Introduction to the Chase Freedom Flex®
The Chase Freedom Flex® is one of the best 5% cash-back credit cards you can get in 2025.
Cardholders can take advantage of excellent bonus categories, a solid welcome bonus of $200 bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in the first three months from account opening, and a 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 months (then 19.49% - 28.24% Variable APR), all for no annual fee. But cardholders must stay abreast of the card's quarterly bonus categories to maximize its earning potential.
Business Insider's personal finance experts evaluated this card against the best no-annual-fee credit cards available right now and found it to be an industry leader for people who want 0% intro APR and cell phone insurance benefits without paying an annual fee for those perks.
Here's what you should know about this popular card, how you can add it to your wallet, and why you might want to do so.
$0
0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 months
19.49% - 28.24% Variable
Earn a $200 bonus
Good to Excellent
- No annual fee
- Generous bonus cash-back categories
- Great welcome bonus
- Booking through Chase Travel℠ can restrict outside earning potential
- Varying percentages and rotating calendar categories require extra attention
- 3% foreign transaction fees
The Chase Chase Freedom Flex® is a great pick if you want one of the best no-annual-fee cards with big earning potential and impressive benefits. It's an even better choice if you already collect Ultimate Rewards points with other Chase cards, because you can combine your points and potentially get even more value.
Chase Freedom Flex® Overview
The Chase Freedom Flex® offers fantastic benefits for a credit card with no annual fee, which is why it's included on our list of the best no-annual-fee credit cards.
New cardholders get a great welcome offer: $200 bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. There's also a zero-interest introductory period on purchases and balance transfers: 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 months (then 19.49% - 28.24% Variable APR). Meanwhile, ongoing customers always have the opportunity to earn 5x on the card's bonus categories.
The Chase Freedom Flex® is a World Elite Mastercard, which comes with an outstanding range of benefits. Some premium perks, such as credit card cellphone protection and Chase purchase protection, are rare on a no-annual-fee card.
Chase Freedom Flex® Rewards
The Chase Freedom Flex® is marketed as a cash-back credit card. But cardholders actually earn rewards in the form of Chase Ultimate Rewards points, which can be worth significantly more than cash value.
Welcome Bonus
The Chase Freedom Flex® offers a decent welcome bonus: $200 bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. This isn't the biggest intro bonus compared to what you'll find on more premium credit cards, but this bonus should be easy for most cardholders to earn since the minimum spending requirement is relatively low.
How to Earn Rewards with the Chase Freedom Flex®
The Chase Freedom Flex® earns bonus rewards across several permanent categories of spend, as well as a handful of categories that change every three months. You'll earn the most rewards if you can take full advantage of the rotating categories each quarter.
Chase Freedom Flex® cardholders earn bonus Ultimate Rewards points per dollar spent on the following purchases:
- 5x on travel booked through the Chase Travel℠ Portal including airfare, hotels, car rentals, cruises, and activities
- 5x on Chase Freedom quarterly rotating bonus categories
- 3x on dining, including takeout and eligible delivery services
- 3x at drugstores
- 1x on everything else
How to Redeem Rewards from the Chase Freedom Flex®
Ultimate Rewards are incredibly flexible and can be redeemed in many ways:
- Cash back (1 cent per point)
- Gift cards (1 cent per point)
- Airfare, hotels, car rentals, and more through the Chase Travel Portal (1 cent per point)
- Apple purchases (1 cent per point)
- Pay Yourself Back (1.25 cents per point toward eligible charities through December 31, 2022)
- Amazon and PayPal purchases (0.8 cents per point)
Pro Tip: You get more value for your points if you pay for an Amazon purchase with your card, then use points at 1 cent apiece for a statement credit. Otherwise, you'll get an inferior value when you pay with points at Amazon checkout. The same applies to PayPal.
Maximizing Rewards with Other Chase Cards
The Chase Freedom Flex® is worth considering on its own, but you can actually boost the value of your rewards when you pair it with some of the best Chase cards, including the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, Chase Sapphire Reserve®, and Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card.
Card Pairing Strategy: Combining Chase Ultimate Rewards for Extra Value
You can supercharge your hard-earned points by transferring them from the Chase Freedom Flex® to a travel rewards credit card with Chase Ultimate Rewards points transfer partners. Chase Ultimate Rewards points are worth an average of 1.8 cents apiece, based on Business Insider's assessment of what points and miles are worth.
You also get more value out of each point if you transfer it to a card with a better points redemption rate. Pairing a Chase Freedom card with the Chase Sapphire Reserve® is one of the best ways to get the most from your Chase Ultimate Rewards points, especially if you like to use points for travel. On the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, points are worth 1.5 cents apiece when you book travel through the Chase Travel portal or redeem them through Pay Yourself Back on select purchases.
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® has an annual fee of $550, so it doesn't make sense for everyone. But if you travel on a regular basis, you may want to consider adding this card to your wallet to supplement your Chase Freedom Flex®.
Chase Freedom Flex® Benefits and Key Features
The Chase Freedom Flex® comes with substantial purchase and travel protections, including select World Elite Mastercard benefits that are rare on no-annual-fee cards.
Introductory 0% APR on Purchases and Balance Transfers
The card offers a 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 months; after that, there's a 19.49% - 28.24% Variable APR. This is handy if you have large purchases coming up that you want to pay off over time without incurring huge interest charges, or want to consolidate high-interest credit card debt on one of the best balance transfer cards. Just remember to plan ahead so you can pay off your full balance before the card's zero-interest period expires.
Cellphone Protection
When you use the Chase Freedom Flex® card to pay your monthly wireless bill, you're eligible for cellphone protection against covered theft or damage, up to $800 per claim and $1,000 per year. There's a $50 deductible per claim, and a maximum of two claims per 12-month period.
Purchase Protection
When you pay for an eligible new purchase with your Chase Freedom Flex®, Chase's purchase protection could cover you for damage or theft for 120 days, up to $500 per claim and $50,000 per account.
Extended Warranty
Eligible items purchased with the Chase Freedom Flex®, get an additional year of extended warranty coverage if the manufacturer's original warranty lasts three years or less.
Car Rental Insurance
You're covered for theft and collision damage on most cars when you decline the rental company's collision insurance, and charge the entire rental cost to your Chase Freedom Flex®.
Within the U.S., the rental car coverage from this card is secondary to your personal insurance; in most other destinations, you'll enjoy primary rental car insurance benefits, meaning you can file a claim directly through the Chase Freedom Flex® without having to first go through your car insurance company.
Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance
If you pay with your Chase Freedom Flex®, you're covered for up to $1,500 per person and $6,000 per trip if your trip is canceled or shortened because of illness, severe weather, or other eligible events.
Travel and Emergency Assistance Services
If you're away from home and run into trouble, Chase Freedom Flex® cardholders have access to a travel and emergency assistance hotline that can help arrange things like legal and medical referrals, prescriptions, translation services, and more. Keep in mind that any third-party costs are your responsibility.
Bonus Points on Lyft Purchases
Cardholders earn 5% cash back (5x points) on purchases made with Lyft through March 2025.
Other World Elite Mastercard Benefits
Since the Chase Freedom Flex® is a World Elite Mastercard, you'll have access to other included perks:
- Lyft: Pay for three rides in a calendar month with your card and receive a $5 Lyft credit
- Fandango: Spend $20 at Fandango or on Fandango's streaming service and get a $5 Fandango Reward
- ShopRunner: Receive a complimentary one-year ShopRunner membership and get free two-day shipping and free returns at over 100 merchants
Chase Freedom Flex® Annual Fee and Other Costs
Annual Fee
The Chase Freedom Flex® doesn't charge an annual fee, so it's a great long-term keeper card. Keeping a card open for a long time can increase your average credit age and potentially improve your credit score. Just note that you'll incur interest if you carry a balance (currently a 19.49% - 28.24% Variable APR) once the introductory APR period is over.
Other Fees
As with many other cards, there are various other charges in certain circumstances, including:
- Balance transfer fees
- Cash advance fees
- Late payment fees
- Returned payment fees
Foreign Transaction Fees
The Chase Freedom Flex® does charge foreign transaction fees, so it's not a good choice for bringing on international trips or for charging international purchases.
Chase Freedom Flex® Consumer Insights
The Chase Freedom Flex® is well-loved for the various benefits mentioned above. In addition to sharing expert insight, Business Insider's credit card experts sought out user experiences and feedback across popular websites to see what everyday consumers have to say about this card.
Cardholders across Reddit and other online forums particularly appreciated the following perks:
Winning Combo: No Annual Fee, Generous Rewards, Valuable Benefits
Fans of the Chase Freedom Flex® say there are "no downsides" to this no-annual-fee card that comes with rotating 5% categories as well as premium-tier perks such as cell phone protection. One Reddit member said that "the cell phone protection provided has saved me over $700 in repairs alone."
Lucrative Bonus Categories — If You're Willing to Work for Them
The Chase Freedom Flex® is a great card for many consumers, but only maximizes rewards for cardholders willing to track the card's 5% rotating categories each quarter. Instead, some consumers prefer the Chase Freedom Unlimited® for a flat rate of 1.5% per dollar spent.
Card Comparison: Torn between the Chase Freedom Flex® and theChase Freedom Unlimited®? Check out Business Insider's comparison guide to the Chase Freedom Flex vs. the Chase Freedom Unlimited.
Generous welcome Bonus for a No-Annual-Fee Card
The Chase Freedom Flex® often comes with an introductory offer that surpasses that of the Chase Freedom Unlimited®. And if you don't need your points immediately, Redditors suggest holding onto your rewards until you can combine them with a higher-redemption card.
If you transfer the points you earn on the Chase Freedom Flex® to the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, Chase Sapphire Reserve®, and Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card, your effective rate of rewards return can be up to 7.5% per dollar spent on bonus categories, since the Sapphire cards have point multipliers that apply when purchasing travel through Chase.
Since Business Insider values Ultimate Rewards points at an average of 1.8 cents apiece, this equates to a lucrative 13.5 cents back per dollar spent.
Introductory No-Interest APR on Purchases and Balance Transfers
People with large expenses coming up often apply for the Chase Freedom Flex® and charge the planned purchase to this card to take advantage of the 0% introductory APR offer.
New cardholders with high-interest debt from other credit cards utilize the Chase Freedom Flex® zero-interest offer for balance transfers as well. This buys consumers a little extra time to pay off outstanding balances without dipping into emergency funds or other cash reserves.
Who Should Consider the Chase Freedom Flex?
The Chase Freedom Flex® is a great fit for many, but some people will do better with a more premium travel rewards credit card. The following types of people are ideal cardholders:
Chase Ultimate Rewards Loyalists
If you already have Chase Ultimate Rewards points through one of the best Chase cards for travel, the Chase Freedom Flex® can help you double or even triple your earning potential. A cardholder on Reddit called this card "the biggest point collector" out of their three Chase credit cards, pointing out that the 5x categories regularly cover common household expenses such as Amazon, Paypal, and groceries.
People Who Value Credit Cards with No Annual Fee
The Chase Freedom Flex® is one of our favorite credit cards with no annual fee because the benefits and earning rates far outstrip the cost of keeping it in your wallet. Redditors with this card say it's a no-brainer to keep open even after the initial zero-interest period is over because of the bonus categories and lack of an annual fee.
People Who Value Cash Back
You can redeem Chase Ultimate Rewards for far greater value than their stated worth, but the Chase Freedom Flex® is still worth keeping if you value cash back. Rewards can be redeemed at a rate of 1 cent per point, which can easily add up to 5%, 7%, or even 9% cash back depending on the rotating bonus category.
Chase Freedom Flex® Drawbacks
Not everyone loves the Chase Freedom Flex®. While some users praise the card's rewards and customer service, others express concerns over approval odds and promotional offers. Yet others were frustrated by the complexity of tracking ever-changing bonus categories.
Requires Good to Excellent Credit
The Chase Freedom Flex® has no annual fee, but it still requires strong credit for approval. If you don't already have a good credit score, it may be worth your while to work toward building stronger credit before applying for this card. Many of the best starter credit cards can help people who are new to credit, while the best credit cards for bad credit are designed to help people repair bad credit scores.
Rotating Bonus Categories Are Hard to Remember
If you like most aspects of the Chase Freedom Flex® but don't want to deal with ever-changing bonus categories, cardholders recommend the Chase Freedom Unlimited®, reviewed in the section below.
Chase Freedom Flex Card Comparison
If the Chase Freedom Flex® appeals to you, here are some similar credit cards to consider.
Chase Freedom Unlimited® vs. Chase Freedom Flex®
The Chase Freedom Unlimited® is a cousin of the Chase Freedom Flex®, and one of Business Insider's top credit card picks. This fellow no-annual-fee card earns 1.5% back on every dollar spent, which could be a great fit for anyone who wants to earn Ultimate Rewards points without having to track which categories earn bonus rewards.
The Chase Freedom Unlimited® offers additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year), and a 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 months, then a 19.49% - 28.24% Variable APR. The card also earns rewards in the form of Ultimate Rewards points, which can be transferred to other Chase Ultimate Rewards credit cards in the same way. However, the Chase Freedom Unlimited® does not come with cellphone protection benefits.
Read more about this card in our Chase Freedom Unlimited card review.
Citi Custom Cash℠ Card vs. Chase Freedom Flex®
If you value the rewards on this card but want to earn Citi ThankYou points instead, consider the Citi Custom Cash℠ Card. This comparable card also offers a $0 annual fee, and 5% cash back, in the form of Citi ThankYou points, on up to $500 in your top eligible spending category each billing cycle. You'll earn 1% back after that, as well as a flat rate of 1% back per dollar spent on every other purchase.
These bonus categories include:
- Restaurants
- Gas stations
- Grocery stores
- Select travel
- Select transit
- Select streaming services
- Drugstores
- Home improvement stores
- Fitness clubs
- Live entertainment
The Citi Custom Cash℠ Card offers an intro bonus of $200 cash back, fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first six months of account opening, and comes with Citi Entertainment access to presale tickets for concerts, sporting events and more. Cardholders also enjoy a 0% intro APR on balance transfers and purchases for 15 months, followed by a 18.24% - 28.24% Variable APR. However, this card doesn't come with any consumer benefits such as rental car insurance or cell phone protection.
Read more about this card in our Citi Custom Cash card review.
Discover it® Cash Back vs. Chase Freedom Flex®
The Discover it® Cash Back is another cash back card that earns 5% back on rotating categories each quarter on up to $1,500 in combined spending. Just like the Freedom Flex, this card has a $0 annual fee and comes with a 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers, then a 18.24% - 27.24% Variable APR.
This quarter, you can earn 5% cash back at restaurants, home improvement stores, and select streaming services, January 1 to March 31, 2025, on up to $1,500 in purchases after enrollment, then 1% back on all other purchases. While this card doesn't offer an outright welcome bonus, Discover will match all of the cash back you earn within your first 12 months of card ownership, dollar for dollar.
Discover it® Cash Back customers also have free access to their FICO credit score, and can take advantage of one waived late payment fee on your first late payment. This card beats the Freedom Flex when it comes to travel, since there are no foreign transaction fees.
Read more about this card in our Discover it Cash Back card review.
Chase Freedom Flex Frequently Asked Questions
The Chase Freedom Flex® is a cash-back card with no annual fee that earns Chase Ultimate Rewards on everyday purchases and rotating bonus categories.
Cardholders earn cash back in the form of Ultimate Rewards points: 3x on dining and drugstore purchases, 5x on rotating bonus categories, and 1x on everything else.
Benefits include travel and purchase protection, no annual fee, and access to Chase Ultimate Rewards.
The Chase Freedom Flex® has no annual fee, but there are other fees such as balance transfer fees and foreign transaction fees.
The Chase Freedom Flex® is best suited for individuals who want to earn cash back on a variety of purchases and maximize rewards through rotating categories.
The Chase Freedom Flex® is a great credit card for beginners and experts alike. It earns generous rewards with no annual fee, and comes with premium benefits such as cell phone insurance and a 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 months APR.
Most people who are approved for the Chase Freedom Flex® have at least a good credit score (a FICO score of at least 670). If you're not quite there yet, you may want to consider one of the best credit cards for fair credit.
Like other Chase cards, the Chase Freedom Flex® is subject to the Chase 5/24 rule, which means you won't be approved if you've opened five or more cards — from any bank — within the past 24 months.
The Chase Freedom Unlimited® and Chase Freedom Flex® are targeted toward different types of consumers. You'll earn the most if you can maximize the Chase Freedom Flex®'s rotating bonus categories every three months. But the Chase Freedom Unlimited®'s flat-rate 1.5% rate of return can be simpler for people who don't want to think about which card to use for every purchase.
Yes. The Chase Freedom Flex® charges foreign transaction fees on international purchases: 3% of the amount of each transaction in U.S. dollars.
Why You Should Trust Us: How We Reviewed the Chase Freedom Flex®
Business Insider's credit cards team reviewed the Chase Freedom Flex® by comparing it to several similar no-annual-fee credit cards. We looked at several factors in our assessment, including:
- Ease of use — Is the card's rewards earning and redeeming easy to understand, even for beginners? Are there multiple options for using rewards?
- Potential rewards on rotating categories— Does the card offer bonus categories that are useful for everyday spending? Are the categories practical for the average consumer?
- Annual fee — Many issuers offer no-annual-fee cards. But not all of them come with significant cardholder benefits, or provide similar or equal value to that of the Chase Freedom Flex®.
- Zero-interest intro APR — Does this card incentivize consumers to make large purchases or transfer existing card balances to avoid paying high rates of interest?
Learn more about our approach in Business Insider's full guide to how we rate credit cards.
