Chase Freedom Flex Review
Bonus Offer: Get $200 (20,000 Ultimate Rewards points) when you spend $500 in your first 3 months.
Bonus Offer: Get $200 (20,000 Ultimate Rewards points) when you spend $500 in your first 3 months.
★ This card earns bonus points for spend in the following bonus categories:
Best for:
General every day spend, especially dining and drug stores
More from this category
Card Features and Benefits:
- 5X on travel when purchased through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal*
- 5X on rotating quarterly bonus categories (max of $1,500 per quarter in spend; activation required)
- 5X on Lyft until March 2025
- 3X on dining (including takeout and delivery)
- 3X at drugstores
- 1X on everything else
- Cell Phone Protection benefits for up to $800 per claim and $1,000 per year in cell phone protection against theft or damage for phones listed on cardmembers monthly bill. Maximum of 2 claims in a 12 month period with a $50 deductible per claim.
- A $10 credit for every 5 Lyft rides you take in a calendar month
- 5% back in Boxed rewards credits for future purchases
- Shoprunner (free 2 day shipping)
- Double VIP+ Fandango points when you get movie tickets through Fandango
- 3 free months of Instacart Express
- $10/quarter in statement credits
The Chase Freedom Flex is the evolution of the Chase Freedom card, long a staple of the Chase card portfolio.
The Freedom Flex takes the best part of the Chase Freedom (rotating quarterly 5X bonus categories) and adds a ton of new features:
Chase Freedom Flex Earn Rate:
(* Keep in mind, booking via the portal for hotels means that you won’t, in most cases, earn any hotel points / stay credits nor have any hotel elite status honored. For airlines, the fares are generally the same or similar, however, it does mean that you have to deal with Chase for changes instead of the airline directly – and that can be a big hassle.)
Chase Freedom Flex Benefits and Review
Besides being the new ruler of the roost on drugstore purchases at 3X (along with the Chase Freedom Unlimited), the Chase Freedom Flex is a World Elite Mastercard, meaning enhanced benefits:
Instacart Benefits
Foreign Transaction Fees
Please note that Freedom Flex DOES charge foreign transaction fees. Consider a Chase Sapphire Preferred or Chase Sapphire Reserve to avoid surcharges on purchases when traveling abroad.
0% APR Intro Offer:
•0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 19.24% - 27.99%.
It's worth noting that very few great rewards credit cards both earn valuable points and also have a great 0% Intro APR offer. The current 0% Intro APR offer means that this card is currently offering the best of both worlds in that regard.
There's no annual fee.
Review
The Freedom Flex is a huge improvement to what the Freedom card was, improving it in every way while giving up nothing but the Visa branding. If you liked the Freedom, you are going to love the Freedom Flex!
Frequently Asked Questions about the Freedom vs. the Freedom Flex
Can I convert (product change) another Chase card into a Chase Freedom Flex?
Only the legacy Chase Freedom card can be converted to a Chase Freedom Flex.
Can I have more than one Chase Freedom Flex credit card?
No. While you've been allowed multiple Chase Freedom cards, you will only be allowed one Chase Freedom Flex per person.
Can I convert my Chase Freedom to a Chase Freedom Flex?
Yes. Note that it will change your account from a Visa to a Mastercard; however we expect that credit history on the account will be maintained.
Does the Freedom Flex earn cash back or Chase Ultimate Rewards points?
Like all Chase Freedom family cards, it earns cash back. However, the cash back is in the form of Ultimate Rewards points. If you also have a premium Chase card (Chase Sapphire Preferred or Chase Sapphire Reserve) or Ink card (Chase Ink Preferred), then you can combine your Chase points into the premium card and transfer out to travel partners.
Can I have both a Chase Freedom and a Chase Freedom Flex card?
Yes. You can keep any Chase Freedom cards you currently have and also have one Freedom Flex card. This would allow you to get the rotating 5X quarterly bonus categories on more than $1,500 in quarterly spend ($1,500 per Freedom + $1,500 on the Freedom Flex).
Is the Chase Freedom Flex a Visa or Mastercard?
Unlike all of the other current Chase offerings, including the Freedom, which are Visa branded, the Freedom Flex is a World Elite Mastercard, which confers all benefits listed in the chart above.
Does the Chase Freedom Flex offer Cell Phone Protection?
Yes, as a World Elite Mastercard, it does! You'll get up to $800 per claim and $1,000 per year in cell phone protection against covered theft or damage for phones listed on your monthly cell phone bill when you pay it with your eligible credit card. Maximum of 2 claims in a 12 month period with a $50 deductible per claim.
The legacy Freedom Visa does not get this benefit.
Do Freedom Flex or Freedom points expire?
No. As long as you have the card they do not expire. And if you were to close the card, simply combine your Ultimate Rewards to another card first.
If you convert your Freedom to a Freedom Flex, you will keep all of your points.
Does either the Freedom Flex or Freedom have foreign transaction fees?
They both do. You'll need to step up to a Chase Sapphire Preferred or Chase Sapphire Reserve to avoid those.
How does the 5X points work on travel purchases work for the Freedom Flex? (Freedom does not have this benefit)
When you book travel through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal and pay with your Freedom Flex, you will earn 5X points. Note the downsides: If you book air via the portal, you have to deal with Chase rather than the airline on changes or cancellations. If you book hotels, they are prepaid bookings ineligible for elite night credits, hotel points earning, or hotel elite benefits, if applicable.
More information at MilesTalk:
Offer: Get $200 (20,000 Ultimate Rewards points) when you spend $500 in your first 3 months.
Meet Dave
Dave’s spent the last 15 years traveling the world in first class using his miles and points. After analyzing the unique credit card spending habits of thousands of MilesTalk readers over the years, he developed YourBestCreditCards.com.
