Freedom Gold Card Review® Credit Card
A closed-loop store credit line usable only at the Horizon Outlet website. Easy approval, no fees or interest, but it won’t build your credit and has very limited use.
Card Details
- Card Type: Closed-loop merchandise card (usable only at Horizon Outlet online)
- Credit Line: $750 unsecured limit at approval, with potential increases up to $3,000
- Welcome Bonus: None
- Rewards: None
- Annual Fee: $0
- Monthly Fee: $0 (optional $14.95 membership plan for added benefits)
- Interest Rate: 0% APR on purchases
- Other Fees: Shipping & handling costs must be paid with another payment method (cannot be charged to the card)
- Minimum Payment: $25/month (or full balance if under $25)
- Bank Issuer: Horizon Card Services
- Card Network: None (not Visa, Mastercard, or a simple debit)
- Credit Reporting: Does not report to Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion
About The Card
The Freedom Gold Card is not a true credit card – it’s a catalog/store credit line for Horizon Outlet, Horizon Card Services’ online store. Everyone 18+ with a valid U.S. bank account can be approved instantly, as there’s no credit check, no employment verification, and no hard inquiry.
Once approved, you get a $750 interest-free line of credit to shop on Horizon’s site. Purchases can be paid off in monthly installments of at least $25 with 0% interest. However, shipping fees must always be paid upfront with another card.
While the card has no annual or monthly fees (they used to have these fees), it comes with serious limitations: you can only use it at Horizon Outlet, and it does not report to credit bureaus, so it won’t help you build or repair credit.
Optional perks like roadside assistance, prescription discounts, and ID theft protection are available for $14.95/month, but are not required.
Pros
- Guaranteed Approval: No credit check or hard inquiry.
- No Fees: $0 annual fee, $0 monthly fee, $0 activation fee.
- 0% Interest: Finance purchases over time without interest charges.
- $750 Starting Limit: Higher than most catalog/store cards.
- No Security Deposit: Truly unsecured line of credit.
- Optional Benefits: Roadside assistance, legal help, and more for $14.95/month.
- Instant Use: Online approval and immediate shopping access.
Cons
- Limited Use: Only valid at Horizon Outlet online.
- No Credit Reporting: Won’t build or repair your credit score.
- Expensive Merchandise: Horizon Outlet items are often more expensive than retail.
- Mandatory Shipping Fees: Must be paid out-of-pocket at checkout.
- Not a Real Credit Card: No rewards, no travel perks, no cash access.
- History of High Fees/Complaints: Horizon Card Services previously faced regulatory action for costly practices.
Is this card for me?
The Freedom Gold Card is a very niche product. It only makes sense if:
- You’ve been denied everywhere else and need a no-cost line of credit to shop at Horizon Outlet.
- You want a $750 line with no fees and no interest to spread payments on Horizon merchandise.
- You value the optional membership perks.
However, if your goal is to build credit, this card is not for you. Since it doesn’t report to the bureaus, it won’t improve your score. For most consumers, many regular secured cards from issuers like Discover or Capital One, or even a catalog account like Fingerhut, which does report, will be more valuable.
Bottom line: Freedom Gold is only worth considering if you shop Horizon Outlet and want an easy, no-fee line of credit. If you want to build credit or use your card anywhere else, skip it.
