Chase Freedom Flex Card Review

The Chase Freedom Flex card was designed for the everyday buyer and offers high reward rates. If you love getting every dollar matched to a point, this card is right up your alley. This card is ideal if you are looking for maximum rewards, benefits, and bonuses.

Written by : Updated On: August 4
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The basics

Reward Rate:

Groceries

Travel

5%
Groceries

Restaurants

3%
Groceries

Drugstore

3%
Groceries

All other purchases

1.5%

5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate.

5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, their 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

Unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.

Key Features:

Annual Fee

$0

Intro APR

0% APR for the first 15 months

Regular APR

20.24%-28.99% Variable APR

Signup Bonus

signup-bonus

$200 bonus plus 5% cash back at gas stations

Redemption ways

signup-bonus

Redeemed through Ultimate Rewards on Chase.com app or website

Our Verdict

Whether you are a health nut, love to travel, or simply love to buy things, this is the card for you. The 5% cash back crushes its competitors in addition to the large bonuses that will come your way. This is a special card, and the offers don’t stop.

When it comes to bonus categories, note that you must be meticulous with tracking the quarterly bonuses. If you are all about optimizing your rewards through careful tracking, then this card is for you. If not, a more straightforward card may be more fitting.

Best Suited for:

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The Health Nut

Eat healthy, exercise, and take care of yourself is your mantra. You belong to the best gyms, follow all the latest healthy food recommendations, and make a trip to the drug store every week to purchase the latest supplements and vitamins.

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Always on the Road

Travel is your middle name. When you aren’t taking advantage of transit for your daily commute in the form of cabs, rideshares and trains, you are looking for a weekend escape. And if there is an opportunity to go somewhere, you take it. You are into earning miles, getting hotel upgrades, eating out and making sure your car is always fueled.

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The Foodie

If there is a new restaurant opening, you are there. You are all about the latest food fusion trend no one has heard of and putting it on the map. You love finding the best new restaurant but also like to go to your old standbys and earning cash back for all. And when you aren’t finding the best new restaurant, you are experimenting with recipes at home, so you also need a good card for reaping the rewards of grocery shopping.

ProsCons
No annual feeRequires good/excellent credit
Bonus categoriesComplicated rewards
New cardholder bonus offer
Cash rewards

Hidden perks

When you spend $1500 in combined purchases that are all under your bonus categories, you can receive a whopping 5% cash back. You can also receive up to 5% cash back on travel through Chase Ultimate rewards. You can redeem this cash back in the form of gift cards, travel, and more. This card is jam packed with perks and high rewards potential.

Every quarter offers a new way to save big on your purchases. The schedule of special bonus categories can look like this:

First quarter: Walmart and PayPal

Second quarter: Grocery stores

Third quarter: Gas stations

Fourth quarter: Select streaming services

The previous card called the Chase Freedom card was decommissioned, with this card in its place. It offers the best of both words: both fixed quarterly bonus categories that offer up to 5% cash back and 5% in the bonus categories. That is a lot of savings in one card!

With new bonuses, no annual fee, and low APR, your savings potential is unlimited. The card also offers no expiration date on your points—so you can save up for the trip of your dreams and get paid for it!

Comparing Chase Freedom Flex with a similar card

Chase Freedom Flex®

Reward rate1% - 5%
Reward detailsEarn 5% on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards. Earn 3% on dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services. Earn 3% on drugstore purchases. Earn 1% on all other purchases.
Intro Bonus:$200 Annual fee$0
Regular APR19.49% - 28.24%

Discover it® Cash Back

Reward rate1% - 5%
Reward detailsEarn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places each quarter like Amazon.com, grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Earn 1% cash back on all other purchases automatically.
Intro Bonus:Equal to the cashback you earn in first year Annual fee$0
Regular APR16.49% - 27.49%

Beyond the basics

Balance Transfer Intro APR

20.24%-28.99% based on your creditworthiness.

Cash Advance APR

28.99%

Foreign Transaction

3% of each transaction

Loan APR

20.24%-28.99%

Late Payment fee

Up to $40

Penalty APR

Up to 28.99%

Credit Score Required

Your FICO score will determine what rate you are eligible for.

What we like about this card

1. Rotating Bonus Categories

Earn 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter after activation.

2. Introductory Offers

Enjoy a $200 bonus after spending a certain amount within the first few months of account opening (check current offers for specifics) along with 5% on gas and grocery purchases on up to $12,000 in your first year.

3. No Annual Fee

This card doesn’t charge an annual fee, making it cost-effective.

4. Travel and Purchase Protections

Offers various travel and purchase protections such as trip cancellation/interruption insurance and purchase protection.

 

Drawbacks and considerations

1. Rotating Categories Activation

Requires quarterly activation to earn the 5% cash back in bonus categories, which might involve remembering to opt in. You can opt in at any time during the period but forgetting from the starting point means missing out on rewards.

2. Credit Card Activation Requirements

To maximize rewards, one must stay updated with the changing categories and adapt spending habits accordingly.

3. Foreign Transaction Fees

Charges a 3% fee for transactions made outside the U.S., which can add to costs for international travelers.

4. Credit Requirements

Approval may require a good to excellent credit score, which could be a consideration for some applicants.

Other Offers

Means you won’t be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.

Covers your new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft up to $500 per claim and $50,000 per account.

Extends the time period of the U.S. manufacturer’s warranty by an additional year, on eligible warranties of three years or less.

You can be reimbursed up to $1,500 per person and $6,000 per trip for your prepaid, nonrefundable passenger fares, if your trip is canceled or cut short by sickness, severe weather and other covered situations.

Safeguard your account using real-time monitoring for possible signs of fraudulent activity.

In the case of unusual activity, Chase can notify you by phone, text*Same page link to Offer Details or email.

Decline the rental company’s collision insurance and charge the entire rental cost to your card. Coverage is provided for theft and collision damage for most cars in the U.S. and abroad. In the U.S., coverage is secondary to your personal insurance.

If you run into a problem away from home, call the Benefit Administrator for legal and medical referrals or other travel emergency assistance. (You will be responsible for the cost of any goods or services obtained.)

How to decide if this card is right for you?

1. To determine if the Chase Freedom Flex card aligns with your financial goals, start by evaluating your spending habits. If you appreciate earning higher rewards in changing categories, the 5% cash back on rotating categories might appeal to you specifically if they align with your spending habits. However, keep in mind that these categories require quarterly activation, which could be a consideration if you prefer a more consistent rewards structure that doesn’t require remembering to opt in.

2. Assess the sign-up bonus offered and consider the absence of an annual fee, which adds to its appeal as a cost-effective option.

3. If you travel abroad frequently, note that this card does has foreign transaction fees of 3% on purchases.

4. Additionally, compare this card with others in the market and read reviews from various sources to gather insights before making a decision. Ultimately, weighing these factors against your spending patterns and preferences will help determine if the Chase Freedom Flex card is the right fit for you.

 

Pair this card with:

Chase Sapphire Preferred

citi-Premier

To get even more rewards from the Chase Freedom Unlimited Credit Card, pair it with the Chase Sapphire Preferred You will earn more value for your accrued points when you redeem them through the Chase Ultimate Rewards online portal.

Apply now: Chase Sapphire Preferred

Apply now Explore more credit cards

FAQs

Yes, the Chase Freedom Flex card does have foreign transaction fees of 3%. When using this card for purchases made outside of the United States, there is a fee imposed on each transaction, which can impact the rewards earned.

A good to excellent credit score is typically required to qualify for the Chase Freedom Flex. A credit score above 670 is generally recommended, but approval also considers other factors like income, existing debts, and overall creditworthiness.

The approval timeline for the Chase Freedom Flex card can vary. Some applicants may receive instant approval upon applying online, while others might require additional review, which could take several days to a few weeks. If instant approval isn’t provided, applicants will receive a notification either by email or mail regarding the status of their application.

The minimum credit limit for the Chase Freedom Flex card can vary widely based on individual credit profiles. Factors such as credit history, income, and other financial details influence the assigned credit limit. Typically, the credit limit may range from a few hundred dollars to several thousand, with a strong credit history contributing to a higher limit.