4/5
Chase Freedom Rise®
- Best for: People with no credit history who want a no-fee Chase card that can graduate to the Freedom Unlimited
- What Sets It Apart: No prior credit history required; yearly review for an automatic upgrade to the Freedom Unlimited; credit line increase review in as soon as 6 months
- Cost: $0 annual fee; 18.24% to 27.74% variable interest rate; 3% foreign transaction fee
- Features: 1.5% cash back on every purchase; $25 statement credit for enrolling in autopay; free credit score through Chase Credit Journey; purchase protection up to $500 per item for 120 days
- Pros: Better approval odds with $250 in Chase checking or savings; upgrade with no new credit check; no annual fee
- Cons: No sign-up bonus or 0% intro rate; 3% foreign transaction fee; upgrade not guaranteed
The Chase Freedom Rise® is a no-annual-fee cash back card for students and others new to credit. Chase doesn’t require a credit history to qualify.
Key Features
- $0 annual fee and an 18.24% to 27.74% variable interest rate, with no intro rate
- 1.5% cash back on every purchase, with no minimum to redeem
- $25 statement credit for enrolling in autopay within 3 months and staying on it for 90 days
- Credit line increase review in as soon as 6 months
- Yearly review for an automatic upgrade to the Freedom Unlimited®
Pros
- Better approval odds for first-time cardholders who keep $250 or more in Chase checking or savings
- Upgrade to the Freedom Unlimited®, which adds 3% on dining and drugstores plus 5% on Chase Travel, with no new application or credit check
- Free credit score tracking and identity monitoring through Chase Credit Journey
- Purchase protection for 120 days, up to $500 per item
- Trip cancellation and interruption coverage up to $1,500 per traveler on prepaid fares
Cons
- 3% foreign transaction fee
- No sign-up bonus beyond the $25 autopay credit and no 0% intro rate, both of which the Freedom Unlimited® offers new applicants
- No guaranteed upgrade, since it requires 12 months of on-time payments to every lender and excludes past Freedom Unlimited® cardholders
- No bonus categories apart from 2% on Lyft rides through September 30, 2027
For a first credit card, the Freedom Rise is worth opening. Enroll in autopay within 3 months, use the card at least once a year, and pay every lender on time, because those habits are what the upgrade review checks.
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