A great card for beginners is inexpensive to maintain, easy to use, and capable of earning rewards that will help you advance your travels. He Chase Unlimited Freedom® (see rates and fees) fits perfectly into all three.
It’s a card I’ve had in my wallet for almost three years and I still use it regularly.
Let’s delve into the reasons why it is one of the best cards for beginners.
Balanced Win 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 greater opportunity to obtain rewards while working on a multi-card wallet that can cover a wide range of purchases.
He Unlimited freedom Earn cash back at the following rates:
- 5% back Chase Travel℠
- 3% return in restaurants and pharmacies
- 2% back on Lyft (until September 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 favorite cards, is its 1.5% cash back rate on all non-bonus spending. I always encourage people to earn more than 1% cash back or 1 point for every dollar spent on whatever they can, to get as many rewards as possible.
Covering travel, select trips, and meals is a solid offering for a beginner. While you’ll have to book through Chase’s travel portal to get 5% cash back, it’s a good way to familiarize yourself with How issuers’ travel portals work.
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While Freedom Unlimited’s non-bonus rewards rate is lower than other popular cards, such as Capital One Venture Rewards Credit CardProvides reasonable value when combined with the card’s bonus categories.
As an example of how this card can boost your rewards balance, I spent just under $2,700 on my Freedom Unlimited this year in non-bonus spending, which means I earned about $40 in cash back thanks to the 1.5% cash back rate.
Related: Why points and transferable miles are worth more than other rewards
A welcome bonus with an incredible return on your spending
Currently new Unlimited freedom Cardholders can earn a $250 cash back bonus after spending $500 on purchases within the first three months of account opening.
If you want to keep things simple while you learn to drive, you can redeem the cash back from this offer (and any additional rewards you earn) for a statement credit, deposit to a Chase account, gift cards, reservations made through Chase Travel, and at the Amazon.com checkout.
A path to greater value from your rewards
When you’re ready to take the next step in your credit card process, there’s an easy way to get even more value from your rewards.
If you have a qualified Ultimate Rewards card, such as Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees) either Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see rates and fees), your rewards will be converted to transferable Ultimate Rewards points.
That means they can be sent to Chase. 14 transfer partners. By doing that, you should be able to get TPG in April 2026. valuation of Ultimate Rewards points of 2.05 cents per point. That would make this card’s welcome bonus worth about $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. Furthermore, even low spenders should be able to hit easily the $500 spending requirement for this card.
Related: 5 Unmissable Credit Card Deals 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 him. Chase Trifecta. Basically, this involves using three Chase cards together for maximum earnings.
There are many ways to elaborate this trifecta, but the Unlimited freedom is a common member. While other Chase cards, such as Preferred sapphireplays a role in the trifecta by offering strong bonus categories, Freedom Unlimited shines with its 1.5% reward rate on non-bonus spend.
Anything that doesn’t fit into a bonus category on one of your other Chase Trifecta cards can be included in Freedom Unlimited. By opening Freedom Unlimited now, as a beginner, you are setting yourself up to establish a powerful trifecta in the future.
Related: The definitive guide to the best credit card combinations.
Ideal for DoorDash fans
Unlimited freedom Cardholders can receive a free six-month DoorDash DashPass subscription if they activate by December 31, 2027. Whether you’re already a DoorDash user or interested in trying the service, this is a nice perk for a card with no annual fee.
I started using DoorDash regularly in college and have done it ever since. When I first opened my Freedom Unlimited account, I enjoyed using the benefits of DoorDash. DoorDash DashPass was $9.99 per month back then (and still is), so this benefit saved me a lot of money.
If you are a DashPass member and have this card, you will receive up to $10 each quarter for non-restaurant orders (through December 31, 2027), such as those from supermarkets and convenience stores. Just keep in mind that some data suggests that alcohol orders won’t qualify for this benefit.
Finally, you’ll earn 3% cash back on your DoorDash restaurant orders with this card thanks to its dining category.
Related: Your Complete Guide to Chase and DoorDash
It costs nothing to have this card
I’m in the camp that believes most people are better off opening a business. card without annual fee for your first credit card. This way, there is no pressure to maximize profits while learn the ins and outs of points and miles.
Plus, it means you can easily keep that card open for the long term. The age of your credit accounts. plays a role on your credit score, so it is very important keep your first credit card open yes you can.
Once you’re comfortable with travel rewards, you can take the next step and open a card with an annual fee, such as $95 per year. Preferred sapphire.
Related: Are premium credit cards worth the annual fee?
In a nutshell
Chase Freedom Unlimited is a fantastic option for anyone looking to earn travel rewards. It can sit tight for a while in your wallet while you work to open additional cards.
Then, once you’re ready to take the next step, you can continue to support your spending with your earnings on non-bonus purchases. Since there’s no annual fee, it’s easy to keep this card long-term even if you don’t use it too often.
I would seriously consider this card as my first rewards card. just keep going Chase Enforcement Rules in mind, and remember that Chase prefers an established credit history or a pre-existing relationship with them.
For more information, see our Freedom Unlimited full review.
Apply here: Pursue unlimited freedom
