Life is full of give and take, and that certainly applies to travel rewards credit cards.
Typically, if you want a card with a big sign-up bonus, that means you'll also be on the hook for a high annual fee. But not with Chase…
Over the past few months, all of the best limited-time offers from Chase have been on no-annual-fee personal and business cards. Whether you're looking for 3% (or more!) cash back on up to $20,000 of spending in your first year with the *freedom unlimited* or a cool $750 cash back (or 75,000 Ultimate Rewards) bonus with either the *Ink Cash* or the *Ink Unlimited*, Chase has you covered. All without paying an annual fee!
Here's everything you need to know about these no-annual fee Chase cards – and the big bonuses that come with them.
See our full list of the best credit card offers right now!
The Chase Freedom Unlimited® Credit Card
Right now, when you open the *freedom unlimited*, Chase is offering an extra 1.5% cash back on all purchases (up to $20,000) for your first year of card membership. Since the card earns a base rate of 1.5% cash back (or 1.5x Ultimate Rewards) on all non-bonus spending, you'll actually be earning a bare minimum of 3% cash back (or 3x Ultimate Rewards) with this offer.
Even better, this extra 1.5% cashback also applies to the spending categories that already earn additional cash back (or Chase Ultimate Rewards points) on the card. With that in mind, here's what you'll get with this welcome offer:
- Earn 6.5% cash back on travel purchased through the Chase Ultimate Rewards Travel portal
- Earn 4.5% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service
- Earn 3% cash back on all other purchases
After you reach the bonus offer's $20,000 spending threshold or you start your second year with the card, you'll earn the standard 5% cash back on travel purchased through the Chase Travel Portal, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining (including takeout and eligible delivery service), and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases made with your Freedom Unlimited card … all without paying an annual fee.
The cash back is awarded in the form Chase Ultimate Rewards points, which can be redeemed for cash, gift cards, or potentially even for travel. More on that later.
Read our full review of the Chase Freedom Unlimited!
Full Benefits of the Chase Freedom Unlimited Card
- Welcome bonus: *chase freedom unlimited bonus offer*
- Earn 5% cashback on travel booked through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal.
- Earn 5% cashback on Lyft rides (through March 31, 2025).
- Earn 3% cashback on dining (including takeout and delivery services).
- Earn 3% cashback at drugstores.
- Earn unlimited 1.5% cashback on all other purchases
- Subject to the Chase 5/24 rule: You won't get approved for the Chase Freedom Unlimited if you've opened five or more credit cards (from any bank, not just Chase) in the last 24 months.
- No Annual Fee
Learn more about the *freedom unlimited*.
The Chase Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
You can think of the *Ink Unlimited* as the business version of the Freedom Unlimited. It's the perfect option for business owners who spend a lot in categories that don't typically earn bonus points, as it earns an unlimited 1.5% back (or 1.5x Ultimate Rewards points) on every dollar spent.
Think your small business won't qualify? Think again! If you have income from freelance work, a side hustle, or even buying and selling items on Facebook or eBay – you have what the banks consider a small business.
What makes right now such a great time to add the Ink Unlimited card to your wallet is that Chase is currently offering new card members a bonus of $750 (75,000 Ultimate Rewards points) after spending $6,000 in the first three months. Once you combine the sign-up bonus with the card's 1.5% earnings on $6,000 in spending, you'll end up with over $800 cash back (or 99,000 Chase points) when all is said and done. Not a bad way to get rewarded for spending that your business needed to do anyway.
Beyond the big signup bonus and unlimited rewards-earning opportunities, you'll get primary rental car coverage when renting a vehicle for business and lost luggage reimbursement if the airline misplaces your bag. This added insurance provides some additional peace of mind that you won't typically find on other cards in its class.
Read our full review of the Chase Ink Unlimited!
Full Benefits of the Chase Ink Business Unlimited Credit Card
- Welcome offer: bonus_miles_full
- This card has no annual fee
- 1.5x points (1.5% cash back) on all purchases made for your business
- Primary rental car collision and damage waiver coverage
- Lost luggage insurance of up to $3,000 per person per trip
- Add employee cards at no additional cost
Learn more about the *chase ink unlimited*.
The Chase Ink Business Cash® Credit Card
The Ink Unlimited isn't the only no-annual-fee Chase business card currently offering a big sign-up bonus. The *Ink Cash* comes with an identical $750 (or 75,000 Ultimate Rewards points) bonus after spending $6,000 in the first three months.
Beyond the big bonus, you'll earn 5% back (up to $25,000 in combined spending each year) on select business spending categories like office supply stores and cable, internet, and phone services. You'll also get 2% back (up to $25,000 in combined spending each year) at gas stations and restaurants, and unlimited 1% back (or 1x Ultimate Rewards) on all other purchases.
Just like with the Ink Unlimited card, you'll also get primary rental car insurance and coverage for lost luggage – two benefits uncharacteristic of most no-annual-fee cards.
Read more: Get a Big Bonus & More Rewards With the Ink Cash
Full Benefits of the Chase Ink Business Cash Credit Card
- Welcome offer: bonus_miles_full
- This card has no annual fee
- 5x points (5% cash back) on internet, cable, and phone service; office supply purchases on your first $25,000 of spending each year.
- 2x points (2% cash back) on restaurants and gas stations on your first $25,000 of spending each year.
- 1x points (1% cash back) on all other eligible spending
- Primary rental car collision and damage waiver coverage
- Lost luggage insurance of up to $3,000 per person per trip
- Add employee cards at no additional cost
Learn more about the *chase ink cash*.
Better Together
Each of these cards comes with excellent bonus offers in their own right – but it gets even better if you're able to pair them with another Chase card that earns Ultimate Rewards points like the *chase sapphire preferred* or the *chase ink preferred*.
That's because even though these cards are marketed as earning cash back, rather than points cards, the cash back is actually awarded in the form of Ultimate Rewards points. That means that if you've also got a Chase Sapphire Card or the Ink Preferred, you can combine points across all your accounts and transfer them to Chase's stable of airline and hotel partners or redeem them for travel through the Chase travel portal.
Doing so unlocks the ability to get even more value for your points than if you simply redeem them for cash back or a gift card.
Read more: 10 Great Ways to Use a Chase Ultimate Rewards Bonus
What to Know Before Applying
These cards and their big bonus offers are great – but first, you need to be sure you're eligible to apply.
Chase has some of the most restrictive policies of all the credit card issuing banks. That's a big part of the reason why we urge travelers to start with Chase credit cards if they're just getting started in the world of travel.
Here's everything you need to know before you apply for a Chase credit card.
Are You Eligible For a Business Card?
To open a business credit card like the Ink Cash or Ink Unlimited, you don’t need a full-time business with employees or six-figure revenues – though if you're planning to earn this card's mammoth welcome offer, that might help.
While running a big business would obviously qualify you to open a business credit card, you can also get approved for a small business credit card with a part-time side hustle, a freelance job, a gig economy job, or even by selling goods on online marketplaces like Etsy, Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist and more. In fact, many Americans have what the banks would consider a small business and don't even realize it.
At the end of the day, if you are selling any goods or services, or contracting with a company to do so in an attempt to make a profit, you have a small business and thus are typically eligible to apply for a small business credit card. That makes it possible for many Americans to apply for a business credit card.
Just keep in mind: You should never lie or attempt to mislead a bank when applying for a business credit card. It's important to have a legitimate business, even if that business is just your own.
Read more: You Might Be Eligible for Business Credit Cards & Not Know It
The Chase 5/24 Rule
The Chase 5/24 rule is a hard-and-fast restriction rolled out years ago in order to limit card applicants from opening credit cards for the sole purpose of earning bonus rewards.
Here's what it boils down to:
- If you have opened five or more credit cards in the past 24 months from any bank (not just Chase cards), you will not be approved for most Chase credit cards – regardless of your credit score or history with Chase.
- The rule does not count credit inquiries, but rather card products that you have applied and been approved for.
So if you have opened five or more new credit cards from any bank in the past 24 months, you won't be approved for Chase credit cards that are subject to the 5/24 rule. Nearly all of Chase's personal credit cards fall under this rule.
Again, Chase isn't just looking at your history with Chase cards to make this determination: Personal credit cards from any bank will add to your 5/24 count.
The rule is not officially published through any of Chase's platforms. Case in point: If you ask about it in a Chase branch, employees are likely not familiar with it – but it's very real and will impact your ability to get approved for any of these cards.
Bottom Line
Taking advantage of a big sign-up bonus doesn't always mean you're going to be stuck paying a high annual fee. Right now, some of the best new card offers from Chase are all on cards without an annual fee.
If you have a big purchase coming up or are in the market for a new credit card, don't sleep on these bonuses. There's no telling how long they'll last – but it surely won't be for long!