The Chase Freedom Rise Credit Card is a versatile and rewarding credit card designed for those who want to earn cashback on their purchases.
As part of the popular Chase Freedom series, this card allows cardholders to earn cashback on everyday purchases, making it an excellent choice for those looking to maximize their rewards while maintaining financial flexibility.
In this article, we’ll explore the card’s features, benefits, drawbacks, and provide answers to frequently asked questions to help you decide if it’s the right card for you.
Card Overview
The Chase Freedom Rise Credit Card is a no-annual-fee credit card that focuses on cashback rewards, offering users the opportunity to earn rewards on everyday purchases.
With no annual fee, it’s perfect for individuals looking for a simple and affordable way to earn cashback without worrying about an upfront cost.
The card also offers an attractive sign-up bonus and comes with access to Chase Ultimate Rewards, a robust rewards platform where you can redeem your cashback for travel, gift cards, statement credits, and more.
Reasons to Choose the Chase Freedom Rise Credit Card
- Sign-Up Bonus: The card offers a generous $200 cashback bonus if you spend $500 within the first three months from account opening. This is an excellent way to kickstart your rewards balance and use your cashback toward travel, shopping, or other purchases.
- 5% Cashback on Rotating Categories: You can earn 5% cashback on categories that rotate every quarter, such as grocery stores, restaurants, or gas stations. These rotating categories allow you to earn significantly higher rewards in specific categories when activated.
- 1% Cashback on All Other Purchases: For all other purchases, you earn 1% cashback. While this isn’t as high as the 5% offered in the rotating categories, it’s still a solid rate for everyday purchases.
- No Annual Fee: One of the major advantages of the Chase Freedom Rise® Credit Card is that it doesn’t charge an annual fee, making it an affordable option for those looking to earn cashback rewards without an ongoing cost.
- Access to Chase Ultimate Rewards®: As a Chase Freedom cardholder, you gain access to the Chase Ultimate Rewards® program, which offers enhanced redemption options for travel, merchandise, and other rewards. You can even transfer your points to leading travel partners for potential bonus travel miles or hotel points.
- Introductory 0% APR for 15 Months: New cardholders enjoy a 0% introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 months. This allows you to make large purchases or transfer existing balances from high-interest cards without paying interest for over a year.
- Fraud Protection and Security: The card comes with zero liability protection for unauthorized charges and robust security features, including EMV chip technology, to keep your account safe.

Negative Aspects of the Chase Freedom Rise Credit Card
While the Chase Freedom Rise® Credit Card offers many advantages, it’s essential to consider some potential drawbacks:
- Rotating Categories: The 5% cashback is limited to categories that change each quarter. While this can be lucrative, it requires you to actively keep track of the categories and activate them each quarter. Failure to activate may result in missing out on the higher cashback rewards.
- Higher APR After Introductory Period: Once the introductory period expires, the APR for purchases and balance transfers increases to 15.24% – 23.24% (variable). If you carry a balance, this can be expensive over time.
- Foreign Transaction Fees: The card charges a 3% fee for transactions made outside the U.S. If you travel internationally frequently, this could add up quickly.
- Limited Cashback Categories: Although rotating categories provide the potential for high cashback rewards, they may not always align with your spending habits. For example, if you don’t shop at the featured categories, you’ll only earn 1% cashback on other purchases, which may not be as competitive compared to other cards offering higher cashback rates on a broader range of categories.
- No Introductory APR on Cash Advances: While the card offers a 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers, cash advances do not benefit from this offer, and will likely come with a higher APR, along with a cash advance fee.
Requirements for Application
To apply for the Chase Freedom Rise® Credit Card, you’ll need to meet the following requirements:
- Minimum age of 18 (or the age of majority in your state).
- U.S. residency.
- Good to excellent credit (a credit score of 700+ is recommended).
- Proof of income: While the card does not specify an exact income requirement, applicants must be able to demonstrate their ability to repay the balance through a stable income or employment.
- Personal identification: Basic personal information such as Social Security number, date of birth, and contact details.
Fees and Costs
Here’s an overview of the fees and costs associated with the Chase Freedom Rise Credit Card:
- Annual Fee: $0. There is no annual fee for this card, making it an affordable option for cashback rewards.
- APR: For purchases and balance transfers, the APR ranges from 15.24% to 23.24% variable. Be sure to pay off your balance in full each month to avoid high-interest charges.
- Balance Transfer Fee: There is a 3% fee on balance transfers, which can add up quickly if you’re transferring a large balance from a high-interest card.
- Cash Advance Fee: A 5% fee or $10, whichever is greater, applies for cash advances.
- Foreign Transaction Fee: A 3% fee is charged for purchases made outside the U.S.
- Late Payment Fee: If you fail to make your minimum payment by the due date, you may incur a late payment fee of up to $40.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Chase Freedom Rise Credit Card

1. How do I earn cashback with the Chase Freedom Rise® Credit Card?
You earn 5% cashback on categories that rotate each quarter (once activated) and 1% cashback on all other purchases.
2. Can I use my cashback for travel?
Yes, you can redeem your cashback for travel, gift cards, statement credits, or use it through the Chase Ultimate Rewards® platform for more flexible redemption options.
3. Is there a sign-up bonus?
Yes, new cardholders can earn a $200 cashback bonus if they spend $500 in the first 3 months from account opening.
4. Is the Chase Freedom Rise® Credit Card good for international travel?
The Chase Freedom Rise® Credit Card charges a 3% foreign transaction fee, so it may not be the best choice for frequent international travelers. However, it offers no annual fee, which could still make it a cost-effective option for occasional trips abroad.
5. How do rotating categories work?
Each quarter, the 5% cashback categories rotate. These categories may include grocery stores, gas stations, restaurants, or other relevant categories. You’ll need to activate them each quarter to earn the higher cashback rate.
6. What is the intro APR for the Chase Freedom Rise® Credit Card?
The introductory APR for purchases and balance transfers is 0% for the first 15 months from account opening. After the introductory period ends, the APR increases to 15.24% – 23.24% variable.