The information regarding the Chase Freedom Flex℠ was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
The Chase Freedom Flex℠ sure does pack quite a punch — especially for a no-annual-fee card.
The Freedom Flex card is an incredible option for those looking for a well-rounded cash-back card, or a powerful point-earner when paired with a premium card in the Ultimate Rewards family.
So let’s have a look at what makes the Freedom Flex card so compelling.
Pros
- 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 19.74% - 28.49%
- Powerful cash-back earner: 5% back on quarterly categories and travel purchases through Chase Ultimate Rewards, 3% back on dining and drugstore purchases, and 1% back on all other purchases
- No annual fee
- Excellent cell phone insurance
- Ability to pool points
- Mastercard World Elite benefits
Cons
- 3% foreign transaction fees in U.S. dollars
Great Card If
- You want a card with a strong cash-back earning structure
- You want a card with no annual fee
- You want a card that earns flexible rewards
Don't Get If
- You want a premium credit card that offers travel benefits and perks
Freedom Flex Card - Is It Worth It?
There are 2 types of people who would find the Freedom Flex card very worth it.
The first is anyone looking for a strong cash-back card that charges no annual fee. With 5% cash-back on quarterly categories (up to $1,500 in spend) and travel purchases and 3% back on dining and drugstores, the amount of cash-back you can earn can amount to significant savings.
The second type is people looking to earn as many points as possible to maximize travel rewards by pooling points with a premium Ultimate Rewards card such as the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or Chase Sapphire Reserve®.
How is this possible? When you transfer the points earned from your Freedom Flex card to a premium Ultimate Rewards card, your points are then worth 25% to 50% more when redeemed through the Ultimate Rewards travel portal, or even more when transferred to one of the Chase airline or hotel transfer partners.
Freedom Flex Card Top BenefitsFreedom Flex Card Protections
The Freedom Flex card offers some great insurance benefits, especially for a no-annual-fee card!
- Cell Phone Protection — You’re covered against theft or damage to your phone for up to $800 per claim and $1,000 per year when you pay your monthly cell phone bill with your card. Maximum of 2 claims each year with a $50 deductible per claim.
- Purchase Protection — Items you buy with your card are covered for 120 days from the purchase date against damage or theft for up to $500 per claim and $50,000 per account.
- Extended Warranty Protection — This coverage adds 1 additional year to warranties of 3 years or less.
- Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance — For a trip that is canceled or cut short, you can be reimbursed for nonrefundable travel expenses for up to $1,500 per person and $6,000 per trip.
- Rental Car Insurance — Secondary rental car insurance covers accidental damage or theft of your rental car.
How To Earn and Redeem Your Chase Ultimate Rewards Points
All of the cash-back you earn with your card comes in the form of Chase Ultimate Rewards points, which is great because Chase Ultimate Rewards points are some of our favorite points to earn. Given that, you’ll want to use multiple strategies to earn lots of Chase points.
For the most part, your best option when it comes to redeeming points on your Freedom Flex card is for cash-back. That is unless you pair your card with a premium Chase card such as the Chase Sapphire Preferred card or Chase Sapphire Reserve card, which gives you access to airline and hotel transfer partners. Through partners, you can then redeem your Chase points for huge value.
Alternative Cards to the Freedom Flex Card
Chase Freedom Unlimited®
If you like most of what the Freedom Flex card has to offer, but prefer not to deal with keeping up with rotating bonus categories, then the Freedom Unlimited card is a great option. It offers all of the same bonus categories as the Freedom Flex card, except instead of 5% back on rotating bonus categories you’ll earn an uncapped 1.5% back on all non-bonus purchases.
Capital One Savor Rewards Credit Card
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If you spend a lot on dining and entertainment purchases, consider the Capital One Savor card that earns 4% cash-back on dining, entertainment, and popular streaming services, plus 3% at grocery stores, and 1% on all other purchases.
We’ve compared the Freedom Flex card to other popular cards:
The information regarding the Capital One Savor Rewards Credit Card and Chase Freedom® card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
Featured Image Credit:
Chase
Frequently asked questions
Is the Freedom Flex card a good card?
The Freedom Flex card is an excellent option for those looking to earn cash-back or for those looking for a complementary card to their Chase Sapphire Preferred card or Chase Sapphire Reserve card.
Does the Freedom Flex card have an annual fee?
The Chase Freedom Flex card does not have an annual fee.
Does the Chase 5/24 rule apply to the Freedom Flex card?
Yes, the Freedom Flex card is subject to the Chase 5/24 rule. If you have opened 5 or more new accounts in the last 24 months, you will not be eligible for the card.
Are you eligible for the Freedom Flex card if you already have the Chase Freedom® card?
Yes, the Freedom Flex is a different product than the Chase Freedom card, so you are eligible to apply for it if you already have a Freedom card. Similarly, you can also call Chase to ask to product change your Freedom card into a Freedom Flex card.
Does the Freedom Flex card charge foreign transaction fees?
Yes, the Freedom Flex card charges a 3% foreign transaction fee, so you should not use this card for international travel.
Do Chase Ultimate Rewards points expire?
Your Chase Ultimate Rewards points will never expire as long as your account remains open and in good standing.
Jarrod has been writing about the ins and outs of credit cards and loyalty programs, along with airlines and hotels, for over 6 years. He is regularly called upon to share his expertise on the latest news within the space, and has been featured in publications such as
The New York Times,
RetailMeNot, and
Yahoo! Finance. Jarrod has
over 20 credit cards in his wallet and has tested out dozens more in order to vet the very best card options for readers. As he is constantly sampling new cards, Jarrod also
earns (and redeems) over 1 million points and miles each year. This allows him to book luxury travel experiences the world over, and save tens of thousands of dollars in the process.
Disclaimer: Any comments listed below are not from the bank advertiser, nor have they been reviewed or approved by them. No responsibility will be taken by the bank advertiser for these comments.