Chase Freedom foreign transaction fee: What you’ll pay abroad
Knowing exactly how much extra you'll pay when using your credit card abroad matters to travelers. A €50 purchase may not stay €50 for long - foreign transaction fees may apply, and you often won’t see the final amount until your statement arrives.
For cards like Chase Freedom, you’ll normally pay around 3% more than the original purchase due to the Chase Freedom foreign transaction fee. These fees don’t just apply when you’re overseas. You may also be charged a foreign transaction fee when you buy from an overseas merchant that posts a price in your local currency but processes the payment outside your country.
This article explains the Chase foreign transaction fee - how it works, what it costs, and alternatives to help you avoid these charges.
Does Chase Freedom have foreign transaction fees?
According to Chase, foreign transaction fees cover international processing costs, including currency conversion. The global payment network and the issuing bank share the cost, which is then passed on to the cardholder.
Here’s when the company charges the fee:
The 3% Chase foreign transaction fee applies to all card payments you make in another country. For instance, a €280 meal you had in Spain for two people may entail a Chase foreign transaction fee of around $8.
Ordering a $100 polo shirt from an online store based in Sweden may cost an extra $3.
You can incur a foreign transaction fee even if you're not overseas. When you opt to pay in euros when subscribing to the annual plan of a work collaboration tool (say, EUR170) from a Germany-based company, the payment can set off a currency conversion charge of around $5.
The same applies if you had chosen a recurring monthly payment in another currency for a subscription service.
Chase Freedom cards: Freedom Unlimited vs. Freedom Flex fees
The Chase Freedom family of credit cards is popular due to their zero annual fee, high-value sign-up bonuses, and no-expiry cash back rewards. When it comes to overseas use, however, travelers have to deal with international charges.
If you’re wondering, “Does Chase Freedom Unlimited have foreign transaction fees?” Yes - the Chase Freedom Unlimited foreign transaction fee is 3%, the same as the Chase Freedom Flex foreign transaction fee.
| Card | Foreign transaction fee |
|---|---|
|
Chase Freedom Unlimited |
3% |
|
Chase Freedom Flex (originally "Chase Freedom") |
3% |
|
Chase Freedom Rise |
3% |
Your €200 lunch in Bologna might be enjoyable, but the final charge may be higher than expected due to the €6 (USD equivalent) foreign transaction charge.
If you want to avoid international fees, you may want to consider options outside this group of cards.
What is a foreign transaction fee?
Financial institutions can charge a foreign transaction fee on a credit card when you use it to pay for expenses while overseas or to buy goods online from another country. The Chase foreign transaction fee is 3% of the transaction value.
When you pay locally, your money moves within one system - inside your home country. But when you use your card overseas, several banks become involved to complete your payment.
Here’s what happens behind the scenes - and what cardholders may overlook: when you make an overseas card payment, the transaction value is first converted from the local currency (for instance, euros) into your card's billing currency (USD). Note that the exchange rate is set by the payment network, which may slightly differ from the mid-market rate. Only then is the 3% fee applied to the converted amount.
Chase international ATM fees
Besides using a credit card, paying in cash - with the currency in your destination country - is another way to get by. Compared to card purchases, however, using an international ATM card to withdraw money overseas comes with multiple charges at once.
Chase debit card withdrawals involve the following costs:
- The fixed fee for using an international payment system
- The standard foreign transaction fee (similar to the Chase Freedom credit card at 3%)
- The surcharge applied by the local bank, which varies depending on the country and provider
You’ll also pay for currency conversion from the local currency into your account's currency. The amount will be based on the payment network's (Mastercard or Visa) exchange rate.
The local ATM provider’s fee can be higher in some locations, such as tourist areas or airports, as operators charge more for convenience. These costs often convince travelers to look for alternative ways to access or transfer money while overseas.
How to avoid foreign transaction fees when using cards like Chase Freedom
If you use a card like the Chase Freedom credit card, you should take deliberate steps before your holiday or business trip to avoid foreign transaction fees with overseas payments.
Best practices:
Use a travel-focused credit card without a foreign transaction fee. These cards are ideal for frequent travelers and online shoppers who buy from overseas merchants or service providers.
On websites that let you choose the currency with which to pay, choose the "local currency" instead of your home currency. This choice lets your card network handle the conversion, which is more transparent.
What to avoid:
The DCC feature shows you the price of your purchase in your home currency. Then it asks whether you want to pay in the local currency or your home currency.
However, paying in your home currency applies a less favorable rate, so you end up paying more.
Some credit cards aren't practical for overseas use. Verifying fees for this scenario will help you avoid unwanted charges.
When you sign up for a credit card without a foreign transaction fee and choose the "pay in local currency" option, you save yourself the $30 that may be imposed on a $1,000 spend. That's more money saved from one overseas trip.
The four strategies are all good habits to develop, with the first step being the simplest approach to more predictable international spending. Some Chase cards are designed with overseas use in mind.
Chase credit cards with no foreign transaction fees
Chase Bank offers cards that suit travelers. Unlike the Chase Freedom card lineup, their Sapphire series won’t charge you the usual 3% for goods bought overseas or from overseas-based suppliers.
Travel-focused cards
Chase Sapphire Preferred2 is considered Chase Bank's best starter travel card that offers strong travel and purchase coverage that suits occasional international travelers.
Chase Sapphire Reserve2 is the bank’s premium travel card with a higher-tier menu of perks, including more extensive travel and shopping protections. These benefits make it more attractive to luxury travelers.
Other eligible Chase cards3
Other no-foreign-transaction-fee credit cards from Chase include business-focused and co-branded cards but benefits vary.
Eliminating the standard 3% fee makes these two cards a better fit for international use.
Credit cards vs. money transfer apps
Despite the convenience offered by travel rewards-type cards, they aren't the best solution for every type of overseas transaction. The distinction becomes clearer when you compare paying for purchases with sending money across borders.
Even if you use a Chase foreign transaction fee-free credit card, the final value of your payments abroad includes the exchange rate used by the payment network for currency conversion, along with other processing fees.
The price of an item or service when you make the card payment isn't final yet, as the card networks will convert the amount into your bank's currency.
Credit cards are primarily meant for purchase payment, not for remitting money directly. Money transfers require tapping into third-party services.
Some money transfer apps and digital wallets/peer-to-peer platforms now accept credit card payments. However, this option can involve additional steps (processing through a third-party service) and higher costs (such as cash advance fees and interest). Pricing may also not be as transparent.
Due to these three factors, international credit card usage can be more complex than it first appears. When you need to send money to yourself, a family member, or someone else's bank account, money transfer services offer a different approach.
Services like BOSS Money are built specifically for international transfers. They show the total cost upfront and provide fund access flexibility.
They show costs upfront, before you complete the money transfer process.
By displaying the FX conversion rate, you understand the true cost of sending a specified amount of funds.
The available options vary by country, including bank deposits and cash pickup.
Instead of the layered "hidden" fees applied by credit cards, dedicated transfer services like BOSS Money allow you to view total costs - including the exchange rate used - from the start. As a result, you'll know exactly how much your recipient will receive even before you complete the transfer.
| Feature | Credit cards | BOSS Money |
|---|---|---|
| Primary use | Paying online stores or service providers (can send money via cash advance workarounds) | Sending money internationally |
| Foreign transaction fee | Usually 3% (may still apply) | Fees shown upfront |
| Sending money | Possible, but may involve cash advance fees and interest | Built for fund transfers with transparent rates |
| Exchange rate transparency | Limited (network-set rates) | Clearly displayed before sending |
| Total cost visibility | Often confirmed after processing | Presented immediately/before sending |
| Flexibility | Best for purchases | Multiple delivery options (bank-to-bank, cash) |
Do Chase Freedom credit cards charge foreign transaction fees?
Yes, a 3% foreign transaction fee is applied across the Chase Freedom card lineup.
Does Chase Freedom Unlimited have foreign fees?
Yes, payments made with a Chase Freedom Unlimited card also come with a foreign transaction fee.
How much is the Chase foreign transaction fee?
The Chase foreign transaction fee is typically 3%, depending on your purchase.
Can I use Chase Freedom internationally?
Yes, you can use Chase Freedom credit cards overseas, but payments made with the card will incur a foreign exchange fee.
How to avoid foreign transaction fees?
The simplest way to avoid such fees is to use a credit card with no foreign transaction fees. Choose to pay in the "local currency" instead of your home currency to prevent your merchant from handling the currency conversion, as they usually mark up the rate.
Conclusion
Chase Freedom credit cards are a solid choice for earning high rewards from daily spending. But using them to pay for your overseas expenses can increase your total cost due to the Chase Freedom foreign transaction fees.
You can apply strategies to avoid or reduce these fees, but exchange rates and the transaction processing method can still affect the final amount you have to pay.
The most effective option depends on how you’ll use your money abroad at any given moment. For sending money, services like BOSS Money help you avoid surprises with its upfront costs. It also allows you to select how your recipient will access the funds you sent.
Because small fee differences can eat up more of your finances over time, choosing the right approach enables you to keep every dollar where it counts.
Sources: all third party information obtained from applicable website as of March 27, 2026
- https://www.chase.com/personal/credit-cards/education/rewards-benefits/credit-cards-and-foreign-exchange-fees
- https://creditcards.chase.com/rewards-credit-cards/sapphire/preferred?iCELL=61FY
- https://creditcards.chase.com/no-foreign-transaction-fee-credit-cards
This article is provided for general information purposes only and is not intended to address every aspect of the matters discussed herein. The information in this article is not intended as specific personal advice. The information in this article does not constitute legal, tax, regulatory or other professional advice from IDT Payment Services, Inc. and its affiliates (collectively, “IDT”), and should not be taken or used as such by any individual. IDT makes no representation, warranty or guaranty, whether express or implied, that the content in this article is current, accurate, or complete. You should obtain professional or other substantive advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the information in this article.
