Unlock up to $300 cash back with these Chase Freedom welcome bonuses

In the realm of no-annual-fee credit cards, few options rival the Chase Freedom Flex® and Chase Freedom Unlimited®. Both come packed with enticing welcome offers that can lead to significant cash back rewards.

The Freedom Flex and Freedom Unlimited cards boast fantastic rewards rates without any annual fee. Plus, they allow you to earn either cash back or fully transferable Ultimate Rewards points when paired with other Chase offerings, like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card.

Let’s take a closer look at these offers and see how they compare.

Welcome offer for Chase Freedom Unlimited

Introduction to the welcome offer

With the latest Chase Freedom Unlimited promotion, you'll receive an extra 1.5% cash back on all purchases up to $20,000 within the first year, which can amount to a total of up to $300 cash back.

Rewards earning rates

• 5% cash back on travel booked via Chase Travel℠
• 3% cash back on dining
• 3% cash back at pharmacies
• 1.5% cash back on all other purchases

These earning rates are impressive, but it’s wise to calculate whether another card, such as the Freedom Flex, may offer better benefits.

Welcome offer for Chase Freedom Flex

Signup bonus

With the Chase Freedom Flex, you can earn $200 back after spending $500 within the first three months.

Rewards earning rates

• 5% cash back on the first $1,500 spent in rotating categories each quarter (activation needed)
• 5% cash back on travel booked through Chase Travel
• 3% cash back on dining
• 3% cash back at pharmacies
• 1% cash back on all other purchases

This is an outstanding selection of earning categories for any card, especially for a no-annual-fee credit card.

Maximize your rewards by combining points for even greater value

What truly enhances the power of these two cards is their compatibility with other cards.

If you hold another Chase card that accrues transferable Ultimate Rewards points, such as the Chase Sapphire Preferred, Chase Sapphire Reserve®, or Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card, you can merge points from your Freedom Unlimited or Freedom Flex. This elevates your travel redemption value to 1.25 cents per point on the Sapphire Preferred and 1.5 cents per point on the Sapphire Reserve when booked through the Chase portal.

Moreover, this feature allows you to transfer your points at a 1:1 ratio to the Ultimate Rewards program's airline and hotel partners, which include prestigious programs like British Airways Executive Club, Air France-KLM Flying Blue, Air Canada Aeroplan, and World of Hyatt. According to TPG's August 2024 valuations, Chase points are valued at 2.05 cents each, providing your rewards with greater flexibility when utilized this way.

It's important to note that both the Freedom Unlimited and Freedom Flex charge foreign transaction fees, making them unsuitable for use outside the U.S. Additionally, ensure you adhere to Chase's 5/24 rule and other application restrictions before submitting your application. You wouldn’t want to waste a hard inquiry on your credit report and risk not getting approved.

Final thoughts

If you currently own a Sapphire Preferred or Sapphire Reserve card and don’t yet have a Chase Freedom card, now might be the ideal time to consider getting one.

Both the Freedom Unlimited and Freedom Flex deserve your attention, particularly if you can take advantage of the rotating quarterly bonus categories offered by the latter.