Chase Shakes Up Freedom Cards: New ‘Flex’ Option, New Categories for Unlimited
Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. This influences which products we write about and where and how the product appears on a page. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money.
» This page is out of date
Chase has made further changes to the rewards, features and benefits of its Freedom-branded credit cards since this article was published. See our reviews of the Chase Freedom Flex℠ and the Chase Freedom Unlimited® for details about the current offers.
Chase is adding to its Freedom family of credit cards with the new Chase Freedom Flex℠.
The $0-annual-fee card debuted on Sept. 15, 2020. It combines some of the benefits offered by the Chase Freedom® and the Chase Freedom Unlimited® — including rotating 5% cash-back categories — and adds some bonus categories of its own.
But unlike the existing Freedom cards, which run on the Visa payment network, the Chase Freedom Flex℠ is a Mastercard, offering Mastercard World Elite benefits to all cardholders.
Chase is also adding new ways for Chase Freedom Unlimited® cardholders to earn more cash back.
The "original" Chase Freedom®, meanwhile, will be closing to new applicants.
Meet the Chase Freedom Flex℠
The Chase Freedom Flex℠ starts out with a $200 bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Here's what else it offers:
Spending Rewards
5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in rotating bonus categories each quarter you activate. The Chase Freedom Flex℠ will offer the same bonus categories as the Chase Freedom®, which, for the third quarter of 2020, include Amazon.com and Whole Foods.
5% back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
3% back at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services, like GrubHub, DoorDash and Uber Eats.
3% back at drugstores.
1% back on all other purchases.
» MORE: What is the 'Chase trifecta'?
All of the Freedom cards technically earn their rewards as Chase Ultimate Rewards® points, which are worth 1 cent apiece when redeemed for cash back in the form of a statement credit. But you can also transfer your points to the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or Chase Sapphire Reserve®, where each point is worth 25% to 50% more when redeemed for travel through Chase.
Cell phone protection
Pay your monthly cell phone bill with your Chase Freedom Flex℠ to get protection against covered theft of, or damage to, your phone. You can get up to $800 per claim and up to $1,000 per year, with a maximum of two claims in a 12-month period. There is a $50 deductible per claim.
Cardmember discounts
The Chase Freedom Flex℠ also matches these benefits from the Chase Freedom® and the Chase Freedom Unlimited®:
Get 5% cash back on Lyft rides through March 2025.
Get three months of DashPass, DoorDash’s subscription service offering unlimited $0 delivery fees and lower service fees on food delivery orders of $12 or more. DashPass typically costs $9.99 per month.
Changes to Chase Freedom Unlimited®
The Chase Freedom Unlimited® currently offers 1.5% cash back on purchases.
That benefit will remain in place, but new and existing Chase Freedom Unlimited® cardholders will also earn:
5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
3% back at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services.
3% back at drugstores.
The new benefits kick in for cardholders on Sept. 13, according to an email to cardholders from Chase. Cardholders don't have to do anything to get them — the new rewards rates will apply automatically.
It continues to offer the following sign-up bonus: Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back!
No changes on original Freedom
The Chase Freedom® will be closed to new applicants, but current cardholders can keep their accounts open and will notice no change to how their card earns rewards: 5% cash back on up to $1,500 per quarter on rotating bonus categories (activation required), and 1% back on all other purchases.
Comparing rewards
Rewards and bonus offers in effect starting Sept. 15, 2020:
Chase Freedom Unlimited® | Chase Freedom Flex℠ | Chase Freedom® | |
|---|---|---|---|
Offer for new cardholders: | Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back! | Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening. | None — card is no longer accepting applications |
Rotating bonus categories: | None. | • 5% back on quarterly bonus categories that you activate, on up to $1,500 per quarter in spending. | |
Ongoing bonus categories: | • 5% cash back on travel booked through Chase. • 3% cash back at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services. • 3% cash back on drugstore purchases. | None. | |
Rewards on other purchases: | 1.5% cash back | 1% cash back | 1% cash back |
Can you switch from one product to another?
You can request a product change from the Chase Freedom® and the Chase Freedom Unlimited® to the Chase Freedom Flex℠, but you won’t qualify for the sign-up bonus.
However, if you apply for the Chase Freedom Flex℠ as a brand-new applicant, even if you already have other Chase cards, you would be eligible for the bonus and promotion, assuming you are under the Chase 5/24 rule.
Information about the Chase Freedom® has been collected by NerdWallet and has not been provided or reviewed by the issuer of this card.
Find the right credit card for you.
Whether you want to pay less interest or earn more rewards, the right card's out there. Just answer a few questions and we'll narrow the search for you.
