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A great beginner card is inexpensive to hold, easy to use and capable of earning rewards that help further your travels. The Chase Freedom Unlimited® (see rates and fees) fits the bill on all three.
It’s a card I’ve had in my wallet for almost three years now, and I still use it regularly.
Let’s dive deeper into the reasons it’s one of the best cards for beginners.
Balanced earning rates for beginners
As a beginner, you’ll want to start with a card that can cover a few key categories on its own.
That will give you the greatest rewards-earning opportunity while you work toward a multi-card wallet that can cover a wide range of purchases.
The Freedom Unlimited earns cash back at the following rates:
- 5% back on Chase Travel℠
- 3% back on dining and drugstores
- 2% back on Lyft (through Sept. 30, 2027)
- 1.5% back on everything else
Where this card really shines — and what continues to earn it a spot as one of my go-to cards — is its 1.5% cash back rate on all nonbonus spending. I always encourage people to earn more than 1% cash back or 1 point per dollar spent on whatever they can, to reap as many rewards as possible.
Covering travel, select ride-hailing and dining is a solid offering for a beginner. While you’ll have to book through Chase’s travel portal to get 5% back, it’s a good way to get familiar with how issuer travel portals work.
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While the Freedom Unlimited’s nonbonus rewards rate is lower than some other popular cards, like the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card, it provides reasonable value when combined with the card’s bonus categories.
As an example of how this card can boost your rewards balance, I’ve spent just under $2,700 on my Freedom Unlimited this year on nonbonus spending, which means I’ve earned around $40 in cash back thanks to the 1.5% cash back rate.
Related: Why transferable points and miles are worth more than other rewards
A welcome bonus with incredible return on your spending
Currently, new Freedom Unlimited cardholders can earn a $250 cash back bonus after spending $500 on purchases in the first three months of account opening.
If you want to keep things simple while you learn the ropes, you can redeem the cash back from this offer (and any additional rewards you earn) for a statement credit, deposit into a Chase account, gift cards, bookings made through Chase Travel and at Amazon.com checkout.
A pathway to greater value from your rewards
When you’re ready to take the next step in your credit card journey, there’s a neat way to get even more value out of your rewards.
If you hold a qualifying Ultimate Rewards card, like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees) or Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see rates and fees), your rewards will turn into transferable Ultimate Rewards points.
That means they can be sent to Chase’s 14 transfer partners. By doing that, you should be able to net TPG’s April 2026 valuation of Ultimate Rewards points of 2.05 cents per point. That would make this card’s welcome bonus worth approximately $513, if you’re willing to hold on to it until you get a higher-tier Ultimate Rewards card.
It’s rare to see a welcome bonus offer more value than you have to spend to earn it. Plus, even low spenders should be able to easily hit this card’s $500 spending requirement.
Related: 5 can’t-miss credit card offers to unlock this month
Provides a solid foundation for a future Chase Trifecta
If you spend enough time reading about Chase, you’ll eventually hear a lot about the Chase Trifecta. Essentially, this involves using three Chase cards in tandem for maximum earnings.
There are many ways to craft this trifecta, but the Freedom Unlimited is a common member. While other Chase cards, like the Sapphire Preferred, play a role in the trifecta by offering strong bonus categories, the Freedom Unlimited shines for its 1.5% rewards rate on nonbonus spending.
Anything that doesn’t fit into a bonus category on one of your other Chase Trifecta cards can go on the Freedom Unlimited. By opening the Freedom Unlimited now, as a beginner, you’re setting yourself up to establish a powerful trifecta in the future.
Related: The ultimate guide to the best credit card combinations
Great for DoorDash fans
Freedom Unlimited cardholders can receive a complimentary six-month DoorDash DashPass subscription if they activate by Dec. 31, 2027. Whether you’re already a DoorDash user or you’re interested in trying out the service, this is a nice perk for a no-annual-fee card.
I started using DoorDash regularly in college and have ever since. When I first opened my Freedom Unlimited account, I enjoyed using its DoorDash perks. DoorDash DashPass cost $9.99 per month back then (and still does), so this benefit saved me a lot of money.
If you’re a DashPass member and have this card, you’ll receive up to $10 each quarter for non-restaurant orders (through Dec. 31, 2027), such as from grocery stores and convenience stores. Just note that some data points suggest alcohol orders won’t qualify for this perk.
Finally, you’ll earn 3% back on your DoorDash restaurant orders with this card thanks to its dining category.
Related: Your complete guide to Chase and DoorDash
It doesn’t cost anything to hold this card
I’m in the camp that believes most people are best off opening a no-annual-fee card for their first credit card. This way, there’s no pressure to maximize benefits while you learn the ins and outs of points and miles.
Plus, it means you can easily keep that card open long-term. The age of your credit accounts plays a role in your credit score, so it’s very important to keep your first credit card open if you can.
Once you feel comfortable with travel rewards, you can take the next step and open a card with an annual fee, such as the $95-per-year Sapphire Preferred.
Related: Are premium credit cards worth the annual fee?
Bottom line
The Chase Freedom Unlimited is a fantastic choice for anyone looking to get into travel rewards. It can hold its own for a while in your wallet while you work toward opening additional cards.
Then, once you’re ready to take the next step, it can continue to support your spending with its earnings on nonbonus purchases. Since it doesn’t have an annual fee, it’s easy to keep this card long-term even if you don’t use it too often.
I’d strongly consider this card for a first rewards card. Just keep Chase’s application rules in mind, and remember that Chase prefers either an established credit history or a preexisting relationship with them.
To learn more, check out our full review of the Freedom Unlimited.
Apply here: Chase Freedom Unlimited
