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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!
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.
Flexible redemption options for your Ultimate Rewards points result in rewards that you can actually use!
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.
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.
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.
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.
A fantastic travel card with a huge welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® card is one of the best travel rewards cards on the market. Its bonus categories include travel, dining, online grocery purchases, and streaming services, which gives you the opportunity to earn lots of bonus points on these purchases.
Additionally, it offers flexible point redemption options, no foreign transaction fees, and excellent travel insurance coverage including primary car rental insurance. With benefits like these, it’s easy to see why this card is an excellent choice for any traveler.
A top player in the high-end premium travel credit card space that earns 3x points on travel and dining while offering top luxury perks.
If you’re looking for an all-around excellent travel rewards card, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® is one of the best options out there.
The card combines elite travel benefits and perks like airport lounge access, with excellent point earning and redemption options. Plus it offers top-notch travel insurance protections to keep you covered whether you’re at home or on the road.
Don’t forget the $300 annual travel credit which really helps to reduce the annual fee!
This all-purpose cash-back card offers great bonus categories, including bonus points for every purchase you make!
The Chase Freedom Unlimited® is easily one of the best cash-back credit cards on the market. There aren’t many no-annual-fee credit cards that offer multiple great bonus categories like 5% back on travel purchased through Chase, 3% back on dining and drugstore purchases, and 1.5% back on all other purchases.
When paired with other Chase cards in the Ultimate Rewards family, you can transfer that cash back into points if you wish – making it one of the most lucrative cards in your wallet.
The Freedom Flex card is an excellent no-annual-fee card that still earns big with 5% cash-back on travel and other bonus categories.
The Chase Freedom Flex℠ sure does pack quite a punch — especially for a no-annual-fee card.
The Freedom Flex card is an incredible option for those looking for a well-rounded cash-back card, or a powerful point-earner when paired with a premium card in the Ultimate Rewards family.
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 bonus.
All Chase credit cards that earn Ultimate Rewards points offer a welcome 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.
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:
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 |
|
| Chase Sapphire Preferred card |
|
| Freedom Unlimited card |
|
| Freedom Flex card |
|
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.
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.
The Freedom Unlimited card earns 1.5% cash-back on every purchase, making it a good choice for everyday purchases, including groceries.
Dine out a lot? Several Chase credit cards earn elevated rewards on purchases made at restaurants:
| Best Personal Chase Card for Dining | Rewards |
| Chase Sapphire Reserve card | 3x points on dining |
| Chase Sapphire Preferred card | 3x points on dining |
| Freedom Unlimited card | 3% cash-back |
The Freedom Unlimited card earns 1.5% cash-back on every purchase, including purchases made at gas stations.
Since all Chase Ultimate Rewards credit cards earn rewards on every purchase, you’ll earn points for paying all of your household expenses.
| Personal Chase Card for Paying Household Bills | Bonus Spending Category | Rewards |
| Chase Sapphire Reserve card | All purchases | 1 point per $1 spent |
| Chase Sapphire Preferred card | All purchases | 1 point per $1 spent |
| Freedom Unlimited card | All purchases | 1.5% cash-back |
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%.
Hot Tip: You can also earn 5x to 10x points on select Peloton purchases over $250 through March 31, 2025 with the Chase Sapphire Preferred card and Chase Sapphire Reserve card.
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.
The Ink Business Preferred card is hard to beat, with a huge welcome bonus offer and 3x points per $1 on the first $150,000 in so many business categories.
The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card is a powerhouse for earning lots of points from your business purchases, especially for business owners that spend regularly on ads.
Plus the card offers flexible redemption options, including access to Chase airline and hotel transfer partners where you can achieve outsized value.
Business owners will also love the protections the card provides like excellent cell phone insurance, rental car insurance, purchase protection, and more.
This card offers great rewards and no annual fee. Any new business owner that needs to get going will enjoy this card.
The Ink Business Cash® Credit Card has a lot going for it that makes it a compelling choice for small business owners. The card features a very lucrative 5% back on up to $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on cellular phone, landline, internet, and cable TV services each account anniversary year.
When you factor in that the card has no annual fee, and 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months; variable 18.49% - 24.49% thereafter, you could be adding big value back into your business for no cost out of pocket.
The Ink Business Unlimited card is a stellar option for business owners looking for a no-fuss uncapped 1.5% cash-back card without an annual fee.
As a business owner, you likely keep pretty busy and probably prefer a credit card that just keeps things simple.
If so, the Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card might be just the card for you. From zero annual fee to a flat cash-back rate, the card is a no-frills option that you don’t have to think twice about.
Don’t forget too, 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months; variable 18.49% - 24.49% thereafter
Earn up to 5% cash-back for your business without complex bonus earning categories!
Chase has introduced the Ink Business Premier℠ Credit Card to its business credit card lineup. With straightforward cash-back earnings on everyday purchases and large expenses, tools to help you monitor your business, and multiple ways to redeem your rewards, this is a great card option to consider.
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.
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.
| Chase Business Credit Card for Travel Expenses | Rewards for Travel Purchases |
| Ink Business Preferred card | 3x points per $1 spent |
| Ink Business Unlimited card | 1.5% cash-back |
| Ink Business Cash card | 1% cash-back |
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.
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.
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!
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.
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:
| Chase Business Credit Card for Dining | Rewards |
| Ink Business Cash card | 2 points per $ spent |
| Ink Business Unlimited card | 1.5% cash-back |
| Ink Business Preferred card | 1 point per $1 spent |
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)!
No matter which Chase Ultimate Rewards-earning credit card you have, you can earn multiple points per dollar spent on your card.
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.
Every purchase you make on your Ultimate Rewards-earning credit card earns points!
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 welcome bonus of 60,000 Ultimate Rewards points, but you now see that a 75,000-point welcome 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 welcome bonus offer.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The information regarding the Chase Freedom Flex℠ was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
Chase’s points program is called Ultimate Rewards. The points you earn, redeem, and transfer are Chase Ultimate Rewards points.
The value of Ultimate Rewards points depends on the redemption. A poor redemption, such as cash-back, will result in a value of about 1 cent per point.
There are tons of Chase partners you can redeem points with, including frequent flyer and hotel loyalty partners. For some of these programs, the value can be as high as 7 cents per point depending on your redemption!
That’s like getting a $100 ticket for the equivalent of about 1,428 points.
To transfer your points to airlines:
Chase’s airline transfer partners include: Aer Lingus AerClub, Air Canada Aeroplan, British Airways Executive Club, Flying Blue Air France KLM, Emirates Skywards, Iberia Plus, JetBlue, Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer, Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards, United Airlines MileagePlus, and Virgin Atlantic Flying Club.
Hotel partners include: World of Hyatt, IHG Rewards, and Marriott Bonvoy.
Points earned will appear in your Ultimate Rewards account at the end of each monthly billing cycle.
You must add a spouse or member of your household as an authorized user before you can transfer points to them. After you’ve done this, go to your Ultimate Rewards account, hover over your points on the top right, and select Combine points.
Then you will see your spouse listed on the loaded page. Select your spouse’s name and press Continue to enter in the number of points you want to transfer.
Chase points do not expire. The only way you can lose points is if you or Chase closes your account.
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Christine ran her own business developing and managing insurance and financial services. This stoked a passion for points and miles and she now has over 2 dozen credit cards and creates in-depth, detailed content for UP.
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