There are hundreds of credit cards out there. As a credit card expert, I love that there's such a wide variety, but I also know that sifting through this many cards can be overwhelming.
People always ask me what credit card I'd recommend most. That's a tough question to answer, because there's no one card that's right for everyone. However, at a time when interest rates are high, you might be looking for some relief. If that sounds like you, I recommend the Chase Freedom Unlimited.
This Chase credit card is my top pick for anyone looking for a 0% introductory APR card. It offers a 15-month intro 0% APR (then 19.49% to 28.24% variable) for new purchases and balance transfers, which can help you space out payments interest-free for some time or pay down your debt faster. It also comes with a good combination of rewards and ongoing benefits that make it an excellent addition to almost anyone's wallet.
Why you might want the Chase Freedom Flex ahead of the holidays
While this card is marketed as a cash-back card, one of its key features is its intro 0% APR promotional financing offer.
New cardholders get an introductory 0% APR for 15 months from account opening on both new purchases and balance transfers (then 19.49% to 28.24% variable).
I originally got this card for its rewards, since I didn't need it for the financing offer. However, after realizing that I wasn't going to incur interest on my balance for 15 months, I decided to do something that I never do: Make just the monthly minimum payment.
I plan to wait until the promotional period is nearly over before paying off my entire balance. As long as it's paid off before it ends, I won't be responsible for any interest charges.
This might be a good option if you have a big purchase coming up this holiday season that you'd feel more comfortable paying off over several months.
If you already have credit card debt and need a respite from interest, I recommend setting up auto payments to ensure you get the balance to zero by the end of the intro period.
To do this, divide your transferred balance (plus the balance transfer fee) by 15 (the number of months in the promo period). This will tell you how much you'll need to pay each month to wipe out your balance before the introductory offer ends. Then schedule your monthly payments for that amount. I recommend not making any new payments on the card while you work to pay off your debt.
There are other cards that offer incrementally longer 0% APR financing terms, but none that also offer the same ongoing rewards and benefits that the Chase Freedom does, as I'll show.
What else does the Chase Freedom Unlimited offer?
The Chase Freedom Unlimited has a lot going for it. Whether you're looking to avoid interest on a new item or transfer an existing balance, or simply want to earn its welcome bonus to save a bit on an upcoming purchase, the Freedom Unlimited could be the card you're looking for.
New account bonus
This card features a new account bonus of $200, which you'll earn after using your card to spend just $500 within three months. It's one of the simplest (yet nonetheless rewarding) bonuses available. However, if you plan to use the card for a balance transfer, remember to not put any new purchases on the card, regardless of its welcome bonus.
Rewards for spending
This card offers 1.5% cash back, with no spending caps. It's a competitive rate to be sure, but what I really love is that it also features 3% back on dining and at drugstores, and an outstanding 5% back on reservations purchased through Chase Travel℠. The latter category makes it my top card for restaurant spending, and I'm really happy earning 5% back when I make reservations for myself and others through Chase's travel portal.
Redeeming rewards
Although most cardholders don't realize it, this card offers its rewards in the form of points in the Chase Ultimate Rewards program.
Points redeemed from this account are worth one cent each as cash back, as well as for gift cards and travel reservations. But award travel enthusiasts like myself know that Chase also lets you combine your rewards from this card with the points from their other travel rewards cards, including the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, Chase Sapphire Reserve® and Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card.
The Sapphire Preferred and Ink Business Preferred both allow you to redeem your points through Chase Travel for 1.25 cents, while the Sapphire Reserve lets you redeem points for 1.5 cents each towards travel booked through Chase. More importantly, these cards also let you transfer your rewards to airline miles and hotel points with partners like United, Southwest and World of Hyatt.
So if you have one of these travel rewards cards, it makes your Freedom Unlimited a great way to compliment your existing card and earn additional points. This works especially well for spending that doesn't qualify for any bonus; where the Freedom Unlimited offers 1.5x points, these other Chase cards offer just 1x.
Strong cardholder benefits
You might not expect a no-annual-fee card like this to offer much in the way of cardholder benefits, but the Freedom Unlimited defies expectations.
While it doesn't go as far as Chase's premium travel rewards cards like the Sapphire Preferred or Sapphire Reserve, it still features benefits including:
- Purchase protection
- Extended warranty coverage
- Trip cancellation/interruption coverage
- Auto rental collision damage waiver policy
You also receive three months of complementary DashPass from DoorDash, as well as 5% back on Lyft rides through March 31, 2025. These wide-ranging benefits go well beyond what some of its competitors offer with their premium travel rewards cards.
Looking at the total package
Yes, you can find cards that offer a more valuable new account bonus, or a longer promotional financing period. There are others that offer even stronger benefits, but there are few cards with no annual fee that feature this kind of intro offer, plus such a valuable combination of rewards and benefits as the Chase Freedom Unlimited.
