Chase Freedom Flex® Card Review: The Cash Back Card for Optimizers

All information about the Chase Freedom Flex has been collected independently by Moneygeek.com and has not been reviewed by the issuer.

The Chase Freedom Flex® (formerly Chase Freedom) is a great choice for strategic spenders who don’t mind tracking spending across various categories to earn maximum cash back. With a cash back score of 4.0 out of 5, it ranks 19th out of the 52 cash back cards we’ve surveyed, driven by its high earning potential and no annual fee.

Its standout features are the 5% cash back on rotating categories (with a quarterly cap and activation required) and the unlimited 3% cash back on dining and drugstore purchases. Notably, the Freedom Flex offers retroactive activation — if you activate by the 14th of the last month of the quarter, you'll still receive the bonus cash back for all eligible purchases that quarter.

Since it technically earns Chase Ultimate Rewards points, you can transfer points to other Chase cards or travel partners for added value, making it a popular part of the “Chase Trifecta” strategy.

The Discover it® Cash Back offers a similar rotating 5% cash back feature but lacks the flat 3% on dining and drugstores and retroactive policy that the Freedom Flex has. Meanwhile, if you prefer no-fuss rewards without quarterly tracking, a flat-rate cash back card like the Chase Freedom Unlimited® might be a better fit. Ultimately, the Freedom Flex is best for cardholders willing to put in the effort to maximize rewards.

The Freedom Flex offers the best of both worlds among cash back cards — it lets you earn a high cash back rate on one rotating category and a good rate on bonus categories. We’re giving it a cash back score of 4.0 because of its unique structure. With this card, you earn:

• 5% cash back on rotating categories up to $1,500 per quarter (activation required)
• 5% cash back on travel booked through Chase Travel
• 3% cash back on dining and drugstore purchases
• 1% cash back on all other purchases

Here are Freedom Flex’s 5% categories:

Freedom Flex’s retroactive activation allows you to earn the full 5% on qualifying purchases for the entire quarter as long as you activate the bonus categories by the 14th of the last month.

While you’re technically earning Chase Ultimate Rewards® points with this card, you can redeem them for cash back at one cent per point. However, points become even more valuable for travel purchases through partner airlines and hotels or transferred to other Chase cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® or Sapphire Reserve® for boosted redemption options.

Freedom Flex’s introductory APR offer is comparable with other cash back cards, but its sign-up bonus has a better return than most competitors.

Introductory APR Offers

The 0% introductory APR for 15 months on purchases is a strong feature, rated 3 out of 5. The same 0% APR period is rated 3.5 out of 5 for balance transfers. This introductory offer is a solid choice for managing existing debt, but if you’re focused on that, other cards have longer introductory APR offers.

Freedom Flex Bonus Offer

You’ll earn a $200 bonus after spending $500 in the first three months. This bonus stands out for its low spending requirement, making it accessible to many users—especially considering that some cash back cards require $1,000 to $2,000 to earn the same amount. It’s effectively a 40% discount on your purchase.

Cash back cards don’t often come with many perks since they’re focused on providing value through cash back. However, the Freedom Flex is one of the few that offers some insurance and protection benefits. We give it a score of 2 out of 5.

Insurance & Protections

• Extended Warranty Protection: This extends warranties on eligible purchases, offering potential savings on repairs or replacements.
• Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance: This perk reimburses non-refundable fares if your trip is canceled or interrupted for covered reasons.
• Cell Phone Protection: It covers theft or damage when you pay your phone bill with the card.
• Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver: This offers significant savings on rental car insurance.

Credits & Discounts

• DashPass Membership: You’ll get a complimentary three-month membership, followed by 50% off for the next nine months.
• $10 Off Quarterly on DoorDash Non-Restaurant Orders: Offers a $10 discount each quarter.

Although the Freedom Flex is a no-annual-fee card, we score it 1 out of 5 because it has a penalty APR and late payment fee. Here are the fees and penalties that you should be aware of:

• Annual Fee: $0
• Regular APR: 19.99% to 28.74% variable
• Penalty APR: Up to 29.99% variable
• Balance Transfer Fee: 3% of the amount of each transfer (minimum $5)
• Foreign Transaction Fee: 3% of the amount of each transaction
• Late Payment Fee: Up to $40

The Freedom Flex card requires a credit score of 670 to 850, which means it's best suited for those with good to excellent credit. Its recommended credit rating of 2 out of 5 indicates that while many can qualify, it's not the easiest card to obtain.

User feedback from online forums highlights that approval can be challenging due to Chase's 5/24 rule, which limits approvals for those with multiple recent card accounts.

Customer satisfaction with the Freedom Flex is generally positive, with an issuer satisfaction rating of 4.1 out of 5. Users appreciate the card's rewarding cash back structure and additional benefits like purchase protection and trip cancellation insurance. However, the requirement for quarterly activation of rotating categories can be a downside for those preferring a simpler rewards system.

We compare the Freedom Flex with other cash back cards to help you decide if it’s right for you.

The Freedom Flex card is a valuable part of the Chase Trifecta strategy. It earns Chase Ultimate Rewards® points instead of standard cash back, giving you options for higher-value redemptions. When combined with cards like the Chase Freedom Unlimited® and a premium card such as the Chase Sapphire Preferred® or Chase Sapphire Reserve®, you can maximize points earned on different spending categories and boost their redemption value for travel.

Be mindful of Chase’s 5/24 rule, which limits approval if you’ve opened five or more credit cards in the past 24 months. Also, note that Chase only allows you to hold one Sapphire card at a time.

This strategy lets you earn high cash back on select purchases with the Freedom Flex and redeem for even greater value when paired with Sapphire cards. For rewards maximizers, the Chase Trifecta turns everyday spending into travel savings.

We evaluated the Freedom Flex with our cash back score, comparing it to 52 other cards. This assessment considered multiple factors:

• Effective Reward Rate (50%): Measures how rewarding the card's cash back program is.
• Annual Fee (10%): Rates the annual fee, with a 5 indicating no fee.
• Intro Purchase Offer (5%): Rates the 0% APR offer on purchases.
• Recommended Credit (5%): Rates the accessibility based on credit score.
• Issuer Satisfaction (5%): Based on JD Power issuer satisfaction study.
• Penalties (5%): Rates penalty rates and fees.
• Regular APR (5%): Rates the regular APR.
• Foreign Transaction (5%): Rates foreign transaction fees.
• Offer ROI (5%): Rates the return on introductory bonus offers.

Here are answers to common questions about the Freedom Flex, providing insights to help you decide if it’s the right card for your needs.