Chase Freedom Limitless® Evaluation

If you wish to journey cheaper, higher, and longer, probably the greatest instruments in your arsenal is a strong rewards bank card.

Nonetheless, regardless of how usually I speak concerning the subject, many vacationers (or would-be vacationers) are reluctant to get one. They suppose it’s a rip-off, don’t need to pay an annual price, or simply are usually cautious of the entire thing.

When you’re in that camp, right now I need to talk about a bank card which may be the right introduction to the world of factors and miles: the Chase Freedom Limitless®.

This card gives nice worth, with no annual price and strong incomes potential. It’s wonderful as a standalone card with tons of potential for leveling up your recreation if and if you’re prepared. It’s a favourite for newbies and seasoned vacationers alike.

So, on this publish, I’m going to interrupt down why the Chase Freedom Limitless deserves a spot in your pockets and the way you should utilize it to show on a regular basis purchases into free journey.

What’s the Chase Freedom Limitless?

The Chase Freedom Limitless (typically known as CFU) is a bank card issued by Chase. What I really like about it’s that it has a $0 annual price and gives 1.5% money again on all purchases. It’s nice for factors and miles learners who don’t need to fear about incomes at completely different charges throughout varied classes.

Plus, for those who do need to degree up your recreation, you’ll be able to mix it with a Chase Sapphire card to supercharge your rewards incomes capabilities (extra on that under).

This card earns you the next:

• 5% money again on journey bought by way of Chase Journey^SM
• 5% money again on Lyft rides (by way of March 2025)
• 3% money again on drugstore purchases and eating at eating places, together with takeout and eligible supply companies
• 1.5% money again on all different purchases
• Present welcome provide: an additional 1.5% money again on every part you purchase on as much as $20,000 spent within the first yr

You may redeem this money again towards your subsequent assertion or select to get it straight deposited into your checking account.

However you may get much more out of this card if you mix it with one among Chase’s Sapphire playing cards (extra on this quickly).

Perks and Advantages of the Chase Freedom Limitless

Along with these wonderful incomes charges, you’ll get entry to plenty of perks and advantages. Once more, because it has a $0 annual price, these are all simply bonuses.

• Entry to Chase Affords, an ever-changing collection of offers for varied retailers , together with on-line buying, fuel stations, supply companies, clothes manufacturers, and resorts, amongst many different sectors (you would actually see something right here)
• Complimentary three months of DashPass if you activate by January 31, 2025 (by way of which members rise up to $10 off quarterly on non-restaurant DoorDash orders)
• Secondary Auto Rental Collision Harm Waiver
• Journey cancellation/interruption insurance coverage (as much as $1,500 per individual and $6,000 per journey on your pay as you go, nonrefundable passenger fares, in case your journey is canceled or minimize quick by illness, extreme climate, or different coated conditions)
• Buy safety (covers your new purchases for 120 days towards harm or theft as much as $500 per declare and $50,000 per account)
• Prolonged guarantee safety

Combining with a Chase Sapphire Card

Whereas this card is a superb cash-back card in its personal proper, it’s finest when paired with a extra premium Chase card that earns transferable factors. The Chase Sapphire Most popular® Card (CSP) or the Chase Sapphire Reserve® are the 2 hottest, although you would additionally do that with my favourite enterprise card, the Ink Enterprise Most popular®. (Notice that these playing cards do have charges.)

That’s as a result of, if you additionally maintain one among these playing cards, you’ll be able to convert the money again earned on the CFU to useful Chase Final Rewards factors. (The Freedom Limitless by itself solely earns money again.) Meaning you’ll be able to pool factors earned on both card collectively and have entry to Chase’s nice airline and lodge switch companions.

Whereas getting money again is less complicated (and definitely engaging), I think about factors to be far more useful. That’s as a result of you’ll be able to sometimes get at the very least 2 cents per level when transferring to journey companions (typically far more).

So why not simply have one of many Chase Sapphire Playing cards and no Freedom Limitless?

Whereas this is a wonderful choice (and what many individuals do), having two playing cards throughout the identical “household” ensures that you simply maximize incomes classes whereas incomes the identical kind of factors. (You don’t need to unfold your self too skinny throughout too many various playing cards incomes various kinds of factors you can’t mix.)

By holding each a Chase Sapphire card and the Chase Freedom Limitless, you’ll be able to make certain that you’re incomes at the very least 1.5x factors on all purchases, a rarity in a journey card (each Sapphires solely earn 1x factors on all purchases).

When you maintain the Chase Sapphire Most popular and the Chase Freedom Limitless, for instance, you’d earn:

• 1.5x on all purchases (CFU)
• 2x on all journey (CSP)
• 3x on drugstores (CFU)
• 3x on eating, together with takeout and eligible supply companies (each playing cards)
• 5x on Lyft (till March 2025, each playing cards)
• 5x on journey bought by way of Chase Journey (each playing cards)

Lastly, because the CFU does have a overseas transaction price, you received’t need to use this card when touring. Consider the CSP as your journey card and the CFU as your on a regular basis card with the next incomes fee on all purchases. Utilizing the 2 collectively is a wonderful mixture.

Professionals of the CFU

• No annual price
• Stable rewards construction, with at the very least 1.5% again on every part
• Straightforward to redeem money again as assertion credit score or direct deposit
• Nice worth when paired with a Chase Sapphire card

Cons of the CFU

• 3% overseas transaction price
• Not a ton of journey advantages

Who is that this card for?

The Chase Freedom Limitless is good for individuals who need an easy-to-use card that will get a better-than-average incomes fee on all purchases. It additionally leaves room to develop into the points-and-miles world when mixed with a higher-level card from Chase. And, if you have already got a Sapphire card, including the CFU to your pockets means that you can proceed to degree up your recreation, maximizing your rewards on all purchases.

As with all bank card, you shouldn’t get it for those who’re already carrying a steadiness or plan to hold one. Rates of interest for journey bank cards are notoriously excessive, and this one is not any completely different. The factors simply aren’t value it for those who’re paying curiosity every month.

This card can also be not for anybody with poor credit score, as you want good or wonderful credit score to qualify. (If that’s you, take a look at the most effective bank cards for very bad credit so you can begin enhancing your rating right now.)

Lastly, this card does rely towards Chase’s 5/24 rule (you’ll be able to’t open greater than 5 playing cards inside 24 months). When you’ve already opened 5 bank cards (any playing cards, not simply Chase playing cards) throughout the previous two years (or need to open extra quickly), you both received’t be capable to get this card or may need to skip it for now.

Whether or not you’re simply dipping your toes into the points-and-miles recreation or trying to complement your present lineup, the Chase Freedom Limitless is a incredible card. With no annual price and spectacular incomes charges, it’s the right gateway to the world of factors and miles for those who’re simply beginning out.

And, if and if you need to take issues up a notch, you’ll be able to pair it with a premium Chase card down the street to essentially maximize your factors. It’s a no brainer selection that may kickstart your journey to mastering factors and miles.