If you’re new to credit cards or trying to improve your credit score, it can be hard to find the right card.
While secured cards can be a helpful tool for building credit, unsecured credit cards can offer higher spending limits and more flexibility, provided you qualify. If you’re at a stage where building (or rebuilding) credit is a priority, the Chase Freedom Rise® (see rates and fees) is a strong unsecured option in its own right — and it’s currently offering a limited-time welcome bonus that sweetens the deal.
CNBC Select covers the Freedom Rise’s current welcome offer and whether this card is a good fit for you.
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 3% cash-back offer
Chase Freedom Rise limited-time offer
The Chase Freedom Rise has an enticing offer for new cardholders: Earn 3% cash back on dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services, on up to $6,000 spent in the first six months. That’s in addition to the standard 1.5% cash back you earn on all purchases and 2% total cash back on Lyft rides (through Sept. 30, 2027).
The Freedom Rise hasn’t historically offered this kind of welcome bonus, which makes it a good time to apply for the card. You’ll also earn a $25 statement credit when you enroll in automatic payments within the first three months of account opening (you’ll need to remain enrolled for at least 90 days to receive the credit).
Who should consider the Chase Freedom Rise?
The Chase Freedom Rise is a great option if you’re focused on building your credit history, whether you’re starting from zero or rebuilding your credit after a rough patch. Unlike a secured credit card, you don’t need to put down a security deposit that acts as a line of credit. Plus, its 1.5% cash-back rate rivals that of higher-tier cash-back cards.
You can qualify with limited-to-fair credit, meaning you may get approved without credit history or a less-than-perfect credit score (or a FICO Score of 300 to 669). If you’re still concerned about your approval odds, having at least $250 in a Chase checking or savings account can increase your chances.
If you’re looking for a path to a more rewarding card, Chase will automatically evaluate your account each year to see if you qualify for an upgrade to the Chase Freedom Unlimited® (see rates and fees). The Freedom Unlimited typically requires at least a good credit score (or a FICO Score of 670 and up) and earns higher rewards rates across a few spending categories.
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
When there are days you simply just don’t feel like cooking, the Freedom Rise also comes with six months of complimentary DashPass when you activate by Dec. 31, 2027. You’ll also receive a $10 discount each quarter on one qualifying non-restaurant order on DoorDash.
Similar credit cards to consider
If you’re looking for a card that gives you a little more control over your rewards, the secured Chime Visa® Credit Card1 could be a good fit. As a Chime Prime member, you can earn up to 5% cash back on a category of your choice on up to $1,500 in purchases each month, including utilities and bills, gas, groceries or travel. Prime eligibility is unlocked with $3,000+ in qualifying direct deposits per month.
Although this is a secured card, there’s no credit check required for approval. If you’re worried about hitting the $3,000 direct deposit requirement, Chime Plus requires $400 in qualifying direct deposits per month, and members earn 2% back on their selected category (up to $1,500 in purchases each month).
- 5% cash back rewards on category of choice for **Chime Prime members. Prime eligibility is unlocked with $3,000+ in qualifying direct deposits.
- No annual fee
- No credit check or minimum security deposit
- Prime members get **3.75% APY with qualifying direct deposits on a **Chime savings account
- Card access paused if statement balance is not paid within 24 hours.
If you’re focused on simplicity and don’t want to be tempted by earning ongoing rewards, the Capital One Platinum Credit Card is a decent unsecured option for those with limited-to-fair credit. You can find out if you’re preapproved (which doesn’t guarantee approval, but is a good sign) with no impact to your credit score.
Should you be concerned about your starting credit limit, Capital One will automatically consider you for a higher credit line in as little as six months.
The Capital One Platinum Credit Card is a credit-builder card that offers a path to upgrading to a more rewarding credit card in as little as six months.
- No annual fee
- No security deposit required
- 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
- Be automatically considered for a higher credit line in as little as 6 months
- Help build your credit through responsible use of a card like this
- 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 from your desktop or smartphone, with Capital One’s mobile app
- Check out quickly and securely with a contactless card, without touching a terminal or handing your card to a cashier. Just hover your card over a contactless reader, wait for the confirmation, and you’re all set
- Pay by check, online or at a local branch, all with no fee – and pick the monthly due date that works best for you
- Top rated mobile app
Balance transfer fee
- 4% of the amount of each transferred balance that posts to your account at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer to you
Subscribe to the CNBC Select Newsletter!
The CNBC Select Recommends newsletter delivers practical money tips each week along with expert-picked financial product recommendations. Sign up here.
Why trust CNBC Select?
At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money. Every credit card article is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of credit card products. While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics.
Catch up on CNBC Select’s in-depth coverage of credit cards, banking and money, and follow us on TikTok, Facebook, Instagram and X to stay up to date.
1 Chime is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by The Bancorp Bank, N.A. or Stride Bank, N.A., Members FDIC. The Chime Visa® Debit Card and The secured Chime Visa® Credit Card are issued by The Bancorp Bank, N.A. or Stride Bank, N.A. pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. and may be used everywhere Visa debit and credit cards are accepted. Please see the back of your Card for its issuing bank.
Editorial Note: Opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Select editorial staff’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any third party.
