Chase is among the most popular credit card issuers, with card options for nearly everyone — whether you’re looking to score cash back on your weekly grocery hauls or earn big rewards on worldwide travels.
But a major part of maximizing value is choosing the cards that best align with your needs. Grocery rewards may not mean a lot to you if your idea of a home-cooked meal is takeout served on real dishes. Similarly, a card that requires quarterly rewards category activations may not be worth your time if you prefer a more straightforward rewards approach.
As you evaluate any new credit card, take your own spending and financial needs (like paying off debt, easy international usage, or funding a new business venture) into account, rather than choosing based solely on great benefits that may not align with how you regularly spend your money.
Our picks for the best credit cards from Chase are all rewards credit cards. Before seeking to maximize cash back or points earned on your purchases, make sure you pay off any existing credit card debt and can pay down your balances each month. Any rewards you earn will be easily wiped out by high interest charges accrued on revolving debt balances.
The Best Chase Credit Cards
Good for Simple Rewards on Everyday Spending
Chase Freedom Unlimited®
Rewards rate:
Earn 5% cash back on grocery store purchases (not including Target® or Walmart® purchases) on up to $12,000 spent in the first year. Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases.
- Intro bonus: $200
- Annual fee: $0
- Regular APR: 14.99% – 23.74% Variable
- Recommended credit score: 670-850 (Good to Excellent)
Chase Freedom Unlimited isn’t just a great Chase card — it’s also our favorite overall cash back credit card, thanks to its simple everyday rewards and versatility, for no annual fee.
You’ll earn a $200 cash bonus after spending $500 within the first three months of account opening, plus a first-year 5% cash back bonus on your grocery store purchases (up to $12,000 spent over the first year). Then, earn 5% cash back on travel booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards, 3% back on dining and at drugstores, and 1.5% back on everything that doesn’t fit into an above category.
In addition to cash rewards, Chase Freedom has an introductory 0% interest offer on new purchases for the first 15 months of account opening (14.99% – 23.74% variable APR thereafter).
Based on national average consumer spending data, we’ve calculated this card’s annual rewards value at $250.75 (after a first-year value of $606.99).
Chase Freedom Unlimited offers something for everyone. Its tiered rewards can help you save on your everyday spending, while a standard flat cash back rate of 1.5% guarantees added value on every single purchase. And for cardholders looking for something extra, you can convert cash rewards earned into Ultimate Rewards points (1 cent in cash back rewards is equal to 1 point) to expand your redemption options and pair with other Chase cards for a greater points boost.
Good for Maximum Rewards on Everyday Spending
Chase Freedom Flex℠
Rewards rate:
Earn 5% cash back on grocery store purchases (not including Target® or Walmart® purchases) on up to $12,000 spent in the first year. Earn 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate. Enjoy new 5% categories each quarter! Earn 5% on travel purchased through Chase. Earn 3% on dining at restaurants and drugstores. Earn 1% on all other purchases.
- Intro bonus: $200
- Annual fee: $0
- Regular APR: 14.99 – 23.74% Variable
- Recommended credit score: 670-850 (Good to Excellent)
The no annual fee Chase Freedom Flex offers some of the most diverse (and valuable) everyday spending rewards of any card on the market today — if you’re willing to put in a bit of work to keep up with its many categories.
You’ll get a $200 cash bonus after spending $500 in the first three months, plus 5% back on grocery purchases (up to $12,000 in spending over the first year). Freedom Flex then offers ongoing 5% back on travel purchased through Chase, 3% back on dining and at drugstores, and 5% on rotating rewards categories (up to $1,500 in combined purchases each quarter), ranging from Amazon.com purchases to gas stations. Q1 Chase Freedom categories for 2021 include wholesale clubs; select streaming services; and internet, cable, and phone services.
In addition to bonus categories, you’ll earn 1% cash back on everything else, and the card offers an introductory 0% interest period on new purchases for 15 months (14.99% – 23.74% variable APR thereafter).
By combining rotating 5% rewards with an ongoing tiered bonus structure, this card offers some of the most valuable everyday rewards available for no annual fee.
Based on average American spending data, we’ve calculated the value of this card’s annual rewards at $300.84 (after $724.04 the first year), though your value could be even higher if you’re able to max out the rotating categories each quarter.
Keeping up with all these categories does require significant effort to reap the rewards though, since you’ll need to track tiered categories as well as activating new categories each quarter. And this card has an additional hang-up: Chase only reveals rotating bonus categories one quarter at a time, making it difficult to plan your long-term spending. But if you don’t mind the extra steps, this card can add maximum value to your budget, and pairs well with other Chase cards by converting cash rewards to Chase Ultimate Rewards Points.
Good Starter Travel Card
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Rewards rate:
2X points on travel and dining at restaurants worldwide, eligible delivery services, takeout and dining out. Earn 2X total points on up to $1,000 in grocery store purchases per month from November 1, 2020 to April 30, 2021. Includes eligible pick-up and delivery services. 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases.
- Intro bonus: 60,000 points
- Annual fee: $95
- Regular APR: 15.99% – 22.99% Variable
- Recommended credit score: 670-850 (Good to Excellent)
The Chase Sapphire Preferred card offers modest rewards earning potential, but makes up for it with high-value redemptions and other added benefits.
After a 60,000-point bonus when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months, you’ll get 2x Ultimate Rewards points on dining and travel, for a $95 annual fee. Through April 2021, you’ll also earn 2x points on up to $1,000 spent each month at grocery stores.
Sapphire Preferred cardholders are eligible for 5x points on Lyft rides through March 2022, up to $60 in statement credits toward Peloton purchases, and a 12-month complimentary DashPass subscription toward free delivery from DoorDash and Caviar.
The Sapphire Preferred is a great entry-level travel card for anyone looking to save on flights and hotels without paying a premium annual fee.
While its 2x bonus categories might limit your earnings, this card still makes our list for its great redemption value. When you redeem Ultimate Rewards points for travel — whether by booking directly with Chase or transferring to a travel partner — your points get a 25% boost, so each point is worth 1.25 cents. That means the 60,000-point welcome bonus, for example, is worth $750 when redeemed toward travel.
Good Perks for Big Spenders
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
Rewards rate:
3X points on travel immediately after earning your $300 travel credit. 3X points on dining at restaurants including eligible delivery services, takeout and dining out. Earn 3X total points on up to $1,000 in grocery store purchases per month from November 1, 2020 to April 30, 2021. Includes eligible pick-up and delivery services. 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases.
- Intro bonus: 50,000 points
- Annual fee: $550
- Regular APR: 16.99%-23.99% Variable
- Recommended credit score: 740-850 (Excellent)
Chase Sapphire Reserve is the issuer’s premier travel card, with a host of benefits worthy of its $550 price tag. You’ll earn a 50,000-point bonus after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first three month, plus 3x points on dining and travel worldwide, and 3x points on up to $1,000 in monthly grocery store purchases through April 2021.
In addition to those points rewards, the Reserve offers a $300 annual travel credit (gas station and grocery store purchases also count toward this credit through June 2021), a fee credit toward TSA PreCheck or Global Entry, Priority Pass Select membership, 10x points on Lyft and Lyft Pink membership, up to $120 toward Peloton purchases, and up to $120 in credits for DoorDash purchases plus 12 months complimentary DashPass for free delivery from DoorDash and Caviar.
The Reserve comes with great benefits, and frequent travelers who like to splurge will find plenty to indulge in, from travel rewards to credits and partner subscription offers.
Like Chase’s Sapphire Preferred, the real value of the Reserve is redemption options. Every Ultimate Rewards point you earn on purchases can be redeemed at a 50% boost (a value of 1.5 cents per point) for travel booked directly through Chase or transferred to a travel partner. Put another way, your 50,000-point welcome bonus is worth $750 when you redeem for travel. Over time, that boost can add up to substantial savings on any trip.
Good for Flexible Business Rewards
Ink Business Cash® Credit Card
Rewards rate:
Earn 5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone services each account anniversary year. Earn 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year. Earn 1% cash back on all other card purchases with no limit to the amount you can earn.
- Intro bonus: $500
- Annual fee: $0
- Regular APR: 13.24% – 19.24% Variable
- Recommended credit score: 670-850 (Good to Excellent)
The Ink Business Cash is Chase’s cash back option among its business card lineup. Business owners can earn a $750 bonus after spending $7,500 within three months of account opening. Then, you’ll get 5% cash back on your first $25,000 in annual spending at office supply stores and on internet, cable, and phone services, plus 2% back on your first $25,000 at gas stations and restaurants and 1% back on everything else.
You also score an introductory 0% interest offer on new purchases for the first 12 months from account opening (13.24% – 19.24% variable APR thereafter).
Among Chase’s Ink Business card offerings, we believe the Ink Business Cash offers the most universal rewards, value potential, and accessible price point ($0 annual fee) for most business owners. And its benefits are more widely applicable than you might realize — if you’re a freelancer or run a side hustle like selling goods on Etsy, you can apply. Like Chase’s Freedom cards, your cash back is eligible for redemption via Chase Ultimate Rewards and can be combined with other card accounts for even more redemption value.
Good for Amazon Shoppers
Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card
Rewards rate:
5% back at Amazon.com and Whole Foods Market with eligible Prime membership*. 2% back at restaurants, gas stations, and drugstores*. 1% back on all other purchases*.
- Intro bonus: No current offer
- Annual fee: $0
- Regular APR: 14.24% to 22.24% Variable
- Recommended credit score: 670-850 (Good to Excellent)
With the Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature card, you’ll get a $100 Amazon gift card upon approval, then earn 5% cash back on Amazon.com and at Whole Foods Market; 2% back at restaurants, gas stations, and drugstores; and 1% back on all other purchases. And while there’s no standard annual fee, you must be an Amazon Prime member (generally $119 per year) to qualify.
Chase’s co-branded card with Amazon is the only one on our list not eligible for Chase Ultimate Rewards, though you can redeem rewards for travel through Chase. Still, it’s a valuable tool for any online shopper. This card’s rewards do require the extra step of Amazon Prime membership for approval, but 5% cash back on everything you buy from both the online marketplace and Whole Foods is a highly competitive rate — especially if you’ve grown accustomed to stocking up on essentials online in recent months. And if you’re already a Prime member anyway, the card has effectively no annual fee.
Best Chase Credit Cards Summary
| Card | What It’s Good For | Chase Ultimate Rewards Redemption | Annual Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chase Freedom Unlimited | Earning on Every Purchase | 1 point = 1 cent | $0 |
| Chase Freedom Flex | Everyday Spending Value | 1 point = 1 cent | $0 |
| Chase Sapphire Preferred Card | Starter Travel Card | 1 point = 1.25 cents when redeemed for travel (1 point = 1 cent otherwise) | $95 |
| Chase Sapphire Reserve | Big Spenders | 1 point = 1.5 cents when redeemed for travel (1 point = 1 cent otherwise) | $550 |
| Chase Ink Business Cash | Flexible Business Rewards | 1 point = 1 cent | $0 |
| Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card | Amazon Shoppers | N/A | $0 (Amazon Prime membership required) |
Why Choose a Chase Credit Card
Chase is among the most popular credit card issuers today — and has some of the most loyal customers — for a reason. While many issuers offer similarly compatible rewards structures across their cards, Chase takes its ecosystem to another level. With the Ultimate Rewards program, you can combine cards in different categories and with varying benefits offerings to far out-earn your initial rewards value and maximize every dollar you spend.
Make sure your credit is in good standing before attempting to open any new account with Chase, though. Nearly every card in the issuer’s lineup requires good, if not excellent, credit for approval.
How to Maximize Your Chase Rewards
The majority of cards on our list offer increased value in their access to one of the most valuable rewards currencies available: Chase Ultimate Rewards. Through Chase’s rewards program, you can redeem points earned on your spending for statement credits, gift cards, online shopping, and travel (including transfers to multiple travel partners).
You’ll get the most value for your points when you redeem for travel, either by booking directly through Chase Ultimate Rewards or transferring to one of Chase’s airline or hotel travel partners. That’s especially true for Sapphire cardholders, who get boosted redemptions on travel — 1.25 cents per point for Sapphire Preferred cardholders and 1.5 cents per point with the Reserve.
Cash Back vs. Points Rewards
Chase cards like the Freedom Unlimited, Freedom Flex, and Ink Business Cash are cash back cards, meaning each purchase you make in a qualifying category earns a certain percentage back. If you spend $100 on dining with your Freedom Flex card (a 3% cash back category), for example, you would earn the equivalent of $3 back.
But Chase allows cash back earned on these cards to be redeemed as Ultimate Rewards points. If you choose a point-based redemption option (like booking travel), the $100 you spent on dining with your Freedom Flex would equal 30 Ultimate Rewards points earned.
Other cards, like the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card and Chase Sapphire Reserve, have rewards structures based on points, rather than cash back. If you spend $100 on dining with your Sapphire Reserve (a 3x points category), you’d also earn 30 Ultimate Rewards points.
The monetary value of these points varies depending on your specific card (the Sapphire cards carry redemption boosts) and how you redeem (non-cash redemption options are often more valuable). But generally, you can redeem points from any Ultimate Rewards-earning Chase card for cash back or statement credits at a rate of 1 cent per point.
See our Ultimate Rewards guide for a full breakdown of redemption values.
Combine Chase Cards
The best way to maximize your Chase Ultimate Rewards is by earning points using multiple cards in Chase’s portfolio that align with your spending habits, then combining those points into one account when it’s time to redeem.
For example, imagine you have a Chase Freedom Unlimited card on which you’ve earned 50,000 points in one year, and a Chase Sapphire Preferred Card on which you’ve collected an additional 25,000. At the end of the year, you can pool those points onto your Preferred Card account for a total of 75,000 and redeem for travel at a redemption value of $937.50.
But that’s not the only way to save. Cardholders can customize Chase card combinations in several different way:
Chase Trifecta and Chase Quartet
Chase cards that earn Ultimate Rewards points are easy to pair, creating a card strategy that can help you maximize nearly every purchase you make.
Instead of collecting points, miles, or cash back toward different rewards program currencies, it can be advantageous to earn Ultimate Rewards points on multiple Chase cards, which you can combine into one account and redeem together.
Two common methods are the Chase trifecta and Chase quartet, which you can customize to fit your spending and benefits preferences. Essentially, each strategy uses one Ultimate Rewards-earning card from Chase’s three primary card families: the Sapphire, Ink Business, and Freedom cards. Because these cards offer a diverse range of rewards categories, it’s easy to maximize each purchase you make, then pool rewards onto your Sapphire Reserve, Sapphire Preferred Card, or Ink Business Preferred account and redeem at the boosted rate those cards offer (1.5 cents and 1.25 cents per point, respectively).
For the quartet, you could open a Sapphire Card, one of the Ink Business cards, and both the Freedom Unlimited and Freedom Flex. Though they do have some overlapping rewards categories, they’re also both no annual fee cards. And if you’re unable to qualify for a business card, you can also create a consumer-card-only trifecta using either the Chase Sapphire Reserve or Preferred Card, the Freedom Unlimited, and the Freedom Flex.
| Card | What to Use It For |
|---|---|
| Chase Sapphire Reserve or Preferred Card | Travel, Dining Out |
| Chase Ink Business Preferred or Cash | Business Expenses |
| Chase Freedom Unlimited and/or Freedom Flex | Groceries, Rotating Categories, All Other Spending |
How Many Chase Credit Cards Can You Have?
There’s no official limit to the number of Chase cards you can have, but Chase is strict about the number of accounts you’re allowed to open within a short period of time.
Remember, applying for several cards from any issuer within a short time frame can have a negative effect on your credit score and cause lenders to view you as riskier than other cardholders. Always do your research before applying for any new card, including looking into your chances of approval, and only apply for new credit when you’re confident you’ll be able to pay down balances in full and on time each month.
Chase 5/24 Rule
Chase has an unconfirmed standard that might affect your approval chances for a new card account. In general, if you’ve opened five or more personal credit cards (from any issuer) within the past 24 months, your application for a new Chase card will be denied.
While Chase hasn’t officially acknowledged this rule, Ashley Dodd, a representative for the issuer recently told us the following about Chase’s approval standards via email:
“Chase carefully reviews each application, and considers a variety of factors, including the number of cards opened. Customers who open multiple card applications in a short period of time, regardless of issuer, will likely encounter difficulties.”
What to do if Your Chase Application Is Denied
There are a number of reasons your credit application for a new Chase card might be denied. Take time after a credit denial to determine why your application was denied and the steps you need to take to increase your approval odds. Here are some actions you can take to improve your chances of approval next time:
- Eliminate any existing credit card debt and develop healthy credit habits.
- Make sure your credit score is within the card’s recommended range before applying. If not, take time to increase your credit score by making timely payments, lowering your credit utilization, and taking advantage of credit-boosting programs.
- Regularly monitor your credit and current open accounts for any unusual activity.
Our Methodology
EDITORIAL INDEPENDENCE
As with all of our credit card reviews, our analysis is not influenced by any partnerships or advertising relationships.
Chase is one of the most popular credit card issuers, with many different card options that make sense for a wide range of people. But we believe much of Chase’s appeal for cardholders lies in the ability to earn and redeem great rewards. To narrow down our list, we focused on popular Chase cards across categories, from cash back to travel to business, with access to the Chase Ultimate Rewards program. Our picks offer the most rewards value and benefits relative to cost, and make sense for the broadest range of cardholders among Chase’s portfolio.