Chase Freedom Flex No Foreign Transaction Fee: What Travelers Should Know

The Chase Freedom Flex no longer charges foreign transaction fees, meaning cardmembers can now make eligible purchases abroad or with international online merchants without paying Chase an additional foreign transaction fee. Chase announced the change on September 21, 2026, as part of a broader refresh that also introduced Points Boost offers for select hotel bookings, new card art, advance previews of quarterly bonus categories, and a limited-time $250 welcome offer. The foreign transaction fee removal is particularly significant because the Freedom Flex continues to charge no annual fee while maintaining its existing cash-back earning structure.

For travelers who previously avoided using the card internationally because of its foreign transaction fee, the change makes the Freedom Flex considerably more practical outside the U.S.

What Changed With the Chase Freedom Flex in September 2026?

The most important change is straightforward: Freedom Flex cardmembers can now make purchases abroad without paying Chase a foreign transaction fee. The benefit also applies to purchases made with international online merchants. Chase introduced several other updates alongside the fee change.

Freedom Flex Feature	September 2026 Status
Foreign transaction fee	None
Annual fee	$0
Quarterly categories	5% cash back after activation, up to the applicable spending cap
Chase Travel purchases	5% cash back
Dining	3% cash back
Drugstores	3% cash back
Other purchases	1% cash back
Points Boost	Available on select Chase Travel hotel bookings
Welcome offer	Limited-time $250 bonus after meeting qualifying spending requirements
Card design	Updated
Quarterly category preview	One quarter in advance through the Chase Mobile app

Chase says the card’s existing rewards structure remains in place. Cardmembers can earn 5% cash back on activated quarterly categories on up to $1,500 in combined purchases, 5% through Chase Travel, 3% on dining and drugstore purchases, and 1% on other purchases.

Why Does Removing the Foreign Transaction Fee Matter?

Foreign transaction fees can add an extra cost whenever a cardholder uses an eligible card internationally. Before this change, the Freedom Flex’s foreign transaction fee could offset some or all of the value generated by its rewards when the card was used abroad.

Consider a hypothetical traveler who spends $1,000 internationally. With a 3% foreign transaction fee, that would amount to $30 in additional fees. Eliminating the fee means that particular issuer-imposed charge no longer applies. That difference becomes particularly relevant when a Freedom Flex bonus category overlaps with spending you might make during an international trip.

For example, dining earns 3% cash back year-round with the Freedom Flex. Cardmembers can now use the card for qualifying restaurant purchases abroad without a Chase foreign transaction fee reducing the value of those rewards.

Travelers should remember that foreign transaction fees and currency conversion are separate issues. A merchant or payment processor may offer dynamic currency conversion, such as allowing an American traveler to pay in U.S. dollars instead of the local currency. The removal of Chase’s foreign transaction fee does not mean every possible currency-related charge from a merchant or third party disappears.

Can You Use the Chase Freedom Flex Abroad Without a Foreign Transaction Fee?

Yes. Chase says Freedom Flex cardmembers can now make purchases abroad without foreign transaction fees. The benefit also extends to purchases from international online merchants.

This makes the card more useful for expenses such as:

• Restaurant purchases overseas
• Eligible public transportation expenses
• Shopping abroad
• Hotel incidentals
• Online purchases from international merchants
• Other eligible purchases made outside the U.S.

However, earning rates still depend on the merchant category and applicable Chase rewards terms. A purchase made abroad does not automatically earn an elevated rewards rate simply because it is international. For example, an eligible restaurant purchase can qualify for the card’s dining rate, while a general purchase that does not fit a bonus category would ordinarily earn the standard rate.

Does the Chase Freedom Flex Still Have a $0 Annual Fee?

Yes. The Chase Freedom Flex continues to have a $0 annual fee. That is an important part of the September update.
Some cards designed for international travelers combine no foreign transaction fees with annual fees. Freedom Flex now offers both:

$0 annual fee + no foreign transaction fees.

The card therefore does not require someone to pay an annual membership cost simply to retain the ability to make international purchases without Chase’s foreign transaction fee.

As always, that does not mean carrying the card is entirely cost-free. Interest, balance-transfer fees, cash-advance charges, late-payment fees, and other applicable account charges are separate from the annual and foreign transaction fees.

What Rewards Does the Chase Freedom Flex Earn?

The core Freedom Flex rewards structure remains unchanged following the September 2026 refresh.

5% Cash Back on Rotating Categories

Cardmembers can earn 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in eligible quarterly bonus categories after activation. Purchases beyond that quarterly cap earn according to the applicable standard rate.

The categories change throughout the year, which means cardholders need to activate them each quarter and keep track of which purchases qualify.

5% Back Through Chase Travel

Eligible travel purchased through Chase Travel℠ earns 5% cash back.

This is different from simply paying for travel directly with an airline, hotel, or another travel provider, so travelers should review how a booking must be made to receive the elevated rate.

3% Back on Dining

Freedom Flex earns 3% cash back on dining at restaurants, including eligible takeout and delivery services.

With the foreign transaction fee removed, this benefit becomes more relevant to international travelers who use the card at eligible restaurants abroad.

3% Back at Drugstores

Eligible drugstore purchases also earn 3% cash back.

1% Back on Other Purchases

Purchases that do not fall into one of the card’s elevated rewards categories generally earn 1% cash back.

What Are the 2026 Freedom Flex Bonus Categories?

For October through December 2026, Chase announced the following 5% bonus categories:

• Grocery stores, excluding Walmart® and Target®
• Dining
• American Red Cross® donations

Cardmembers must activate the offer and can earn 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases across the quarterly categories.

Dining is particularly notable because Freedom Flex ordinarily earns 3% in that category. Eligible dining purchases during Q4 can therefore earn the activated quarterly rate within the applicable spending cap.

The timing also overlaps with the removal of foreign transaction fees, making it worth checking Chase’s merchant-category rules before using the card for dining internationally.

Chase Is Adding Points Boost to Freedom Cards

Foreign transaction fees are not the only travel-related change. Chase Freedom cardmembers can now receive Points Boost offers on select hotel bookings through Chase Travel.

Under eligible promotions, Ultimate Rewards points can be worth up to 10% more when redeemed for qualifying hotel bookings. Chase explains that points are normally worth $0.01 each when redeemed through Chase Travel for Freedom cards; under an eligible Points Boost promotion, 100 points could instead be worth up to $1.10. Points Boost does not apply automatically to every hotel.

Eligible properties are identified by a Points Boost designation when searching through Chase Travel, and offers can change periodically. Travelers should therefore check the redemption value displayed for their particular booking rather than assuming every hotel receives the enhanced rate.

Chase Freedom Flex Now Shows Bonus Categories Earlier

Another useful change involves planning ahead. Chase says Freedom Flex cardmembers can now preview the next quarter’s 5% cash-back categories one quarter in advance in the Chase Mobile app.

Previously, travelers and everyday spenders had less advance visibility into upcoming categories.

For example, Chase has already announced that Q1 2027 will feature:

• Grocery stores, excluding Walmart and Target
• Top streaming services

The ability to see upcoming categories can make it easier to decide which card to use for planned purchases.

What Is the New Chase Freedom Flex Welcome Offer?

Chase also introduced an elevated limited-time welcome offer as part of the September refresh.
Eligible new cardmembers can currently earn a $250 bonus after spending $500 on purchases within the first 3 months after opening the account.

Chase states that the product is not available for this offer to current Freedom Flex cardmembers or previous cardmembers who received a new cardmember bonus for this card within the past 24 months. Offers can change, so prospective applicants should review the current terms before applying.

Does the Chase Freedom Flex Have a New Design?

Yes. Chase has refreshed the physical appearance of the Freedom Flex. The updated card has a deeper blue background and a redesigned upward-sloping stardust graphic. Chase says the new design is available to new and existing cardmembers.

The design change does not alter the card’s basic rewards structure, but it visually distinguishes the refreshed product.

How Does the September 2026 Update Affect International Travelers?

The most meaningful effect is that Freedom Flex cardmembers no longer need to avoid the card solely because of a Chase foreign transaction fee.

Previously, even an attractive rewards category could become less valuable if an international purchase triggered an additional foreign transaction charge.

Now, a traveler could potentially use the Freedom Flex for eligible:

• Dining purchases
• Quarterly bonus-category spending
• Shopping
• Local transportation
• Online international purchases
• General everyday expenses without a Chase foreign transaction fee.

The actual rewards earned still depend on how Chase categorizes the merchant and whether an applicable quarterly offer has been activated.

What Has Not Changed About the Freedom Flex?

Although the September update adds several features, the fundamental Freedom Flex rewards formula remains familiar.

The card still offers:

• $0 annual fee
• 5% on activated rotating quarterly categories, subject to the $1,500 combined quarterly spending cap
• 5% on eligible Chase Travel purchases
• 3% on dining
• 3% at drugstores
• 1% on other eligible purchases

That distinction matters because this is primarily a travel-usability upgrade, rather than a complete overhaul of how Freedom Flex earns rewards.

What Should Existing Freedom Flex Cardholders Know?

Existing cardmembers do not need to switch to an entirely different Freedom Flex product simply to receive the newly announced foreign-transaction-fee benefit. Chase’s announcement describes the benefit as applying to Freedom Flex cardmembers.

Before traveling internationally, it is still sensible to:

1. Check the current benefits and pricing terms in your Chase account.
2. Review the quarterly bonus categories.
3. Activate the 5% quarterly offer when applicable.
4. Confirm that your card is active.
5. Understand how merchants process payments in foreign currencies.
6. Check your transaction after it posts to confirm the merchant category and rewards earned.

Travelers should also avoid assuming that “no foreign transaction fee” means “no cost when exchanging currencies.” Exchange rates, merchant conversion practices, ATM fees, cash-advance rules, and other third-party costs are separate considerations.

Is the Chase Freedom Flex Better for International Travel Now?

The Freedom Flex has more international utility than it did when it charged a foreign transaction fee, because cardholders can now make purchases abroad without that additional Chase charge.

That does not turn every international purchase into a bonus-category transaction, nor does it make the Freedom Flex identical to a premium travel card. Its primary identity remains that of a $0-annual-fee cash-back card with rotating quarterly categories. The difference is that cardholders no longer have to weigh a Chase foreign transaction fee against the rewards they could earn abroad. For travelers who already carry the Freedom Flex for dining, rotating bonus categories, or Chase Travel purchases, that removes an important limitation.

Conclusion

The removal of foreign transaction fees addresses one of the Freedom Flex’s previous limitations for overseas spending while leaving its $0 annual fee and established cash-back structure intact. For existing cardmembers, the practical change is simple: the Freedom Flex can now be used for eligible international purchases without Chase adding a foreign transaction fee. 

Combined with 3% cash back on dining, rotating 5% categories, Points Boost hotel offers, and the existing Chase Travel earning rate, the September 2026 refresh gives the card a stronger travel component than it previously had. Because credit card offers, APRs, benefits, and eligibility requirements can change, travelers and applicants should check Chase’s current pricing and terms before making financial decisions.

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