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If you’ve spent some time around credit card-savvy consumers, you may have heard of the infamous “Chase Trifecta.” The term refers to a combination of three Chase credit cards that, when used together, offer great benefits and rewards across various spending categories.
Here’s an in-depth look at the Chase Trifecta, how it works, and why you may want to add these cards to your repertoire.
Note: This article includes information on the Chase Freedom Flex℠, currently unavailable at LA Times Compare. All information for the Chase Freedom Flex℠ has been collected independently by LA Times Compare. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
What is the Chase Trifecta?
The Chase Trifecta typically consists of three credit cards from the Chase Ultimate Rewards® program.
These cards complement each other by providing a wide range of rewards across different spending categories, making it possible to earn a high rate of return on everyday purchases.
Additionally, business owners may swap one of these cards out for one of the Ink Business cards. Since points can be pooled into the account with the highest redemption rate, adding a business card to the lineup can help you further maximize your reward-earning potential.
Note: Only the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, Chase Sapphire Reserve®, and Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card have a higher redemption rate for travel through Chase. Make sure you have at least one of these cards in your lineup or the trifecta is far less effective.
Reward rate: Earn 5X points on Chase Travel purchases, 3X points on dining, select online grocery purchases and select streaming services, 2X points on all other travel and 1X points on all other spending. Through March 2025, earn 5X points on eligible Peloton and Lyft purchases.
Redemption rate: 1 cent per point for cash back, 1.25 cents per point for travel through Chase Travel.
Welcome offer: Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
Reward rate: Earn 10X points on hotels and car rentals booked through Chase Travel℠, 10X points on Chase Dining purchases, 5X points on flights booked through Chase Travel, 3X points on non-Chase travel and dining, and 1X points on all non-bonus spending. You won’t start earning points on travel until after the first $300 is spent on travel annually.
Redemption rate: 1 cent per point for cash back, 1.5 cents per point for travel through Chase Travel.
Welcome offer: Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
Reward rate: Earn 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% cash back on all other purchases.
Redemption rate: 1 cent per point for travel or cash back
Welcome offer: Earn an extra 1.5% on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) — worth up to $300 cash back. That’s 6.5% on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 4.5% on dining and drugstores, and 3% on all other purchases.
Chase Freedom Flex®
Annual fee: $0
Reward rate: Earn 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories you activate each quarter. Earn 5% on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 3% back on dining and at drugstores, and 1% back on all other purchases.
Redemption rate: 1 cent per point for travel or cash back
Welcome offer: Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first three months from account opening.
Note: All information for the Chase Freedom Flex℠ has been collected independently by LA Times Compare. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Reward rate: Earn 5% cash back in select business categories (on up to $25,000 per account anniversary year) and earn 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants (on up to $25,000 per account anniversary year). Earn 1% cash back on all other purchases.
Redemption rate: 1 cent per point for travel or cash back
Welcome offer: Earn $350 when you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months and an additional $400 when you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first six months after account opening.
Reward rate: Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent in combined purchases in select categories each anniversary year, and earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases.
Redemption rate: 1 cent per point for cash back, 1.25 cents per point for travel through Chase Travel.
Welcome offer: Earn 90,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
How the Chase Trifecta Works
The strength of the Chase Trifecta lies in its ability to maximize point earning and redemption flexibility.
Here’s how it works:
Maximize category spending: Utilize each card’s highest reward-earning categories to rack up points quickly and effectively.
Transfer and redeem points: Transfer all points earned to the card with the highest redemption value (Sapphire Reserve has the best one). You can redeem all points earned at this card’s redemption rate.
The most valuable way to set up your Chase Trifecta is based on your spending habits and lifestyle, but if you’re not a businessperson, the best combination is the Chase Freedom Flex, Chase Freedom Unlimited, and Chase Sapphire Reserve.
Through this combination, you can leverage the following rates and categories:
10X points per dollar spent on hotels and car rentals through Chase Travel (via Sapphire Reserve)
10X points on Chase Dining purchases (via Sapphire Reserve)
10X points on Lyft rides through March 31, 2025 (via Sapphire Reserve)
5X points on flights through the Chase Travel portal (via Sapphire Reserve)
5X points on up to $1,500 in purchases each quarter in a rotating category (via Freedom Flex)
3X points on other travel (via Sapphire Reserve)
3X points on other dining purchases (via any of these cards)
3X points on drugstore purchases (via Freedom Flex or Freedom Unlimited)
1.5X points on all other purchases (via Freedom Unlimited)
Benefits of the Chase Trifecta
High reward potential: By strategically using each card, you can maximize rewards on a wide range of purchases.
Flexible redemption: Points can be redeemed for travel, cash back, gift cards, and more. The value of points is higher when redeemed for travel through Chase Travel or transferred to travel partners.
Valuable benefits: Enjoy a variety of perks including travel insurance, annual travel credits, partner benefits, purchase protection, and extended warranties.
What to consider before committing
Annual fees: If you go with the combination listed above (Freedom Flex, Freedom Unlimited, and Sapphire Reserve), you’ll need to pay the Sapphire Reserve’s hefty $550 annual fee. If you can maximize the power of this combo, however, you can easily get far more value than the cost of the fee.
Chase’s 5/24 rule: Chase has an unpublished 5/24 rule, meaning that you can’t get a Chase card if you’ve been approved for more than five cards from any bank in the past 24 months. If you’ve already gotten three cards in the past two years, you won’t be able to get the full trifecta yet.
Credit score impact: Applying for new credit cards often results in a hard inquiry on your credit report, which can ding your credit score temporarily. To minimize this, we recommend waiting at least six months between applications.
Only one Sapphire card: If you already have the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card, you can’t be the primary cardholder of the Sapphire Reserve as well. However, you may be able to upgrade if your Sapphire Preferred account has been open for at least a year.
Your willingness to use Chase Travel: The best value for earning and redeeming travel rewards comes exclusively from booking through Chase Travel. You can still redeem for cash back at a 1:1 rate, but that kind of defeats the purpose of the trifecta.
Juggling multiple cards: Can you keep track of the spending categories on each card to maximize your reward-earning potential? If not, it may make more sense to only get one or two of these cards that best align with your spending habits.
The bottom line: Is the Chase Trifecta worth it?
The Chase Trifecta can absolutely be worth it. This offers an excellent strategy for those looking to maximize their credit card rewards. By utilizing each card’s strengths, cardholders can earn considerable rewards on their everyday spending and travel.
Note: This article includes information on the Chase Freedom Flex℠, currently unavailable at LA Times Compare. All information for the Chase Freedom Flex℠ has been collected independently by LA Times Compare. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Jaiden Hart serves as a credit card writer and content manager at LA Times Compare. Beginning her career as an intern on the Compare team, she has since amassed considerable expertise and passion in the credit card industry.
Jaiden’s primary objective is to simplify the process of choosing and managing a credit card through engaging and honest content so individuals can more effectively maximize their benefits and meet their financial goals.
