If you've ever researched credit card rewards, you've probably come across a Chase card.
Chase issues many of the best credit cards for cash back and travel rewards. Chase points are incredibly useful because they can be redeemed in many ways.
You'll usually get the best value by using your points for travel, whether you book through Chase or transfer your rewards to airline and hotel partners like Southwest, United, Marriott, and Hyatt.
But Chase also issues many cards in partnership with airlines and hotels. These cards earn points or miles for direct use through the travel brand.
Best Chase Credit Cards of April 2025
| Why We Like It | Card | Annual Fee |
| Best for minimalists | Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card | $95 |
| Best for cash back | Chase Freedom Unlimited® | $0 |
| Best for 0% intro APR | Chase Freedom Flex® | $0 |
| Best for luxury travelers | Chase Sapphire Reserve® | $550 |
| Best for Southwest loyalists | Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card | $149 |
| Best for Hyatt enthusiasts | The World Of Hyatt Credit Card | $95 |
| Best for building credit | Chase Freedom Rise℠ | $0 |
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Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: Best Chase Credit Card For Single-Card Minimalists
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is perfect for people who want a single credit card that does everything pretty well.
This card tops our guides to the best credit cards and the best travel rewards credit cards because it offers top-tier benefits for a moderate $95 annual fee, and comes with an excellent welcome bonus: 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
This card earns generous rewards on many common expenses:
- 5 points per dollar on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠
- 3 points on dining, select streaming services, and online grocery purchases
- 2 points on all other travel purchases including airfare, hotels, and rental cars
- 1 point per dollar on everything else
Points on the Chase Sapphire Preferred are worth 1.25 cents on travel booked through Chase, or you can transfer them to Chase Ultimate Rewards points transfer partners. You'll often get the best value by transferring credit card rewards to airlines and hotels because you can book five-star hotel stays and first-class flights on points instead of paying cash.
Chase Sapphire Preferredholders also get top-tier travel insurance benefits including primary car rental insurance coverage, trip delay coverage, and purchase protection. Finally, cardholders earn a 10% anniversary points bonus on the card each year.
Pro tip: The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card comes with an annual statement credit of up to $50 for hotels booked through Chase. If you maximize this credit, you can shave off more than half of the card's annual fee.
$95
N/A
20.49% - 27.49% Variable
Earn 60,000 bonus points
Good to Excellent
- High intro bonus offer starts you off with lots of points
- Strong travel coverage
- Doesn't offer a Global Entry/TSA PreCheck application fee credit
If you're new to travel rewards credit cards or just don't want to pay hundreds in annual fees, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is a smart choice. It earns bonus points on a wide variety of travel and dining purchases and offers strong travel and purchase coverage, including primary car rental insurance.
Chase Sapphire PreferredChase Freedom Unlimited®: Best Chase Credit Card for Cash Back
The Chase Freedom Unlimited® is a fantastic everyday card because it's one of the simplest credit cards you can get. It rewards you with cash back for everyday purchases without charging an annual fee.
The Chase Freedom Unlimited® earns 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 1.5% on all other purchases.
Since this card earns a minimum of 1.5% cash back (or 1.5 points per dollar spent), it's a great card to use even for purchases that aren't travel or dining. Rewards can be redeemed as statement credits or for gift cards and similar purchases.
$0
0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 months
18.99% - 28.49% Variable
Limited Time Offer: Earn a $250 bonus
Good to Excellent
- Solid flat cash-back rate
- You can combine cash-back rewards with Ultimate Rewards points if you have an eligible card
- No annual fee
- Some other cards offer a higher rate of cash back on certain types of purchases
The Chase Freedom Unlimited® is a great choice for credit card beginners and experts alike. With no annual fee and a high earnings rate, it's worth considering as an everyday card — and it's even better when you pair it with an annual-fee Chase card like the Chase Sapphire Reserve®.
Chase Freedom Unlimited- Limited Time Intro Offer: Earn a $250 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening
- Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 1.5% on all other purchases.
- No minimum to redeem for cash back. You can choose to receive a statement credit or direct deposit into most U.S. checking and savings accounts. Cash Back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open!
- Enjoy 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 18.99% - 28.49%.
- No annual fee – You won't have to pay an annual fee for all the great features that come with your Freedom Unlimited® card
- Keep tabs on your credit health, Chase Credit Journey helps you monitor your credit with free access to your latest score, alerts, and more.
- Member FDIC
Chase Freedom Flex®: Best Chase Credit Card for 0% Intro APR
The Chase Freedom Flex® is a nearly identical twin to the Chase Freedom Unlimited® we just reviewed, with very similar benefits.
The primary difference is that the Chase Freedom Flex earns 5% cash back on up to $1,500 across select quarterly bonus categories that rotate every three months. Otherwise, the Freedom Flex also earns 5% cash back on Chase Travel℠ bookings, 3% at drugstores and restaurants including takeout and delivery, and 1% on all other purchases.
If you're planning ahead for a large expense or already have a balance on another card, the Chase Freedom Flex can help new cardholders pay off what they owe over time without incurring interest with a 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 months, then 18.99% - 28.49% Variable APR.
Pro tip: The Chase Freedom Unlimited® also offers a 0% intro APR period. If you can't decide between the two cards, read our guide to the Chase Freedom Flex vs. Chase Freedom Unlimited.
$0
0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 months
18.99% - 28.49% Variable
Earn a $200 bonus
Good to Excellent
- No annual fee
- Generous bonus cash-back categories
- Great welcome bonus
- Booking through Chase Travel℠ can restrict outside earning potential
- Varying percentages and rotating calendar categories require extra attention
- 3% foreign transaction fees
The Chase Chase Freedom Flex® is a great pick if you want one of the best no-annual-fee cards with big earning potential and impressive benefits. It's an even better choice if you already collect Ultimate Rewards points with other Chase cards, because you can combine your points and potentially get even more value.
Chase Freedom FlexChase Sapphire Reserve®: Best Chase Credit Card for Luxury Travelers
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is an upgraded version of the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. This is the one to get if you want a single credit card for all purchases and don't mind paying a few hundred dollars a year for complimentary access to Priority Pass™ airport lounges and Chase Sapphire Lounges, generous reward redemption rates, and credit toward TSA PreCheck® or Global Entry application fees.
The card's $550 annual fee is offset by an annual travel credit of up to $300, and the card doesn't have many downsides beyond the hefty fee up front.
After you've used the $300 annual credit each year, this card earns 5 points per dollar on Chase Travel℠ flights and 10 points per dollar on hotels and car rentals purchased through Chase. The Chase Sapphire Reserve® also earns 3 points per dollar on other travel expenses and all dining, and 1 point per dollar on everything else. Points on this card account are worth 1.5 cents each toward travel booked through Chase.
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® offers some of the best travel insurance available from a credit card, even surpassing that of The Platinum Card® from American Express in some ways. The card's complimentary travel benefits include trip delay coverage, purchase protection, and primary car rental insurance — a valuable perk that allows you to file a claim with Chase's partner underwriter instead of affecting your own auto policy.
Pro tip: If you're waffling between the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, our in-depth Chase Sapphire Preferred vs. Reserve credit card comparison can help you make the right choice.
$550
N/A
21.49% - 28.49% Variable
Earn 60,000 bonus points
Good to Excellent
- Annual travel credit can effectively shave $300 off the annual fee if you use it
- Strong travel insurance
- Strong bonus rewards on travel and dining
- Very high annual fee
If you're new to rewards credit cards you may want to start elsewhere, but if you know you want to earn Chase points and you spend a lot on travel and dining, the Sapphire Reserve is one of the most rewarding options.
Chase Sapphire ReserveSouthwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card: Best Chase Credit Card for Southwest Loyalists
We don't often recommend co-branded airline credit cards or hotel credit cards because their rewards aren't as versatile as cash back or flexible points and miles. But the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card is well worth its $149 annual fee if you fly Southwest more than twice a year or regularly travel with your partner, child, or a friend.
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Cardholders get an annual boost of 7,500 Southwest points each year when they renew their card, plus an annual statement credit of $75 toward Southwest purchases and 25% off inflight purchases. You also get four complimentary Upgraded Boardings each year, which grant you a boarding position of A1 to A15, first in line for the plane.
The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card also offers a nice welcome bonus: 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
Cardholders earn 3 points per dollar on Southwest purchases, 2 points on hotels and rental cars booked through Rapid Rewards, select transit, internet, cellphone bills, and streaming services, and 1 point per dollar on all other purchases.
Furthermore, points earned from spending on Southwest credit cards count toward the Southwest Companion Pass. If you earn 135,000 Southwest Rapid Rewards points within a calendar year, you can bring a designated companion with you on every flight you take for just the cost of taxes and fees, which can be as low as $5.60 per one-way flight.
Pro tip: You can transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points to Southwest Airlines, but you can't transfer Southwest points back to Chase Ultimate Rewards.
$149
N/A
20.49% - 27.49% Variable
Earn 50,000 points
Good to Excellent
- Generous annual benefits, including a Southwest travel credit and anniversary points, plus upgraded boardings and in-flight discounts
- If you fly Southwest several times a year, the benefits easily outweigh the annual fee
- Annual fee is low compared to other premium airline credit cards
- Highest annual fee among Southwest consumer cards
If you can make use of the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card's many benefits and perks, it's well worth the annual fee. Otherwise, have a look at other Southwest cards like the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card and Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card, which have lower annual fees but the same elevated welcome bonus offer.
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card- Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- 7,500 anniversary points each year.
- Earn 3X points on Southwest® purchases.
- Earn 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare.
- Earn 2X points on internet, cable, and phone services; select streaming.
- $75 Southwest® travel credit each year.
- No foreign transaction fees.
- Member FDIC
The World Of Hyatt Credit Card: Best Chase Credit Card for Hyatt Enthusiasts
Like the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card for Southwest loyalists, The World Of Hyatt Credit Card makes sense for people who enjoy Hyatt hotels enough to focus on earning brand-specific rewards.
The World Of Hyatt Credit Card costs $95 a year in exchange for entry-level Discoverist elite status, which includes perks such as premium internet access in your room and 10% bonus points on paid stays.
If you want to earn better status, this card can also help you reach the requirements more quickly. The World Of Hyatt credit card offers five qualifying night credits each year, plus two additional night credits per $5,000 spent on the card. Since Hyatt status is partially based on the number of nights you stay with the hotel chain each year, these credits help you reach your target with fewer stays.
The World Of Hyatt Credit Cardholders also get an annual free night certificate that can be used at any Hyatt Category 1 to 4 hotels. You also earn a second free night certificate if you spend $15,000 or more on the card within a calendar year.
Pro tip: As with Southwest, you can transfer Chase points to Hyatt, but Hyatt points do not transfer to Chase Ultimate Rewards.
$95
N/A
19.99% - 28.49% Variable
Earn up to 60,000 bonus points
Good to Excellent
- Valuable annual reward night
- Hyatt points are valuable, and this card earns 2x points on several bonus categories
- If you spend a lot on this card, you can earn a second free night
- Not too many extra benefits
If you like staying at Hyatt hotels, The World Of Hyatt Credit Card is an excellent complement to Hyatt's generous and competitive loyalty program that offers free nights and a path toward higher-tier elite status. Even if you're not a hardcore Hyatt fan, the card's useful benefits can appeal to most travelers — and make the card worth keeping year after year.
World Of Hyatt credit card- Earn up to 60,000 Bonus Points. Earn 30,000 Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening. Plus, up to 30,000 more Bonus Points by earning 2 Bonus Points total per $1 spent in the first 6 months from account opening on purchases that normally earn 1 Bonus Point, on up to $15,000 spent.
- Enjoy complimentary World of Hyatt Discoverist status for as long as your account is open.
- Get 1 free night each year after your Cardmember anniversary at any Category 1-4 Hyatt hotel or resort
- Receive 5 tier qualifying night credits towards status after account opening, and each year after that for as long as your account is open
- Earn an extra free night at any Category 1-4 Hyatt hotel if you spend $15,000 in a calendar year
- Earn 2 qualifying night credits towards tier status every time you spend $5,000 on your card
- Earn up to 9 points total for Hyatt stays – 4 Bonus Points per $1 spent on qualified purchases at Hyatt hotels & up to 5 Base Points per $1 from Hyatt as a World of Hyatt member
- Earn 2 Bonus Points per $1 spent at restaurants, on airline tickets purchased directly from the airlines, on local transit and commuting and on fitness club and gym memberships
- Member FDIC
Chase Freedom Rise℠: Best Chase Credit Card for Building Credit
If you've never had a credit card before, the Chase Freedom Rise℠ is the one you should get. Specifically designed for people with no credit history at all, this no-annual-fee card earns 1.5% cash back on purchases, which is generous for a starter credit card.
You can't apply for this card online. Instead, you'll need to visit a Chase bank branch and work directly with a banker.
You have the best chance of being approved for this card if you have a Chase checking account with a minimum account balance of $250, or open one within two days of applying for the card. You won't need to maintain that checking account balance after you've been approved for the card.
Cardholders who enroll in autopay within 90 days of opening the Chase Freedom Rise℠ will earn a $25 statement credit.
Read more in our Chase Freedom Rise review.
What are Chase Credit Cards?
Chase credit cards are issued by financial giant Chase, which also offers banking, mortgages, and several other major services.
Many Chase cards earn Chase Ultimate Rewards — one of the most valuable reward "currencies" in the ecosystem for their flexible use on high-ticket redemptions.
Others, like the Southwest credit cards, earn rewards with their co-branded travel partner, such as an airline or hotel chain.
Choosing the Right Chase Credit Card for You
When comparing the top Chase credit cards, factors you should consider include the card's rewards and earning potential against annual fees and any additional costs.
You'll also want to consider additional features and flexibility such as travel perks and benefits. If you don't travel very often, for example, you probably shouldn't get an airline or hotel credit card.
Matching card features with your spending habits will also help you maximize your rewards and benefits. For example, if you frequently dine out, a card that earns bonus points per dollar spent at restaurants will help you quickly reach your earning goals.
Chase Business Credit Cards
Chase offers some of the most popular cards available on the market, and that distinction isn't limited to consumer credit cards. If you're a business owner, you can combine rewards between personal and business credit cards for even more rewards.
Our guide to the best Chase business credit cards can help you decide which option is best for your company's needs.
Chase Co-Branded Airline and Hotel Cards
Chase offers many co-branded credit cards with popular airlines and hotel chains such as United, Southwest, Marriott, and Hyatt.
These cards offer specific benefits and rewards for brand loyalists, such as points for travel and stays and automatic elite status.
Chase Credit Card Customer Reviews
We've shared our top insights here, but consumer feedback is also really important to consider when evaluating your next credit card.
Business Insider's personal finance experts scoured Reddit, FlyerTalk, and other popular forums to summarize common themes from current cardholders.
Chase cardholders love how easy it is to use Chase Ultimate Rewards for different redemptions.
If you want a single card with no annual fee that earns cash-back rewards, Reddit cardholders say the Chase Freedom Flex® or the Chase Freedom Unlimited® work well for most everyday spending categories.
If you're open to holding more than one Chase card, pairing either of the cards mentioned above with a Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or Chase Sapphire Reserve® can expand your redemption possibilities.
Chase Trifecta: Combining Chase Credit Cards to Maximize Rewards
Combining two or more cards with different bonus categories and benefits for maximum rewards is a popular strategy among Chase card aficionados.
The so-called "Chase trifecta" refers to choosing three Chase cards that earn bonus rewards on almost every category of everyday spending, thus unlocking the best opportunities for extra points.
You can create your own Chase trifecta from any three cards. A particularly effective trio combines a card with rotating bonus categories like the Chase Freedom Flex®, a flat-rate rewards card like the Chase Freedom Unlimited®, and a travel rewards card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. This particular trifecta also costs only $95 in annual fees from the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, since the other two cards have no annual fees.
While there are countless ways to create your own trifecta to maximize Chase earning opportunities, this $95 trio is a great place to start.
Travel Rewards or Cash Back? How to Decide
The best Chase credit card will be the one that fits your lifestyle. If you travel frequently, cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or Chase Sapphire Reserve® are a no-brainer for their generous rewards, flexible redemptions, and travel protection benefits.
If you don't travel often, the Chase Freedom Flex® can be a much better choice for your household. Young families particularly benefit from this no-annual-fee card because it earns 3% back on restaurants and drugstore purchases — frequent expenses for many households, according to online feedback.
The Chase Freedom Flex® also comes with cellphone protection and trip cancellation/interruption insurance, which is helpful if a family vacation needs to be canceled for health reasons or severe weather conditions.
Why You Should Trust Us: How We Chose the Best Chase Credit Cards
Chase issues many extremely valuable credit cards. We landed on the best of the best in this post by only including cards with one or more of the following attributes:
- A sizable welcome bonus
- Above-average return rates
- Valuable ongoing benefits
We evaluated the pros and cons of each credit card in narrow categories to determine which card offers the highest upside for each financial situation.
Here's more about how we rate credit cards at Business Insider.
FAQs
Why are Chase credit cards so popular?
Chase credit cards are extremely popular because they offer great customer service, one of the best rewards programs available, and competitive earning rates on various spending categories. Many Chase credit cards also provide additional benefits such as purchase protection, travel insurance, and access to exclusive events and experiences.
What's the most underrated Chase credit card?
The Chase Freedom credit cards are some of the most underrated credit cards available. They have no annual fees, earn valuable rewards on many common expenses, and offer strong financial benefits for the cardholder.
What is the best credit card offered by Chase?
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is one of the best credit cards for most people because it offers top-tier benefits and generous rewards on common spending categories for a low annual fee. Another winner is the Chase Freedom Unlimited®, which earns easy cash back on many expenses without an annual fee.
Which Chase card is hardest to get?
The premium Chase Sapphire Reserve® requires excellent credit and costs $550 per year. Frequent travelers who value complimentary airport lounge access and the best trip insurance in the industry will be able to maximize the benefits on this card.
Which Chase card should I get first?
The Chase Freedom card series is fantastic for first-time cardholders. If you have no credit whatsoever, apply for the Chase Freedom Rise℠ in person at a Chase bank branch. People who have already built out some credit history can benefit from the Chase Freedom Flex®, which earns up to 5% cash back on certain categories, or the Chase Freedom Unlimited®, which earns a flat 1.5% cash back on everything.
