Chase offers a wide selection of rewards credit cards, but only one of them will be the best Chase credit card for you. If you have strong credit and spend a lot on travel, you’ll evaluate different options than if you’re working to build a credit score. And if you’re a small business owner, you may need the best Chase business credit card. Read on to learn more about Chase’s credit card offerings and identify the best card for you.
Methodology
Our team of experts reviewed over three dozen Chase cards, evaluating factors such as rewards value and annual fees. Using a data-based approach, we narrowed down the list to the top 13 credit cards that scored highly based on our weightings. Read our full methodology below.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Regular APR
21.49% – 28.49% Variable
On Chase Bank USA, NA’s Secure Website
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Best Chase credit card
Key takeaways
5x
Earn 5x on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
2x
Earn 2x on all other travel purchases
5/5
On Chase Bank USA, NA’s Secure Website
Best card for upscale travel benefits and protections
Key takeaways
5X
Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards® immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually.
3X
Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
4.5/5
Best card for upscale travel benefits and protections
On Chase Bank USA, NA’s Secure Website
Chase Freedom Unlimited®
Best card for general spending
Key takeaways
1.5%
Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on up to $20,000 spent in the first year
5%
After that 5% on Chase travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
3%
3% on dining and drugstores and 1.5% on all other purchases
4/5
Best card for general spending
On Chase Bank USA, NA’s Secure Website
Best for rotating bonus categories
Key takeaways
5%
Earn 5% cash back in categories that rotate quarterly on up to $1,500 when enrolled.
5%
5% on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
3%
3% on dining and drugstores and 1% on all other purchases.
4/5
Best for rotating bonus categories
Best card for building credit
Key takeaways
1.5%
Earn 1.5% cash back on every purchase.
3.1/5
Best card for building credit
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
Best business credit card
Key takeaways
3x
Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent in combined purchases on travel, shipping purchases, Internet, cable and phone services, advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines each account anniversary year.
1x
Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases, with no limit to the amount you can earn.
4.7/5
Best business credit card
On Chase Bank USA, NA’s Secure Website
Ink Business Cash® Credit Card
Best no-annual-fee business credit card
Reward rate
5%
Earn 5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone services each account anniversary year.
2%
Earn 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year.
1%
Earn 1% cash back on all other card purchases with no limit to the amount you can earn.
4.6/5
Best no-annual-fee business credit card
On Chase Bank USA, NA’s Secure Website
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card
*
Best hotel credit card
Key takeaways
3X
Earn 3X points per $1 on the first $6,000 spent in combined purchases each year on grocery stores, gas stations, and dining.
17X
Earn up to 17X total points per $1 spent at thousands of hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy® with the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Card.
4.4/5
IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card
*
Best no-annual-fee hotel credit card
Key takeaways
17X
Earn up to 17 points total per $1 spent when you stay at IHG Hotels & Resorts.
3X
3 points per $1 spent on purchases on monthly bills, at gas stations, and restaurants.
2X
2 points per $1 spent on all other purchases.
4.3/5
Best no-annual-fee hotel credit card
IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card
Best hotel business credit card
Key takeaways
26X
Earn up to 26 total points per $1 spent when you stay at an IHG hotel.
5X
5 points per $1 spent on purchases on travel, at gas stations, select advertising, and restaurants.
3X
3 points per $1 spent on all other purchases.
4.2/5
Best hotel business credit card
Best airline credit card
Key takeaways
3X
Earn 3x points for each dollar spent on grocery stores, dining at restaurants including takeout and eligible delivery services, and Air Canada directly.
1X
Earn 1x points for each dollar spent on all other purchases.
3.7/5
Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card
*
Best airline business credit card
Key takeaways
3x
Earn 3 points per $1 spent on Southwest® purchases.
2x
Earn 2 points per $1 spent on Rapid Rewards® hotel and car partners.
2x
Earn 2 points per $1 spent on local transit and commuting, including rideshare.
1x
Earn 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases.
3.6/5
Best airline business credit card
Best no-annual-fee airline credit card
Key takeaways
2X
2X miles per $1 spent on United purchases, at gas stations and on local transit and commuting.
1X
1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases.
3.4/5
Best no-annual-fee airline credit card
Our picks at a glance
Types of Chase credit cards
Chase’s credit cards fit into three main categories.
- Chase Ultimate Rewards cards. Chase Ultimate Rewards® is the issuer’s rewards program, and Ultimate Rewards points function like a currency. You can use your points to book travel and experiences, cover eligible spending, or purchase gift cards. Eligible cards also permit 1-to-1 transfers to partner airline and hotel loyalty programs. You can even transfer points between certain Chase cards to maximize the value of your points (for example, a point earned on your Chase Freedom Unlimited is worth 1 cent when redeemed for cash back. If you transfer it to your Sapphire Preferred account, it’s worth 1.25 cents if redeemed for travel through the Ultimate Rewards program.)
- Co-branded cards. Chase partners with United Airlines, Amazon, Disney and other brands to offer cards that earn rewards tailored for customers of each company.
- Business cards. Chase offers co-branded business credit cards and business credit cards that earn Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
The pros and cons of Chase credit cards
Pros
- Range of personal and business card options: Chase offers no-annual-fee cards, mid-range rewards cards and luxury travel cards. Regardless of your spending habits, you can likely find a Chase card with rewards to match.
- Chase Ultimate Rewards® perks: Cards that earn Chase Ultimate Rewards® come with a variety of redemption options. You can book travel, get cash back, cover eligible purchases and more. Eligible cards also allow users to transfer points to one of Chase’s travel partners.
Cons
- Not good for credit beginners: Chase doesn’t offer any secured or student credit cards to new applicants. The Chase Freedom Rise is the only option marketed toward consumers who are new to credit.
- Possible rewards restrictions: Some cards cap or restrict earnings in top bonus categories. For example, you’ll only earn 5% back on travel with Chase Freedom Unlimited if you book through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, which can be inconvenient.
- 5/24 application restriction: Chase has an unwritten policy that often stops consumers who have opened five or more credit cards from any bank in the past 24 months from getting approved for Chase cards.
Key factors for choosing a Chase credit card
When choosing a Chase credit card, consider five key questions:
- Are you willing to pay an annual fee? Chase offers no-annual-fee rewards cards, such as Chase Freedom Unlimited and Chase Freedom Flex, as well as higher-end cards that charge annual fees, such as the Sapphire Preferred and Sapphire Reserve. The more expensive cards often offer better rewards and benefits, so do the math to see if the charge is worth it.
- Are you equipped to work with travel loyalty programs? With some Chase credit cards, you’ll have the option to transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards® points to airline and hotel loyalty programs. With a co-branded card like the Aeroplan® Credit Card, you’ll be working with a loyalty program to begin with. While these cards have more potential value than a more straightforward option like the Chase Freedom Unlimited, you’ll need to invest time to get the most out of your points or miles.
- Can you unlock the welcome bonus? Almost all of the best Chase cards offer a welcome bonus that you can unlock by spending a certain amount in your first months with the card. When evaluating a card, check whether the spending requirement will fit within your regular budget. Never overspend simply to get a welcome bonus.
- What card benefits will you use? Possible perks of your Chase card include a 0% introductory APR, statement credits to cover eligible travel spending and free nights at eligible hotels. Consider which credit card benefits matter most to you before you choose a Chase card.
- Do you already have a Chase card? Cards that earn Chase Ultimate Rewards® may allow cardholders to consolidate points from their Chase cards and the Chase cards of others in their households. If you already have the Chase Freedom Flex, for example, you may be especially interested in the Sapphire Preferred because pooling your points into your Sapphire Preferred account will increase their potential value.
How to apply for a Chase credit card
It’s possible to apply for a Chase credit card online or in person at a bank branch. Chase doesn’t currently offer credit card preapproval, so it won’t provide insight on your approval odds before you officially apply. When you apply for a credit card, be prepared to provide personal and financial information.
Understanding the Chase 5/24 rule
Chase’s 5/24 rule is an unwritten policy that bars consumers who have opened at least five credit cards from any issuer in the past 24 months from approval for Chase cards. Most business cards won’t contribute to the count.
Gaining a better credit limit with Chase
Chase allows cardholders to request credit limit increases through their online accounts. Chase says requesting a higher credit limit won’t affect your credit score. You may need to provide your gross annual income and monthly housing payment as part of your request.
In advertising the Chase Freedom Rise, Chase says credit limit increases may be considered as few as six months after a cardholder opens an account. Consumers with the Chase Slate Edge℠ receive an automatic credit limit review if they make all payments on time and spend at least $500 in their first six months with the card.
Methodology
Our money and data analytics teams evaluated all of the Chase credit cards currently available to new applicants. We then narrowed down our list of the best Chase cards by giving them a star rating out of five, based on the following factors and our editorial judgment:
Sign-up bonus value (25%)
Many Chase cards offer bonus rewards to consumers who spend a certain amount in their first months with the card. We calculated how much those bonuses are worth using points valuations from The Points Guy, and boosted cards that offer more value.
Rewards value (25%)
Many Chase credit cards earn rewards, but not all of their rewards have the same value. We used spending data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and estimates of rewards values from The Points Guy to determine which cards dole out the best rewards value.
Benefits (20%)
Cards that offer benefits such as purchase protection, extended warranty and a 0% introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers received a boost.
Annual fee (20%)
Credit cards with no or low annual fees received a boost compared to cards that charge higher annual fees.
Foreign transaction fee (5%)
Cards with no foreign transaction fee received the largest advantage.
Annual credits/bonuses (5%)
Credit cards that come with credits and bonuses for spending in certain categories received a boost.
What didn’t make the cut
- Ink Business Premier℠ Credit Card: While this card offers 2.5% cash back on purchases of $5,000 or more and 2% back on other purchases, it charges a high annual fee and you can’t transfer rewards to airline and hotel partners.
- Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card: Business owners who want to earn flat-rate rewards can get good use from this card, but there are no bonus categories for cash back.
- The World of Hyatt Credit Card: Hyatt loyalists can get solid value from this card, but Hyatt’s relatively limited number of locations compared to other chains makes other co-branded hotel cards more appealing to average travelers.
- Chase Slate Edge℠: This card comes with a long introductory APR on balance transfers and purchases, but it does not earn rewards.
- United℠ Explorer Card
*
The information for the United℠ Explorer Card has been collected independently by CNN Underscored. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
: United loyalists can get strong value from this card, but the Aeroplan® Credit Card beat it out in our ratings. - Prime Visa: Amazon and Whole Foods customers can get a lot out of this card, but you’ll need to pay for a Prime membership to take advantage.
- Instacart Mastercard®: You’ll earn solid rewards on groceries, but only if you use Instacart.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Consumers looking for the easiest Chase card to get approved for should consider the Chase Freedom Rise, which is the only card that Chase markets to credit card beginners.
You can check the status of your Chase credit card application by calling 888-338-2586. Your credit card application decision (or a follow-up request) should come within two weeks of your application, according to Chase.
The rewards system on a Chase credit card may depend on the card. Some personal and business credit cards earn rewards through the issuer’s program (Chase Ultimate Rewards®), while co-branded cards earn rewards with the relevant brand (such as United Airlines or Amazon). The Chase Slate Edge℠ does not offer any rewards.
*The information for the following card(s) has been collected independently by CNN Underscored Money: Chase Freedom Flex℠, Chase Freedom Rise, Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card
*
The information for the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card has been collected independently by CNN Underscored. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
, Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card, IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card, IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card, Aeroplan® Credit Card, United Gateway℠ Card
*
The information for the United Gateway℠ Card has been collected independently by CNN Underscored. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
, Chase Slate Edge℠, United℠ Explorer Card
*
The information for the United℠ Explorer Card has been collected independently by CNN Underscored. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
, The World of Hyatt Credit Card, Prime Visa, and Instacart Mastercard®. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
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