Chase credit cards have all the time held a particular place in my coronary heart — and my wallet. My very first credit card, the United℠ Explorer Card (see charges and charges), was a Chase product, and it launched me to the world of factors and miles.
I’ll always remember the way it felt to redeem miles I’d earned with the cardboard for the primary time or the journey I took: a last-minute journey with buddies to Moab, Utah, that on the time I by no means would have been ready to afford in any other case. It opened up my eyes to what was doable with credit cards, and from that second on, I used to be hooked.
Since taking that card out 12 years in the past, my assortment has expanded to embrace 11 Chase cards, every enjoying a novel function in my wallet.
If I have been to begin over again, I’d most likely select a special card for my first, however I can confidently say that anchoring my factors and miles technique with Chase credit cards has been a call that is helped me see extra of the world during the last decade than I ever may have dreamed.
Whether your purpose is to earn factors and miles for journey, gather money again or entry perks that can improve your journey expertise, Chase has a card to meet your wants. Here are our prime picks.
The best Chase credit cards
Comparing the best Chase credit cards
These are TPG’s prime suggestions for the best Chase credit cards.
| Card | Best for | Welcome bonus | Earning price | Annual charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chase Sapphire Preferred Card | Newer factors lovers | Earn 100,000 factors after you spend $5,000 on purchases throughout the first three months of account opening. |
|
$95 |
| Chase Freedom Unlimited | Flexible money rewards | Earn $250 money again after you spend $500 on purchases throughout the first three months of account opening. |
|
$0 |
| Ink Business Unlimited Credit Card | No annual charge on a enterprise card | Earn $750 after you spend $6,000 on purchases throughout the first three months of account opening. |
|
$0 |
| Ink Business Preferred Credit Card | Business vacationers | Earn 90,000 factors after you spend $8,000 on purchases throughout the first three months of account opening. |
|
$95 |
| Chase Sapphire Reserve | Dining and journey insurance coverage | Earn 60,000 factors after you spend $5,000 on purchases throughout the first three months of account opening. |
|
$550 |
| Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card | Frequent Southwest Airlines flyers | Earn 50,000 factors after you spend $1,000 on purchases throughout the first three months of account opening. |
|
$149 |
| Ink Business Cash Credit Card | Office provides and expertise companies | Earn up to $750 money again: $350 money again after you spend $3,000 on purchases throughout the first three months of account opening and an extra $400 while you spend $6,000 on purchases throughout the first six months after account opening. |
|
$0 |
| Chase Freedom Flex | Rotating bonus classes | Earn $200 money again after you spend $500 on purchases throughout the first three months of account opening. |
|
$0 |
| Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card | Southwest loyalists who desire a low annual charge | Earn 50,000 factors after you spend $1,000 on purchases throughout the first three months of account opening. |
|
$69 |
| Prime Visa | Amazon customers | Get a $100 Amazon reward card immediately upon approval (solely for Prime members). |
|
$0, although this card requires a Prime membership |
Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
Welcome provide: Earn 100,000 factors after you spend $5,000 on purchases throughout the first three months of account opening.
Annual charge: $95.
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Standout advantages: The Chase Sapphire Preferred has lengthy been some of the fashionable journey credit cards on the market — and for good purpose. Between its incomes charges and perks, it is a point-earning workhorse. Plus, it is presently sporting a 100,000-point welcome bonus that is extremely profitable since Chase Ultimate Rewards factors might be transferred to a spread of resort and airline companions.
I like transferring factors earned with my Chase Sapphire Preferred to Hyatt to ebook luxe resort stays. Some of my favourite current redemptions have been 4 nights at Alila Ventana Big Sur in California, which was a part of my honeymoon, and an extended weekend keep at Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort in Hawaii.
But past the bonus, the cardboard’s incomes charges have cemented its everlasting place in my wallet. It earns 3 factors per greenback spent on eating, which is a serious class for me because it covers all the things from the high quality eating eating places I like attempting out when touring to the meals vans I frequent in my dwelling metropolis of Portland, Oregon, to the espresso store I go to every day with my canine.
Related: I’ve the Chase Sapphire Preferred — which card ought to I get subsequent?
It additionally earns 3 factors per greenback spent on on-line groceries, which is my most popular methodology of buying cumbersome gadgets like canned beans and child system. (excluding Target, Walmart, and wholesale golf equipment)
This card additionally contains at the very least one 12 months of complimentary DoorDash SprintPass membership (activate by Dec. 31, 2027), and regardless that I do not order supply ceaselessly, it is easy to get worth from the membership, which cuts down on the charges related to every order.
For extra particulars, see our full overview of the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card.
Apply right here: Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
Chase Freedom Unlimited
Welcome provide: Earn $250 money again after you spend $500 on purchases throughout the first three months of account opening.
Annual charge: $0.
Standout advantages: The Chase Freedom Unlimited is an indispensable a part of my credit card technique.
It earns at the very least 1.5% money again — or 1.5 factors per greenback while you pair this card with an Ultimate Rewards-earning product (extra on that beneath) — on all purchases, together with people who fall exterior considered one of its bonus classes. This means it is an awesome alternative for many who need to earn a stable cash-back price with out monitoring their spending throughout varied classes.
That’s a pleasant proposition, but it surely’s not the explanation I’ve spent years shouting about this card from the rooftops. While the Freedom Unlimited is marketed as a cash-back card, that means it would not provide the power to switch factors to Chase’s airline and resort companions, that each one adjustments when you additionally maintain a card that earns Chase Ultimate Rewards factors.
Those who’ve the Chase Sapphire Preferred, the Chase Sapphire Reserve or the Ink Business Preferred can mix the rewards from the Freedom Unlimited with these of their different accounts, immediately making them transferable — and far more useful.
Using this technique, I successfully earn 1.5 Ultimate Rewards factors per greenback spent with the Chase Freedom Unlimited in classes the place I’d earn simply 1 level per greenback with a special card. That’s a 50% enhance in incomes potential on retail purchases, live performance tickets, medical payments and extra — all for no annual charge.
Since there isn’t any annual charge required to maintain the Freedom Unlimited, I like to recommend it to everybody who already has a card that earns Ultimate Rewards factors to allow them to construct up their factors stash.
You can even get Chase cards within the reverse order. In the previous, I’ve really useful the Freedom Unlimited as a stepping-stone product to family and friends members who might not but have the credit rating or historical past wanted to safe a Sapphire card.
For extra particulars, see our full overview of the Chase Freedom Unlimited.
Apply right here: Chase Freedom Unlimited
Ink Business Unlimited Credit Card
Welcome provide: Earn $750 after you spend $6,000 on purchases throughout the first three months of account opening.
Annual charge: $0.
Standout advantages: Think of this card because the enterprise model of the Chase Freedom Unlimited. It earns 1.5% money again throughout all purchases, making it a easy and user-friendly possibility for enterprise homeowners of all stripes.
Like its client counterpart, it is best leveraged as a part of a duo with an Ultimate Rewards-earning card, as that can unlock the power to convert the money again it earns into transferable factors. I like transferring my factors to applications like British Airways, which has a distance-based award chart that enables me to ebook economic system Alaska Airlines flights up and down the West Coast at very cheap charges.
I used to be thrilled to see Chase add a product like this one to its enterprise lineup. While many enterprise credit cards provide bonuses in classes like journey, transport and promoting, there are such a lot of enterprise bills that do not fall below these umbrellas.
In the previous, I’ve used this card for bills associated to constructing and sustaining a web site and electronic mail record, in addition to for software program platforms like Zoom.
For extra particulars, see our full overview of the Ink Business Unlimited.
Apply right here: Ink Business Unlimited Credit Card
Ink Business Preferred Credit Card
Welcome provide: Earn 90,000 factors after you spend $8,000 on purchases throughout the first three months of account opening.
Annual charge: $95.
Standout advantages: The Ink Business Preferred is a heavy hitter within the enterprise card class thanks to nice incomes charges, a hefty welcome bonus and an affordable annual charge.
It earns 3 factors per greenback spent on the primary $150,000 spent in mixed purchases annually on a spread of enterprise classes, a lot of that are broadly helpful.
For instance, I like utilizing the cardboard to earn 3 factors per greenback spent on journey, a class that features all the things from airfare and lodges to taxis and parking tons. Even if your enterprise would not particularly relate to journey, profiting from this incomes price on purchases which can be travel-adjacent can assist you maximize your spending.
The Ink Business Preferred can be my go-to card for incomes bonus factors on web, cable and cellphone companies, which may apply to virtually each enterprise.
I initially took out this card to assist a contract writing enterprise, for which web entry was essential. Later, as I moved into journey consulting, I jumped on the chance to earn additional factors on promoting purchases with social media websites, netting 3 factors per greenback spent to enhance posts on Instagram.
The Ink Business Preferred sports activities a hefty welcome bonus of 90,000 factors, and whereas the spending requirement is excessive at $8,000 over three months, if your enterprise can assist that stage of spend, it is a proposal you do not need to miss.
In the final couple of years, I’ve transferred fewer than 90,000 factors to Chase companions like Air Canada and United Airlines to ebook business-class flights to Japan and Tahiti, respectively.
For extra particulars, see our full overview of the Ink Business Preferred.
Apply right here: Ink Business Preferred Credit Card
Chase Sapphire Reserve
Welcome provide: Earn 60,000 factors after you spend $5,000 on purchases throughout the first three months of account opening.
Annual charge: $550.
Standout advantages: When the Sapphire Reserve first launched in 2016, I jumped on the likelihood to get it. I used to be instantly attracted by options just like the $300 journey credit, which I all the time discovered extraordinarily simple to use, and the beneficiant incomes price of three factors per greenback spent on journey and eating, two of my greatest spending classes.
While I in the end determined the Sapphire Preferred was a greater match for my particular wants, I did maintain the Reserve for a few years and located lots to love about it.
In explicit, I liked the power to get 50% extra worth when redeeming factors for journey by Chase Travel. While you will usually get higher worth when transferring your factors to resort or airline companions, I discovered many instances the place the elevated portal redemption price saved me factors over doing a switch.
Booking this manner additionally allowed me to earn factors on the flights I took, serving to me earn elite standing on each United Airlines and American Airlines for a number of years.
Related: Amex Platinum vs. Chase Sapphire Reserve: Which $550-plus card is best for you?
Best of all, utilizing Chase Travel helped me get first rate worth on flights and lodges when good switch choices weren’t out there. For instance, I leaned closely on the portal when reserving flights and lodges in Ushuaia, Argentina, earlier than setting sail on a cruise to Antarctica.
I additionally liked utilizing the Sapphire Reserve for major rental automotive insurance coverage whereas touring. If you decline the rental firm’s collision insurance coverage, Chase supplies reimbursement of up to $75,000 for theft and collision harm for many rental automobiles within the U.S. and overseas.
This profit gave me peace of thoughts whereas on highway journeys in locations like Ireland and Scotland, the place I had to drive on the left facet of the highway, and the Azores, the place we drove over some rocky terrain.
For extra particulars, see our full overview of the Chase Sapphire Reserve.
Apply right here: Chase Sapphire Reserve
Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card
Welcome provide: Earn 50,000 factors after you spend $1,000 on purchases throughout the first three months of account opening.
Annual charge: $149.
Standout advantages: Southwest is a switch companion of Chase Ultimate Rewards, that means you do not particularly want a Southwest card to earn factors that can be utilized for flights on the airline; lots of the cards on this record will do the trick. But there’s one thing to be stated concerning the different advantages of the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card and their impression on your flying expertise.
The card has some key options that may make your journey day far more stress-free. For starters, 25% again on inflight purchases can assist you entry discounted Wi-Fi to deal with any last-minute journey particulars or take pleasure in a reduced glass of wine. Meanwhile, 4 upgraded boardings per 12 months can assist you beat the boarding chaos and offer you additional time to get settled.
Plus, the cardboard comes with further options that assist offset the annual charge — after which some. It comes with a $75 annual Southwest journey credit and seven,500 factors annually on your cardmember anniversary, each of which is able to get you nearer to your subsequent journey.
For me, that is usually a visit to see a live performance or sporting occasion in Las Vegas or to discover nationwide parks in Arizona, Colorado and past.
The Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority card additionally comes with a ten,000-point qualifying enhance annually for Southwest’s coveted Companion Pass, which permits you to designate a journey companion to fly on your itineraries for simply the value of taxes and charges, whether or not you ebook with money or factors.
For extra particulars, see our full overview of the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority card.
Apply right here: Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card
Ink Business Cash Credit Card
Welcome provide: Earn up to $750 money again: $350 money again after you spend $3,000 on purchases throughout the first three months of account opening and an extra $400 while you spend $6,000 on purchases throughout the first six months after account opening.
Annual charge: $0.
Standout advantages: If you are a enterprise proprietor who prioritizes incomes money again — or desires the choice to convert money again into transferable journey factors by pairing an Ultimate Rewards-earning card with a product just like the Ink Business Cash card — you are in the proper place.
My favourite characteristic of this card is that it earns 5% money again (or 5 factors per greenback spent when you mix it with a card just like the Sapphire Preferred or the Sapphire Reserve) on the primary $25,000 spent in mixed purchases every anniversary 12 months at workplace provide shops and on web, cable and cellphone companies.
It’s simple to see how web and cellphone companies are helpful for many enterprise homeowners. My computer-based freelance writing and journey consulting facet hustles have all the time relied on the web. But even my husband, who walks canine exterior his nine-to-five, makes use of his cellphone and the web for consumer communication and administrative work, akin to submitting taxes.
But the methods to capitalize on the workplace provide retailer bonus could also be much less apparent. Even when you do not usually use conventional workplace provides in your line of labor, as is the case for each me and my husband, you will discover a number of worth right here when you search for it.
Staples, for example, sells all the things from workplace furnishings to passport companies to Apple AirPods, and I’ve even bought meals there through the workday greater than as soon as. Its web site even has a piece you possibly can scope out titled “Yes, Staples has that” when you’re not satisfied of this bonus class’s broad utility.
For extra particulars, see our full overview of the Ink Business Cash card.
Apply right here: Ink Business Cash Credit Card
Chase Freedom Flex
Welcome provide: Earn $200 money again after you spend $500 on purchases throughout the first three months of account opening.
Annual charge: $0.
Standout advantages: If there’s an unsung hero in my wallet, it is the Chase Freedom Flex. While maximizing its incomes potential does take some cautious planning, to me, it is 100% value it for the payoff.
The Freedom Flex presents the chance to earn 5% money again on up to $1,500 in mixed spending purchases in rotating quarterly bonus classes (after activation).
That means you should use it to earn 7,500 bonus factors per quarter or 30,000 factors per 12 months, which is fairly nice for a card with out an annual charge. This is particularly true since, like with the Chase Freedom Unlimited, the factors you earn with the Chase Freedom Flex might be transformed to transferable journey factors when you additionally maintain an Ultimate Rewards-earning card.
While the bonus class for every quarter is not revealed very far prematurely, I’ve usually discovered the classes extremely profitable.
For instance, since turning into a cardholder, I’ve seen eating places and grocery shops featured a number of instances, each of that are massive spending classes for me. Chase has additionally used PayPal as a bonus class a number of instances, and since so many on-line companies settle for it, your choices for incomes are almost limitless.
Recently, a bonus on purchases at pet retailers and veterinary companies helped me earn so many factors throughout an emergency with my canine that I used to be ready to ebook a free resort room in London.
For extra particulars, see our full overview of the Chase Freedom Flex.
Apply right here: Chase Freedom Flex
Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card
Welcome provide: Earn 50,000 factors after you spend $1,000 on purchases throughout the first three months of account opening.
Annual charge: $69.
Standout advantages: While we love the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card, there’s one other cheaper possibility that additionally supplies nice worth: the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card.
An annual charge of simply $69 will get you entry to lots of the similar advantages, together with the 25% low cost on inflight purchases, the ten,000-point qualifying enhance annually for the Companion Pass and an incomes price of two factors per greenback spent on classes like native transit and commuting, Rapid Rewards lodges and automotive rental companion purchases, and choose streaming companies.
Both cards even have one other characteristic in frequent that can quickly turn out to be necessary when Southwest ends its longtime bags-fly-free coverage: They’ll every permit you to test your first bag freed from price.
As a brand new mother who totes round a number of child provides, this profit is extraordinarily engaging to me. With such a low annual charge, the cardboard would seemingly make sense for me based mostly on the bag perk alone.
For extra particulars, see our full overview of the Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus card.
Apply right here: Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card
Prime Visa
Welcome provide: Get a $100 Amazon reward card immediately upon approval (solely for Prime members).
Annual charge: $0, although this card requires a Prime membership.
Standout advantages: A favourite amongst Amazon lovers, the Prime Visa is ideal for these with Amazon Prime accounts who spend ceaselessly at Amazon and Whole Foods and wish to earn money again quite than journey rewards (although the Prime Visa does allow you to earn an elevated reward price on Chase Travel purchases since it is a Chase product).
It nets a profitable 3% money again at amazon.com and on purchases from Amazon Fresh and Whole Foods Market, which covers just about something you possibly can presumably want, together with meals, family provides, clothes and presents. But the incomes price will get much more spectacular when you have an eligible Prime membership, leaping to 5%.
As a brand new dad or mum, it appears like I flip to Amazon almost day by day for one factor or one other. Whether it is provides like diapers, wipes or system that I did not understand have been working low or a last-minute outfit for a themed day at day care, I’m on the location greater than I care to admit.
I can simply see how this card can be important in a family that values cash-back rewards over different reward currencies.
For extra particulars, see our full overview of the Prime Visa.
Apply right here: Prime Visa
What to contemplate when selecting a Chase credit card
While all these cards can present immense worth when used to their full potential, it is necessary to contemplate a couple of particular components earlier than making your choice. Thinking by them will make sure you’re deciding on a card that best fits your life-style, funds, preferences and journey objectives.
While figuring out the best card for you would possibly really feel overwhelming, do not forget that your choice isn’t set in stone; you possibly can all the time product change a card after holding it for a 12 months with out affecting your credit rating.
Related: The energy of the Chase Trifecta: Sapphire Reserve, Ink Preferred and Freedom Unlimited
I did this a couple of years again, downgrading my Chase Sapphire Reserve to the Chase Freedom Flex because the Freedom Flex was higher suited to my spending wants on the time.
Eventually, I settled on the Chase Sapphire Preferred as my major Ultimate Rewards-earning card, and I’ve held it ever since.
Preferred rewards
Thinking about what sort of rewards you would like to earn is a good start line for selecting a credit card. Do you need to maintain it easy with money again? Or, are you keen to dive into the world of transferable journey factors?
Welcome bonus
Welcome bonuses are necessary on the planet of credit cards, as they characterize your best likelihood to earn a big sum of factors directly. They additionally differ all year long: The Chase Sapphire Preferred, for instance, is presently providing its highest-ever bonus however just for a restricted time.
Spending habits
To get the best doable return on your spending, you will need to contemplate the place you spend most of your cash and select a card with a bonus on these classes.
For me, journey, eating and on-line grocery buying are all main ones, which is why the Chase Sapphire Preferred and the Ink Business Preferred proceed to maintain locations in my wallet 12 months after 12 months.
Annual charge
Of course, you will additionally need to suppose by your funds and what, if something, you are keen to spend on credit card annual charges.
Chase presents a spread of choices, from $0 all the best way up to $550, so there’s one thing for everybody. While getting greater than your cash’s value with any of those cards is definitely doable, a premium providing solely is sensible when you can maximize the cardboard’s advantages.
How we selected the best Chase credit cards
We selected the best Chase credit cards based mostly on a number of components, together with welcome presents, perks and advantages, and reward incomes charges — significantly in fashionable spending classes.
To study extra about how TPG evaluates and chooses cards to characteristic in our roundups, try our methodology.
Redemption choices for Chase credit cards
Your redemption choices will rely on which card you go for. With the Southwest cobranded cards, it is necessary to observe that you will solely earn Rapid Rewards factors, whereas the Chase Sapphire Preferred, the Chase Sapphire Reserve and the Ink Business Preferred earn Ultimate Rewards factors that may be transferred to a spread of airline and resort companions — Southwest included.
The Prime Visa, the Ink Business Preferred, the Ink Business Cash, the Chase Freedom Unlimited and the Chase Freedom Flex all earn money again when you choose to earn money as a substitute of journey rewards. However, the latter 4 cards have the flexibleness to convert these rewards to transferrable journey forex when you even have a card that earns Ultimate Rewards factors.
I personally select to earn journey rewards over money again since I journey ceaselessly and really feel assured that I can get extra worth out of Ultimate Rewards factors than money again.
Bottom line
No matter the place you might be with your credit card technique, Chase has a card that can go well with your wants. Credit card rookies have wonderful choices within the Chase Sapphire Preferred, the Chase Freedom Unlimited and the Chase Freedom Flex.
Frequent vacationers trying to find a premium card expertise can leverage the Chase Sapphire Reserve, whereas enterprise homeowners have a stable lineup to select from: the Ink Business Preferred, the Ink Business Unlimited or the Ink Business Cash.
Whichever card you decide, relaxation assured that you may’t go fallacious. With helpful perks and protections, nice incomes charges and wholesome welcome bonuses, Chase cards are among the many most useful you possibly can have in your wallet.
Related: Reasons the Chase Sapphire Preferred ought to be your subsequent credit card
