Chase Freedom Rise review: A credit-building card with rewards and a path toward an upgrade

If you're a current or future Chase customer looking to build your credit score, the Chase Freedom Rise® (see rates and fees) could be a great fit. Existing Chase customers may have higher approval odds, and the rewards you earn can become more valuable if you apply for a higher-tier Chase card in the future

Despite being a $0 annual fee card designed for fair or limited credit, it earns fairly solid rewards: 1.5% cash back on all purchases, plus additional rewards on dining if you qualify for the welcome offer.

CNBC Select reviews the Chase Freedom Rise's rewards and perks so you can decide if it's a good fit for your first or next credit card.Â

Your approval odds are increased if you have at least $250 in a Chase checking or savings account.

See rates and fees. Terms apply. Member FDIC.

The Chase Freedom Rise® is one of the most rewarding cards that's available if you're new to credit.

Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.

5% or $5 of each transfer, whichever is greater

3% of the amount of each transaction in U.S. dollars.

Senior reporter Jason Stauffer can answer your questions about how to make the most of your credit cards in his weekly Points Pro column. Submit yours here.

Instead of offering a lump sum of rewards, the Chase Freedom Rise® has a welcome bonus that elevates your earnings rates.Â

As a new cardmember, you'll earn 3% cash back on dining (including takeout and eligible delivery services) made within your first six months, or until you reach $6,000 in dining purchases. The card earns a base 1.5% cash back on all purchases, so you're doubling your dining rewards for the first six months, or until you hit the cap.

Since the Chase Freedom Rise® is geared toward those with limited-to-fair credit, it doesn't offer substantial perks. However, it's a great option for people looking to build credit, especially for current or future Chase customers: Having at least $250 in Chase checking or savings accounts increases your odds of approval.

The card's most impressive perks can help you get a higher credit limit or transition to a higher-tier rewards card. You can potentially get a credit limit increase in as little as six months, and after just 12 months, you'll automatically be evaluated to upgrade to the Chase Freedom Unlimited® (see rates and fees). The upgrade hinges on whether you've made on-time payments to financial lenders for 12 months.Â

Additionally, the Freedom Rise offers a $25 statement credit for those who enroll in automatic payments within the first three months and remain so for at least three additional months. You're also covered by protections like trip cancellation and interruption insurance, purchase protection and extended warranty protection.Â

Similar to other Chase cards, the Freedom Rise features a partner benefit with DoorDash. If you enroll by Dec. 31, 2027, you can get six months of complimentary access to DashPass, which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees on eligible orders. If you use rideshare services, you'll get 2% cash back on qualifying Lyft purchases via the Lyft app through Sept. 30, 2027.

Despite being a credit-building card, the Chase Freedom Rise earns rewards, which is less common.Â

The Chase Freedom Rise earns a straightforward 1.5% cash back on all purchases, and your rewards won't expire as long as your account is in good standing. Cash back is technically earned as Chase Ultimate Rewards® points, which can be redeemed in several ways.

Rewards earned with the Chase Freedom Rise can be redeemed for:Â

Since the Freedom Rise technically earns Ultimate Rewards® points, you can transfer points to Chase's travel partners if you have another Chase card that enables transfers. Cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees) and Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card (see rates and fees) allow you to convert points to airline miles or hotel points and unlock Chase's Points Boost in the travel portal.

The Chase Freedom Rise has a $0 annual fee, but it does charge a 3% foreign transaction fee. There could be a penalty fee of up to $40 for late or returned payments.

The Chase Freedom Rise is a great card for those looking to build credit, but it's not the only option available.

Similar to the Freedom Rise, the Chase Freedom Unlimited® earns 1.5% back on all purchases. But given its higher credit score requirement (good to excellent), it offers extra rewards categories: 5% on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3% on dining and 3% on drugstore purchases.

You can also earn a $200 bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in the first three months and take advantage of an intro APR on both purchases and balance transfers, which can help manage any potential debt.

New cardholders receive an Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers and a generous 1.5% cash back everywhere (at minimum).

Read our Chase Freedom Unlimited® review.

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.

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.

The Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card requires a deposit, but it could be as low as $49. The card is geared toward those rebuilding damaged credit and doesn't offer any rewards, but it has few fees; it doesn't charge a fee for foreign transactions or authorized users.Â

After a period of responsible card usage, you could have your deposit returned to you. It's a fairly bare-bones card, but it may be a great starting point if you're trying to rebuild credit.

Features a low refundable security deposit of $49, $99 or $200 minimum.

Terms apply. Read our Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card review.

The Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card can help you build, or rebuild, your credit because you can be approved with no credit or bad credit.

The Chase Freedom Rise is a great option for current or prospective Chase customers or those focused on building their credit score.

If you have at least $250 in a Chase checking or savings account, you'll have increased odds of approval. This card is geared toward those wanting to hone their financial habits, even offering autopay incentives.Â

If you've had the Chase Freedom Rise for at least 12 months and made all your payments on time, you could be upgraded to the Chase Freedom Unlimited®. For those interested in getting into the Chase ecosystem (with its valuable Ultimate Rewards), this card is a great starting point, and you can easily segue into other Chase cards.

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 review 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. See our methodology for more information on how we choose the best credit cards.

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.