Chase drops overseas card fees for Freedom Flex from September 21, 2026

Chase said on September 21, 2026 that people holding the Chase Freedom Flex no longer pay foreign transaction fees when they buy things abroad or from international online merchants. The change began that same day. The card carries no annual fee.

Chase also opened Points Boost to Chase Freedom cardmembers. Certain hotel offers reserved via Chase Travel can lift the worth of Ultimate Rewards points by as much as 10%. Normally, a point redeemed through Chase Travel is valued at $0.01, which makes 100 points equal to $1. Under a boost, those 100 points could be valued at up to $1.10.

On the earnings side, Freedom Flex pays 5% in rotating categories that change every quarter and need activation each time, applying to the first $1,500 of combined spending. The card pays 5% on Chase Travel, 3% at restaurants, 3% at drugstores and 1% on everything else. The Chase Mobile app shows the next quarter's categories in advance. For Q1 2027, the categories are streaming services plus grocery stores, and purchases at Walmart and Target do not count. Q4 2026 also includes grocery stores.

New card artwork goes to both current and new cardmembers. Those who open a Freedom Flex account can receive a $250 welcome offer once they spend $500 within the first three months.