Advertiser Disclosure
Home › Credit Cards

The Best Chase Credit Cards for Rewards, Perks & Cash-Back [2021]

Person Holding Chase Sapphire Reserve Credit Card In Front of A Chase Bank
BY 
Katie Seemann
- UPDATED:    |    1
  1. Credit Cards
1

We may be compensated when you click on links from one or more of our advertising partners. Opinions and recommendations are ours alone. Terms apply to offers below. See our Advertiser Disclosure for more details.

Chase is one of the major powerhouses when it comes to travel rewards credit cards. In addition to cards that earn valuable Ultimate Rewards points, Chase offers an impressive line of co-branded credit cards that come with perks and benefits that are among the best in the industry.

In this post, we’ll go over the best Chase credit cards (both personal and business) in a variety of categories including the best options for travel, cash-back, airlines, hotels, and more.

Chase Credit Cards and Ultimate Rewards

Many of the most popular Chase credit cards out there are ones that earn Ultimate Rewards points. Each one of these cards offers a variety of benefits and perks in addition to the ability to earn points.

The Chase Ultimate Rewards program is arguably the best transferable points program on the market. If you’re a beginner to the points world, you’ll definitely want to start with an Ultimate Rewards-earning card to maximize your points-earning potential.

There are a few things to remember when deciding on which of these cards to choose first.

First, to earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points you need to have at least 1 card that charges an annual fee. These cards include:

Once you have one of these premium cards that charges an annual fee, you can convert the cash-back you earn on the no-annual-fee cards into Ultimate Rewards points. For example, if you just have the Chase Freedom Unlimited®, you’ll earn 1.5% cash-back on all of your purchases. However, if you also hold the Chase Sapphire Preferred card, you can convert that cash-back into Ultimate Rewards points, meaning you’ll be able to earn 1.5x points per dollar.

These points can either be used in the Chase travel portal or transferred to hotel and airline partners.

The Best Chase Credit Cards for Travel

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card

The Chase Sapphire Preferred card has long been a favorite among award travelers. It comes with a sign-up bonus to give your Ultimate Rewards account a big boost, but also has several bonus categories that ensure you’ll earn plenty of points on daily purchases:

  • 5x points on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards
  • 3x points on dining, including eligible delivery services, takeout, and dining out
  • 3x points on online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart, and wholesale clubs)
  • 3x points on select streaming services
  • 2x points on all other travel purchases
  • 5x points on Lyft purchases through March 31, 2022
  • All other purchases will earn 1 point per dollar

The travel bonus category is broad and includes purchases with airlines, hotels, Airbnb, taxis, Uber, and more. Paired with the dining bonus category, this card can help you earn tons of Ultimate Rewards points quickly.

With the Chase Sapphire Preferred card, you can transfer Ultimate Rewards points to airline and hotel partners or redeem them through the Chase travel portal at a value of 1.25 cents per point.

With this card, you’ll also get some travel insurance benefits including the following:

  • Rental Car Insurance: If you pay for a rental car with this card, you’ll receive primary coverage for collision damage. This means the coverage provided by the card will kick in before any other insurance. Keep in mind that this only covers damage caused to your rental car, not other vehicles and property.
  • Travel Delay Insurance: If your flight is delayed by at least 12 hours or overnight, you can use up to $500 to cover reasonable expenses including hotels and meals. After filing a claim, Chase will reimburse you for those costs.
  • Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance: You’ll be eligible for up to $10,000 in non-refundable travel expenses if you have to cancel your trip due to eligible circumstances like illness or severe weather.
  • Baggage Delay Insurance: If your checked bags are delayed more than 6 hours, you’ll be eligible to receive up to $100 in reimbursements for essential items for up to 5 days.

The card also includes plenty of benefits, like a subscription to DoorDash DashPass for the primary cardholder. This benefit gives you free food delivery on orders of $12 or more from select DoorDash and Caviar restaurants. You’ll get a $50 statement credit each account anniversary year for hotel stays purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards, and bonus points equal to 10% of your total purchases made the previous year.

You can receive a statement credit of up to $60 towards the cost of Peloton’s all-access membership fee of $39 per month (for those with a Peloton Bike or Peloton Tread) or digital access fee of $12.99 per month (for those without equipment). Cardmembers can enroll on Peloton’s promotion webpage by December 31, 2021.

Finally, cardmembers can enroll in complimentary Spot Club Platinum status at The Parking Spot for 2 years and will receive 20% off of their first reservation and points for 1 free day of parking.

The annual fee for this card is $95.

Chase Sapphire Reserve Card

The Chase Sapphire Reserve card is the high-end card in the Ultimate Rewards lineup. It’s very similar to the Chase Sapphire Preferred card, but it comes with increased earning power and a number of premium perks to improve your travel experience.

Here’s what you’ll earn with this card:

  • 10x points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards
  • 10x points on Chase Dining purchases with Ultimate Rewards
  • 5x points on flights purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards
  • 3x points on all other travel and dining purchases
  • 10x points on Lyft purchases through March 31, 2022

Those who frequently spend in these categories can boost their earnings significantly with this card. It also comes with a sign-up bonus to help get you started on the right foot.

If you have this card, you can transfer your points or use them to book travel through Chase’s travel portal at a value of 1.5 cents per point.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve card comes with the same primary coverage on rental cars, but it has an improved trip delay insurance benefit. With this card, you can file a claim after just a 6-hour delay rather than a 12-hour delay.

Air France KLM Lounge at IAD
The Air France-KLM Lounge at IAD. Image Credit: Priority Pass

Other high-end travel benefits include a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck fee credit and a complimentary Priority Pass Select membership that provides lounge access in airports around the world whether you’re flying first class or economy.

Additionally, you’ll receive a $300 travel credit after you’re approved for this card and again each year on your account anniversary. This travel credit will automatically reimburse you for any travel expenses, including things like car rentals, campgrounds, taxis, and even parking.

Hot Tip: Now through December 31, 2021, your $300 travel credit can also be applied to gas and grocery purchases.

The card earns 10 points per dollar spent on Lyft and includes a 1-year subscription to Lyft Pink for the primary cardholder, which in turn grants you a membership to Grubhub+/Seamless+ (a $120 annual value). This Lyft Pink subscription includes benefits like 15% off all Lyft rides, waived cancellation fees, and free rides on Lyft bikes and scooters.

As you’d expect, the Chase Sapphire Reserve card also includes the DashPass subscription included with the Chase Sapphire Preferred card but adds an annual $60 DoorDash statement credit that’s automatically applied to your account. Similarly, cardholders get up to $120 for Peloton Digital and All Access Membership statement credit.

The annual fee for this card is $550.

Hot Tip: Before you apply for any Chase cards, make sure you understand the 5/24 rule. This is the unwritten rule that says you won’t be approved for a Chase credit card if you have opened 5 or more credit cards from any bank in the previous 24 months.

The Best Chase Credit Cards for Cash-Back

Chase Freedom Flex℠ Credit Card

Credit CardBenefits & Info

Chase Freedom Flex℠

Freedom Flex℠ Credit Card
Learn More
(at Chase's secure site)

  • Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening.
  • 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 3% cash back on dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services
  • Earn 3% cash back on drugstore purchases
  • Earn 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, and 1% on all other purchases.
  • 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases, then a variable APR of 14.99% - 24.74%.
  • Good to Excellent Credit Recommendation (670-850)
  • Annual Fee: $0

While the Freedom Flex card doesn’t come with the perks you get with the Chase Sapphire Preferred card and the Chase Sapphire Reserve card, it’s still very useful.

This card earns 5% cash-back on bonus categories that rotate quarterly. Common bonus categories include restaurants, grocery stores, Amazon, drugstores, and more. Each quarter, you’ll earn 5% cash-back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in that quarter’s bonus categories.

Chase Freedom Flex Bonus Categories Q4 2021
Chase Freedom Flex Bonus Categories for Q4 2021. Image Credit: Chase

However, this card has even more earning potential:

  • An introductory offer that includes the ability to earn 5% cash-back on grocery store purchases (up to $12,000) in the first year
  • 5% cash-back on travel purchased through the Ultimate Rewards travel portal
  • 3% cash-back on dining (including delivery services)
  • 3% cash-back on drugstore purchases
  • 1% cash-back on all other purchases

In addition to great bonus categories, the Freedom Flex card comes with lots of other great benefits.

With this card, you’ll get cell phone protection that covers you for up to 2 claims per year ($1,000 in total coverage) if your cell phone is stolen or damaged.

The Freedom Flex card also comes with some great travel insurance benefits, including secondary car rental coverage plus trip cancellation and interruption insurance.

This card does not have an annual fee.

Freedom Unlimited Card

If you’re looking for a Chase card that can guarantee you’ll earn more than 1% cash-back on every single purchase you make, look no further than the no-annual-fee Freedom Unlimited card.

This card earns 1.5% cash-back on all purchases outside of the bonus categories. This 1.5% can become 1.5x points per dollar when paired with a premium Ultimate Rewards card (one that has an annual fee). Plus, you’ll earn 5% back on travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards and 3% back on dining and drugstore purchases.

The Freedom Unlimited card can be a fantastic addition to any other Chase card you may have; you’ll always be earning the most points possible if you use it to fill in the gaps between higher-earning bonus categories.

Bottom Line: Not sure which cash-back card from Chase is the best option for you? Check out our head-to-head comparison of the Freedom Flex card and the Freedom Unlimited card for some guidance.

The Best Chase Business Credit Cards

Ink Business Preferred Card

Credit CardKey Benefits & Info
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
Learn More
(at Chase's secure site)
  • Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $15,000 on purchases in the first 3 months.
  • Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent in combined purchases on travel, shipping purchases, internet, cable and phone services, advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines each account anniversary year
  • Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases—with no limit to the amount you can earn
  • 25% more value when redeeming points through Ultimate Rewards® travel
  • Good to Excellent Credit Recommended (670-850)
  • Annual Fee: $95

$2,000

Must Reads: For more info on the Ink Business Preferred, see our guides on its benefits, 7 things to do as a new cardholder, and our full review. This is our favorite Chase business credit card.

Small business owners can also earn Ultimate Rewards through their business purchases using Chase’s premium business card offering, the Ink Business Preferred card.

This card has several bonus categories that earn 3x points per dollar on up to $150,000 in combined spending:

  • Travel
  • Shipping
  • Internet, cable, and phone services
  • Social media and search engine advertising

The points you earn can be transferred to travel partners or redeemed through the travel portal at a value of 1.25 cents per point.

This card also comes with the same trip delay coverage as the Chase Sapphire Preferred card provides. You’ll be eligible to claim expenses after a 12-hour (or overnight) delay.

You’ll also get primary rental car coverage and you can take advantage of the trip cancellation/interruption insurance. Finally, there are a number of other benefits that come with the Ink Business Preferred card, such as cell phone insurance.

The annual fee for this card is $95.

Ink Business Cash® Credit Card

The Ink Business Cash card is another great option to boost your earning potential. This card earns 5% cash-back on up to $25,000 in purchases (per anniversary year) at office supply stores and on cell phone, landline, internet, and cable TV purchases.

It also earns 2% cash-back on the first $25,000 spent (per anniversary year) on gas stations and dining purchases. All other purchases will earn 1% cash-back.

Like the Freedom cards, when you pair this card with a premium card (that has an annual fee), your cash-back can become up to 5x points per dollar, making this a fantastic card for business owners who like to travel.

This card does not have an annual fee.

Hot Tip: For additional information on the perks that come with this card, check out these valuable benefits of the Ink Business Cash card. 

Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card

If you’re looking for a no-annual-fee Chase business card that can guarantee you’ll earn more than 1% cash-back on every single purchase you make, check out the Ink Business Unlimited card.

This card earns 1.5% cash-back on all purchases, regardless of category. This 1.5% can become 1.5x points per dollar when paired with a premium Ultimate Rewards card.

The Ink Business Unlimited card can be a fantastic addition to your other Chase credit cards. You’ll always be earning the most points possible if you use it to fill in the gaps between higher-earning bonus categories.

The Best Chase Airline Credit Cards

United℠ Explorer Card

The United Explorer card comes with benefits that will appeal to anyone who likes to fly on United Airlines. In addition to a welcome bonus, you’ll be earning United MileagePlus miles with every purchase at the following rates:

  • 2x miles on United Airlines purchases
  • 2x miles at restaurants and food delivery services
  • 2x miles on hotel stays booked directly with the hotel

The primary cardholder and a companion traveling on the same reservation will each get 1 free checked bag. You’ll also enjoy lounge access with 2 1-time passes to a United Club of your choice and a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit of up to $100.

The annual fee for this card is $0 the first year and $95 each year after that.

United Club
You’ll get United Club access with the United Explorer card or the United Club℠ Infinite Card. Image Credit: United

United Quest℠ Card

The United Quest card provides an elevated experience for United flyers beyond the standard United Explorer card. Cardholders enjoy enhanced perks, earnings, and benefits, including:

  • 3x miles on United purchases
  • 2x miles on restaurants, travel, and streaming service purchases
  • Free first and second checked bags for the primary cardholder and a companion on the same reservation
  • Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit (up to $100)
  • $125 annual United credit
  • 2 5,000-mile anniversary award-flight credits
  • Priority boarding
  • 25% back on United inflight purchases

The annual fee for this card is $250.

United Club Infinite Card

The United Club Infinite card is the premier offering of United-branded credit cards. It comes with a hefty price tag, but the high-end benefits can easily outweigh the cost. Even better, the annual fee is waived the first year, so you can try it before having to pay a fee.

Here’s a look at the earning rates and other benefits you’ll receive as a cardholder:

  • 4x miles on United purchases
  • 2x miles at restaurants and on all other travel purchases
  • Free first and second checked bags for the primary cardholder and a companion on the same reservation
  • Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit (up to $100)
  • United Club membership
  • Trip cancellation/interruption insurance
  • Baggage delay and lost luggage coverage
  • Car rental collision damage waiver
  • Platinum elite status with IHG.
  • Complimentary upgrades on awards for companions
  • 10,000 miles for signing up with CLEAR before June 30, 2022
  • $75 in statement credits for purchases at IHG from January 1, 2022, to December 31, 2022.

The annual fee for this card is $0 the first year and $525 each year after that.

Bottom Line: The United Club Infinite card is the top-of-the-line offering from United Airlines. It comes with a long list of benefits that offer tremendous value to anyone who regularly flies on United. If you have a business, you can check out the business version of this card, the United Club℠ Business Card.

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card

Southwest CardInformation
Best Points Offer Ever!

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card
Learn More
(at Chase's secure site)
  • Earn up to 100,000 bonus points. Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $2,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open, plus 50,000 more bonus points after spending $12,000 total on purchases in the first 12 months.
  • 7,500 anniversary points each year.
  • Now enjoy more benefits and more ways to earn.
  • New! Earn 3X points on Southwest® purchases.
  • New! Earn 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare.
  • New! Earn 2X points on internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming.
  • $75 Southwest® travel credit each year.
  • 4 Upgraded Boardings per year when available.
  • Good to Excellent Credit Recommended (670-850)
  • Annual fee: $149

$1,300

If you’re a frequent Southwest Airlines flyer, the Southwest Priority card should probably earn a place in your wallet. This card is full of benefits and perks that will come in handy each and every time you fly Southwest.

To help offset the cost of the annual fee, this card offers 7,500 bonus points each year on your anniversary date and a $75 Southwest travel credit. You’ll also be able to earn Southwest elite status faster since this card earns 1,500 Tier Qualifying Points for each $10,000 spent. Plus, you’ll be able to get your pick of the best seats on the plane with 4 Upgraded Boardings each year.

In addition to all of this, the Southwest Priority card helps you earn Rapid Rewards points. You’ll earn 3x points per dollar spent on Southwest purchases, 2x points on local transit and commuting, internet, cable, phone services, and selected streaming, plus 1x point per dollar spent on all other purchases.

The annual fee for this card is $149.

Hot Tip: Another great thing about using a Southwest credit card is that all points earned will count towards the Southwest Companion Pass. The Southwest Priority card is the high-end offering, but if you’re looking for a card with a smaller annual fee, you may want to consider the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card or the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card.

Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card

If you have a business, look to the Southwest Performance Business card for great perks and benefits. With this card, you can earn Southwest Rapid Rewards points at the following rates:

  • 4x points on Southwest purchases
  • 3x points on Rapid Rewards hotel and car partners
  • 2x points on ride share, social media and search engine advertising, internet, cable, and phone services
  • 1x points on all other purchases
  • 9,000 bonus points on your cardmember anniversary

In addition, you’ll get perks like 4 Upgraded Boardings per year, tier-qualifying points that count towards A-List status, and a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit.

The annual fee for this card is $199.

British Airways Visa Signature® Card

If you’ve got some big spending to do, you might want to take advantage of the generous tiered welcome bonus that’s currently being offered on the British Airways Visa card. When you combine the welcome bonus with this card’s bonus categories, you’ll be able to earn lots of British Airways Avios quickly.

You’ll also save 10% on flights that originate in the U.S. and you’ll be eligible for statement credits when you book reward flights to London and use your British Airways Visa card to pay for the taxes and fees. You’ll get a $100 statement credit for economy and premium economy tickets and a $200 credit for business and first class seats. This benefit can be used up to 3 times per year for a maximum of $600 in credits.

If you spend $30,000 in a calendar year, you’ll earn a Travel Together Ticket that allows you to bring a companion when you book an award ticket — you’ll just pay taxes and fees for the second ticket.

The British Airways Visa card also comes with a selection of travel benefits and protections like an auto rental collision damage waiver and baggage delay insurance.

The annual fee for this card is $95.

Bottom Line: Other airline credit card options from Chase that earn Avios include the Aer Lingus Visa Signature® Credit Card and the Iberia Visa Signature® Card. The Avios earned from these 2 credit cards along with the British Airways Visa card are the same currency, but each rewards program uses them differently. 

The Best Chase Hotel Credit Cards

The World of Hyatt Credit Card

The World of Hyatt card is a must for anyone who loves staying at Hyatt hotels. First, this card will help you earn World of Hyatt points fast with these bonus categories:

  • Up to 9x points on Hyatt purchases — 4 Bonus Points per $1 spent at Hyatt hotels and 5 Base Points per $1 as a World of Hyatt member
  • 2x points at restaurants
  • 2x points on airline tickets purchased directly from the airline and on local transit/commuting purchases
  • 2x points on gym memberships and at fitness clubs

Plus, each year you are a cardmember, you’ll get 1 free night at any Category 1 to 4 Hyatt hotel. You can also earn an additional free night certificate for a Category 1 to 4 hotel when you spend $15,000 during your cardmember year. This free night certificate usually is worth more than the cost of the annual fee, making this card a great option for anyone who stays at Hyatt properties even just a few times a year.

The annual fee for this card is $95.

Hyatt Zilara Cancun
Use points earned from your World of Hyatt card to stay at wonderful resorts like Hyatt Zilara Cancun. Image Credit: Hyatt

Hot Tip: If you’re a small business owner, consider checking out the newly launched World of Hyatt Business Credit Card, which offers big earning potential and an easier path to Globalist elite status. 

Marriott Bonvoy Boundless™ Credit Card

Fans of Marriott hotels will definitely want to take a look at the Marriott Boundless card. In addition to a nice welcome bonus, this card earns 6x points at Marriott properties and 2x points on all other purchases, so it’s easy to rack up plenty of Marriott Bonvoy points.

This card is also great if you want Marriott elite status. As a cardholder, you’ll automatically get Silver Elite status each year. You’ll also get 15 elite night credits to help you achieve the next status level. If you spend $35,000 in a year, you’ll earn Gold Elite status.

While the Marriott Boundless card does have an annual fee, it comes with a free night certificate that you can use at any location (with a value of up to 35,000 points). This alone can make up for the annual fee, making this card a no-brainer for Marriott loyalists.

The annual fee for this card is $95.

Bottom Line: The Marriott Boundless card comes with lots of great benefits for those who enjoy staying at Marriott hotels. It has a reasonable annual fee that’s easily offset by the perks and benefits. However, if you’d prefer a card with no annual fee, check out the Marriott Bonvoy Bold™ Credit Card.

The Ritz-Carlton™ Credit Card

Another good option for folks who enjoy Marriott hotels (including Ritz-Carlton properties) is the Ritz-Carlton card. Though the card is closed to new applicants, cardholders of a Marriott-branded Chase card that have had the card for a minimum of 12 months can request a product change to this card for excellent earning potential and premium benefits.

Just as with the Marriott Boundless card, you’ll earn 6x points at Marriott hotels, including, of course, The Ritz-Carlton. But you’ll also earn 3x points at restaurants, car rental agencies, and on airline tickets purchased directly from the airline. All other purchases will earn 2x points per dollar.

As with other premium credit cards, you’ll get high-end benefits to make up for the high-end price tag. This card comes with a $300 annual travel credit, a Priority Pass Select membership, and a $100 Global Entry application fee credit.

Other perks of this card include a free night certificate worth up to 50,000 points and automatic Gold Elite status in the Marriott Bonvoy program. Plus, the Ritz-Carlton card comes with travel protections including emergency medical and dental coverage, travel accident insurance, roadside assistance, and more.

The annual fee for this card is $450.

IHG® Rewards Club Premier Credit Card

CREDIT CARDCARD INFO
IHG® Rewards Club Premier Credit Card

IHG® Rewards Club Premier Credit Card
Learn More
(at Chase's secure site)
  • Earn 150,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
  • Earn up to 25 points total per $1 spent when you stay at an IHG hotel
  • Earn 2x points on purchases at gas stations, grocery stores, and restaurants; then 1 point per $1 on all other purchases.
  • Enjoy a Reward Night after each account anniversary year at eligible IHG hotels worldwide. Plus, enjoy a reward night when you redeem points for any stay of 4 or more nights
  • Platinum Elite status as long as you remain a Premier card member
  • Good to Excellent Credit Recommend (670-850)
  • Annual Fee: $0 for the first year, $89 thereafter

If you enjoy staying in IHG hotels when traveling, then the IHG Premier card is a great one to have in your wallet. This card has a lot going for it — just take a look at some of its benefits and perks:

  • A very generous welcome bonus to help you earn lots of IHG Rewards points
  • 10x points per dollar at IHG Hotels & Resorts properties
  • 2x points per dollar at gas stations, grocery stores, and restaurants
  • A free reward night each year after your account anniversary
  • Fourth night free when you redeem points for at least 4 consecutive nights
  • Automatic IHG Rewards Platinum Elite status
  • Travel coverage including trip interruption/cancellation insurance, baggage delay insurance, and lost luggage reimbursement

As you can see, the IHG Premier card has lots of benefits that make this card a great option for fans of IHG. While you might associate IHG with more midscale and budget brands like Holiday Inn Express and Staybridge Suites, there are actually plenty of luxury brands in the IHG Hotels & Resorts portfolio including InterContinental, Kimpton Hotels, and Regent Hotels & Resorts for upscale options.

If you’d prefer a way to earn IHG Rewards points without an annual fee and don’t mind a few fewer perks, the IHG® Rewards Club Traveler Credit Card might be a better fit. However, if you want a card that strikes a nice balance between cost and benefits, the IHG Premier card is the way to go. If you’re not sure which one of these cards would be best for you, check out our comparison of these 2 cards.

The annual fee for this card is $0 for the first year and then $89.

Hot Tip: Curious how Chase credit cards stack up to the competition? Check out our head-to-head comparisons of Chase cards vs. Capital One cards and Chase cards vs. American Express cards.

Honorable Mention Chase Credit Cards

Disney® Premier Visa® Card

If you’re a Disney fan, you’ve heard about the Disney Premier card, and have wondered if it’s right for you. The good news is it has a low annual fee and features an easy-to-earn welcome bonus. This card earns Disney Rewards Dollars that can be turned into statement credits for airline purchases and Disney purchases. The Disney category is pretty broad and includes things like:

  • Disney theme park tickets, shopping, and dining
  • Disney resorts
  • Disney movies
  • Disney Store purchases
  • Disney Cruise Line purchases

You’ll earn 2% back on Disney purchases as well as purchases at gas stations, grocery stores, and restaurants. You’ll earn 1% back on all other purchases.

Kylo Ren Disney Premier card character experience
Your Disney Premier card gives you exclusive access to a Kylo Ren character experience at Hollywood Studios. Image Credit: Disney

Die-hard Disney fans will appreciate this card’s additional benefits, including 10% off of select merchandise and dining purchases at Disneyland and Walt Disney World Resorts, 10% off of select purchases at Disney stores, and cardmember exclusive character experiences and Disney store events.

The annual fee for this card is $49.

» Related: The 10 Best Credit Cards for Disney & Universal Vacations [2021]

Bottom Line: The Disney Premier card may be a good option if your vacations are largely Disney-focused. While some of the earning categories can be matched or exceeded by other cards, the extra perks like Disney discounts and exclusive events may make this card worth it for loyalists.

Amazon Rewards Visa Signature Card

Amazon is the world’s most popular online marketplace that many of us use almost daily. But did you know there’s an Amazon-branded credit card? The Amazon Signature card is an option that’s available to Amazon Prime members that offers solid cash-back categories.

With this card, you’ll earn:

  • 5% cash-back at Amazon and Whole Foods
  • 2% cash-back at restaurants, gas stations, and drugstores
  • 1% cash-back on all other purchases

While this isn’t the first card you should apply for if you’re new to collecting points and miles, it can be beneficial if you spend a lot of money at Amazon and Whole Foods.

This card does not have an annual fee.

Final Thoughts

It’s easy to see why Chase credit cards are some of the most popular rewards cards available today. The benefits and perks of these cards are plentiful and there are lots of options, so you’re bound to find one that’s perfect for you.

Whether you’re looking for a card that comes with great travel perks, one that earns Chase Ultimate Rewards, or one that earns simple cash-back, Chase has an option that will fit your needs.

The information regarding the Chase Freedom Unlimited® card, Chase Freedom Flex℠ Credit Card, The Ritz-Carlton™ Credit Card, Disney® Premier Visa® Card, and Amazon Rewards Visa Signature Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer. 

Featured Image Credit: Nicole Glass Photography via Shutterstock

Frequently asked questions

Which airlines and hotels partner with Chase Ultimate Rewards?

Airline partners include Air Canada, Air France/KLM, British Airways, Iberia, Aer Lingus, JetBlue, Singapore Airlines, Southwest Airlines, United Airlines, Emirates, and Virgin Atlantic. Hotel partners include Hyatt, IHG, and Marriott Bonvoy.

Do Chase Ultimate Rewards points expire?

As long as your account is open, your points will not expire.

Can you earn Ultimate Rewards without one of the credit cards?

No. You must have one of the Chase Ultimate Rewards cards to earn Ultimate Rewards points.

How much are Chase Ultimate Rewards points worth?

The value of your Ultimate Rewards points varies based on the credit card you have and how you use them. When redeeming for travel through the Ultimate Rewards portal, your points are worth:

  • 1 cent each when you have the Freedom Flex card, Freedom Unlimited card, Freedom Flex card, Ink Business Cash card, or the Ink Business Unlimited card
  • 1.25 cents each when you have the Ink Business Preferred card or the Chase Sapphire Preferred card
  • 1.5 cents each when you have the Chase Sapphire Reserve card

It’s possible to get more value from your Ultimate Rewards points, though. At Upgraded Points, we value Ultimate Rewards points at 2 cents apiece because of their ability to be redeemed for huge value through Chase’s airline and hotel transfer partners.

Which is the best Chase credit card to get?

While there may not be just one right answer to this question, there is one that’s a particularly well-rounded card that appeals to a wide variety of people. The Chase Sapphire Preferred card is one of the most popular rewards credit cards out there and popular with beginners as well as seasoned miles and points collectors. This card earns Chase Ultimate Rewards points and strikes a nice balance between cost and benefits.

Which is the hardest Chase credit card to get?

The hardest Chase credit card to be approved for is likely the Chase Sapphire Reserve card. This premium credit card comes with tons of benefits and perks and requires a high credit score to be approved.

Katie Seemann

About Katie Seemann

Katie is an Ohio native who caught the travel bug after spending a semester in college in Nottingham, England. In addition to exploring England, she visited Ireland, Scotland and the Netherlands during that time and loved every minute of it (everything except the hostel in Scotland – that’s an experience she doesn’t intend on repeating!) In 2015, Katie discovered the world of points and miles, and since then she’s earned countless points and has an embarrassingly large number of credit cards in her wallet (which she needs a spreadsheet to keep track of!)
Read More

Urgent Report:

How to Beat the Crowds & Lock In Affordable Travel While You Still Can...

With lockdowns ending, the demand for travel is surging to record levels - and so are prices.

We’ll show you the strategies and tools to unlock huge savings, but that window is closing fast - so you need to get on this right now.

Download our last-chance playbook here:

We respect your privacy. Please view our privacy policy here.

Disclaimer: Any comments listed below are not from the bank advertiser, nor have they been reviewed or approved by them. No responsibility will be taken by the bank advertiser for these comments.

1 comment

  1. Lydia November 12, 2020

    I love your articles about points and credit cards. Since so many of these cards have added new benefits, I would find it helpful to have a chart called new (temporary) COVID credit card benefits. Specifically the number of points for groceries and gas, along with any restrictions. (e.g. you don’t get points if you use Instacart). Thanks and keep up the good work.

    Reply

Any thoughts or questions? Comment below!

Related Posts

Advertiser Disclosure

Many of the credit card offers that appear on this site are from credit card companies from which we receive financial compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). However, the credit card information that we publish has been written by experts who know these products inside out, and what we recommend is what we would (or already) use ourselves. This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers that are on the market. Click here to see a list of advertisers that we work with.