Chase Ultimate Rewards points have long boasted one of our highest ratings, as you can use this type of transfer with 14 key travel partners, including Hyatt, Southwest and United.
According to TPG’s December 2024 rates, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and Chase Sapphire Reserve’s® sign-up bonuses offer a value of $1,230, so there’s good reason to be interested in this rewards program.
In this post, we’ll go over the top five cards to consider if you’d like to increase your account balance as you look toward your next trip.
Related: 6 Simple Strategies I Use to Earn Over 500,000 Points and Miles a Year
Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card is a popular travel rewards card for the middle class.
Suitable for: Most travelers, because of the $95 annual fee and the excellent sign-up bonus.
Salary level: 5 points per dollar on Lyft rides (through March 2025) and trips purchased with Chase Travel℠, 3 points on dining, including eligible delivery, takeout and dining services, 3 points on select streaming services, points -3 on online grocery purchases (except Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs), 2 points on every other trip and point 1 on all other purchases
Signup bonus: Earn 60,000 High Rewards points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening. According to TPG estimates for December 2024, this bonus is worth $1,230.
Annual fee: $95
Daily Newsletter
Reward your inbox with the TPG Daily newsletter
Join over 700,000 readers for the best news, in-depth guides and exclusive deals from TPG experts
Why we love it: The Chase Sapphire Preferred tops this list, as it offers the best sign-up bonuses of any Chase personal card. This card has endless rewards travel opportunities; for example, you can use your points to book any Chase Travel℠ travel with a redemption boost of 25% points (or 1.25 cents each). To squeeze in even more value, transfer your points to Chase loyalty partners for that dream business-class flight or luxury hotel stay on a beautiful island.
You’ll also earn 2 points per dollar on travel and 3 points on dining. While meals are straightforward, Chase counts many purchases as travel expenses, from airfare and hotel stays to Uber rides and parking fees.
To learn more, read our full Chase Sapphire Preferred review.
Related: Who should (and shouldn’t) get the Chase Sapphire Preferred?
Apply here: Chase Sapphire Preferred
Chase Sapphire Reserve
The Chase Sapphire Reserve is Chase’s standard travel rewards card.
Suitable for: Getting higher returns on travel and dining purchases and enjoying additional perks (like a $300 annual travel credit), making it worth the $550 annual fee.
Salary level: 10 points per dollar on Lyft rides (through March 2025) and hotels and car rentals with Chase Travel℠, 5 points on flights through Chase Travel℠, 3 points on travel and dining and 1 point on everything the rest.
Signup bonus: Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in purchases in the first three months from account opening, up to $1,230, according to TPG statistics for December 2024.
Annual fee: $550
Why we love it: The Chase Sapphire Reserve Card has the best rates for recurring rewards on travel and dining purchases. Similar to Sapphire Preferred, the dining and travel board definition is a great way to collect rewards with multiple purchases. Based on TPG estimates for December 2024, 3 points per dollar equates to a return of just over 6%. For TPG credit card writer Danyal Ahmed, the Sapphire Reserve has been a mainstay of his wallet since it was released in 2016.
In terms of scoring opportunities, Reserve is the clear winner between itself and Sapphire Preferred. Your points are worth 1.5 cents each when you book a trip with Chase Travel℠. However, Preferred is still a good choice if you don’t want to pay the $550 annual fee.
To learn more, read our full Chase Sapphire Reserve review.
Related: Is the Chase Sapphire Reserve worth the annual fee?
Apply here: Chase Sapphire Reserve
Chase Freedom Flex
Chase Freedom Flex® is a popular cash back rewards card.
Suitable for: The use of the quarterly bonus category goes well with another High Rewards card.
Salary level: 5% up to $1,500 in bonus points each quarter you spend, 5% on travel purchased with Chase Travel℠, 3% on dining and drugstores and 1% on everything else
Signup bonus: Earn $200 in cashback after spending $500 in purchases in the first three months from account opening.
Annual fee: $0
Why we love it: The Chase Freedom Flex is a solid rewards card with solid rewards in many categories. If you hold a Sapphire Reserve, Sapphire Preferred or Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card, you can combine your rewards as Top Rewards points to help you reach that dream trip even faster.
If you make the most of your purchases in qualifying 5% bonus categories each quarter, you’ll earn 30,000 Top Rewards points each year — worth $615 based on TPG’s December 2024 rates.
A $200 sign-up bonus equates to earning 20,000 points, so opening this card is an easy way to boost your Super Rewards points balance quickly.
To learn more, read our full Chase Freedom Flex review.
Related: Why I got the Chase Freedom Flex and how I’m getting more money this quarter
Apply here: Chase Freedom Flex
Chase Freedom Unlimited
Chase Freedom Unlimited® is another popular cash back rewards card.
Suitable for: All other non-refundable category charges that are compatible with another High Rewards card.
Salary level: 5% on trips purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3% on food (including eligible delivery services) and drugstores and 1.5% on everything else.
Signup bonus: Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on all purchases (up to $20,000 spent in the first year).
Annual fee: $0
Why we love it: Not to be confused with Freedom Flex, Chase Freedom Unlimited has a simple pay plan. You’ll earn 5% on travel with Chase Travel℠, 3% at restaurants and drugstores and a flat 1.5% on all other purchases.
For regular non-category expenses, from medical bills to haircuts, be sure to get 1.5% back. Freedom Unlimited cash back rewards can also be transferred to another Ultimate Rewards card to be used as travel points.
To learn more, read our full Freedom Unlimited review.
Related: Power of the Chase Trifecta: Sapphire Reserve, Ink Preferred and Freedom Unlimited
Apply here: Chase Freedom Unlimited
Ink Preferred Business Credit Card
The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card is one of Chase’s best value business cards.
Suitable for: Business use for office supplies, advertising, services and travel.
Salary level: 3 points per dollar on the first $150,000 spent on combined travel, shipping purchases, social media and search engine advertising purchases and internet, cable and phone services each account anniversary year, 1 point on everything else.
Signup bonus: Earn 90,000 bonus points after spending $8,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. Based on TPG estimates for December 2024, 90,000 Premium Rewards points are worth $1,845.
Annual fee: $95
Why we love it: Whether you’re a business owner, freelancer or other sole proprietor, consider applying for the Chase Ink Preferred Business card. With the sign-up bonus of any Chase Ultimate Rewards card (both personal and business), this would be a great card to earn the most points. Like Sapphire Preferred, Ink Business Preferred offers a 25% points bonus when booking travel with Chase Travel℠.
Make sure you can maximize the bonus categories for this card, as you’ll earn 3 points per dollar. Before you pull the trigger and sign up for this card, remember that there is a high spend requirement to get this sign up bonus. If you’re a business owner with low expenses, you can choose one of Chase’s annual business cards instead.
To learn more, read our full Ink Business Preferred review.
Related: 5 reasons to get the Ink Business Preferred card
Apply here: Chase Ink Preferred Business
Follow credit card application limits
Before applying for all of the Chase cards listed above, make sure you’re aware of Chase’s 5/24 rule. This basically means that you will be denied any Chase card if you have opened five or more credit cards (from any issuer) in the last 24 months. Note that opening a Chase business card does not add to your 5/24 standing, but you will generally need to be under 5/24 to qualify for most Chase business cards.
Additionally, there are sign-up bonus limits on the Sapphire and Liberty cards.
In short, you will not receive a sign-up bonus if you are a current Sapphire card member or have received a sign-up bonus on a Sapphire card in the past 48 months. This means you cannot currently own a Preferred and receive a bonus from the Reserve.
For Freedom Cards, you cannot currently hold the card for which you want to receive a sign-up bonus, and you cannot have received a sign-up bonus for that card in the past 24 months.
It’s important to keep these limits in mind when building your credit card portfolio – you’ll want to strategize which card you open first.
Related: The ultimate guide to credit card application limits
Bottom line
If earning high points is an important part of your points and miles strategy, here are our top five options for accumulating rewards. Knowing when to use the card will ensure that you maximize your income. Finally, if you earn a card sign-up bonus, you’ll be off to a strong start with more rewards for your travels.
Related: The best Chase cards
Source link
