Why I Always Recommend This Chase Credit Card to Friends and Family

I’m someone who lives and breathes points and miles. I don’t just work at Upgraded Points, but I also need to help fund my family’s travel around the world.

The 1 question I get more than any other is, “Juan, what credit card should I open?”

Most people assume I’ll direct them toward something premium — a card with a ginormous welcome offer, lounge access, and travel credits, and depending on the person, maybe I do.

However, I always recommend starting with the Chase Freedom Unlimited^® more often than not. Here’s why.

Freedom Unlimited Card Overview

Before I jump into why the Freedom Unlimited card is always my first recommendation, here’s a quick rundown of what it offers:

• 3% back on dining and drugstore purchases
• 5% back on travel purchased through Chase Travel
• 2% cash back on Lyft (through September 30, 2027)
• 1.5% back on all other purchases
• 6-month DoorDash DashPass (activate by December 31, 2027)
• Secondary car rental insurance, trip cancellation and trip interruption coverage, travel emergency assistance, and roadside dispatch
• Rewards are earned as Chase Ultimate Rewards, which become even more valuable when paired with a Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card or Chase Sapphire Reserve^®.

In addition to a 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 18.49% - 27.99% and $0 annual fee, it’s a card that offers compelling value.

While it doesn’t offer lounge access or luxury perks, it’s an accessible card that is easy to understand and immediately benefits from.

Elevated $300 Welcome Bonus Offer

While premium credit cards often come with substantial bonus offers, they also carry equally expensive annual fees. It’s not often that no-annual-fee credit cards offer a ton of value, but that’s not the case for the Freedom Unlimited card.

In fact, the Freedom Unlimited card has increased its standard welcome bonus offer by a whopping 50% right now:

• Earn a $300 Bonus after you spend $500 in your first 3 months from account opening. Offer ends 9AM EST on 1/15/26.

LIMITED TIME OFFER

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Chase Freedom Unlimited^®

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

This all-purpose cash-back card offers great bonus categories, including bonus points for every purchase you make!

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Chase Freedom Unlimited^®

This all-purpose cash-back card offers great bonus categories, including bonus points for every purchase you make!

Welcome Offer

Limited Time Offer: Earn a $300 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening. Offer ends 9AM EST on 1/15/26.

$300

Annual Fee

$0

APR

0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 18.49% - 27.99%.

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

Good to Excellent

Why We Like This Card

The Chase Freedom Unlimited^® is easily one of the best cash-back credit cards on the market. There aren’t many no-annual-fee credit cards that offer multiple great bonus categories like 5% back on travel purchased through Chase, 3% back on dining and drugstore purchases, and 1.5% back on all other purchases.

When paired with other Chase cards in the Ultimate Rewards family, you can transfer that cash back into points if you wish – making it one of the most lucrative cards in your wallet.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 5% back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠
• 3% back on dining and drugstore purchases
• 1.5% back on all other purchases

Cons

• 3% foreign transaction fee

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Card Highlights

• Limited Time Offer: Earn a $300 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening
• Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 1.5% on all other purchases.
• No minimum to redeem for cash back. You can choose to receive a statement credit or direct deposit into most U.S. checking and savings accounts. Cash Back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open!
• Enjoy 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 18.49% - 27.99%.
• No annual fee – You won't have to pay an annual fee for all the great features that come with your Freedom Unlimited^® card
• Keep tabs on your credit health, Chase Credit Journey helps you monitor your credit with free access to your latest score, alerts, and more.
• Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 18.49% - 27.99%.
• Foreign Transaction Fees: 3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars

Rewards Center

Chase Ultimate Rewards

The $300 bonus offer is one of the best we’ve ever seen on this card, and upon meeting the very easy minimum spend requirements, you can get a big boost to your rewards.

Chase’s Best No-Annual-Fee Credit Card

I love squeezing every last point out of my cards, but sometimes I want to swipe and move on with my day.

With 1.5% back on every single purchase — no caps, no tracking, no quarterly activations — the card removes all the mental load from earning Chase Ultimate Rewards. For most people, especially those I’m trying to introduce to points and miles, simplicity is what keeps them actually using a rewards card in the long term.

The other no-annual-fee card in Chase’s lineup is the Freedom Flex card, but is no longer available to new applicants. It offers solid rewards but requires you to track quarterly bonus categories to earn 5% back.

My busy lifestyle means I sometimes forget to activate them, activate them too late, or burn through the $1,500 cap almost immediately. That’s precisely why the Freedom Unlimited card is my favorite variation of the Freedom card lineup, and why I sing its praises with family and friends.

Easy Approval Odds for Most People

One of the biggest challenges people face — whether they’re brand-new to rewards cards or seasoned cardholders — is getting approved for a card that’s actually worth having. The Freedom Unlimited card makes that part easy.

In my experience, it tends to be easier to qualify for than many other major rewards cards, especially compared to premium cards that expect higher income or stronger credit.

I tell friends all the time, “If you want a solid card with high approval odds, start with this one.”

Whether someone is still building credit, rebuilding credit, or already carries a full wallet of cards but wants something reliable and straightforward, the Freedom Unlimited card is still a strong option.

No card approval is ever guaranteed, but this card tends to be more accessible than many others — especially as your first credit card. Pairing that with valuable rewards gives people the confidence and flexibility to build a points strategy that actually works for them.

Ease Into the Chase Ultimate Rewards Ecosystem

Getting started with Chase Ultimate Rewards is one of the biggest reasons I recommend the Freedom Unlimited card.

Chase Ultimate Rewards is one of the most valuable transferable points currencies out there, and earning these points on a no-annual-fee card is a win for beginners and seasoned points collectors alike.

On its own, the Freedom Unlimited card technically earns cash back. But once you pair it with a premium Chase card — like the Chase Sapphire Preferred card or Chase Sapphire Reserve card — that’s when things get interesting.

You can redeem points for travel through the Chase Travel portal at an elevated rate via Points Boost (depending on which card you have). You also have the option to transfer them to some of Chase’s 13 valuable transfer partners, including World of Hyatt, Air Canada Aeroplan, and United MileagePlus.

Whether you’re just getting started or already deep in the points game, the Freedom Unlimited card becomes a powerful tool in a much bigger points-earning strategy.

Maximize Everyday Purchases

Not all of my friends are jetsetters. Some have kids, demanding jobs, or prefer road trips over airport lounges. For them, the priority is to earn points on everyday life expenses.

And that’s precisely why the Freedom Unlimited card works so well.

Earning rewards on groceries, gas, and dining is excellent — and the card’s 3% back on dining and drugstore purchases certainly helps — but the real value shows up in all the non-bonus spending.

Earning a steady 1.5% back on shopping at the mall, making a home improvement run, paying bills, grabbing gifts, or covering those random “life happens” expenses makes a noticeable difference.

It’s an ideal card no matter what you’re buying. When life gets busy, it’s nice having a card you can reach for without thinking and still earn more than 1% back on all purchases, which is always the goal. That kind of simple, steady earning is what makes the Freedom Unlimited card such an easy go-to for everyday spending.

A No-Annual-Fee Card With Outsized Value

Earning 1.5% back on all purchases and collecting Chase Ultimate Rewards points without paying an annual fee is a strategy that’s tough to beat.

For comparison, one ultra-premium card — the Platinum Card^® from American Express — earns just 1x on everyday purchases, and instead of a $0 annual fee, it costs $895 per year (rates & fees).

When you stack those numbers side by side, it becomes pretty clear why the Freedom Unlimited card delivers so much value without a significant financial commitment.

Final Thoughts

The Freedom Unlimited card is the first card I recommend to friends because it works well for beginners, seasoned points enthusiasts, and anyone who wants to earn solid rewards without overthinking every swipe.

Between the automatic 1.5% back on all purchases, the ability to turn cash-back into full travel rewards with a premium Chase card, and a $0 annual fee, it strikes the perfect balance of simplicity and long-term value.

That’s why it’s the first credit card I tell all my friends to get, and why it continues to earn its place in my own card lineup.