Chase Ultimate Rewards points rival Amex Membership Rewards points as the “holy grail” of credit card rewards.
This is evidenced by the fact that Ultimate Rewards points offer everything you’d want from a rewards currency, including the ability to earn a lot of points without limits and the option to select from a wide variety of flexible redemption options.
Chase issues a powerful collection of credit cards that earn Ultimate Rewards points, so there’s a card (or combination of cards) for every spending profile, whether personal or business.
In fact, you may need a primer on just how many ways you can earn Ultimate Rewards points. So in this article, we’ll cover why you’d want to earn Ultimate Rewards points, which personal and business Chase credit cards earn Ultimate Rewards points, and all of the ways you can earn Ultimate Rewards points.
Let’s get started!
Why Ultimate Rewards Points?
There are several types of reward currencies you can earn on credit cards, but the most valuable are those that have flexible redemption options and are relatively easy to earn.
Ultimate Rewards points are valuable because they have both of those key characteristics.
Flexibility of Ultimate Rewards
Flexible redemption options for your Ultimate Rewards points result in rewards that you can actually use!
- Redeem rewards at any time with no minimum or maximum redemption amount per transaction
- Transfer rewards to the loyalty programs of Chase’s travel partners
- Transfer rewards between business and personal Ultimate Rewards accounts
- Use a combination of points and cash for travel purchases
- Have the option to redeem points for cash, gift cards, and more
Ease of Earning Ultimate Rewards
It’s easy to earn Ultimate Rewards points on your purchases when the mix of your spending matches up with the reward-earning categories on your Chase credit card.
- Every purchase made earns Ultimate Rewards points
- Bonus category purchases earn up to 10x rewards
- Generous sign-up bonuses jumpstart your earnings
- Earn up to 20x Ultimate Rewards through the Shop through Chase
With all the ways available to earn Ultimate Rewards, you just may need some assistance sorting through all of the options.
Let’s take a look at which Chase credit cards earn Ultimate Rewards points and the multitude of ways to earn them.
Bottom Line: Earning a lot of valuable Ultimate Rewards points creates an asset that can be used to fund a family vacation, offset business expenses, or redeem for immediate cash in an emergency.
Earn Lots of Chase Ultimate Rewards With Chase Personal Cards
Chase personal credit cards earn Ultimate Rewards that can be used to fund a dream vacation. Image Credit: Christine Krzyszton
There are plenty of ways to earn Ultimate Rewards with Chase personal credit cards. Whether your greatest spending is on travel, dining out, or shopping at wholesale clubs, you’re going to earn rewards on every purchase.
Let’s take a look at all the ways to earn Ultimate Rewards points with Chase personal cards.
Chase Personal Cards That Earn Ultimate Rewards
There are a number of personal Chase credit cards that earn Ultimate Rewards. Each one has features, benefits, and earning structures that reward specific spending patterns.
1. Earn a Sign-up Bonus
The fastest way to earn plenty of Ultimate Rewards points is to sign up for a Chase credit card that earns Ultimate Rewards points, complete the initial spending requirement, and earn a welcome sign-up bonus.
All Chase credit cards that earn Ultimate Rewards points offer a sign-up bonus, and some are occasionally quite generous. Although offers can differ, the bonus is generally earned after reaching an initial spending level in the first 90 days after you’re approved for the card.
2. Purchase Travel
Fortunately, Chase defines travel very broadly, so nearly any travel-related purchase you make will earn extra rewards.
The merchant code assigned by the credit card network will determine eligibility, but Chase lists the following examples of purchases that qualify as travel:
- Airlines
- Buses, limos, taxis, ferries
- Campgrounds
- Car rental agencies
- Cruise lines
- Highway and bridge tolls
- Hotels and motels
- Parking lots/garages
- Passenger trains
- Timeshares
- Travel agencies and discount travel sites
Let’s take a look at the earning power of making travel purchases with your personal Chase credit card:
| Chase Personal Credit Card for Travel Purchases |
Rewards |
| Chase Sapphire Reserve card |
- 5x total points on air travel and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards
- 3x points on other travel
|
| Chase Sapphire Preferred card |
- 5x points on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards
- 2x points on all other travel
|
| Freedom Unlimited card |
- 5% cash-back (through Chase Ultimate Rewards)
|
| Freedom Flex card |
- 5% cash-back (through Chase Ultimate Rewards)
|
While the Chase Sapphire Reserve card offers the highest rewards for travel purchases (and for redemption), it does come with a $550 annual fee.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred card offers up to 5 points per $1 spent on travel, has a lower $95 annual fee, and still delivers 25% more value when redeeming points for travel on the Chase travel portal.
Bottom Line: If you have a premium Chase Ultimate Rewards-earning credit card, you can transfer Ultimate Rewards points to those accounts and redeem for greater value (up to 50% more) through the Chase travel portal.
3. Use the Chase Travel Portal
While many use the Chase travel portal for redeeming Ultimate Rewards points, you can also earn points by purchasing travel via the portal.
A convenient way to do this is to pay for a portion of your travel purchase with Ultimate Rewards Points and the remainder using your Chase credit card. You will earn the corresponding Ultimate Rewards points for the amount of travel charged on your card.
4. Buy Groceries
The Freedom Unlimited card earns 1.5% cash-back on every purchase, making it a good choice for everyday purchases, including groceries.
5. Dine Out
Pay for your meal with your Chase credit card and earn lots of Ultimate Rewards points. Image Credit: Monkey Business Images via Shutterstock
Dine out a lot? Several Chase credit cards earn elevated rewards on purchases made at restaurants:
6. Fill Up Your Tank
The Freedom Unlimited card earns 1.5% cash-back on every purchase, including purchases made at gas stations.
7. Pay Your Household Bills
Since all Chase Ultimate Rewards credit cards earn rewards on every purchase, you’ll earn points for paying all of your household expenses.
8. Earn on Quarterly Bonus Spending Categories
Earn 5% cash-back at quarterly bonus merchants. Image Credit: Chase
The Freedom Flex card has a unique earning structure with quarterly bonus categories that earn 5% cash-back!
Each quarter, there’s a different lineup of bonus category merchants. Previous bonus merchants have included department stores, restaurants, gas stations, wholesale clubs, and theaters. There is a limit of $1,500 in purchases per quarter that earn 5%.
Earn Lots of Chase Ultimate Rewards Points With Chase Business Credit Cards
Every purchase your business makes can earn Ultimate Rewards points with a Chase business credit card. Image Credit: Christine Krzyszton
Chase Business Cards That Earn Ultimate Rewards
If you have a business (small or large), there’s a Chase business credit card that will match up with your business spending mix to earn the most Ultimate Rewards points possible.
Maximizing the Ink Business Unlimited Card
If you have a premium Chase credit card (a card that carries an annual fee) such as the Chase Sapphire Reserve card or Chase Sapphire Preferred card, you can transfer your rewards earned on your Ink Business Unlimited card over to those cards. You’ll then receive up to 50% more value when redeeming for travel in the Ultimate Rewards travel portal.
Bottom Line: With multiple Chase Ultimate Rewards-earning business credit cards to choose from, it’s easy to find one that matches your business spending patterns and earns the most rewards.
9. Pay for Travel Expenses
If your business involves a lot of travel, those expenses add up quickly. Earning Ultimate Rewards on those purchases delivers tremendous value back into your business — or can help fund that much-needed family vacation.
Hot Tip: The definition of “travel” for Chase purchases is the same for personal and for business credit cards.
Whether you’re purchasing an airline ticket, staying at an urban Airbnb, or taking a taxi across town, all your travel-related purchases earn 3 points per dollar spent on the Ink Business Preferred card.
10. Earning Through the Chase Travel Portal
Redeeming your Ultimate Rewards points through the Chase Travel portal with the Ink Business Preferred card gives you 25% extra value. Additionally, you can purchase travel via the portal and earn 3 points per dollar spent.
The Ultimate Rewards travel portal also allows you to pay partially with points and the remainder with your Chase credit card.
11. Pay Other Business Expenses
Your business has a lot of different expenses that may or may not fall into a particular bonus-earning category. Selecting the business credit card that closely matches your largest expenses will ensure you’re earning maximum rewards.
Here’s a sample of how Chase business credit cards earn on common business expenses.
| Chase Business Card |
Business Expense Categories |
Business Expense Rewards |
| Ink Business Cash card |
Office supplies, internet, cable, phone |
5% cash-back, up to $25,000 in combined purchases in 5% categories every cardmember year |
| Ink Business Preferred card |
Shipping, advertising, internet, cable, phone |
3x points per $1 spent, up to $150,000 in combined purchases in 3x categories every cardmember year |
| Ink Business Unlimited card |
All business purchases |
1.5% cash-back |
Hot Tip: If your business maximized the $150,000 limit for 3x earnings on the Ink Business Preferred card, your business would realize $5,625 worth of travel when redeeming points through the Ultimate Rewards travel portal!
12. Purchase Gift Cards
Many Ultimate Rewards bonus category merchants (such as office supply stores and gas stations) sell gift cards you can purchase to use for non-bonus category spending.
For example, you can purchase grocery store, gas, hotel, and department store gift cards and receive an elevated 3% to 5% bonus on the purchase.
13. Dine Out
All those restaurant business meetings, late-night hotel dinners, and quick bites during your road trip could be earning Ultimate Rewards points, too!
Use these business Chase Ultimate Rewards-earning credit cards for multiple rewards per dollar spent on dining:
14. Fill Up Your Tank
The Ink Business Cash card is your go-to card for gas purchases. If you’re a road warrior, you’ll earn 2 points for every dollar spent at the pump.
Using the Ink Business Unlimited card would also be a good option, as it earns 1.5% on every purchase (including gas)!
More Ways To Earn Ultimate Rewards on Chase Credit Cards
No matter which Chase Ultimate Rewards-earning credit card you have, you can earn multiple points per dollar spent on your card.
15. Go Shopping in the Chase Ultimate Rewards Shopping Portal
Earn multiple Ultimate Rewards points per $1 spent via Shop through Chase. Image Credit: Chase
An excellent way to earn Ultimate Rewards points is to utilize Shop through Chase.
You can log in to the Ultimate Rewards shopping portal using your Chase account online password.
Click on Earn Bonus Points at the top of the Ultimate Rewards home page, and you’ll see the shopping link.
Hot Tip: Earn big on dining out by purchasing Restaurant.com certificates on Shop through Chase to earn up to 20 points per dollar spent or more during special promotions.
16. Everyday Purchases
Every purchase you make on your Ultimate Rewards-earning credit card earns points!
17. 90-Day Second Chance Sign-up Offer
If you’ve signed up for a Chase credit card offer and you see a higher offer is now available, you can contact Chase and they may match that offer.
For example, say you were approved for a Chase credit card with a sign-up bonus of 60,000 Ultimate Rewards points, but you now see that a 75,000-point sign-up bonus offer is available.
You might be able to get that offer matched by Chase. Just call within 90 days after approval to see if they’ll consider granting the higher sign-up bonus offer.
18. Refer-A-Friend for a Chase Credit Card
Earn big when referring friends for a Chase credit card. Image Credit: Chase
The Chase Refer-A-Friend bonus is a great way to earn more Ultimate Rewards points without spending. If you have an Ultimate Rewards-earning Chase credit card, you can refer a friend to sign up — you’ll both receive a bonus once they’re approved and make a purchase!
Bonus amounts vary depending on the card and whether there is an existing offer available. There is also an annual limit to how many points you can earn.
19. Add an Authorized User
Ultimate Reward bonuses for adding an authorized user to your credit card come and go.
You may receive a bonus offer for adding an authorized user once you’re approved for your new Chase credit card, or you can call the number on the back of your card to inquire if a bonus is available.
Everything Else You Need To Know
There is no set limit to how many Chase credit cards you can have, but Chase does have a rule about how many total credit cards you can open within 24 months.
Hot Tip: Be sure to review the Chase 5/24 rule before applying for any Chase credit card.
As Chase allows you to have only 1 Sapphire credit card, you’ll need to decide between the Chase Sapphire Preferred card or the Chase Sapphire Reserve card. Both cards are personal credit cards.
Final Thoughts
While there are plenty of ways to earn lots of valuable Ultimate Rewards points, the real fun starts at redemption time.
If you have one of the premium Chase credit cards such as the Ink Business Preferred card, Chase Sapphire Preferred card, or Chase Sapphire Reserve card, you’ll receive 25% to 50% more value when redeeming points on the Ultimate Rewards travel portal (depending on the card).
You’ll also experience enhanced value when you transfer Ultimate Rewards points to Chase’s travel partners.
For other ways to redeem your Ultimate Rewards Points for maximum value, check out our complete guide.
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