Chase Freedom Flex raises bonus to US$250: Compare cash back and airline transfers

Chase Freedom Flex has an elevated US$250 welcome bonus after US$500 in purchases within three months of account opening; Freedom Unlimited offers US$200 for the same spending requirement. Both have no annual fee. Eligible US applicants should weigh Flex’s bigger bonus against Unlimited’s simpler everyday earning, and check Chase’s application restrictions, including its 5/24 rule, before applying.

Flex earns 5% on up to US$1,500 in quarterly rotating-category purchases with activation, versus Unlimited’s 1.5% on purchases outside bonus categories. Both earn 5% through Chase Travel and 3% at restaurants and drugstores; Flex’s other purchases earn 1%. The supplied offer details say Flex has removed foreign transaction fees, while Unlimited still charges them—confirm current issuer terms before choosing a card for cross-border spending.

Pairing either card with an eligible Sapphire or Ink Business Preferred card unlocks airline and hotel transfers: the bonuses become 25,000 or 20,000 transferable Chase Ultimate Rewards points, respectively. Air Canada Aeroplan and United MileagePlus are relevant options for Canadian and US travel, including departures from YYZ, YVR, YUL, YYC and major US hubs, subject to award availability. Delta SkyMiles and American AAdvantage are not direct Chase transfer partners; compare available partner awards before moving points.

For Canadian travellers, these are US-issued cards, not Canadian-market offers, and all dollar amounts above are USD rather than CAD. Canadian residency alone does not establish eligibility. Amex Membership Rewards Canada remains a separate route to Aeroplan; these bonuses do not earn WestJet Rewards. US readers should likewise keep Chase points separate from Amex Membership Rewards US when comparing transfer options. For simpler redemptions, both Freedom cards also offer up to 1.1 US cents per point on select Chase Travel hotel bookings through Points Boost.