Chase Freedom Flex Credit Card Review 2022: $200 Bonus, Earn up to 5x
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Chase Freedom Flex credit card review: A $200 bonus, up to 5x in popular categories, and World Elite Mastercard perks with no annual fee
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The Chase Freedom Flex℠ is a great pick if you want a no-annual-fee card 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.
- No annual fee
- Generous bonus cash-back categories
- Great welcome bonus
- Booking through Ultimate Rewards portal can restrict outside earning potential
- Varying percentages and rotating calendar categories require extra attention
- 3% foreign transaction fees
- Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening.
- 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate. Enjoy new 5% categories each quarter!
- 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, our 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, and unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
- No minimum to redeem for cash back. You can choose to receive a statement credit or direct deposit into most U.S. checking and savings accounts. Cash Back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open!
- 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 16.49% - 25.24%.
- No annual fee - You won't have to pay an annual fee for all the great features that come with your Freedom Flex℠ card
- Keep tabs on your credit health - Chase Credit Journey helps you monitor your credit with free access to your latest score, real-time alerts, and more.
Review: Is the Chase Freedom Flex the best credit card for you?
If you want a credit card that earns up to 5x bonus rewards without paying an annual fee, the Chase Freedom Flex℠ is a great choice. With excellent bonus categories and a solid welcome bonus of $200 after spending $500 on purchases in the first three months from account opening, opening and using the card is an excellent way to supercharge your rewards earnings on everyday spending.
The Chase Freedom Flex℠ is marketed as a cash-back credit card, but it actually earns Chase Ultimate Rewards points, which you can redeem for cash back, travel, merchandise, and more. Cardholders can earn 5% cash back (5x points) on up to $1,500 in combined spending in categories that rotate every quarter when they activate the bonus.
For example, the Chase Freedom 5x categories for the third quarter of 2022 (July through September) are gas stations, car rental agencies, movie theaters, and select live entertainment.
The Chase Freedom Flex℠ also earns 5% cash back (5x points) on travel booked through the Chase Travel Portal, 3% back (3x points) on drugstore and dining purchases (including takeout and eligible delivery services), and 1% back (1x points) on everything else. If you hold other Chase credit cards that earn Ultimate Rewards points, you can pool your points into one account and potentially increase their value.
Because it's a World Elite Mastercard, the Chase Freedom Flex℠ comes with an outstanding range of benefits — including some you might not expect from a no-annual-fee card, like cell phone protection and purchase protection.
If you're thinking of opening the Chase Freedom Flex℠, you should also consider the Chase Freedom Unlimited®, which comes with the same intro bonus but has different earning categories. And if you're after a big welcome bonus, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is worth a look — it's offering 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, but there is a $95 annual fee.
We're focused here on the rewards and perks that come with each card. These cards won't be worth it if you're paying interest or late fees. When using a credit card, it's important to pay your balance in full each month, make payments on time, and only spend what you can afford to pay.
How to earn rewards with the Chase Freedom Flex
You'll earn the most rewards from the Chase Freedom Flex℠ if you take advantage of the card's quarterly rotating bonus categories. It offers 5% cash back (5x points) on up to $1,500 in combined spending in these categories each quarter once you activate the bonus (then 1% back).
For the third quarter of 2022, the bonus categories are gas stations, car rental agencies, movie theaters, and select live entertainment, but in previous quarters we've seen other helpful categories and merchants, like PayPal, restaurants, grocery stores, and eBay.
Outside of these bonus categories, Chase Freedom Flex℠ cardholders can also earn bonus rewards on other purchases:
- 5% back (5x points) on travel booked through the Chase Ultimate Rewards travel portal (including airfare, hotels, car rentals, cruises, and activities)
- 3% back (3x points) on dining (including takeout and eligible delivery services)
- 3% back (3x points) at drugstores
- 1% back (1x points) on everything else
How to redeem Chase Ultimate Rewards points
The Chase Freedom Flex℠ is very popular, and it's for good reason. Chase Ultimate Rewards points are incredibly flexible, and you've got lots of options for redemption, including:
- Cash back (1 cent per point)
- Gift cards (1 cent per point)
- Airfare, hotels, car rentals, and more through the Chase Ultimate Rewards 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)
The last option is best avoided — you'll get a better deal 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 inferior value when you pay with points at Amazon checkout. The same applies to PayPal.
Even if you're still staying close to home, the Chase Freedom Flex℠ is a good card for earning rewards if travel is on your radar for the future. Until then, there are plenty of ways to use Chase points that don't involve travel, and your points won't expire as long as your card is open and in good standing.
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 certain other Chase credit cards, including the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, Chase Sapphire Reserve®, and Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card.
Chase allows you to transfer Ultimate Rewards points between accounts, and by moving your points to one of these cards, you'll unlock more valuable redemption options — including the ability to transfer points to Chase's airline and hotel partners. You'll also have more ways to redeem points through Chase's Pay Yourself Back program.
For example, with the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, your points are worth 1.5 cents apiece when you book travel through the Chase travel portal or redeem through Pay Yourself Back. 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.
Chase Ultimate Rewards points are worth, on average, 1.8 cents apiece based on Insider's points and miles valuations— primarily because you can get outsized value when you transfer points to airline and hotel partners for award travel.
Chase Freedom Flex benefits and features
The Chase Freedom Flex℠ comes with substantial purchase and travel protections, including select World Elite Mastercard benefits that you don't often find on no-annual-fee cards.
Cell phone protection
When you use the Chase Freedom Flex℠ card to pay your monthly wireless bill, you're eligible for cell phone 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℠, you'll be covered for damage or theft for 120 days, up to $500 per claim and $50,000 per account.
Extended warranty
Eligible items you purchase with the Chase Freedom Flex℠, with a manufacturer's warranty of three years or less, can receive an additional year of extended warranty coverage.
Car rental insurance
When you decline the rental company's collision insurance and charge the entire rental cost to your Chase Freedom Flex℠, you're covered for theft and collision damage on most cars. In the US, coverage is secondary to your personal insurance — otherwise, it's primary insurance.
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, you'll 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 any third-party costs are your responsibility.
Bonus points on Lyft purchases
You'll earn 5% cash back (5x points) on purchases made with Lyft through March 2025.
Complimentary DoorDash DashPass membership
Chase Freedom Flex℠ cardholders receive a complimentary three months of DashPass, which gets you $0 food delivery fees and reduced service fees on orders of $12 or more with DoorDash and Caviar. After that, you'll receive a 50% discount on your DashPass membership for the next nine months. Activation is required by December 31, 2024.
Instacart benefits
Until July 31, 2024, Chase Freedom Flex℠ cardholders can activate a complimentary three-month Instacart+ membership, which comes with free delivery on orders of $35+ and reduced service fees. If you don't plan to keep the membership after three months, you should set a calendar reminder to cancel, otherwise it will automatically renew for a year (currently $99) once your free three months expires.
The Chase Freedom Flex℠ also comes with up to $10 per quarter in statement credits toward Instacart purchases (activation required). If you maximize this benefit each quarter, it's worth up to $40 per year — which is a nice deal for a card with no annual fee.
Other World Elite Mastercard benefits
Because the Chase Freedom Flex℠ is a World Elite Mastercard, you'll have access to other perks, including:
- 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
- Hello Fresh: Use your card to purchase a HelloFresh meal kit delivery plan, and receive 5% back to use toward your next delivery
- Shoprunner: Receive a complimentary one-year ShopRunner membership and get free two-day shipping and free returns at over 100 merchants
Monthly Gopuff credits
The Chase Freedom Flex℠ offers $10 per month in Gopuff credits when you add your card as the default payment method of your Gopuff app. Gopuff is a service that offers fast delivery of everyday items like food, alcohol, electronics, and medicine.
You'll receive the credit automatically when you make a qualifying purchase with Gopuff. There's a minimum order amount of $10, and a flat $2.95 delivery fee per order. This promotion ends December 31, 2023.
- No annual fee
- Generous bonus cash-back categories
- Great welcome bonus
- Booking through Ultimate Rewards portal can restrict outside earning potential
- Varying percentages and rotating calendar categories require extra attention
- 3% foreign transaction fees
- Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening.
- 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate. Enjoy new 5% categories each quarter!
- 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, our 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, and unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
- No minimum to redeem for cash back. You can choose to receive a statement credit or direct deposit into most U.S. checking and savings accounts. Cash Back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open!
- 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 16.49% - 25.24%.
- No annual fee - You won't have to pay an annual fee for all the great features that come with your Freedom Flex℠ card
- Keep tabs on your credit health - Chase Credit Journey helps you monitor your credit with free access to your latest score, real-time alerts, and more.
Chase Freedom Flex fees and costs
The Chase Freedom Flex℠ doesn't charge an annual fee, so it's a great long-term keeper card. Having a card open for a long time can increase your average credit age and potentially boost your credit score.
The card offers a 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 months. After that, there's a 16.49% - 25.24% Variable APR. This is handy if you have large purchases coming up that you want to pay for over time without incurring huge interest charges, but be sure to have a plan and means to pay off your balance before the introductory APR period expires.
As with most other cards, there are fees for balance transfers, cash advances, and late or returned payments. The Chase Freedom Flex℠ does charge foreign transaction fees, so it's not a good choice for international purchases.
Comparison: Chase Freedom Flex vs other Chase credit cards
Chase Freedom Flex℠ | Chase Freedom Unlimited® | Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card | |
Annual fee | |||
Rewards rate | 5% cash back (5x points) on travel purchased through Ultimate Rewards 5% cash back (5x points) on up to $1,500 in purchases each quarter in rotating bonus categories when you activate 3% cash back (3x points) on dining and drugstore purchases 1% cash back (1x points) on everything else | 5% cash back (5x points) on travel purchased through Ultimate Rewards 3% cash back (3x points) on dining and drugstore purchases 1.5% cash back (1.5x points) on everything else | 5x points on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards 5x points on Lyft rides through March 2025 3x points on dining and online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart, and wholesale clubs) 3x points on select streaming services 2x points on all other travel purchases 1 point per dollar on all other purchases |
Welcome bonus | $200 after spending $500 on purchases in the first three months from account opening | 1.5% cash back in addition to regular earning on everything you buy up to $20,000 spent in the first year (worth up to $300 cash back) | 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening |
Card benefits | Car rental insurance (secondary in the US, primary otherwise) Trip cancellation/interruption insurance Purchase protection Extended warranty Travel and emergency assistance services 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 months, then a 16.49% - 25.24% Variable APR | Extended warranty Car rental insurance (secondary in the US, primary otherwise) Trip interruption/cancellation insurance Travel and emergency assistance services 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 months, then a 16.49% - 25.24% Variable | Trip interruption/cancellation Trip delay insurance Baggage delay insurance Lost luggage reimbursement Extended warranty Purchase protection Travel and emergency assistance services Travel accident insurance Roadside dispatch No foreign transaction fees |
Review |
Chase Freedom Flex vs other cash-back credit cards
Chase Freedom Flex℠ | Citi Custom Cash℠ Card | Discover it® Cash Back | |
Annual fee | |||
Rewards rate | 5% cash back (5x points) on travel purchased through Ultimate Rewards 5% cash back (5x points) on up to $1,500 in purchases each quarter in rotating bonus categories when you activate 3% cash back (3x points) on dining and drugstore purchases 1% cash back (1x points) on everything else | 5% cash back on up to $500 spent in your top eligible spending category* each billing cycle (then 1%) 1% cash back on all other purchases | 5% cash back in categories that rotate each quarter on up to $1,500 in combined spending when you activate (then 1%) (from July 1 to September 30, 2022, you can earn 5% cash back at restaurants and PayPal on up to $1,500 in purchases after enrollment, then 1%) 1% cash back on all other eligible purchases |
Welcome bonus | $200 after spending $500 on purchases in the first three months from account opening | $200 in cash back, fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, after you spend $750 on purchases in the first 3 months of account opening | None, but Discover will dollar for dollar match all the cash back you earned after the first 12 months |
Card benefits | Car rental insurance (secondary in the US, primary otherwise) Trip cancellation/interruption insurance Purchase protection Extended warranty Travel and emergency assistance services 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 months, then a 16.49% - 25.24% Variable APR | Access to Citi Entertainment 0% Intro APR on balance transfers and purchases for 15 months, then a 16.24% - 26.24% Variable APR) | Free FICO score No late payment fee on your first late payment (then up to $41) 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers, then a 13.49% - 24.49% Variable APR No foreign transaction fees |
Review |
*eligible 5% cash back categories on the Citi Custom Cash℠ Card are restaurants, gas stations, grocery stores, select travel, select transit, select streaming services, drugstores, home improvement stores, fitness clubs, and live entertainment
Chase Freedom Flex frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Is the Chase Freedom Flex a good credit card?
The Chase Freedom Flex℠ is a great choice for credit card beginners and experts alike. Because it has no annual fee, it's free to keep forever, and it earns generous rewards — up to 5x points in rotating categories each quarter. For a no-annual-fee card, it also comes with a compelling welcome bonus offer.
It's ideal for those who want to put in a little extra effort to maximize their rewards, but if you prefer a more hands-off approach, a credit card that earns a flat rate of rewards across all purchases, or with fixed bonus categories, might be a better choice.
What credit score do you need for the Chase Freedom Flex?
Most people who are approved for the Chase Freedom Flex℠ have at least a good credit score (a FICO score of at least 670, or a VantageScore of at least 700).
If you're not quite there yet, you may want to consider one of the best credit cards for fair or average credit. Or, if you're a student, the Chase Freedom® Student credit card is easier to get approved for with limited credit.
Who is eligible for the Chase Freedom Flex?
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) in the past 24 months.
Because of this restriction, if you're new to rewards credit cards, it makes sense to open the Chase cards you want first.
What's better, the Chase Freedom Flex or Freedom Unlimited?
The Chase Freedom Unlimited® and Chase Freedom Flex℠ are both excellent cards, but they're suited to different types of users. If you like to actively maximize rewards and spend a fair amount in the Chase Freedom Flex℠ rotating bonus categories, and you don't mind activating the bonus every quarter, the Chase Freedom Flex℠ is probably your top option.
However, if you don't want to keep track of rotating bonuses, or do most of your spending in non-bonus categories, the Chase Freedom Unlimited® is the better choice. It earns 5x points on travel purchased through Ultimate Rewards, 3x points on dining and drugstore purchases, and 1.5x points on everything else.
If you're torn between the Chase Freedom Flex℠ and Chase Freedom Unlimited®, have a look at our comparison of the two Freedom cards to narrow down your choice.
Does the Chase Freedom Flex have foreign transaction fees?
Yes, the Chase Freedom Flex℠ adds foreign transaction fees to international purchases (3% of the amount of each transaction in US dollars). It's not a good card to pack if you're traveling abroad — you can find better options in our guide to the best credit cards with no foreign transaction fees.
For rates and fees of Discover it® Cash Back, please click here.
Editorial Note: Any opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer. Read our editorial standards.
Please note: While the offers mentioned above are accurate at the time of publication, they're subject to change at any time and may have changed, or may no longer be available.
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