this Chasing unlimited freedom (see rates and fees) is a great credit card for beginners. Earn at least 1.5% cash back on all purchases, which means it can still provide value to your wallet even if you open a number of other cards.
Because of its flexibility, it works with many credit cards, even those not issued by Chase. Here are some of my favorite card choices to pair with Freedom Unlimited.
Unleash the full potential of Freedom Unlimited
In itself, Unlimited freedom is a powerful card, but if you want to truly maximize it, you’ll need to pair it with one of Chase’s higher-level options:
By combining the rewards you earn on Freedom Unlimited with the rewards you earn on one of the cards I just mentioned, you’ll be able to transfer them to Chase’s 13 partners for maximum value.
Sapphire Priority and Sapphire Reserve are probably the best options for most people because they offer compelling benefits that justify their annual fees without the need for a separate side hustle or business.
Here’s a quick breakdown of what these cards offer.
Chase Sapphire Preferred
this Sapphire preferred Its simple list of benefits easily makes up for the $95 annual fee, assuming you use them organically.
This is the card I use to power up my own Freedom Unlimited. My Sapphire Preferred purchases earn extra rewards on dining, select travel, and online groceries (excluding Walmart and Target), while My Freedom Unlimited can be conveniently used for general purchases that don’t fall into rewards categories.
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I also took advantage of Sapphire Preferred’s free DoorDash DashPass membership (activated on December 31, 2027) to cover the cost of the card’s annual fee. DashPass membership costs $9.99 per month and $96 for the annual plan, which means I make money every year.
Then, when I’m ready to redeem my travel points, I combine all the rewards I’ve earned and send them out.
To learn more, check out our full review of Sapphire Top Picks.
Apply here: Chase Sapphire Preferred
Chase Sapphire Reserve
If you’re ready to buy a premium travel card, Sapphire Reserve It may make more sense to you than Sapphire Preferred.
If your current spending habits closely match the Sapphire Reserve’s benefits, I recommend pairing it with Freedom Unlimited. Use your Sapphire Reserve to make purchases that earn or trigger claim points within their bonus categories, and use your Free Unlimited to make other purchases.
While it has a hefty annual fee of $795, it comes with a range of attractive benefits to help cardholders justify it, including:
- Access to Chase Sapphire Lounge
- Priority Pass Lounge Membership
- Book a luxury hotel with The Edit and get up to $500 in bill credit every year
- Highly flexible $300 travel credit
- Earn up to $300 in bill credits annually when you purchase dining with Sapphire Exclusive Tables on OpenTable
- Bill credits up to $300 on StubHub and Viagogo purchases (ends December 31, 2027; activation required)
To learn more, check out our full review of Sapphire Reserve.
Apply here: Chase Sapphire Reserve
Supplement Freedom Unlimited with Freedom Flex
The first duo I utilized in my wallet was Unlimited freedom and Chase Freedom Flex® (See Rates and Fees).
If you’re not ready to pay the annual fee to enhance your Freedom Unlimited, this is a great option. Freedom Flex is known for its categories that rotate quarterly. Cardholders can earn 5% cash back every quarter they activate these categories (up to $1,500 in combined spend, then 1% back).
Chase often features popular spending categories on Freedom Flex, including gas stations and gyms, as well as PayPal. This benefit allows you to earn even greater rewards than Freedom Unlimited’s dining and drugstore categories.
Remember, you still need Sapphire preferred, Sapphire Reserve or other eligible Chase Ultimate Rewards point-earning cards to transfer your rewards to travel partners.
To learn more, check out our full review of the Freedom Flex.
Apply here: Chasing freedom and flexibility
Open your wallet to other issuers
this Unlimited freedom is a great gateway into Chase, but I always recommend diversifying your wallet with cards from other issuers as well. Thankfully, Freedom Unlimited easily pairs with most cards from other banks. Here are two of my favorite tips.
American Express Gold Card
After opening a Chase bank card, my first experience was an American Express card American Express® Gold Card. Freedom Unlimited earns 3% cash back on dining, while Amex Gold offers a higher rate of 4 points per dollar spent (1 point per dollar spent on up to $50,000 in dining worldwide annually).
Freedom Unlimited doesn’t offer a grocery bonus category, so Amex Gold can help. Amex Gold earns 4 points for every $1 spent at U.S. supermarkets (1 point for every $1 spent on purchases up to $25,000 per year).
Keep in mind that Amex Gold has an annual fee of $325 (see rates and fees), but the bill points it offers more than make up for that. One of the best deals is getting up to $50 off every six months on purchases at Resy-affiliated U.S. restaurants. (Registration required.)
To learn more, check out our full review of the American Express Gold Card.
Apply here: American Express Gold Card
Capital One Venture Capital Incentives
While other cards I recommend rely on Freedom Unlimited’s 1.5% cash back rate to supplement their bonus categories, the opposite is true with this pairing.
Venture Rewards earns at least 2 miles per $1 spent, which is better than what Freedom Unlimited offers. Since Venture Rewards lacks bonus categories for dining and drugstores, Freedom Unlimited can supplement those two categories with a 3% cash back rate.
Venture Rewards has an annual fee of $95, and Chase Sapphire Preferred. Deciding between Sapphire Preferred and Risk Reward depends on which issuer’s transfer partner you prefer.
Remember: You can’t transfer Freedom Unlimited rewards to Chase’s travel partners without a Sapphire Preferred (or other eligible Chase card).
To learn more, check out our full review of Risk Reward.
Learn more: Capital One Venture Capital Awards
bottom line
I often use my own Unlimited freedom and mine Sapphire preferred and American Express Gold Card Get the most points from my purchases. This way, I can achieve my personal travel goals faster.
Freedom Unlimited works best when paired with the right cards. Regardless of whether you decide to open one or more of the cards mentioned in this guide, you’ll be able to get the most out of Freedom Unlimited.
Related: The Power of Chase Trifecta: Maximize Your Earnings with 3 Cards
For American Express Gold Card rates and fees, click here.
