Difference between chase freedom and chase freedom unlimited

What is the Chase Freedom Flex calendar for 5% categories?

Maria Adams, Credit Cards Moderator

The Chase Freedom Flex calendar for 5% categories for October, November and December 2022 are Walmart and PayPal, according to the Chase Freedom Flex rewards calendar.

Chase Freedom Flex gives 5% cash back on the first $1,500 spent in a new set of bonus categories each quarter, and the calendar shows what those categories are. It also has a link to “activate” the current quarter's bonus categories, as you won't be able to earn the 5% rate without doing so.  

2022 Chase Freedom Flex calendar for 5% categories:

• January - March: Grocery stores (excluding Target and Walmart) and conditions and eBay
• April - June:com and select streaming services
• July - September: Gas stations, car rental agencies, movie theaters and select live entertainment
• October - December: Walmart and PayPal (qualifying purchases made using PayPal at Walmart will only earn a total of 5%)

The Chase Freedom Flex 5% calendar is pretty straightforward and easy to use. But there are a few other things you should know about its features and protocol.

Here's how the Chase Freedom Flex calendar works:

• Each quarter's bonus categories are typically announced about a month in advance.
• Click on the footnote next to each category to see what purchases qualify.
• You can activate each quarter's bonus starting on the 15th of the month before. The last day to activate is always the 14th of the last month in the quarter.
• To activate Chase Freedom Flex bonus categories, click “Activate Now” on the calendar and enter your last name, the last 4 digits of your card number, and your zip code.
• The 5% bonus applies to your first $1,500 in bonus-category purchases each quarter (you'll get 1% after that).

Unfortunately, you can't see the whole year's cash back categories in advance. But you do get about a month's notice, and Chase is very transparent about the activation dates. Just be sure to activate the bonus categories each quarter. And read the fine print to see which purchases qualify for 5% cash back.

How does the Chase Freedom Flex Refer a Friend program work?

Maria Adams, Credit Cards Moderator

The Chase Freedom Flex Refer a Friend program gives you a $100 cash back bonus for each friend who applies for a participating Chase Freedom card with your link and gets approved. The participating Chase Freedom credit cards are Chase Freedom Flex and Chase Freedom Unlimited®.

You can get the Chase Freedom Flex referral bonus 5 times per calendar year, for a total of $500. To refer a friend for either Chase Freedom Flex or Chase Freedom Unlimited®, go to Chase's Refer a Friend page and enter your last name, your zip code and the last 4 digits of your card number. You'll get a link to share with your friends through email or social media. Then, all you have to do is sit back and let the referral bonuses roll in.

Here's how to get the Chase Freedom Flex Refer a Friend bonus:

1. Go to Chase's referral page.
2. Enter your last name, zip code and card number (last 4 digits).
3. Click “Continue,” then enter your friends' names and email addresses.
4. Use the Facebook and Twitter icons to generate a referral link for social media.
5. Click “Submit.”

You can send Chase Freedom Flex Refer a Friend links to as many people as you want, but you're limited to 25 per 24hours. If someone applies for the card but isn't accepted, you don't get a bonus. But denied applications don't count against your five yearly referrals.

Chase won't tell you if someone used your link, or whether they were approved or denied. So, you'll have to hear it from your friends. If you know you've earned a bonus, you should expect to wait up to 8 weeks for the bonus cash back to post to your account.

How do I activate my Chase Freedom Flex credit card and rewards?

Maria Adams, Credit Cards Moderator

You can activate your Chase Freedom Flex credit card either by logging in to the Chase's verification page, or by calling customer service at (800) 432-3117.

Apart from activating your Chase Freedom Flex for use, this card requires you to activate new bonus rewards categories, every three months, in order to earn 5% cash back on those purchases. If you don't, you'll only earn 1% cash back. To sign up for the latest categories, go to the Chase Freedom Flex activate 5% cash back page. Enter your last name, the last 4 digits of the card, and your zip code. Click the green “Activate your 5%” button and you'll be all set.

Here's how to activate Chase Freedom Flex:

1. Create a Chase.com account. You'll need to provide your SSN or tax ID number, your account or application number, and the email you used for your application.
2. Go to the Chase Freedom Flex activate card page.
3. Log in to your Chase.com account.
4. Verify that you received your card when Chase prompts you.

After you activate Chase Freedom Flex, you can use it right away. The steps to activate Chase Freedom Flex are the same as activating any other Chase credit card.

Ultimately, Chase says they require quarterly Chase Freedom Flex bonus categories activation to make sure cardholders always know what the latest 5% categories are. But that's probably only part of it. Either way, activation only takes a minute.

How much is the Chase Freedom Unlimited foreign transaction fee?

Maria Adams, Credit Cards Moderator

The Chase Freedom Unlimited has a 3% fee charged on foreign transactions. This foreign fee applies to transactions made both in person and online. So, if you plan on spending a lot of money at foreign-based merchants or overseas, it can really add up quickly.

Hence, you're better off using Chase Freedom Unlimited for your everyday purchases and getting a second card with no foreign transaction fee for your foreign purchases.

You can check out our editors' latest picks for the best no foreign transaction fee credit cards on the market to see which one better suits your needs.

Ultimately, there are credit card issuers, such as Capital One and Discover, that do away with foreign transaction fees altogether. And there are $0 foreign fee credit cards available to people of all credit levels, from bad credit to excellent credit. So, there is no reason why you should ever pay extra when buying something from abroad.

What are the best Chase Freedom Unlimited benefits?

Chase Freedom Unlimited's benefits include rental car insurance, roadside dispatch, trip cancellation/interruption protection, extended product warranties, and purchase protection. Both the Visa Platinum and Visa Signature versions of the Chase Freedom Unlimited card have those benefits. Chase chooses whether each Chase Freedom Unlimited applicant gets the Signature or Platinum version of the card based on the applicant's credit history and ability to pay.

Top Chase Freedom Unlimited Benefits:

• Rental car insurance: Provides secondary coverage for up to 31 consecutive days against damage and theft, up to the actual cash value of rental vehicles paid for with the Chase Freedom Unlimited card. You'll have to decline the rental agency's insurance coverage to qualify, as well as file any claim within 60 days of theft or damage occurring.
• Roadside dispatch: Includes 24/7 towing, tire changes, jump starts, fuel delivery and lockout service. $59.95 per service call.
• Extended warranty: Extends U.S. manufacturer's warranties on items purchased with Chase Freedom Unlimited by 1 year. Maximum coverage of $10,000 per claim, $50,000 per account. The original warranty can't be longer than three years.
• Purchase protection: Reimburses cardholders up to $10,000 per claim ($50,000 per account) for items purchased with the Chase Freedom Unlimited card that are damaged or stolen within 120 days of purchase.
• Trip cancellation/interruption insurance: Pays up to $6,000 per trip cut short by sickness, severe weather or other covered events. Applies to travel expenses paid for with Chase Freedom Unlimited.

Other Chase Freedom Unlimited benefits include 24/7 fraud alerts and a $0 fraud liability guarantee, which protects you from having to pay for unauthorized charges to your account.

What is the Chase Freedom Unlimited credit score requirement?

Maria Adams, Credit Cards Moderator

The Chase Freedom Unlimited® credit score requirement is 700 or better. That means people with good credit or better have a shot at getting approved for the Chase Freedom Unlimited Card.

You should note that while your credit score is an important factor, there are plenty of other things that will impact your chances of being approved for the Chase Freedom Unlimited Card, too. Some other key criteria include your income, existing debt load, number of open accounts, recent credit inquiries, employment status and housing status.

If you excel in other areas, you might be able to get approved with a slightly lower credit score in some cases. But it's best to wait to apply until you meet the Chase Freedom Unlimited credit score requirement. You can check your credit score for free on WalletHub.

How do I log in to my Chase Freedom Unlimited account?

Cameron DiGiovanni, Writer

To log in to your Chase Freedom Unlimited account, go to the login page on the Chase website or mobile app and enter your username and password in the appropriate fields. Then, click “Sign in” to access your online account. If you don't already have an account, you will need to start by clicking “Not Enrolled? Sign up now” in order to set up a username and password.

How to Log in to a Chase Freedom Unlimited Credit Card Account

• Register your Chase Freedom Unlimited for online account access. Click “Not Enrolled? Sign up now” and enter your Social Security number, contact information, and card or application number to verify your credit card account.
• Choose your Chase Freedom Unlimited card's username and password. The username must be 8-32 characters, with no special characters and at least one number. The password must also contain 8-32 characters and have at least one number or special character.
• Log in with your new Chase Freedom Unlimited credentials. From the login page on the Chase website or mobile app, fill out the username and password fields using your new credentials, and click “Sign in” to access your account.

After you have signed up and logged in, you'll be able to manage your Chase Freedom Unlimited account online. You can pay your credit card bill, see credit card statements, monitor account activity, and change account information such as passwords and automatic payments.

If you forget your login information, click the “Forgot Username/Password?” link on the Chase login page. Then, just follow the prompts to reset or retrieve your username or password.

What is the credit limit for Chase Freedom Unlimited?

Maria Adams, Credit Cards Moderator

The Chase Freedom Unlimited offers a $500 minimum credit limit for everyone who's approved. Applicants with the best credit standing can also get starting credit limits of $5,000 or higher from the Visa Signature version of the Chase Freedom Unlimited. Signature cards come with a few more supplemental benefits than the standard Visa Platinum cards other approved applicants receive.

Chase doesn't publicly disclose a maximum credit limit for the Chase Freedom Unlimited card. But some customers have said that they have received limits of almost $14,000. If you want a limit that high, you'll need spotless credit, a very high income to afford the payments, and low existing debt.

Chase Freedom Unlimited Credit Limit Increase

Keep in mind that you can ask Chase for a Chase Freedom Unlimited credit limit increase by calling the number on the back of your card. It's best to try that after at least half a year of on time bill payments.   

Is there a Chase Freedom Unlimited referral bonus?

Maria Adams, Credit Cards Moderator

Yes, there is a Chase Freedom Unlimited referral bonus and it is worth up to $500 cash back per year. Cardholders can earn $100 cash back for every referral who is approved for the card. The limit is five referrals in a calendar year. The bonus is available to cardholders with an open Chase Freedom Unlimited account in good standing.

How to Get the Chase Freedom Unlimited Referral Bonus

1. Register online via Chase's Refer-A-Friend page or through the Chase mobile app.
2. Enter your name, zip code, and the last 4 digits of your Chase Freedom Unlimited card number.
3. Click “Get Started.”
4. You will receive a personalized link that you can forward to friends through text or e-mail. You can also share the link on social media.

Once someone you refer has been approved, the bonus will post to your account within 8 weeks. The bonus will appear on your Chase Freedom Unlimited statement as a “Refer-A-Friend” bonus.

You can only make referrals for the Chase card that you have – Chase Freedom Unlimited, in this case. And whomever you refer must apply for the Chase Freedom Unlimited card via the link you give them in order for you to receive the referral bonus. Chase will not disclose which of your referrals have applied, nor will they notify you of a referral's application status. There's no bonus if a referral is approved for a different Chase card.

What is the Chase Freedom Flex credit score requirement?

The Chase Freedom Flex credit score requirement is 700 or better, which means you need good credit or better for good odds of approval. It may be possible to get approved for the Chase Freedom Flex card with a slightly lower credit score if you have a lot of income and little debt, but the higher your credit score is, the better your approval odds will be.

If you're unsure of where you stand, you can check your latest credit score for free on WalletHub, the only site where credit scores and reports update daily.

It's also important to note that just having a high credit score isn't necessarily enough to get you approved, and it's still possible to be approved with lower credit scores. It all depends on Chase's evaluation of your entire credit situation. A multitude of different factors go into your approval or rejection.

Chase Freedom Flex℠ Credit Score Requirements: Key Takeaways

• A good credit score of 700+ gives good approval odds. Around 43% of people have credit scores of 700+ and if you're not one of them, taking a few months to improve your credit could be the difference between being approved and rejected.
• Chase Freedom Flex approval depends on income and debt, too. The more money you have at your disposal, the more you can afford to put toward paying off credit card bills. But debt hurts your chances. If too much of your money is already earmarked for other debt obligations, your odds of getting approved for Chase Freedom Flex will be lower.
• Don't rely on anecdotal evidence. Even if someone reports getting approved for Chase Freedom Flex with a credit score under 700, it doesn't mean you will get the same treatment. It depends on your overall credit profile, including income, credit score, and credit utilization.

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