4 Little-Known Perks of the Chase Freedom Unlimited Credit Card

The Chase Freedom Unlimited® is one of my favorite cash back cards. You earn a competitive amount back no matter where you use it. It earns a base rate of 1.5%, and in bonus categories, it earns 3% to 5%.

If you've taken a glance at this card, you've probably already seen the cash back rate and the bonus categories…most of them, at least. Even though this is a no annual fee card, it has a lot of perks, including a few that don't get as much attention.

1. 5% cash back on Lyft rides (through March 2025)

Most of this card's bonus categories are listed together. It earns 3% at drugstores and on dining, including takeout and eligible delivery services. On Chase Travel bookings, it earns a whopping 5%.

There's one more place where this card gets you extra cash back: Lyft rides, where it earns 5% back. This is a limited-time partner offer that lasts through March 31, 2025. If you use Lyft, make sure to set up the Chase Freedom Unlimited® as your default payment method.

2. Affordable balance transfers and a 0% intro APR

If you have any credit card debt, a balance transfer offer could help you pay it off more quickly while saving on interest. The Chase Freedom Unlimited® is known as a cash back card, but it also has a great balance transfer offer.

In addition, it has an intro balance transfer fee of 3% ($5 minimum) on transfers made within 60 days of account opening. After that, it reverts to the regular fee. Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.

Some balance transfer cards charge a 5% fee from the beginning. While this may not seem like a big difference, it saves you money. If you transfer $5,000, you'd pay $150 with a 3% fee compared to $250 with a 5% fee.

3. Three months free with DashPass and Instacart+

Getting food delivered is convenient when you don't feel like preparing a meal or going grocery shopping. I recently started getting my groceries delivered every week, and it saves me a ton of time.

When you have the Chase Freedom Unlimited®, you can try out a couple of popular food delivery app memberships for three months. It offers:

• Three months of DashPass: DashPass is the membership service for DoorDash, and it provides unlimited deliveries with a $0 delivery fee and reduced service fees on eligible orders with DoorDash and Caviar. To get your complimentary three months, you must enroll by Dec. 31, 2024. After those three months, you're automatically enrolled in DashPass at 50% off for the next nine months unless you cancel first.
• Three months of Instacart+: Instacart+ provides unlimited deliveries with a $0 delivery fee and reduced service fees on eligible Instacart orders. You must enroll by July 31, 2024. After the three months end, you'll be automatically enrolled in an annual Instacart+ membership unless you cancel.

4. Purchase and travel protections

It's always frustrating when something you just bought gets damaged or stolen. If you paid for it with the Chase Freedom Unlimited®, you could get your money back. It has purchase protection that covers new purchases against damage or theft for the first 120 days. The coverage limit is $500 per claim and $50,000 per account.

That's one of several complimentary protections you get with this Chase card. It also has:

• Extended warranty protection that adds a year to eligible U.S. manufacturers' warranties of three years or less
• An auto rental collision damage waiver for theft and collision damage to rental cars
• Trip cancellation/interruption insurance of up to $1,500 per person and $6,000 per trip

I've had the Chase Freedom Unlimited® for years. It's one of the credit cards I recommend the most if you're looking for an easy-to-use rewards card. It has everything you need from a card, and you don't need to pay an annual fee to get it.