Chase isn’t only one of the biggest banks in the U.S. today; by purchase volume, it’s also the biggest issuer of credit cards for American consumers.
With such a massive footprint, it’s no wonder that Chase also has some of the most competitive cards across multiple categories. Whether you’re looking for travel rewards, cash-back rewards, an intro 0% APR, or an amazing welcome offer — there’s likely a Chase credit card that fits the bill.
Here’s our rundown of the best cards Chase has to offer and how to find the right one for you:
Best Chase credit cards for May 2024
Annual fee: $95
Welcome offer: Earn 75,000 bonus points when you spend $4,000 within the first 3 months
Rewards:
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5x points on travel through Chase Travel*
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3x points on dining
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3x points on online grocery purchases (not including Target, Walmart, or wholesale clubs)
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3x points on select streaming services
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2x points on all other travel
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1x points on all other purchases
*Not including purchases that qualify for the annual Chase Travel hotel credit
Recommended credit score: Good to excellent (670-850)
More info: Each account year, get up to $50 in statement credits for hotel stays booked through Chase Travel. On your account anniversary, you’ll receive a points bonus worth 10% of your total purchases from the prior year. Rewards points get a 25% boost when you use them to book travel with Chase Travel. Added benefits include partner perks from brands like DoorDash, Instacart, Peloton, and Lyft.
Why we like it: We like the Chase Sapphire Preferred as a travel card that can help you make the most of your spending today toward future trips with flexible ways to earn and redeem rewards. At $95, it’s not the most expensive travel credit card — and you may even earn back that fee with benefits alone, between the $50 annual Chase Travel hotel credit and 10% points boost.
What really makes the Chase Sapphire Preferred valuable is the 25% boost for redeeming points for travel through Chase Travel. When you choose a Chase Travel redemption, each point is worth up to 1.25 cents each. Using the current welcome offer as an example, you could redeem 75,000 bonus points for up to $937.50 in travel expenses like airfare, hotel stays, and car rentals through Chase Travel.
Annual fee: $0
Welcome offer: Earn an extra 1.5% cash back on every purchase, up to the first $20,000 spent in the first year (worth up to $300 in cash back)
Rewards:
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5% cash back on travel through Chase Travel
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3% cash back on dining
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3% cash back at drugstores
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1.5% cash back on every other purchase
Recommended credit score: Good to excellent (670-850)
More info: Get a generous introductory APR on new purchases and balance transfers in addition to the welcome bonus. You’ll also receive partner benefits from DoorDash, Instacart, and Lyft.
Why we like it: The Chase Freedom Unlimited lets you maximize bonus categories while earning a competitive flat cash-back rate. The bonus rewards categories include both travel (through Chase Travel) and everyday spending on dining and drugstores. But you’re also guaranteed at least 1.5% on every non-category purchase — putting this card in competition with other cash-back cards that earn only flat cash-back rewards.
There’s even more to like for the first year, though. With the Freedom Unlimited welcome bonus, all the rewards you earn (up to the first $20,000 you spend in the first year) will get another 1.5% boost. That means the top 5% category on Chase Travel spending is worth 6.5% for the first year, and non-category spending is worth 3% minimum instead of 1.5%. If you’re able to max out the bonus with $20,000 spent over your first year, you can get an added $300 cash back on top of what you earn with regular spending in each category.
Annual fee: $550
Welcome offer: Earn 75,000 bonus points when you spend $4,000 within the first 3 months
Rewards:
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10x points on eligible hotels and car rentals through Chase Travel*
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10x points on Chase Dining purchases
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5x points on flights through Chase Travel*
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3x points on dining
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3x points on all other travel*
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1x points on all other purchases
*Rewards apply after the first $300 you spend on travel annually
Recommended credit score: Excellent (740 – 850)
More info: Each year, receive up to $300 back as statement credits toward travel expenses you charge to your card. You’ll also get airport lounge access, up to $100 every four years toward TSA PreCheck or Global Entry fees, Visa Infinite card benefits, access to The Edit hotel collection (including a $100 property credit when you book), and more partner benefits.
Why we like it: The Chase Sapphire Reserve offers a lot of value for frequent travelers and has one of the highest welcome bonuses available today. Like Chase Sapphire Preferred, the Sapphire Reserve boosts redemption value when you use points to book through Chase Travel. With this card, you’ll get a 50% boost — up to 1.5 cents per point. That makes the current 75,000-point welcome offer worth up to $1,125.
The Sapphire Reserve card has plenty of benefits to help lower the high annual fee cost. You’ll get the first $300 you spend on travel each year back in statement credits, which can bring your effective fee cost down to $250. Other ongoing benefits, from complimentary membership and credits from partners like DoorDash, Lyft, Instacart, and Peloton to travel perks and protections — plus bonus rewards up to 10x in some categories — can help frequent travelers get plenty of value for future trips.
Annual fee: $0
Welcome offer: Earn $150 after spending $500 within the first 3 months, plus 5% cash back on groceries (not including Walmart or Target) on the first $12,000 spent in your first year
Rewards:
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5% cash back on rotating quarterly categories (up to $1,500 in combined purchases each quarter when you activate, then 1%)
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5% cash back on travel through Chase Travel
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3% cash back on dining
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3% cash back at drugstores
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1% cash back on all other purchases
More info: This card has a generous introductory APR for new purchases and balance transfers, and comes with partner benefits from DoorDash, Instacart, and Lyft.
Why we like it: Chase Freedom Flex is a great way to maximize your everyday spending with rotating 5% bonus categories that cover a wide range of purchases. Some past examples of these categories include gym memberships, Amazon.com purchases, gas stations, wholesale clubs, PayPal, and more. As long as you activate before the deadline, you’ll earn the full 5% on your first $1,500 in combined eligible purchases each quarter.
The Freedom Flex is our pick among Chase cards for groceries in part for its current welcome bonus. In addition to the cash bonus, you’ll earn 5% cash back on grocery spending for the first year. If you’re able to meet the $12,000 spending max in that time, you could earn as much as $600. Even after the bonus ends, you’re still likely to find at least one quarter of the year with groceries as a 5% bonus category.
Annual fee: $0
Intro offer: Introductory 0% APR on new purchases and balance transfers for 18 months (20.49% – 29.24% variable APR after that)
Rewards: N/A
More info: Each year, Chase will automatically consider you for a 2% APR reduction when you spend at least $1,000 by your account anniversary and make on-time payments — until you reach an ongoing APR of the prime rate + 9.74%. Also get an automatic credit limit review after six months when you pay on time and spend at least $500. If you make a balance transfer with this card, the fee is the greater of $5 or 3% if you transfer within 60 days; after that, it goes up to $5 or 5%, whichever is greater.
Why we like it: Whether you’re looking for an introductory 0% APR to help finance a new purchase or you have existing debt to pay off, the Chase Slate Edge is a solid option. You’ll get a full 18 months before your regular interest rate kicks in, which is among the longest offers available today (the ongoing APR is a variable 20.49%-29.24%).
Unlike some other top 0% APR cards, Chase Slate Edge also has long-term benefits that last even after the long intro period. The most unique one is the ability to lower your ongoing interest rate each year when you spend $1,000 and pay your card on time. There is a cutoff (prime rate + 9.74%) that you’ll eventually meet, but this can help lower your card’s APR by a large margin compared to the regular ongoing interest rate. Just remember, you won’t pay any interest on your balances if you pay your bills in full each month. Scoring the lowest possible APR may help safeguard you from some high interest charges, but you’ll always save more by not taking on any interest at all.
Annual fee: $99
Welcome offer: Earn 50,000 points after spending $1,000 within the first 3 months
Rewards:
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3x points on Southwest purchases
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2x points on Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental purchases
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2x points on local transit and commuting (includes rideshares)
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2x points on internet, cable, and phone services
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2x points on select streaming
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1x points on all other purchases
More info: When you fly Southwest, get two EarlyBird check-ins each year and 25% back on in-flight spending. Also get 6,000 points on your cardmember anniversary each year; a 10,000-point boost on Companion Pass qualifying points each year; and 1,500 tier-qualifying points for every $5,000 you spend (with no limit on points earned).
Why we like it: The Rapid Rewards Premier Card is one of three co-branded credit cards from Southwest and Chase. With this card, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to both earn points within the Rapid Rewards program and get extra benefits when flying. This card is ideal for travelers who prefer flying Southwest, but you don’t necessarily need to travel all the time. You can still get a great points value if you only fly a few times per year thanks to this card’s everyday rewards categories. These include transit and commuting purchases; your internet, cable, and phone bills; select streaming services; and more.
Annual Early Bird check-ins, in-flight discounts, and bonus anniversary points also help increase the Rapid Rewards Premier’s annual value. Frequent Southwest fliers can reach loyalty A-list status faster with qualifying points for every $5,000 you spend. But if Companion Pass is the Southwest perk you’re vying for, not only will you get 10,000 qualifying points toward Companion Pass each year (of the required 135,000 points), but all the points you earn with your card purchases qualify too.
Annual fee: $95
Welcome offer: Earn three Free Night Awards (up to 50,000 points in value each) after spending $3,000 within the first three months
Rewards:
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17x points on Marriott purchases (6x with your card, 10x for being a Marriott Bonvoy member, 1x with the cardholder benefit of Silver Elite status)
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3x points at grocery stores*
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3x points at gas stations*
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3x points on dining*
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2x points on all other purchases
*Up to a combined $6,000 in purchases each year
More info: Every year after your first account anniversary, earn a Free Night Award with a redemption value up to 35,000 points. You’ll also get 15 Elite Night Credits each calendar year, automatic Silver Elite status with Marriott Bonvoy, and you can earn Gold after spending $35,000 each calendar year.
Why we like it: Marriott Bonvoy Boundless can help travelers who like Marriott properties get maximum points on spending toward future stays and even reach elite status with the hotel faster. Starting as a new cardholder, you’ll get three Free Night Awards on your next stay — and that carries on even after the first year with a Free Night Award after each account anniversary. If you use this card when you pay for hotels with Marriott, you can also quickly rack up future free nights, with a whopping 17x on Marriott spending.
We also like this co-branded hotel credit card for fans of the Marriott Bonvoy program who want to work toward status. Not only are you automatically given complimentary Silver Elite status, but other status perks can make it easier to move up each year. That includes your annual 15 Elite Night Credits, one Elite Night Credit toward status for every $5,000 you spend, and the ability to earn Gold Elite status with your card spending when you reach $35,000 in a calendar year.
How to choose a Chase credit card
To choose a card from any credit card company — including Chase — look for the options that best fit your financial goals and credit needs.
Start with the type of card, for instance. If you’re looking to begin paying down existing debt, you’ll probably want to prioritize a card with a 0% intro APR for balance transfers over a premium travel card with a high annual fee. Or, if you don’t travel much but you want to earn rewards, you might look for a great cash-back option over a card that earns Chase Ultimate Rewards points.
Think about your budget, too. A card with plenty of perks and a very high annual fee may not be worth it if you don’t spend enough to justify the cost and take full advantage of the benefits each year. On the other hand, if you’re a frequent traveler and want a card that’s going to help you save money and time when you travel, those perks could be well worth the fee cost.
You can also look back at your past purchases to find where you spend the most. Review your credit card statements or banking statements from the past several months. Then, you can nail down exactly where your money goes each month to make sure you get a card with rewards categories that give you the biggest return.
Finally, don’t forget to look for the smaller benefits and protections that different Chase cards offer. If you order food and groceries in often, for example, look for the Chase cards that offer DoorDash and Instacart benefits like complimentary membership and discounts. For frequent travelers, no foreign transaction fees could be an important feature. Many Chase cards also come with a range of travel and purchase protections; it’s worth reading exactly what coverage your potential new card has in case you need to use them in the future.
What credit score do you need for a Chase credit card?
In many cases, you’ll need at least a good credit score and up to an excellent credit score to get approved for a Chase card. That generally includes credit scores from 670 to the max 850.
Chase does have one card designed for new cardholders, the Chase Freedom Rise℠. It’s a no-annual-fee cash-back card with some added benefits to help you build and maintain good credit.
Otherwise, many of Chase’s credit cards are rewards credit cards or travel credit cards with stricter requirements for approval. If you’re not sure you’ll get approved, see if you have any preapproval options. While Chase doesn’t currently offer preapproval online, you may be targeted for offers in the mail or online, especially if you already have another account with Chase.
Chase Ultimate Rewards
Chase travel and rewards credit cards earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points. If you’re thinking about opening a Chase credit card, it’s important to understand this flexible rewards program and how you can maximize the points you earn. In general, your Chase points are worth 1 cent each, though some cards may offer higher value for certain redemptions and transfer values can vary.
Here’s a look at the Chase cards that earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points:
Chase’s co-branded cards from airlines, hotels, and retailers do not earn Chase Ultimate Rewards. You’ll need to review the specific loyalty program — such as Southwest Rapid Rewards or World of Hyatt for your redemption options with those cards.
If you have a Chase Sapphire Preferred, Chase Sapphire Reserve, or Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card, you can get a boosted redemption value when you use your Chase Ultimate Rewards points to book travel through Chase Travel. Both the Sapphire Preferred and Ink Business Preferred get a 25% boost, or redemption value of 1.25 cents per point. Chase Sapphire Reserve points get a 50% boost, making them worth up to 1.5 cents each.
Using points to book airfare, hotels, rental cars, and more through Chase Travel is one of the best ways to get maximum value for your Chase points no matter which card you choose. But you’ll also have the option to redeem points for cash back, gift cards, toward select eligible purchases, and more.
Chase transfer partners
Transfer partners are another way to maximize Chase Ultimate Rewards points. Not every Chase card comes with the option to transfer points to airline and hotel partner programs. Just like with the boosted Chase Travel redemptions, only the Chase Sapphire Preferred, Chase Sapphire Reserve, and Ink Business Preferred cards offer partner transfers.
Points typically transfer at a 1:1 ratio, but the exact value can vary depending on the travel partner program’s redemption value. Here are Chase’s current airline and hotel transfer partners:
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Aer Lingus AerClub
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Air Canada Aeroplan
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British Airways Executive Club
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Emirates Skywards
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Flying Blue Air France KLM
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Iberia Plus
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JetBlue TrueBlue
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Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer
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Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards
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United Airlines MileagePlus
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Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
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IHG One Rewards
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Marriott Bonvoy
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World of Hyatt
Our methodology
We compiled our list of the best Chase credit cards using the top-rated Chase cards that we’ve already rated and included among our top picks for their respective primary card categories — including travel, rewards, cash back, and more.
The list began with the superlatives we wanted to highlight among Chase cards. Thanks to Chase’s large roster of rewards cards, many of these center on types of rewards. While there are many solid business credit cards from Chase, this list is made up of only Chase’s personal credit card options. The superlatives we chose are designed to give a full view of the range of cards Chase has to offer and what we believe cardholders are seeking when considering a Chase card.
Then, we turned to our existing log of card ratings across categories. We looked for Chase cards that rank highest within our existing rubrics. These rubrics are unique to each category but also cover general card features such as APR, annual fee, customer service, security, and more. We also reviewed our existing lists of top cards to compare ratings against the cards that ultimately made the published articles.
Our final list is made up of the Chase cards that rate highly in their categories and are representative of their given superlatives. With this overall mix of objective rankings and expert judgment, we believe there’s a card on our list for nearly any cardholder who seeks out Chase as an issuer.
This article was edited by Rebecca McCracken
Editorial Disclosure: The information in this article has not been reviewed or approved by any advertiser. The details on financial products, including card rates and fees, are accurate as of the publish date. All products or services are presented without warranty. Check the bank’s website for the most current information. This site doesn’t include all currently available offers. Credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.