Erika’s Picks for Best Chase Credit Cards
- Best for budget travelers:
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card - Best for frequent fliers:
Chase Sapphire Reserve® - Best for earning cashback:
Chase Freedom Flex® - Best for beginners:
Chase Freedom Unlimited® - Best for business owners:
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
If you want to rack up credit card rewards, you’ve probably looked into getting a Chase credit card. Whether you’re looking for an entry-level cashback card or a premium travel card, Chase likely has an option for you.
Some of the best Chase cards on the market come with great sign-up offers, introductory interest rates, and ways to earn big rewards points for your purchases.
Points earned on any Chase card can be redeemed through Chase Travel — and who knows, maybe they can even help you take your next trip for free.
Best for Budget Travelers
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Rewards Rate
- 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠
- 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries
- 2x on all other travel purchases
- 1x on all other purchases
Welcome Offer
Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
Annual Fee
$95
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is a good option for travelers who want to rack up points without paying the cost of keeping a premium card in their wallet. If you’re new to travel rewards or travel a fair bit but not enough to justify the cost of a premium card, the Sapphire Preferred is one of the best options out there.
In addition to earning rewards on everything, you’ll get boosted amounts on travel, dining out, select streaming services, and online grocery purchases. You also get access to Chase TravelSM, which is where you’ll earn the most rewards on travel purchases.
The card comes with an annual fee, but it can be offset by the value of the rewards you’ll earn and the benefits that come with it, including:
- $50 anniversary hotel statement credit
- 1:1 point transfer with airline and hotel partners
- 25% more value when redeeming points through Chase TravelSM
- Primary auto rental insurance (up to $60,000)
- Trip cancellation/interruption insurance (up to $10,000 per person, $20,000 per trip)
- Trip delay reimbursement (up to $500 per traveler if your flight is delayed more than 12 hours or requires an overnight stay)
- Baggage delay insurance (up to $100 per day for 5 days when baggage is delayed over 6 hours)
- Travel and emergency assistance
- Purchase protection (up to $500 per claim, $50,000 per account)
- Extended warranty (adds one year to eligible U.S. warranties)
- Complimentary DashPass subscription (activate by December 31, 2027)
- No foreign transaction fees
The card offers a lot of great travel benefits and has a good reward structure, but there are some trade-offs to consider. Even though the annual fee is significantly less than other travel cards, it’s still a fee. And you won’t get lounge access like you will with the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, which is a big drawback if you are a frequent traveler.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is a good option if you want to collect points while benefiting from some top-tier travel rewards. It offers good travel and dining rewards, the ability to transfer points to airline and hotel partners, and a welcome bonus that can be put towards your next trip.
If you’re just starting to dabble in travel rewards, this card is one of the best for getting started, since its fee is reasonable and the perks are plenty.
Best for Frequent Fliers
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
Rewards Rate
- 10x points on hotel stays and car rentals through Chase Travel℠
- 10x points on dining purchases through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
- 5x points on flights booked through Chase Travel℠ (after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually)
- 3x points on restaurants and travel
- 1x points on everything else
Welcome Offer
Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
Annual Fee
$550
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is a premium travel credit card for anyone who travels frequently and wants to do so with a bit of luxury.
You’ll earn points on everything you buy with the card, but with a massive earnings boost on hotel, car rentals, and flights booked through Chase TravelSM, as well as on Chase Dining purchases.
The card is great for frequent fliers because of all the travel benefits that come with it, including:
- $300 annual travel credit
- Statement credit to help with the cost of Global Entry, TSA PreCheck®, or NEXUS
- Complimentary access to any Chase Sapphire Lounge and access to 1,300+ Priority Pass Select lounges
- No blackout dates or restrictions
- 1:1 hotel or airline loyalty program transfer
- Trip cancellation/interruption insurance (up to $10,000 per person, $20,000 per trip)
- Trip delay reimbursement (up to $500 per traveler If your flight is delayed more than 6 hours or requires an overnight stay)
- Travel accident insurance (up to $1,000,000 in coverage)
- Lost luggage reimbursement (up to $3,000 per covered traveler)
- Baggage delay insurance (up to $100 per day for 5 days when baggage is delayed over 6 hours)
- Emergency evacuation coverage (up to $100,000)
- Roadside assistance (up to $50 per incident, 4 times per year)
- Primary rental car insurance coverage (up to $75,000)
- Emergency medical and dental coverage while traveling (up to $2,500 in coverage with a $50 deductible)
- No foreign transaction fees
- 50% more value when redeeming points through Chase TravelSM
- Room upgrades and late checkout at select properties
Some other non-travel benefits include:
- Complimentary DashPass for one year and monthly DoorDash credit (activate by December 31, 2027)
- Purchase protection (up to $10,000 per item)
- Return protection (up to $500 per item, $1,000 in a 12-month period)
- Extended warranty coverage
- 24/7 fraud monitoring
- Zero liability coverage
While the Sapphire Reserve is a top-of-the-line card for splurging on travel, it isn’t for everyone. There’s a high annual fee, so you’ll want to make sure you can benefit from all of the travel perks.
Also, the card lacks bonus categories for everyday purchases like groceries or gas. If you want to use your card to maximize your daily spending, you won’t get the most rewards from the Sapphire Reserve.
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is a must-have if you travel often. The high rewards and premium travel perks are hard to beat.
Yes, it charges a high annual fee, but with perks like a $300 travel credit, complimentary lounge access, and a 50% redemption boost through Chase TravelSM, the value can absolutely outweigh the fee every year.
Best for Earning Cashback
Chase Freedom Flex®
Rewards Rate
- 5% cashback on rotating categories each quarter (up to $1,500 in purchases, then 1%; activation required) and travel purchases through Chase Travel℠
- 3% on dining and drugstore purchases
- 1% on all other spending
Welcome Offer
Earn $200 cashback after spending $500 in the first 3 months
Annual Fee
$0
If you really want to maximize your cashback, you may want a credit card that offers boosted rewards in rotating categories. The Chase Freedom Flex® earns 5% cashback on up to $1,500 each quarter in rotating categories like gas stations and grocery stores. (After that, rewards drop down to 1%.)
Besides the rotating categories, you’ll also earn 1% cashback on everything and boosted cashbacks on travel booked through Chase TravelSM, at drugstores, and on restaurants, takeout, and delivery.
There’s no annual fee, so all the cashback you earn can go straight into your wallet. Plus, there are plenty of benefits, especially for a no-annual-fee card, such as:
- Cellphone protection (up to $800 per claim, $1,000 per year)
- Purchase protection (up to $500 per claim)
- Extended warranty
- Zero liability protection
- Trip cancellation/interruption insurance (up to $1,500 per person, $6,000 per trip)
- Auto rental coverage
- Travel and emergency assistance
- 24/7 fraud monitoring
- Complimentary DashPass for 6 months (activate by December 31, 2027)
Just keep in mind that you’ll have to activate the rotating category each quarter. This could be a hassle to manage — and if you forget, you’ll only get 1% cashback on your purchases. There’s also a quarterly cap of $1,500, limiting how much you can earn.
Also, while the Freedom Flex card gives you access to Chase TravelSM, you won’t have travel benefits like lounge access, which come with other premium cards.
The Chase Freedom Flex® is a great card for earning cashback on your everyday spending. If you don’t mind keeping track of each category, it can be a good way to put a bit more money back into your pocket.
You won’t pay an annual fee, but you’ll still get access to several perks Chase offers, including some travel benefits.
Best for Beginners
Chase Freedom Unlimited®
Rewards Rate
- 5% cashback on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠
- 3% cashback on drugstore purchases, restaurants, takeout, and eligible delivery services
- 1.5% on all other purchases
Welcome Offer
Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening
Annual Fee
$0
The Chase Freedom Unlimited® has no annual fee, a straightforward approval process, and excellent rewards, making it a good option if you’re new to credit cards or on a budget.
A lot of beginner cards don’t offer rewards or perks, but the Freedom Unlimited lets you earn cashback on everything, with boosted rates on dining, takeout, drugstores, and travel booked through Chase TravelSM. And since there’s no fee, that’s basically free money you can put back into your wallet.
There are also several perks, including:
- Auto rental coverage
- Extended warranty protection for eligible purchases
- Purchase protection for items damaged or stolen within 120 days (up to $500 per item)
- Trip cancellation and interruption insurance (up to $1,500 per person, $6,000 per trip)
- 24/7 fraud monitoring
- Zero liability protection
- Travel and emergency assistance
- Complimentary DashPass membership
Because the Freedom Unlimited is more of a beginner card, it comes with fewer benefits than some other Chase cards. For example, you can’t transfer rewards to hotel or airline loyalty programs.
However, the card is still a useful starter card for someone who wants to work up to a higher card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. There is a 1:1 transfer compatibility between the Freedom Unlimited and other Chase cards. So, you can start with the Freedom Unlimited and pair it with a different Chase card down the road.
The Chase Freedom Unlimited® has a high rewards rate on everyday spending, no annual fee, and extra perks that are hard to find on fee-free credit cards. It’s a flexible option if you want cashback or access to Chase TravelSM but aren’t yet ready for a card that charges a fee.
While there isn’t a boosted cashback category for groceries, it does cover other common expenses like restaurants, delivery, and drugstores. Plus, the range of benefits makes it a good card for budgeters and beginners who want solid rewards without any additional costs.
Best for Business Owners
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
Rewards Rate
- 3x points on every dollar spent on shipping, advertising with social media and search engines, internet, cable, phone, and travel — up to the first $150,000 spent in combined purchases in these categories
- 1x per dollar spent everywhere else
Welcome Offer
Earn 90,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months
Annual Fee
$95
The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card is a great card for business owners who want to earn rewards on everyday expenses while also having flexible redemption options. You can cash in your rewards for cashback, gift cards, and travel purchases through Chase TravelSM, or transfer them to one of Chase’s many travel partners.
You’ll earn boosted points per dollar on the first $150,000 spent annually in combined travel, shipping, internet, cable, phone services, and advertising with social media sites or search engines. All other purchases earn 1x points with no limit.
There is an annual fee, but that can be offset if you have regular business expenses to charge to the card.
Some benefits include:
- 25% redemption boost when points are used on Chase TravelSM
- 1:1 point transfer with Chase TravelSM partners
- Trip cancellation/interruption insurance (up to $5,000 per person, $10,000 per trip)
- Roadside assistance
- Primary auto rental coverage (up to $60,000)
- Cellphone protection (up to $1,000 per claim)
- Purchase protection (up to $10,000 per claim)
- Extended warranty (adds one year to eligible U.S. warranties)
- No foreign transaction fees
- Employee cards
- Referral bonus
While the card is a good pick for business owners, remember there is an annual fee and a $150,000 annual spending limit for earning higher rewards. Also, even though it comes with some travel benefits, it doesn’t offer premium benefits like lounge access.
The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card gives business owners the chance to earn rewards on routine business expenses — and then redeem those rewards in a variety of ways. Plus, the annual fee is lower than some competitors’ cards.
While the card doesn’t come with a ton of premium benefits, it does come with travel perks like trip cancellation insurance and no foreign transaction fees. If you’re a business owner who travels a fair bit, the card can help you to minimize some of those costs.
How To Choose a Chase Credit Card
When you’re trying to figure out which Chase card to choose, you’ll want to see how the benefits stack up alongside the costs. Some of the cards with the best rewards rates also come with the highest annual fees.
Make sure you’re choosing a card that works for you and your spending habits.
Evaluate the rewards
Chase has a great rewards program. You can earn and redeem points for upcoming travel or apply them as a statement credit to offset the purchase of a big-ticket item. Plus, Chase cards usually come with sign-up bonuses that can add to your earnings.
Look at the rewards structure for different cards and see how this aligns with your budget and goals. Different cards have different rewards structures, so you’ll want to find one that matches spending you’re already doing so that you’re getting rewarded for purchases you were going to make anyway.
READ MORE: How To Maximize Credit Card Rewards
Read through the benefits
Chase cards are known for their benefits. The Chase Sapphire Reserve, for example, comes with access to Chase lounges at select airports. Other cards cover lost luggage, collision insurance on a car rental, and trip cancellation insurance.
Look at the APR
A number of entry-level and mid-tier Chase cards come with introductory annual percentage rate (APR) offers for the first 15 months or more. This can be ideal if you want to do a balance transfer or make a big purchase.
READ MORE: How To Do a Balance Transfer the Smart Way
Pros and Cons of Chase Credit Cards
Chase credit cards come with significant benefits but there are trade-offs, too. Here are some things you’ll want to keep in mind as you try to find a Chase card that’s right for you.
Pros
- Ability to transfer points: Chase allows you to do a 1:1 transfer of your points to several airlines and hotels. For example, if you have status with United, you can move your points to your MileagePlus account.
- Tiered earnings categories: Many Chase cards come with tiered options to earn even more cashback in specific categories.
- Sign-up bonuses: Some of the most popular Chase cards come with sign-up bonuses and the spending minimum can be pretty reasonable compared to similar offers on the market.
- Co-branded partnerships: Chase works with popular brands like Amazon and Southwest to offer co-branded cards. These cards not only earn rewards to use with the co-branded partner, but some allow you to redeem your points through Chase’s travel portal.
Cons
- Limitations on the types of cards you can have: Chase has a lot of rules about how it doles out cards. For example, you can’t have both a Chase Sapphire Preferred and a Chase Sapphire Reserve card. And if you try to open too many accounts in a short period, Chase may automatically decline your next application.
- You can’t collect too many bonuses: For some cards, you have to wait 48 months before you’ll be eligible to earn a sign-up bonus again.
- Annual fees: The best rewards cards come with the highest fees. Be prepared to spend up to $550 a year to keep a premium Chase credit card in your wallet.
Bottom Line: Should You Get a Chase Credit Card?
Chase has some of the most popular credit cards out there for a reason — they have a great rewards program and some of their cards have very reasonable annual fees while still getting you access to cashback and other perks.
To choose the right Chase card for you, be sure to compare your spending habits against the bonus categories and redemption options, to ensure you’ll make the most of your credit card. And always aim to pay your balance off each month — otherwise, any rewards you earn may get eaten up by interest.
Frequently Asked Questions
Chase knows it has one of the best rewards programs on the market and doesn’t want you to game the system. The 5/24 rule stipulates that you can’t be approved for more than five accounts (with any issuer) in a two-year period. If you do, Chase will automatically deny any new credit card applications you submit.
Chase cards come with the option to see if you’re pre-approved. While pre-approval won’t guarantee you’ll get approved, you can check to see if you’re likely to qualify without it hurting your credit score. If you don’t get approved the first time you apply, you can work on improving your credit and apply again in the future.
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