- Cash back on every purchase.
- No annual fee.
- Bonus rewards in popular categories.
This content is created by AP Buyline in accordance with AP’s editorial guidelines and supervised by AP staff. Our evaluations and opinions are not influenced by our advertising relationships, but we might earn commissions from our partners’ links in this content. Learn more about AP Buyline here.
Chase offers excellent credit cards for travel and cash back rewards. Some Chase cards are available with no annual fee, but an annual fee may be required for the best cards. For some households, a combination of multiple cards can lead to the best rewards.
Our top recommendations from Chase
card_name: Best for cash back
Chase Freedom Unlimited®
Why we like it
The no annual fee Chase Freedom Unlimited® earns between 1.5% and 5% cash back on all purchases, making it a perfect option for those that don’t want to juggle multiple rewards credit cards. It also offers a generous 0% intro APR window on purchases and balance transfers.
A high return rate on everyday purchases is great, but this card ups the ante in a big way: You can turn the cash back you earn into airline miles and hotel points for nearly free travel — skyrocketing the potential value of your rewards. You’ll need to hold an annual fee-incurring Chase Ultimate Rewards card, like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, to do it; but it’s a nice redemption option to have if travel is a goal of yours.
Pros:
Cons:
- Target and Walmart don’t count for grocery store bonus rate.
- Best cash back rate only applies to purchases made through Chase.
- Some cards offer better than the 1.5% rate for non-bonus category purchases.
card_name is an excellent choice for cash back rewards with no annual fee. Most purchases earn a flat 1.5% cash back, while the popular dining (including delivery) and gas station categories earn 3% back. It includes important purchase and travel protections above what many competing cards offer.
When you sign up, you can earn a $200 bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, and you get a complimentary three months of DashPass, DoorDash's membership as well as three months of Instacart+ membership that provides unlimited deliveries with $0 delivery fee and reduced service fees on eligible orders.
card_name: Best for travel
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Why we like it
Often touted as the perfect beginner travel credit card, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card comes with all the necessities that a traveler needs. It’s got a large welcome bonus, it earns points quickly and it confers excellent travel insurance to protect you against flight delays and rental car dings.
The biggest selling point of the card is its flexible rewards. You can travel for pennies on the dollar by transferring the points you earn to airline and hotel loyalty programs such as Hyatt, United Airlines, British Airways and many more. You can also redeem your points for flights, rental cars and cruises through Chase Travel at a rate of 1.25 cents each.
Pros:
- Earn bonus rewards on popular travel, dining, grocery and streaming category purchases.
- $50 annual statement credit for hotels booked through Chase.
- Benefits with DoorDash, Instacart, Peloton, Lyft and others.
Cons:
- annual_fees annual fee applies.
- Grocery purchase bonus is very limited with eligible online purchases only.
- Best rewards only from purchases made through Chase.
card_name is a top travel rewards card, featuring valuable rewards points redeemable through the Chase Ultimate Rewards program. Points are worth 1.25 cents each when redeemed through Chase, or you can transfer points to partner airlines and hotels for potentially more value. It comes loaded with excellent travel and purchase coverage. If you use the card regularly, it’s easy to get much more than the annual_fees annual fee back from rewards and benefits.
The Sapphire Preferred is also notable for its sign up bonus, which is bonus_miles_full. According to Chase, that’s $750 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Ultimate Rewards® portal.
card_name: Best for luxury travel
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
Why we like it
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is a premium travel rewards credit card with souped-up travel perks that the frequent traveler will love. You’ll get up to $300 in annual statement credits to offset virtually any travel purchase; you’ll get the highest level of travel insurance; you’ll get access to more than 1,400 airport lounges worldwide.
This card’s points can save you a bundle on travel in two key ways: You can redeem them for airfare, hotel stays, rental cars and more through Chase Travel at a rate of 1.5 cents. Or, you can convert them into several different airline miles and hotel points currencies to potentially get a value of 2 cents (or more) in travel from your rewards.
Pros:
- Valuable features including $300 annual statement credit, airport lounge access and a credit for TSA trusted traveler programs.
- Excellent travel and purchase protection benefits.
- Get 1.5 cents per point redeeming through Chase or transfer points to travel partners.
Cons:
- Hefty annual fee and additional fee for authorized users.
- 1x on non-bonus purchases isn’t impressive.
- Some users may struggle to take full advantage of benefits.
For luxury travel, card_name is one of the best cards on the market. It includes access to Priority Pass and Chase airport lounges, a $300 credit for travel purchases and valuable Chase Ultimate Rewards points worth 1.5 cents each when redeemed through Chase and potentially more when transferred to travel partners. Purchase and travel protection benefits are extensive.
The card_name has a sign up bonus of bonus_miles_full, and the benefits are supersized as well: For example, you get 10X points for hotel and car rental purchases through Chase, which, as noted above, are even more valuable when transferred to partners’ loyalty programs. While it’s an expensive card, it’s a good deal for frequent travelers.
card_name: Best for users new to credit
Chase Freedom Rise®
Why we like it
The no annual fee Chase Freedom Rise℠ Credit Card is an easy win for those with limited (or no) credit history. You’ll get a respectable 1.5% cash back on all purchases, as well as a $25 statement credit after enrolling in autopay.
The main draw of this card is its low approval standards. If you’re new to credit, this unsecured credit card is a top-notch option to build your credit profile. It offers a credit limit increase in as soon as six months (based on healthy usage), and it lets you track your credit score for free.
Pros:
- Designed for students and applicants new to credit.
- 1.5% cash back with no annual fee.
- Includes features and tools to help build credit.
Cons:
- No bonus rewards categories.
- Limited purchase and travel benefits.
- Small bonus for new cardholders.
card_name is designed for those new to credit, so it’s available to a wider audience than many other cards on this list. It includes core features we like to see in a card, including purchase protection and rewards for every purchase. You can also increase your chances of approval for this card if you open a Chase checking account before you apply and deposit at least $250. Then you can sign up for Autopay within the first three months and get a $25 statement credit.
This card is designed for new users who may not understand the importance of paying your card debt on time and in full, if possible. The APR for purchases is higher than premium cards, and the penalty APR is nearly 30%. While it’s a simple card without many bells and whistles, it’s a reasonable choice for someone looking to establish and build credit with rewards and no annual fee.
card_name: Best for balance transfers
Chase Slate Edge®
Why we like it
One of the key features of the card_name is its unique interest rate reduction program. If you use the card for at least $1,000 in annual purchases and always make your payments on time, your interest rate will decrease by 2% per year until it reaches a minimum limit. This provides an added incentive to be a responsible cardholder and can help you save even more on interest charges in the long run.
While the Chase Slate Edge does not offer any rewards or benefits, its primary utility lies in its ability to help you pay off debt efficiently. The balance transfer fee is either $5 or 3% of the amount transferred, which is a reasonable cost considering the extended 0% APR period. To maximize the benefits of this card, it's recommended to transfer your entire credit card balance and limit new purchases until the debt is paid off.
Overall, the Chase Slate Edge is an good choice for individuals focused on debt reduction and seeking a low-cost, interest-free period to pay off their balances.
Pros:
- No annual fee.
- No interest for 18 months on purchases and balance transfers.
- Interest rate decreases over time when used responsibly.
Cons:
- No cash back or travel rewards.
- No signup bonus.
- Very few travel-related protection benefits.
card_name is a good choice for people looking to pay off their credit card debt while avoiding interest charges for 18 months. While there are no rewards or benefits, Chase Slate Edge is a low-cost card with no fees for regular use. If you use the card for at least $1,000 in annual purchases and always pay on time, your interest rate goes down 2% per year until reaching a minimum limit.
The essential utility of this card is its one-and-a-half year interest grace period for transferred balances (though the zero APR deal applies to purchases as well). The fee for balance transfers within the first 60 days is either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater, and after that transfers cost $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater. To get the most out this deal, you should transfer the entire balance of however many cards you have immediately and limit your purchases until the debt is paid down. That makes the card_name an affordable option for those looking to get out of debt.
All information about the Chase Slate Edge has been collected independently by AP Buyline.
card_name: Best for business travel
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
Why we like it
The card_name from Chase is a premium travel rewards card for small businesses. It offers 120,000 bonus points after spending 1,200 cash back or $1,500 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Travel℠
Cardholders earn 3x points per dollar on up to $150,000 in combined purchases for shipping company, social media and search engine advertising, travel, and eligible telecommunications purchases. You’ll get 1x per dollar everywhere else.
Reward points are worth 1.25 cents each when redeemed through Chase Ultimate Rewards, or you can transfer to airline and hotel partners for potentially more value. In addition to no foreign transaction fees, the card offers cell phone protection and valuable purchase and travel coverages. While there’s a $95 annual fee, it’s easy to see how you can earn much more in rewards and benefits.
Pros:
- Huge 100,000 point signup bonus for qualifying customers.
- Earn 3x in popular business purchase categories.
- Points worth 1.25 cents toward travel when redeemed through Chase.
Cons:
- $95 annual fee.
- Annual purchase limit for 3x bonus categories.
- Travel insurance protections leave something to be desired.
The card_name card brings business owners a valuable package of rewards and benefits. For example, the card_name comes with fraud protection, zero liability protection, purchase protection, auto rental collision damage waiver for business travel rentals, and cell phone protection that covers you and every employee listed on your cell phone bill when you pay it with your card_name card. Rewards are redeemable for cash back, gift cards, travel and more through Chase Ultimate Rewards, and Chase estimates you get one cent per point for cash back and one-and-a-quater cents redeemed through Chase travel.
While there’s a annual_fees annual fee, the huge signup bonus worth $1,000 cash back or $1,250 in travel easily justifies the cost. While travel benefits are not as good as some other travel-related rewards cards, overall, it’s a good combination of features.
card_name: Best for business cash back
Ink Business Unlimited℠ Credit Card
Why we like it
The Ink Business Unlimited Credit Card from Chase is a top rewards card for cash back with no annual fee. It features a flat 1.5% back on all purchases and awards new users with a 6,000 in the first three months. If you also have a Chase Ultimate Rewards card, such as the Chase Sapphire Preferred or Ink Business Preferred card, you can turn your cash back into travel rewards points, potentially worth more than the cash back alone.
It also offers rental car coverage, purchase protection, and extended warranty coverage, giving you added value without an annual fee. For small business owners looking to earn more than 1% back on non-bonus category purchases, Ink Business Unlimited is a solid choice.
Pros:
- 1.5% cash back on all purchases.
- No annual fee.
- 0% introductory APR period for 12 months.
Cons:
- No bonus rewards categories.
- Limited travel insurance protections.
- Intro APR applies to purchases only, not balance transfers.
card_name is a simple cash back rewards card for small businesses. You can earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every business purchase with no limits to the amount you can earn. You also don’t have to worry about rotating categories or where you’ll get the most rewards. In addition to the regular cash back feature, you also earn $750 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first three months after opening your account. By adding employees to your card at no extra cost, you can accelerate earning cash back.
For a card with a straightforward rewards system and no annual fee, the Ink Business Unlimited is worth a look.
card_name: Best for Amazon Prime members
Prime Visa
Why we like it
If you’re an Amazon Prime member, it’s tough to beat the value provided by the Prime Visa credit card. New users start with a $100 Amazon gift card. You’ll also earn 5% cash back on purchases at Amazon, Whole Foods, Amazon Fresh, and Chase Travel purchases. You’ll get 2% back at gas stations, restaurants, and local transit, and 1% everywhere else. There’s no annual fee, though a Prime membership is required.
Even if you only use the card for Amazon purchases, it’s a great value, as there’s no annual fee. It also comes loaded with valuable travel and purchase benefits, including rental car coverage, travel accident insurance, purchase protection, and extended warranty protection. With no annual fee and 5% cash back on Amazon purchases, it’s an incredible deal.
Pros:
- Earn up to 5% back at Amazon and other popular categories.
- $100 gift card when approved.
- Extensive benefits for a card with no annual fee.
Cons:
- Amazon Prime membership required.
- High APR when you don’t pay off the card balance in full.
- New card bonus could be better.
card_name includes 5% back on all purchases at Amazon and Whole Foods, which is a huge benefit if you shop there regularly. You also earn unlimited 2% back at gas stations, restaurants, and on local transit and commuting (including rideshare), as well as 1% cash back on all other purchases. There is no annual fee for this card, though you still have to pay the monthly fee for your Prime membership.
The sign up bonus for the card_name means Prime members do get a break of sorts on their Prime membership in the form of a $100 Amazon Gift Card instantly loaded into your Amazon account's Gift Card Balance upon approval of your credit card application. For Amazon Prime power users, it’s a no-brainer to maximize your membership.
All information about the Prime Visa has been collected independently by AP Buyline.
Title | Annual fees | Welcome bonus | Credit score |
---|---|---|---|
Chase Freedom Unlimited® | annual_fees | bonus_miles | credit_score_needed |
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card | annual_fees | bonus_miles | credit_score_needed |
Chase Sapphire Reserve® | annual_fees | bonus_miles | credit_score_needed |
Chase Freedom Rise® | annual_fees | bonus_miles | credit_score_needed |
Chase Slate Edge® | annual_fees | bonus_miles | credit_score_needed |
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card | annual_fees | bonus_miles | credit_score_needed |
Ink Business Unlimited℠ Credit Card | annual_fees | bonus_miles | credit_score_needed |
Prime Visa | annual_fees | bonus_miles | credit_score_needed |
How we chose the best Chase credit cards
Because Chase cards are offered in many of the same tiers across types, we compared card offers based on the following criteria: Rewards rates, welcome offers, introductory and variable APR offers, annual fees, consumer protections included and travel benefits and perks.
Ultimately, we looked for credit cards that offer the most lucrative reward structures, welcome offers and flexibility within their designated rewards programs. Some cards that don't offer rewards were evaluated based on other factors, including their fee structure, introductory interest rates and regular variable APR. In all cases, benefits such as consumer protections and travel insurance perks were taken into account.
Choosing the best Chase credit card: Where to begin
With so many Chase credit cards to choose from, choosing the best Chase credit card can be challenging. Here’s a look at what you should consider when choosing the best Chase credit card.
Credit card rewards
Credit card rewards are one of the biggest perks of credit cards. Consider the cash back or travel rewards, how easy it is to earn rewards and your potential redemptions when choosing a credit card.
Sign-up bonus
A sign-up bonus is a large cash back or travel reward, typically given after meeting specific minimum spending requirements. Look at the size of the bonus and what’s needed to earn the bonus before signing up.
Travel and purchase benefits
Common benefits for purchases include purchase protection for new purchases and an extended warranty benefit. For travel, look for rental car coverage, trip cancellation and interruption insurance, delayed and lost luggage coverage and other valuable features. Some cards also include cell phone insurance, which pays most of the cost to repair a cell phone when you pay your bill with the card.
Eligibility by credit score
Your credit score plays a major role in your approval odds. Outside of cards for no credit or bad credit, you may struggle to get approved for the best rewards cards without a good or better credit score.
Credit score | Category |
---|---|
300-579 | Poor |
580-669 | Fair |
670-739 | Good |
740-799 | Very Good |
800-850 | Exceptional |
Types of Chase credit cards
Chase credit cards come in three major categories. You can find personal and business versions of many cards within those.
- Cash back rewards: Cash back rewards cards typically offer a percentage of every purchase as cash back rewards. For example, if you have a card offering 1.5% back on a $100 purchase, you would earn $1.50 back from that purchase.
- Travel rewards: Travel rewards cards typically offer miles or points for a travel reward program based on the size and category of a purchase. Chase offers travel rewards cards for its Ultimate Rewards program and cards for hotel and airline brands.
- Other credit cards: Other cards may come with long 0% APR periods, lower rates and fees or other features that don’t include credit card rewards.
Pros and cons of Chase credit cards
Pros:
- Earn rewards for every eligible purchase.
- Typically good to excellent purchase and travel benefits.
- Local, phone and online customer service from one of the nation’s biggest banks.
Cons:
- Strict credit score requirements.
- Rules often prevent getting bonuses repeatedly from the same or related cards.
- Some card issuers, such as American Express, offer cards that may better meet your needs.
AP Buyline roundup: What else should I know about Chase credit cards?
Chase enforces a variety of rules when approving new credit card applications. One is the infamous 5/24 rule, where Chase won’t give you a new credit card if you’ve received five or more cards from any issuer in the last 24 months. You may also be limited to one card in a card family. For example, you can’t have both a Sapphire Preferred and Sapphire Reserve card.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Can you combine points on Chase credit cards?
Chase cardholders with multiple cards can combine points through the Ultimate Rewards program. That includes cash back cards, where a cent of cash back can be converted to an Ultimate Rewards point.
What is the hardest Chase credit card to get?
The hardest Chase card to get varies based on your credit history. The premium Chase Sapphire Reserve is among the more difficult cards to open.
How do I get pre-approved for a Chase credit card?
You may get offers in the mail indicating you’re pre-qualified or pre-approved for a Chase credit card. However, that doesn’t guarantee you’ll be approved when completing the full application.
How long does it take for Chase to approve a credit card account?
Some applications are approved instantly, while others may have to wait a week or more to find their final approval status.
How many Chase credit cards can you have?
Chase doesn’t have a specific limit for the number of cards you can have. Chase looks at your total credit limits across accounts as a factor in approving new credit card accounts.
This content is created by AP Buyline in accordance with AP’s editorial guidelines and supervised by AP staff. Our evaluations and opinions are not influenced by our advertising relationships, but we might earn commissions from our partners’ links in this content. Learn more about AP Buyline here.