If you’re a current or future Chase customer looking to build your credit score, the Chase Freedom Rise® (see rates and fees) could be a great fit. Existing Chase customers may have higher approval odds, and the rewards you earn can become more valuable if you apply for a higher-tier Chase card in the future
Despite being a $0 annual fee card designed for fair or limited credit, it earns fairly solid rewards: 1.5% cash back on all purchases, plus additional rewards on dining if you qualify for the welcome offer.
CNBC Select reviews the Chase Freedom Rise’s rewards and perks so you can decide if it’s a good fit for your first or next credit card.
The Chase Freedom Rise® is one of the most rewarding cards that’s available if you’re new to credit.
- No credit history required
- Above average flat-rate rewards
- No annual fee
- Small welcome offer
- Has a foreign transaction fee
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select’s editorial staff.
- Limited Time Offer – Earn 3% cash back on dining at restaurants, including takeouts and eligible delivery services, on up to $6,000 spent in the first 6 months from account opening.
- Increase your approval chances – Having a Chase checking or savings account with a balance of at least $250 will increase your chances of getting approved for Chase Freedom Rise®
- Earn Cash Back – With Chase Freedom Rise®, you can establish credit while earning 1.5% cash back on all purchases. Cash Back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open and there is no minimum to redeem for cash back.
- Earn a $25 statement credit after signing up for automatic payments within the first three months of opening your account. With automatic payments, just pick a date and dollar amount to make sure your Credit Card gets paid on time.
- Credit Limit Increase – As a Freedom Rise®cardmember, you’ll be evaluated for a credit line increase in as soon as 6 months. Your credit line is the maximum amount of money you can spend on your Freedom Rise®Card
- Free Credit Score – Track your credit score and learn how to build it with Chase Credit Journey.
- No Annual Fee – You won’t have to pay an annual fee for all the great features that come with your Freedom Rise®Card.
- Member FDIC
Balance transfer fee
5% or $5 of each transfer, whichever is greater
Foreign transaction fee
3% of the amount of each transaction in U.S. dollars.
Chase Freedom Rise® review
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Welcome bonus
Instead of offering a lump sum of rewards, the Chase Freedom Rise® has a welcome bonus that elevates your earnings rates.
As a new cardmember, you’ll earn 3% cash back on dining (including takeout and eligible delivery services) made within your first six months, or until you reach $6,000 in dining purchases. The card earns a base 1.5% cash back on all purchases, so you’re doubling your dining rewards for the first six months, or until you hit the cap.
Benefits and perks
Since the Chase Freedom Rise® is geared toward those with limited-to-fair credit, it doesn’t offer substantial perks. However, it’s a great option for people looking to build credit, especially for current or future Chase customers: Having at least $250 in Chase checking or savings accounts increases your odds of approval.
The card’s most impressive perks can help you get a higher credit limit or transition to a higher-tier rewards card. You can potentially get a credit limit increase in as little as six months, and after just 12 months, you’ll automatically be evaluated to upgrade to the Chase Freedom Unlimited® (see rates and fees). The upgrade hinges on whether you’ve made on-time payments to financial lenders for 12 months.
Additionally, the Freedom Rise offers a $25 statement credit for those who enroll in automatic payments within the first three months and remain so for at least three additional months. You’re also covered by protections like trip cancellation and interruption insurance, purchase protection and extended warranty protection.
Similar to other Chase cards, the Freedom Rise features a partner benefit with DoorDash. If you enroll by Dec. 31, 2027, you can get six months of complimentary access to DashPass, which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees on eligible orders. If you use rideshare services, you’ll get 2% cash back on qualifying Lyft purchases via the Lyft app through Sept. 30, 2027.
How to earn and redeem Chase Ultimate Rewards
Rates and fees
The Chase Freedom Rise has a $0 annual fee, but it does charge a 3% foreign transaction fee. There could be a penalty fee of up to $40 for late or returned payments.
Card comparison
The Chase Freedom Rise is a great card for those looking to build credit, but it’s not the only option available.
Chase Freedom Rise vs. Chase Freedom Unlimited
Similar to the Freedom Rise, the Chase Freedom Unlimited® earns 1.5% back on all purchases. But given its higher credit score requirement (good to excellent), it offers extra rewards categories: 5% on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3% on dining and 3% on drugstore purchases.
You can also earn a $200 bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in the first three months and take advantage of an intro APR on both purchases and balance transfers, which can help manage any potential debt.
The Chase Freedom Unlimited® is a no-annual-fee card that earns generous cash-back on everyday purchases and a lucrative welcome bonus. Plus, if you pair it with a premium Chase credit card that allows point transfers, you can convert your cash back into flexible travel rewards.
- Users get a high rewards rate and strong welcome bonus
- Purchases and balance transfers receive an intro APR
- No annual fee
- Has a foreign transaction fee
- Few rewarding ongoing benefits
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select’s editorial staff.
- Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening
- Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase TravelSM, our 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.
- No minimum to redeem for cash back. You can use points to redeem for cash through an account statement credit or an electronic deposit into an eligible Chase account located in the United States!
- Enjoy 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 18.24% – 27.74%.
- No annual fee – You won’t have to pay an annual fee for all the great features that come with your Freedom Unlimited® card
- Keep tabs on your credit health, Chase Credit Journey helps you monitor your credit with free access to your latest score, alerts, and more.
- Member FDIC
Balance transfer fee
Intro fee of either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater, in the first 60 days. After that, either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
Foreign transaction fee
3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars
Chase Freedom Rise vs. Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card
The Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card requires a deposit, but it could be as low as $49. The card is geared toward those rebuilding damaged credit and doesn’t offer any rewards, but it has few fees; it doesn’t charge a fee for foreign transactions or authorized users.
After a period of responsible card usage, you could have your deposit returned to you. It’s a fairly bare-bones card, but it may be a great starting point if you’re trying to rebuild credit.
The Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card can help you build, or rebuild, your credit because you can be approved with no credit or bad credit.
- No annual fee
- Low minimum refundable security deposit starting at $49 to get a $200 initial credit line
- No foreign transaction fees
- No rewards on purchases
- No welcome offer
- High APR
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select’s editorial staff.
- No annual or hidden fees. See if you’re approved in seconds
- Building your credit? Using the Capital One Platinum Secured card responsibly could help
- Put down a refundable security deposit starting at $49 to get at least a $200 initial credit line
- You could earn back your security deposit as a statement credit when you use your card responsibly, like making payments on time
- Be automatically considered for a higher credit line in as little as 6 months with no additional deposit needed
- Enjoy peace of mind with $0 Fraud Liability so that you won’t be responsible for unauthorized charges
- Monitor your credit score with CreditWise from Capital One. It’s free for everyone
- Get access to your account 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with online banking to access your account from your desktop or smartphone, with Capital One’s mobile app
- Top rated mobile app
Balance transfer fee
- $0at the Transfer APR, 4% of the amount of each transferred balance that posts to your account at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer to you
Is the Chase Freedom Rise right for you?
The Chase Freedom Rise is a great option for current or prospective Chase customers or those focused on building their credit score.
If you have at least $250 in a Chase checking or savings account, you’ll have increased odds of approval. This card is geared toward those wanting to hone their financial habits, even offering autopay incentives.
If you’ve had the Chase Freedom Rise for at least 12 months and made all your payments on time, you could be upgraded to the Chase Freedom Unlimited®. For those interested in getting into the Chase ecosystem (with its valuable Ultimate Rewards), this card is a great starting point, and you can easily segue into other Chase cards.
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