Are you a fan of Chase credit cards?
If so, you’ve probably considered adding the card_name to your wallet at one point or another.
If the persistent marketing of this popular card hasn’t lured you in yet, Chase is increasing its welcome bonus for a limited time to entice you even further.
Let’s take a look at the offer and what the card brings to the table to see if it could be a fit.
Limited-Time Bonus Offer Available for Chase Freedom Unlimited®
Effective March 20, 2025, Chase is offering this sign-up bonus to new applicants:
Earn a $250 bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
So, is this a good offer?
Yes, as far as no-annual-fee credit cards go, this is a pretty solid welcome bonus.
Team Clark tracks welcome bonus offers for cards with no or low annual fees here. You’ll see that many of the top offers for cards with no annual fees hover around a valuation of $200. And, with few exceptions, they have a spending requirement higher than the $500 on this card.
So, when you combine the value of the bonus and the spending required to get it, there’s no denying that it’s a solid offer.
It’s not the “best” welcome offer you’re going to find, though. Some credit cards offer bonuses that can be worth more than $500.
It’s worth noting that those bonuses are usually attached to cards with high annual fees and come with a spending requirement that is much higher than what Chase requires on this offer.
Is Chase Freedom Unlimited® Worth It?
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Annual Fee: $0.00 Foreign Transaction Fee: 3% of the amount of each transaction in U.S. dollars. Bonus Offer: Limited Time Offer: Earn a $250 bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Rewards Program Details: Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase TravelSM, the premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 1.5% on all other purchases. Auto Rental Insurance Coverage: Yes Cell Phone Coverage: No |
We’ve determined this limited-time bonus offer is lucrative for a no-annual-fee card and has a low spending requirement.
But is it worth signing up for the card to get this bonus?
Money expert Clark Howard has long cautioned against making a long-term credit card decision based on a short-term gain. You need to be in this for the long haul.
With that in mind, there are a couple of things you should consider:
- The cash back rate is a little short of what we usually recommend. This card offers 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase TravelSM, the premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 1.5% on all other purchases.. But the generic cash back rate falls short of the 2% back that Team Clark typically recommends you seek from your everyday spender.
- Foreign transaction fees mean travelers will need to leave this one at home. This card will charge you a fee of 3% on each purchase you make outside the United States. If you’re a frequent international traveler, you know how important it is to be able to use your credit card without fear of being dinged with foreign transaction fees. While the “no foreign transaction fee” is a must-have on a travel rewards card, it’s been a trend in recent years for some no-annual-fee cards to include it as well. Unfortunately, this is not one of them.
If you already have other cards to fill these gaps, you may want to consider moving forward with your plans to add this one to your wallet. If you don’t, you may want to consider an alternative card that may have a slightly less attractive bonus.
Will you be taking advantage of this offer by Chase? We’d love to hear your thoughts in the Clark.com community.
The post Popular Chase Credit Card Unveils Limited-Time Bonus Offer appeared first on Clark Howard.
