trip is interrupted by weather, illness, or other covered circumstances. This applies for pre-paid, non-refundable expenses, including airfare, hotels, and tours.

You can be reimbursed up to $1,500 per person, up to a max of $6,000 for all people traveling on the same trip.

Emergency Assistance Referral

If you ever need any emergency help while away from home, Chase will provide referrals and assistance for free. The services include:

• Referring you to English-speaking doctors or hospitals
  
• Referring you to English-speaking attorneys or U.S. embassies or consulates
  
• Arranging for emergency transportation home or to a hospital
  
• Transporting vital documents you may have left at home
  
• Arranging for delivery of a replacement ticket

You are responsible for the cost of the service. But the assistance and referrals are free of charge.

Roadside Dispatch

If you ever find yourself needing help on the side of the road, there is a 24-hour hotline. You will be charged a flat fee of $59.95 for the service (additional fees may apply in certain circumstances). Services include:

• Towing up to 5 miles
  
• Jumpstart service
  
• Tire change (provided you have a spare)
  
• Locksmith services
  
• Gas fill-ups up to 5 gallons
  
• Winching

The number is 1-800-847-2869.

Redemption Options

As mentioned before, the rewards you earn come in the form of Ultimate Rewards points (1 dollar spent = 1.5 points). Though it's called a cash-back rewards card, there are actually several redemption options, including:

1. Cash-back. Redeem for cash-back in the form of a statement credit or direct deposit into your bank checking or savings.

2. Gift cards. For a 1:1 exchange, you could get a gift card from your favorite retailer. Gift cards are available for most major dining, shopping, and entertainment vendors. Most merchants require that you trade in at least 2,500 points for a $25 gift card.

3. Book travel. You can use points to book travel on the Chase travel portal with any airline, any dates. With just the Chase Freedom Unlimited card alone, this is worth 1 point = 1 cent.

4. Pay on Amazon. Link your Freedom Unlimited card to your Amazon and you can choose easy checkout with points. But the redemption value is lower at only 0.80 cents per point.

How to Make the Most of the Card

The Chase Freedom Unlimited has great potential to be a primary card for everyday purchases, since you get a flat reward rate. But you can get more out of it with by pairing it with another card. Chase Ultimate Rewards allows you to combine points between Chase cards. By doing so, you can earn and use points in a way to get the most value.

• Pair with Chase Freedom for maximum cash back.
  Chase Freedom earns 5% cashback in rotating bonus categories that change every quarter. So you can use it on 5% category purchases, and the Chase Freedom Unlimited on all other spending. This strategy will allow you to get the most cash back possible. The Freedom also has no annual fee.

• Pair with a Sapphire card for travel at greater value.
  The Sapphire Cards (Sapphire Preferred and Sapphire Reserve) allow you to redeem points for travel on the Chase travel portal at greater value. Plus, you can also transfer points to airline and hotel partners. If you have one of these credit cards, you can combine your Freedom Unlimited points onto it. You'll be able to use your points at greater value.

• Shop through Chase for bonus points. Chase has a great online shopping portal. Over 200 partner merchants offer extra bonus points for every dollar spent. This will allow you to earn more than just 1.5% cashback on your purchase. It's smart to see if your store is listed when you buy something online.

Common Questions

Is Chase Freedom Unlimited a good credit card?
The Chase Freedom Unlimited is a good all-around spending credit card, because you get a flat rate cash back on everything. There are no bonus categories to keep track of. 1.5% cash back may not the highest earn rate (compared to other credit cards with more bonus cashback in certain categories). But it's good if you have varied spending.

What does it mean to earn 1.5% cash back?
For every purchase you make, you earn 1.5% of it back ($100 in purchases would earn you $1.50). For Chase Freedom Unlimited, your rewards come in the form of points. You get 1.5x points for each purchase ($100 = 150 points). Redemption options include cash back, gift cards, or travel at 1 point = 1 cent.

Does my Chase Freedom Unlimited have rental car insurance?
The Chase Freedom Unlimited provides secondary coverage for theft and collision for auto rentals. This means it only pays out after other forms of coverage. To receive this benefit, you must pay for the entire eligible car rental with the card and decline the rental company's CDW waiver.

What is a secondary insurance policy?
Secondary coverage means it only covers what the primary insurance doesn't. So Chase will pay extra fees that your own primary doesn't cover. For example, this secondary benefit can cover your deductible (or any other out-of-pocket costs).

Is there a foreign transaction fee on Chase Freedom Unlimited?
Yes. The Freedom Unlimited charges a 3% foreign transaction fee for purchases made out of the U.S. (charging $100 on the card will add an extra $3).

Does Chase Freedom Unlimited have an annual fee?
No. There is no annual fee. So all your cashback earnings go straight into your pocket.

Does Chase Freedom Unlimited have travel insurance?
All cardmembers get trip cancellation & trip interruption protection for up to $1,500 per person ($6,000 per trip). This reimburses pre-paid, non-refundable costs (flights, hotels, tours), if you need to cancel a trip due to a covered circumstance.

Bottom Line

The Chase Freedom Unlimited is a great card for everyday spending. For no annual fee, this credit card offers good earning potential and great benefits. Don't forget about them as you're using your card. They can help you save money and get greater peace of mind.

For even more value, pair with one of the premium Chase credit cards. Your points will be worth more when you redeem on the Chase travel portal, or you can transfer to partner airlines and hotels.

Restrictions, limitations and exclusions apply. There may be time limits and documentation requirements. Please review the issuer's guide to benefits for a full explanation and details.

Next Step: View the issuer's official application, terms, and details