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:
- Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
- Chase Sapphire Reserve®
- Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
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, 2025
- 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. If activated by December 31, 2023, the subscription is active through December 31, 2024. If activated during the 2024 calendar year, the subscription will be valid for 1 year from the date of activation.
You’ll also 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. 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.
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, 2025
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.
Other high-end travel benefits include a Global Entry/TSA PreCheck/Nexus 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.
The Air France-KLM Lounge at IAD. Image Credit: Priority Pass
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.
As you’d expect, the Chase Sapphire Reserve card also includes the DashPass subscription included with the Chase Sapphire Preferred card plus a $5 monthly DoorDash credit.
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℠
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.
Freedom Flex card bonus categories for Q1 2022. Image Credit: Chase
However, this card has even more earning potential:
- 5% cash-back on travel purchased through the Ultimate Rewards travel portal
- 5% cash-back on Lyft (through March 2025)
- 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.
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
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.
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.
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.
Ink Business Premier℠ Credit Card
The Ink Business Premier card is Chase’s newest, and most expensive, Ink business credit card and has an annual fee of $195.
The card earns 5% cash-back on purchases made through the Chase travel portal, 2.5% cash-back on purchases of $5,000 or more, and 2% cash-back on all other purchases. The card also offers cell phone protection with up to $1,000 in coverage per claim, with a maximum of 3 claims per year and a $100 deductible per claim.
However, unlike the Ink Business Cash card and the Ink Business Unlimited card, the cash-back you earn with the card in the form of Chase Ultimate Rewards is not transferable to other Ultimate Rewards accounts that have access to airline and hotel transfer partners. Given that, this card is best suited for those who operate a business with large expenses and are looking to earn as much cash-back as possible.
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/TSA PreCheck/Nexus application fee credit of up to $100.
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/TSA PreCheck/Nexus 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
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/TSA PreCheck/Nexus 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 Rewards
- 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.
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
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.
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 rideshare, 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/TSA PreCheck/Nexus application fee credit.
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.
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.
Aeroplan® Credit Card
Chase’s newest airline card is a great option for Air Canada flyers. With it, you’ll earn Aeroplan points at the following rates:
- 3x points per $1 spent with Air Canada
- 3x points per $1 spent at grocery stores
- 3x points per $1 spent on dining, takeout, and eligible delivery services
- 1x points per $1 on all other purchases
Plus, the card comes with automatic Aeroplan 25K elite status for your first 2 calendar years, free checked bags on Air Canada flights, a Global Entry/TSA PreCheck/Nexus credit, trip delay insurance, baggage delay insurance, rental car insurance, and much more!
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.
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 that 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 Bonvoy 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.
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 of $450 annually. This card comes with a $300 annual travel credit, a Priority Pass Select membership, and a $100 Global Entry/TSA PreCheck/Nexus 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.
IHG® Rewards Premier Credit Card
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 One Rewards points
- Earn up to 26 points total per $1 spent when you stay at an IHG hotel
- Earn 5 points per $1 spent on purchases on travel, gas stations, and restaurants.
- Earn 3 points per $1 spent on all other purchases
- A free reward night each year after your account anniversary
- 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 One Rewards points without an annual fee and don’t mind a few fewer perks, the IHG® Rewards 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.
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 may have heard about the Disney Premier card and 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.
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 Store locations, and cardmember exclusive character experiences and Disney Store events.
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 Prime 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 Prime 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.
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 Ink Business Premier℠ Credit Card, The Ritz-Carlton™ Credit Card, Disney® Premier Visa® Card, and Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
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