Earn $200 bonus cash back with the Chase Freedom Unlimited and the Chase Freedom Flex
Editor's Note
When it comes to no-annual-fee credit cards, it doesn't get much better than Chase's duo of the Chase Freedom Unlimited® (see rates and fees) and the Chase Freedom Flex® (see rates and fees).
Both the Freedom Flex and the Freedom Unlimited are excellent rewards credit cards with no annual fee. Even better, they offer the flexibility to earn either cash back or fully transferable Chase Ultimate Rewards points when combined with select Chase cards, such as the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees).
Let's dive deeper into these offers and see how they stack up.
Chase Freedom Unlimited welcome offer
Right now, new Chase Freedom Unlimited cardholders can earn a $200 bonus after spending $500 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.
This is the typical offer we see in the card's history.
Earning rates
- 5% cash back on travel booked through Chase Travel℠
- 3% cash back on dining
- 3% cash back at drugstores
- 1.5% cash back on everything else
These are valuable earning rates, but you should crunch the numbers to see if another card (like the Freedom Flex) makes more sense.
Apply: Chase Freedom Unlimited
Chase Freedom Flex welcome offer
New Chase Freedom Flex cardholders can earn $200 cash back after spending $500 on purchases in the first three months.
This is the regular welcome offer the card provides. While it offers solid value, you may want to hold off until it offers this amount of cash back plus an additional 5% category, which we've seen in the past for grocery and gas station purchases.
Earning rates
- 5% cash back on the first $1,500 spent on rotating categories each quarter (activation required)
- 5% cash back on travel booked through Chase Travel
- 3% cash back on dining
- 3% cash back at drugstores
- 1% cash back on all other purchases
That's an impressive lineup of earning categories for any card, let alone a no-annual-fee credit card.
Apply: Chase Freedom Flex
How to turn your cash back into Chase points
What really makes these two cards powerful is how well they play with others.
If you have another Chase card that earns transferable Ultimate Rewards points, such as the Chase Sapphire Preferred, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see rates and fees) or the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card (see rates and fees), you can combine the points from your Freedom Unlimited or Freedom Flex.
I have both the Freedom Unlimited and the Freedom Flex, and pair them with my Sapphire Reserve to convert the cash back into Ultimate Rewards points.
This unlocks the ability to transfer your points at a 1:1 ratio to the Ultimate Rewards program's airline and hotel partners, including valuable programs like Air France-KLM Flying Blue, British Airways Club and World of Hyatt.
In this scenario, TPG's April 2026 valuations deem Chase points as worth 2.05 cents apiece, so your rewards have significantly more flexibility when used in this way.
Related: The power of the Chase Trifecta: Maximize your earnings with 3 cards
Key considerations
It's worth pointing out that both the Freedom Unlimited and the Freedom Flex impose foreign transaction fees, so they're not ideal to use outside the U.S. Rather, you should use a card with no foreign transaction fees.
Additionally, you'll want to make sure you comply with Chase's 5/24 rule and the issuer's other application restrictions before applying. You'd hate to waste a hard inquiry on your credit report only to be denied.
Bottom line
If you're a current holder of the Sapphire Preferred or the Sapphire Reserve and don't have a Chase Freedom card, now could be a good time to apply for one of them.
Both the Freedom Unlimited and the Freedom Flex are worth a look to boost your everyday spending.
To learn more, read our reviews of the Freedom Unlimited and the Freedom Flex.
Apply here: Chase Freedom Unlimited
Apply here: Chase Freedom Flex
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 5X | New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Valuable dining and food-related credits
- Flexible rewards with airline and hotel transfer partners
- Multiple travel and purchase protections
- No foreign transaction fees
- Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
- Updated! $120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
- New! As an American Express® Gold Card Member, you can enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status. Enjoy benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
- Take advantage of a $100 credit towards eligible charges* at over 1,300 upscale hotels worldwide when you book The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App **. *Eligible charges vary by property. **The Hotel Collection requires a two-night minimum stay.
- Book your travel through the Amex Travel App with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.