Chase Freedom Unlimited® for Military Members

The card_name credit card is an excellent daily use workhorse for many service members thanks to a generous slate of sign-up bonuses: 5% back on travel purchased through Chase, 3% on dining at restaurants and purchases at drugstores, 1.5% cash back on all other purchases, and a full slate of other useful perks and offers.

Here’s what you need to know about this powerful, no-annual-fee card.

Chase Freedom Unlimited® Overview

This $0 annual fee card is a worthy addition to your wallet, with attractive cash-back earnings in the categories you use the most. You can supersize those returns even more when you pair the card_name with another premium Chase card.

First-year benefits mean you can earn serious cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, Chase’s premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards, and more.

You’ll also get 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 1.5% on all other purchases. 

There are no minimum redemption amounts, and Cash Back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open.

In most cases, you’ll need at least a 680 FICO score to qualify, but if you do, the Chase Freedom Unlimited card is a smart choice that combines flexibility and generous benefits that make it attractive as a frequent-use card.

Compare Top Military Credit Cards

Compare the rates, fees, and rewards of top credit cards for military servicemembers and veterans, including cards with waived annual fees under the SCRA, with our Card Finder tool powered by CardRatings.

Get Started

Earning Rewards with Chase Freedom Unlimited

The Chase Freedom Unlimited is marketed as a cash-back card, but your spending actually earns rewards points. Points are typically worth 1 cent each when redeemed for cash back, but they may be worth more when used for travel through Chase’s portal if paired with a premium Chase card, depending on current Points Boost offers.

You get 1.5% cash back or more, depending on the purchase category. For example, you’ll earn 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel and 3% cash back on eligible dining and drugstores.

You can also redeem points for gift cards (generally 1 cent per point), travel booked through Chase (typically 1 cent per point with Freedom Unlimited alone), and Amazon purchases (usually between 0.7 and 0.8 cents per point).

Redeeming Rewards With Chase Freedom Unlimited

You can redeem rewards points through the Chase Travel portal, as a statement credit, or choose a direct deposit into most U.S. checking or savings accounts.

There’s no minimum to redeem, so you can cash in your rewards whenever you like.

If you also have a premium Chase card like the card_name or card_name, you can combine your points and redeem them for higher value through Chase Travel, depending on category-specific Points Boosts. You can also transfer points to some airline and hotel partners at a 1:1 ratio.

For example, if you pair the Chase Freedom Unlimited with the Chase Sapphire Preferred, your points may be worth more depending on the current Points Boost offers in Chase Travel. While this used to mean a flat 25% increase, Chase now offers varying bonus rates on specific travel categories like flights or hotels, which could result in even greater value.

Similarly, your restaurant and drugstore spending will be worth 3.75%, and everyday spending will bump up to 1.875%.

Previously, points transferred to the Chase Sapphire Reserve® were worth 50% more in the Chase Travel portal. Now, Chase offers category-based Points Boosts that may exceed or fall short of that rate depending on the redemption category and timing.

When paired with a premium Chase card, you can transfer your combined points to Chase’s airline and hotel partners at a 1:1 rate. Freedom Unlimited by itself does not allow direct transfers to travel partners.

» LEARN MORE: See how the Chase Freedom Unlimited compares to other top cards

How to Get the Chase Credit Card Military Fee Waiver

Chase offers benefits for active military members under the Military Lending Act law for service members on active duty who applied for cards after September 20, 2017. Benefits apply only to personal credit cards, not Chase business cards.

Under this act, service members will receive waived annual and other fees (except late fees and insufficient fund fees). In addition, the Military Annual Percentage Rate (MAPR) must not exceed 36%, and any introductory promotional interest rates must be honored.

After you’re approved, you can request these benefits by accessing your Chase.com online banking profile, going to “secure messages,” and under “inquires,” selecting Military SCRA benefits. You will need your account number and supporting documents.

You can also call 1-877-469-0110 to ask about credit card fee waivers for Chase credit cards (8 am-10 pm Monday through Friday and 9 am-6 pm Saturdays). Internationally, call collect at 318-340-3348.

Applying for the Chase Freedom Unlimited Credit Card

The Chase Freedom Unlimited card is relatively hard to get because applicants must have a minimum credit score of 680 for approval. Applicants must also demonstrate an ability to make minimum monthly payments, reasonable amounts of existing debt, the size of their monthly housing payment, the number of recently opened credit accounts, and other similar factors.

Chase has an online prequalification tool, so you’ll have a good indication of approval in a matter of seconds based on the information you provide. Prequalification doesn’t affect your credit score because the process is considered a soft inquiry.

Chase will make a hard inquiry on your credit report if you apply. 

» MORE: Learn more about the Chase Freedom Unlimited card

Chase Freedom Unlimited Credit Card Pros & Cons

Is the Chase Freedom Unlimited Card Worth It?

The Chase Freedom Unlimited is a great deal for military members, especially those with a partner card such as the Chase Sapphire Preferred or Chase Sapphire Reserve cards.

Users can immediately take advantage of a generous sign-up offer and practical bonus rewards categories that give plenty of options for cashing in rewards.

Coupled with a variety of other benefits, including rental car insurance, trip cancellation protection, extended product warranties, and several others, Chase Freedom Unlimited is a great addition to your wallet.

» NEXT: Learn how to apply for the Chase Freedom Unlimited

_{The Military Wallet has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. The Military Wallet and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers. Some or all of the card offers that appear on The Military Wallet are from advertisers. Compensation may impact how and where card products appear, but does not affect our editors’ opinions or evaluations. The Military Wallet does not include all card companies or all available card offers.}

Meet the Author

Ryan Guina

Ryan Guina is The Military Wallet's founder. He is a writer, small business owner, and entrepreneur. He served over six years on active duty in the USAF and is a current member of the Tennessee Air...

Read full bio