Chase Freedom Unlimited®
Chase's No-Fee Cash Back Card
Practical Recommendation
Freedom Unlimited is an easy, low-maintenance everyday card: no annual fee, simple 1.5% back everywhere, and boosted earn on travel booked in the Chase portal plus dining and drugstores. If you don't want to juggle categories, this is the "set it and forget it" backbone of a simple rewards setup.
It gets even better if you also carry a Sapphire card—then those "cash back" points can be moved into the Sapphire account and redeemed for higher-value travel. Heads-up: there's a foreign transaction fee, so take a different card abroad.
Perks
- No annual fee – Always-on value with solid earn rates; a great everyday keeper.
- Portal boost on travel – 5% back when you book travel through Chase Travel; good for flights, hotels, and cars you'd book anyway.
- Lyft rides bonus – Earn an extra 2% back on paid Lyft rides through 9/30/2027 when you activate/set the card in the Lyft app. Nice if you ride often.
Protections
- Purchase Protection – Covers new items for theft or damage within 120 days, up to $500 per claim and $50,000 per account. Handy for phones, gadgets, or furniture mishaps.
- Extended Warranty – Adds 1 extra year to eligible U.S. manufacturer warranties of 3 years or less. Can save you from buying extra coverage on electronics.
- Trip Cancellation/Interruption – Reimburses non-refundable prepaid travel if you're sidelined by covered reasons, up to $1,500 per person and $6,000 per trip. Think weather, illness, or other covered events.
- Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver – Coverage for damage/theft to your rental car when you pay with the card and decline the rental company's CDW; liability not included. Good peace of mind for quick rentals. (See your Guide to Benefits for terms/exclusions.)
- Travel & Emergency Assistance / Roadside Dispatch – 24/7 referral help and pay-per-use roadside services when you're in a bind (you're responsible for actual service costs).
Hybrid (Optional): Convert Cash to Points
Freedom Unlimited earns simple cash-style points, but if you want extra value, pair it with Chase Sapphire Preferred or Chase Sapphire Reserve. Move your rewards into the Sapphire account, then transfer to airline and hotel partners for redemptions that can beat the usual 1¢-per-point cash math. It's optional (and a bit "Level 2")—you'll need to learn award searches and be flexible—but think $500 in cash vs. potentially $750–$1,000+ in flights when you catch a good partner deal with United, Southwest, JetBlue, or Air Canada Aeroplan.
— check out our Level 2 Travel section to learn more.