Update: One or more card offers in this post are no longer available. Check our Hot Deals for the latest offers.
The Chase Freedom Flex℠ is an unassuming plastic no annual fee credit card that wallops some of the best travel credit cards on the market. It earns cash back faster, and it’s got benefits and perks that challenge or exceed cards that charge annual fees.
This post is about the ongoing benefits of the Chase Freedom Flex. But it would be foolish not to at least mention the amazing intro offer that comes with this card. It’s one of the best on the market in the no annual fee genre – it actually blows most of them away.
You’ll earn $200 cash back (20,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points) after spending $500 on purchases within the first three months of account opening.
You can apply for the Chase Freedom Flex here.
Benefits and perks of the new Chase Freedom Flex card
Pool your points for maximum value
The Chase Freedom Flex has replaced the more familiar Chase Freedom. It’s marketed as a cash back card, but it actually earns Chase Ultimate Rewards points. You can redeem Chase points for a value of 1 cent each.
However, if you have certain other cards that earn Chase points, you can get WAY more value from your points by booking travel through the Chase Travel Portal or converting them to airline miles or hotel points with Chase transfer partners.
To do this, you’ll need one of the following cards:
- Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
- Chase Sapphire Reserve®
- Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
Holding both the Chase Freedom Flex and one of the above cards is one of the greatest strategies for getting rewards towards travel. If you’ve not read our post on the Chase Trifecta, you’ve got seriously got to check it out. You’ll be slashing bucket list items left and right by following that strategy.
Also, check out our post on the best ways to use Chase points to learn how powerful the Chase Freedom Flex cards can be.
Earning rates
This is perhaps THE best card in the miles and points game for quickly accruing valuable points. You’ll get:
- 5% back (5x Chase points) on travel purchased through the Chase Travel Portal
- 5% back (5x Chase points) on rotating bonus categories on up to $1,500 per quarter (activation required)
- 3% back (3x Chase points) on dining, including takeout and delivery
- 3% (3x Chase points) at drugstores
- 1% back (1x Chase points) for everything else
Complimentary DoorDash DashPass
When you open the card, you’ll receive three complimentary months of DashPass subscription. DashPass gives you free deliveries on DoorDash and Caviar orders costing more than $12.
DashPass costs $9.99 per month, so this benefit will give you about $30 in value. Plus, after your complimentary three months, you’ll be automatically enrolled in DashPass with a 50% discount for the following nine months. If you’re not interested in paying for DashPass, remember to cancel before then!
You’ll have to activate this deal by March 30, 2022.
Lyft benefits
Through March 2022, you’ll earn 5% cash back on Lyft rides. A great benefit if you’re in the city and frequenting rideshare services. On top of that, you’ll receive a $10 Lyft credit each month that you take five or more Lyft rides. In other words, you could get $120 in free Lyft rides each year. Not bad for a no annual fee card!
Purchase protection
If you purchase an eligible new item, you’ll be covered against theft or damage for 120 days, up to a $500 limit per claim, $50,000 per account. As long as you make your purchase with your Chase Freedom Flex, you’ll be covered.
Be aware that certain items aren’t eligible for this coverage, including computer software, animals, and medical equipment.
Extended warranty protection
When you purchase an item with your Chase Freedom Flex, your warranty can be extended by up to one additional year, so long as the original manufacturer’s warranty is valid for three years or less. You’re capped at $10,000 in coverage per claim, with $50,000 per account.
Trip interruption/cancellation coverage
Use your Freedom Flex to book a trip and you’re automatically covered if you need to cancel due to an unexpected event. You’ll get up to $1,500 per person, with a maximum of $6,000 for all covered persons traveling together on the same trip, for select nonrefundable expenses from airlines, cruises, etc.
Illness, weather, and military orders qualify as valid reasons to file for reimbursement.
Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver (Auto Rental CDW)
The Freedom Flex offers secondary coverage on rental cars when you pay with your card. It can be used both in the U.S. and abroad. Simply decline the rental car agency’s Collision Damage Waiver (CDW), and your secondary coverage is automatic. You’ll be covered for theft and damage to the car, as well as loss-of-use charges the rental company may charge you while the car is being fixed.
Is the Freedom Flex hard to get?
The Chase Freedom Flex is far from a premium credit card. Believe it or not, it’s much closer to a Chase starter card. This is one of the easier cards to be approved for.
If you’ve got a credit score around 680, you should have no trouble being approved for this card. However, we don’t recommend anyone to get involved in this hobby unless your credit score is at least 700. If you’re not quite there yet, just nurse your score a bit until you’re there. No worries!
It’s also worth noting that Chase can approve or decline you regardless of your credit score. That’s far from the only factor they use to decide if they want to extend a credit line to you.
Can you upgrade your Chase Freedom to the Freedom Flex?
You absolutely can!
It’s called product changing when you ask the bank to exchange one card for another. And if you’ve got a Chase Freedom right now, you should either product change your Chase Freedom or simply apply for the Chase Freedom Flex (yes, you’re eligible for the welcome bonus even if you have the Chase Freedom).
You can call Chase to make the change, or you can secure message them through their website. They often respond in a couple of hours, and your new card will be in your hands in a few days!
Bottom line
One of the best Chase credit cards happens to be one of the best no annual fee credit cards.
This card’s bread and butter is its ability to earn big on all kinds of purchases. You’ll get between 3 and 5 Chase points per dollar for things like gas, travel, and dining. And because the card comes with rotating 5% bonus categories, you’ll get a lot of use from the card on unique spending every three months.
And the travel benefits that come with the card could save you literally thousands if cancellations or tragedy strikes your vacation. HOPEFULLY, you won’t need this card to enact its travel insurance, but it’s nice to know it’s there if you need it.
Remember, the Chase Freedom Flex is a no annual fee card, so it doesn’t cost anything to keep it forever.
Let us know what you think of these Flex benefits! And subscribe to our newsletter for more digestible deep-dives into credit card benefits.