the Hunt Unlimited Freedom® is one of the best cash back credit cards on the market today and for good reason. It started as a credit card with lump sum reimbursement offering 1.5% cash back on every purchase, but today with the addition of new rewards categories, you can earn up to 5% cash back on select purchases.
The benefits don’t end with earning cash back. To really maximize the value of this card, read on for a guide to all the benefits of Chase Freedom Unlimited.
Chase Freedom Unlimited at a Glance
| welcome bonus | $200 cash bonus when you spend $500 on your card within three months of account opening |
| Awards | 5% cash back on grocery store purchases (excluding Target and Walmart) up to $12,000 in the first year, 5% on Lyft purchases (until March 2022), 5% on trips purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards, 3% on meals, 3% on drugstore purchases and 1.5% on everything else |
| Annual subscription | $0 |
| Introductory purchase APR | 0% for 15 months, then a variable APR of 14.99% to 24.74% |
| Foreign transaction fees | 3% on every purchase made abroad |
The Chase Freedom Unlimited comes with no annual fee, making it a great choice for earning rewards without factoring an annual fee into your budget. It is also for those who are good at excellent credit (credit scores ranging from 670 to 850).
This credit card rewards is also a particularly good choice for financing a major purchase without having to pay additional interest. The Freedom Unlimited comes with an introductory APR of 0% for 15 months, followed by a variable APR of 14.99% to 24.74%. Introductory rate only applies to new purchases, not balance transfers.
Although it is a cash back credit card, it is popular with travelers for several reasons. One of those reasons is that you can earn 5% cash back on trips booked through the Chase the Ultimate Rewards portal, which is the highest amount of cashback you can earn with this card. Although it is acceptable to book your trip with the Chase Freedom Unlimited, it is recommended that you leave it at home if you plan to travel internationally. The card charges a 3% foreign transaction fee for all purchases made outside of the United States
Sign-up bonuses and reward rates
You can earn a generous $200 cash sign-up bonus when you spend at least $500 on the card within the first three months of getting it.
As noted, the Chase Freedom Unlimited initially only offered a flat rate of 1.5% cash back on all purchases. Since launching in 2016, however, Chase has expanded that to include so much more: 5% cash back on travel booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards, 5% cash back on grocery purchases (excluding Target and Walmart ) up to $12,000 in your first year, 5% back on Lyft purchases (through March 2022), 3% back on restaurant and drug store purchases, and 1.5% back on all other purchases.
One of the tricky things about this card is redeeming rewards. The Chase Freedom Unlimited is advertised as a cashback credit card, but when you log into your account, you won’t see “$200 available for redemption”, for example, if you win the welcome bonus. Instead, you’ll see something like “20,000 Ultimate Rewards points” with a button that says “Redeem”.
You can redeem these points at a ratio of 1:1 for cash back. In other words, 20,000 Ultimate Rewards points are worth $200 in cash back (20,000 points x $0.01 per point = $200). You can also redeem your rewards for travel or gift cards at a 1:1 ratio.
Travel benefits
The market is full of luxury rewards cards for travel freaks, and while this map isn’t quite suitable for those people, there’s still plenty to love for those who travel occasionally.
Cash back
If you’re a cash back lover, you’ll appreciate the 5% offered on Lyft rides through March 2022, which can help you salvage a few dollars when you book that pricey Lyft ride on the way to the airport.
Car rental insurance
If you rent a car, you can get Assurance against theft or collisions if you pay with your card. This coverage is secondary to your own auto insurance, so if you need it, you’ll need to file a claim with your own auto insurance first. If you do not have car insurance or if you rent a car abroad, this is primary insurance.
Trip cancellation and interruption insurance
Another interesting advantage is trip cancellation and interruption insurance. With this benefit, if your trip is canceled or cut short because you fell ill or caught in a snowstorm, for example, you can be reimbursed up to $1,500 per person (maximum of four people) on fares and the tickets you have already paid for.
Roadside Assistance
Have you ever encountered a problem while traveling or commuting? Chase also offers a roadside dispatch hotline with this map which, while not free, can at least get you the help you need. You will also have access to a hotline for emergency assistance, which can help you if you encounter any problems while traveling in the country or abroad.
Purchase Protection and Warranties
It’s really frustrating to have an expensive purchase breakdown or get robbed soon after buying it. Luckily, the Freedom Unlimited offers purchase protection and extended warranty protection, both of which can help you recover from such unfortunate events.
Purchase Protection
If your purchase is stolen or damaged within 120 days of purchasing it, you can be reimbursed up to $500 through Chase’s Purchase Protection Program.
Warranty Protection
If your purchase came with a warranty, you may be eligible for an extended warranty through Chase. This one is a bit tricky though, as it only applies to original warranties of three years or less. But if your item qualifies, Chase will give you an additional year of warranty on that item.
For example, if you used your card to buy a $300 Fitbit that originally came with a 1-year warranty and it dies after 18 months, you may be able to get your money back through the extended warranty program. from Chase.
How to Maximize Your Chase Freedom Unlimited Benefits
We strongly recommend that you read your Chase Freedom Unlimited benefits guide, which you will receive in the mail after being approved for the card. This will tell you the ins and outs of all the benefits you are entitled to. These benefits sometimes change over time.
Transfer rewards to a premium Chase credit card
One of the best ways to increase your rewards is to pair Freedom Unlimited with another card from the Chase Ultimate Rewards suite of products, as you can transfer your points back and forth. between Chase cards. For example, your points are worth 25% more when you transfer them to Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or a whopping 50% more when you transfer them to the Chase Sapphire Reserve®. These cards come with an annual fee, so you’ll have to decide if the app is worth the increased cash value.
The bottom line
While a solid cash back option, the benefits of the Chase Freedom Unlimited may be enough to pique the interest of occasional travelers. If you’re looking to finance a large purchase that you can pay off in a low-interest introductory period, even better.
Either way, as long as you pay your bills responsibly, the Chase Freedom Unlimited can help you achieve your financial goals.
