Opinions expressed here are our own, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain. Terms apply to offers listed.
The Chase Freedom Unlimited® was one of my first ever credit cards, and even years later, it still earns a spot in my wallet. It’s one of those rare cards that feels effortless to use: no annual fee, no rotating categories to track, and a flat 1.5% cash back on everything. That alone makes it a solid pick, but it also quietly goes above and beyond, offering 3% back on dining and drugstores, and 5% back on travel booked through Chase Travel℠. For a beginner or someone looking to simplify their setup, it hits a sweet spot between rewards and ease of use.
Where it falls a bit short is in areas like foreign spending (the 3% foreign transaction fee makes it a poor choice for travel abroad) and it doesn’t come with premium perks like lounge access or big travel credits. But it’s still incredibly valuable, especially when paired with a Chase Sapphire or Ink Preferred card, where you can turn your cash back into transferrable points and redeem for flights or hotels at a higher value. The welcome bonus is usually easy to unlock, and the intro 0% APR period adds some breathing room if you’re planning a large purchase or balance transfer.
All in, this is a dependable, no-frills workhorse - one of the best cards out there for anyone who wants consistent rewards without needing to micromanage every transaction. And if you ever want to get deeper into the points game, it plays really nicely with Chase’s more advanced cards too.
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I don’t include all US credit card offers available on this site. Instead, I write primarily about cards which earn airline miles, hotel points, and some cash back (or have points that can be converted into the same).
Editorial Note: The opinions, analyses, and evaluations here are mine and not provided by any bank including (but not limited to) American Express, Chase, Citibank, US Bank, Barclays or any other company. They have not reviewed, approved or endorsed what I have to say.
Comments made in response to posts are not provided or commissioned nor have they been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any bank. It is not the responsibility of any advertiser to ensure that questions are answered.
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