Chase Freedom Flex Credit Card: Foreign Transaction Fee Coming Off, Cell Phone Protection Ending

Starting September 20, 2026, this card will no longer charge foreign transaction fees, which means it becomes a card you can take with you when traveling. However, it is still unclear whether the card will correctly recognize quarterly 5x categories outside the U.S. The bad news is that cell phone protection will also be removed. Fortunately, there are still plenty of cards that offer cell phone protection, so you can refer to the article below

• Introduction to the Cell Phone Protection benefit included with credit cards

The 2026 third-quarter 5x categories have been announced: gas stations and EV charging, public transit, and select live entertainment. It is fair to say this is well suited for summer travel. That said, maxing it out is still not easy, since there are no particularly easy places to buy high-value gift cards. Details are as follows:

• Gas Stations and EV Charging: you basically have to use it directly, though some gas stations may sell gas gift cards or other gift cards
• Public Transit. Merchants in this category include operators of passenger trains, buses, ferries, toll bridges and highways, and parking lots and garages.: loading a transit card here will likely let you lock in these 5x points in advance
• Select Live Entertainment. Merchants in this category sell tickets for live in-person entertainment such as major sporting events, zoos and aquariums, concerts, theatrical productions, museums, tourist attractions and exhibits, amusement parks, circuses, carnivals, bands, and entertainers. Ticket agencies selling on behalf of the entertainment venue are included. Some merchants that sell tickets for in-person entertainment are not included in this category; for example, movie theaters, bowling alleys, horse racing tracks, casinos, and dance hall/clubs. Purchasing from a hotel/concierge is not included nor excursions or purchases as part of a travel package. This includes tickets to attractions and concerts, but not movie theaters. Overall, it is good for travel and outings
• United Way: a charitable organization
• Activation link

This card is still worth keeping long term, since the quarterly 5x categories are generally solid and easy to max out. It also offers 3x at restaurants and drugstores. The 5x Ultimate Rewards points can be worth even more when combined with transfer partners through CSP and CSR. The sign-up bonus is the standard 20,000 Ultimate Rewards points, worth $200.

• Chase Freedom Flex application link

Chase Freedom Flex Credit Card Overview

Benefit breakdown

• Fast 5x points earning: grocery stores, online shopping, department stores, and gas stations; different categories appear each year. You can earn up to 30,000 Ultimate Rewards points per year. See the 5x category details and analysis here: Quarterly 5x points summary
• Shopping portal (Ultimate Rewards mall): Chase’s own shopping portal also offers rewards at merchants including Walmart, Sears, Staples, and Apple Store, which is another fast way to earn points
• 3% back on dining and drugstores (3x points): many drugstores, such as CVS and Walgreens, sell lots of third-party gift cards, such as Amazon, eBay, and Visa gift cards. You can buy them with this card and still earn 3x points on other merchants
• 5x points on Chase Ultimate Rewards travel portal bookings: the Chase Travel portal is built on Expedia, so search results and prices are about the same and are not inflated. When using it, compare prices with other third-party travel sites; if they are not at least 5% cheaper, then use the Chase portal to book
• Cell phone protection: if you pay your monthly cell phone bill with this card, you may receive reimbursement if your phone is damaged or stolen. Up to $800 per claim, with a maximum of $1,000 per year. You can claim benefits up to twice every 12 months, and each claim has a $50 deductible (that is, coverage starts after the first $50)
• Travel insurance: if your flight is delayed or canceled for a covered reason, you may receive compensation

Drawbacks

• If you want to convert points into airline miles or hotel points, you need an annual-fee Ultimate Rewards card: Sapphire Preferred, Sapphire Reserve, and others

Points program overview

• Point value: The average value is 1.6c/p, so 100 UR = $1.6 (Point Values and Analysis)
• Direct redemption: Cash redemptions are worth 1c; travel redemptions are worth 1c (without a premium card). Premium hotel redemptions or business/first class flights can yield 1.75c (with Ink Preferred or Sapphire Preferred), and 2c with the Sapphire Reserve.
• Point transfers: Transfer 1:1 to United miles (good for China–US economy, domestic US economy, and one-way tickets); transfer 1:1 to British Airways miles (good for China–Japan and short-distance domestic US redemptions); transfer 1:1 to Hyatt points (great for Hyatt hotel stays, with value up to 1.8 cents per point).
• Point features: Ultimate Rewards points can be freely moved among your own cards. They can also be transferred to one designated spouse or partner. To transfer points to airline miles or hotel points, you need support from Ink Preferred, Sapphire Preferred, or Sapphire Reserve. You can also transfer to the mileage or points account of an authorized user.
• My take: UR’s main airline transfer partners are United Airlines, British Airways, Aeroplan, and Air France. UA can book most Star Alliance award tickets, while BA covers some domestic US AA flights. On the hotel side, Hyatt is the best option and can often deliver about 1.6c in value per point, but Hyatt has a relatively small footprint in the US, so your choices may be limited. If you have the Sapphire Preferred or Sapphire Reserve, booking flights, hotels, and activities through Chase Travel can get you 1.25c/1.5c in value, which is one of the best high-value options for beginners. Cash/gift card redemptions are worth 1 cent.
• Detailed analysis: Ultimate Rewards Guide >>

My take:

This card was revamped from the original Chase Freedom credit card. It kept the quarterly 5x cash back structure and added 3x on dining and drugstores, plus 5x on Chase Travel bookings. All of this makes it a card worth keeping in your wallet for the long haul as a day-to-day card. After all, there are not many no-annual-fee cards that offer 3x on dining, which is roughly 5% back.

As mentioned earlier, this card’s second-quarter dining category had an extra 4x bonus that stacked with the card’s base 3x dining earning, bringing dining up to 7x total. Based on a reader DP, here is a screenshot showing 7x dining earning. According to their testing, restaurants in Japan can trigger it as well. Although this card itself has a 3% foreign transaction fee, the 7x points are still worth it. So if you are traveling outside the U.S. with this card, you can also consider using it at nicer restaurants.

Application:

• The application requirements for this card are fairly standard. It is recommended for people with at least one year of credit history or those who have a Chase checking account
• If you already have the old Freedom card, it should not affect this card’s sign-up bonus or application. If your Freedom card has already been converted to Flex, then you can no longer apply again

Chase Credit Card Application Guide

• Chase application status check link (login required). Or call: 888-338-2586
• The 5/24 rule: if you have opened more than 5 new cards in the past 2 years (including cards from other banks), you will not be approved for a new Chase card
• You can be approved for at most two Chase credit cards within every 30 days
• If you have received the welcome bonus on this card within the past 24 months (48 months for the Sapphire family), your application will be automatically denied
• You can call the reconsideration line (800-453-9719) to expedite card approval or request a review of a denied application.
• Having a Chase Checking account can help with getting approved for a credit card
• More on applying for Chase credit cards

Application link: