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Best Chase Credit Cards of 2024

In the world of credit cards, finding the perfect fit can be overwhelming. With Chase Bank’s wide selection of offerings, navigating the options can be both exciting and challenging. Whether you’re a travel aficionado seeking a lucrative travel rewards card or a savvy spender looking to maximize cash back, Chase credit cards present a myriad of opportunities.

In this guide, we’ll delve into the realm of Chase credit cards, highlighting the best options for different financial needs and lifestyles. So, let’s embark on this journey to uncover the top Chase credit cards that stand out amongst the rest.

Our picks for the best Chase credit cards

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Best for Travel Rewards

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

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Up to 5X Reward Rate

Earn 5X points on travel booked through Chase, 3X points on dining, online grocery purchases, and select streaming services, and 1X points on other purchases.

Annual Fee
$95
Welcome Offer
60,000 points
Regular APR
21.49% to 28.49% variable
Recommended Credit
Good/Excellent (670 - 850)
Why we like it
The Chase Sapphire Preferred card is one of our favorite cards in existence, striking an impressive balance between robust benefits and a reasonable annual fee. With a generous rewards program, cardholders can earn points on travel purchases and everyday purchases through Chase Ultimate Rewards. Through this program, you can redeem your rewards for cash back, statement credits, gift cards, merchandise, and more. You can also get even 25% more value for your points when redeeming through Chase Travel! Beyond earning rewards, this card offers additional perks like travel insurance, hotel credits, and generous partner benefits. The Chase Sapphire Preferred card would make a spectacular addition to any frequent or semi-frequent traveler’s wallet.

Best for Flexible Cash Back Rewards

Chase Freedom Unlimited®

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Up to 6.5% Reward Rate

Enjoy 6.5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 4.5% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services, and 3% on all other purchases (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year). After your first year or $20,000 spent, enjoy 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.

Annual Fee
$0
Welcome Offer
Up to $300 cash back
Regular APR
20.49%-29.24% variable
Recommended Credit
Good/Excellent (670 - 850)
Why we like it
We love the Chase Freedom Unlimited® card, and we think you will too. It’s a great option for those looking for flexibility in their rewards, offering flat-rate rewards on all purchases and generous cash-back in other useful categories. On top of that, it comes with a fantastic welcome offer. You’d think a card with such great rewards would have an annual fee, right? Think again. Freedom Unlimited has no annual fee. Although this card is marketed as earning cash back, it goes beyond that. The rewards you earn are part of the top-of-the-line Chase Ultimate Rewards program, meaning they’re extra flexible to redeem. In the saturated world of credit cards, the Chase Freedom Unlimited® manages to stand out, which is why it’s one of our favorite options.

Best High-End Travel Card

Chase Sapphire Reserve®

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Up to 10X Reward Rate

Earn 10X points on hotels and car rentals through the Chase portal, 10X points on Chase Dining purchases, 5X points on flights booked through Chase, 3X points on travel and dining, and 1X points on all non-bonus spending.

Annual Fee
$550
Welcome Offer
60,000 points
Regular APR
22.49% to 29.49% variable
Recommended Credit
Excellent (740 - 850)
Why we like it
The Chase Sapphire Reserve stands as a premium credit card, delivering an exceptional array of benefits for frequent travelers. It offers an impressive reward rate on travel, with up to 10X points on eligible purchases (Note: You won’t start earning points until the $300 annual travel statement credit is fully spent. The first $300 spent on travel each year will automatically go towards the statement credit). It also boasts a $300 yearly travel credit that can help justify the bulk of the annual fee. Outside of that, cardholders can take advantage of complimentary airport lounge access, great travel insurance perks, valuable partner benefits, and a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck fee credit. If you’re looking for a card with a huge travel rewards rate and generous travel perks, and you don’t mind paying a substantial annual fee, the Chase Sapphire Reserve card may fit the bill.

Best for Business Rewards

Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

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Up to 3X Reward Rate

Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent in combined purchases in select categories each year, and earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases.

Annual Fee
$95
Welcome Offer
100,000 points
Regular APR
21.24% to 26.24% variable
Recommended Credit
Good/Excellent (670 - 850)
Why we like it
We like that the Ink Business Preferred has a high rewards-earning rate on travel and certain business purchases, as well as rewards on purchases that don’t fall into those categories. It also boasts various additional perks like travel insurance and cell phone protection. The extremely generous welcome bonus is certainly a plus for us as well, offering 100K bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months of account opening, all for a low $95 annual fee. The points you earn are part of the Chase Ultimate Rewards program, meaning they’re super flexible to redeem. If you spend enough in the 3X points categories, this card could reward you handsomely.

Best Flat-rate Cash Back for Businesses

Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card

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1.5% Reward Rate

Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases made for your business.

Annual Fee
$0
Welcome Offer
$750
Regular APR
18.49% to 24.49% variable
Recommended Credit
Good/Excellent (670 - 850)
Why we like it
We love that this card allows businesses to earn 1.5% cash back on all purchases, so they don’t have to keep track of spending categories, while also offering a nice welcome bonus and 0% APR for the first 12 months. As an additional perk, businesses can take advantage of all this card offers for no annual fee. It’s certainly not the highest-earning card out there, but its lack of an annual fee and unlimited cash-back rewards make it a solid option. It also comes with travel insurance benefits and purchase protection, and you can add employee cards at no additional cost.

Compare our picks for the best Chase credit cards

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Best Chase credit cards: Editorial reviews, details & rewards

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

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Best for Travel Rewards
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is one of the most popular credit cards in America. It offers generous rewards on travel purchases and non-travel purchases, and the points you earn fall into the Chase Ultimate Rewards program. This program lets you redeem your points for cash back, gift cards, a statement credit, merchandise, travel through Chase, or point transfers to airline and hotel partners.

Chase Freedom Unlimited®

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Best for Flexible Cash Back Rewards
If you’re in the market for a credit card that’s well-rounded enough to use for almost all of your purchases, the Chase Freedom Unlimited® might be exactly what you need. It offers a valuable combination of high cash-back rates in various categories, a long 0% APR offer, and a super generous sign-up bonus, all for no annual fee. Additionally, the rewards you earn are through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, meaning they’re extremely flexible to redeem.

Chase Sapphire Reserve®

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Best High-End Travel Card
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® card is a top-tier credit card for travel-related premium rewards. Cardholders can earn best-in-class Chase Ultimate Rewards points that are redeemable for gift cards, merchandise, cash back, travel through the Chase Travel portal, or 1:1 transfers to Chase airline and hotel partners like United Airlines and Hyatt hotels.

Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

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Best for Business Rewards
The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card stands as one of the best Chase cards for entrepreneurs and small businesses and has some of the better points-earning rates available on the market. It also earns Chase Ultimate Rewards points, meaning cardmembers have huge flexibility on how they choose to redeem points.

Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card

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Best Flat-rate Cash Back for Businesses
The Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card is an excellent credit card option for business owners and entrepreneurs whose purchases don’t fit into the traditional bonus categories of other business cards. Instead, this card offers unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases.

Benefits of Chase credit cards

Choosing a Chase card comes with various special benefits and luxury perks, making them an excellent choice over other credit card companies.

One of the nice things about Chase credit card issuers is that they offer several different credit cards, any of which can suit your lifestyle, budget, and credit score. From high-value cash back rewards cards to points-earning travel credit cards and high-earning Chase business cards, the sky is the limit when it comes to card options.

Some of the most noteworthy benefits are explained below:

Chase Ultimate Rewards®

One of the best benefits Chase offers is their rewards program, known as Chase Ultimate Rewards®. This program has been integral for those looking for travel perks and benefits for daily spending and other purchases.

You can redeem Chase Ultimate Rewards points for:

Welcome bonuses

Chase cards are often generous with their welcome bonuses, which require new cardholders to sign up and meet a minimum spending requirement within a limited time (typically the first few months of card ownership). These can be an effective way to earn points or cash back when you first get your card but make sure to evaluate how much you’ll be using the regular benefits and rewards to see if the annual fee is worth it in the long run.

Travel and purchase protection

Another benefit of being a Chase cardholder is that most cards come with travel and purchase protection.

Travel protection: Chase cards often come with travel-related benefits that include trip interruption or trip cancellation insurance, car rental insurance, baggage insurance, etc. It’s impossible to predict when something will go wrong, but you can move around with peace of mind knowing that Chase has you covered during an emergency away from home. Read more in our guide to Chase Sapphire travel insurance.

Purchase protection: Your Chase card can provide purchase protection and extended warranty coverage on qualifying items and other purchases.

Types of Chase credit cards

Chase is a great addition to any wallet, especially when considering the types of credit cards they can offer. From earning miles and points to statement credit reimbursements and student cards, you should have no issues finding the perfect match.

Reward cards

Most Chase credit card issuers make it easy for you to earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points through combined purchases. Most cards allow you to earn 1-3X points for every dollar you spend, typically at restaurants, grocery stores, retail stores, gas stations and travel. Chase typically offers flexible redemption options like statement credits, gift cards and cash back. Some rewards cards also offer annual points each anniversary year.
Editor’s pick: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Travel cards

When it comes to travel cards, Chase offers both general travel cards and co-branded travel cards. Let’s take a closer look at what these entail.

General travel cards

Cardholders who travel frequently may find immense value in travel-specific cards. Travel cards allow you to earn points for every dollar you spend on hotel stays and flights. The type of travel card you choose will determine the value per mile and point system.
Editor’s pick: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or Chase Sapphire Reserve®

See our detailed comparisons of:

Co-branded travel cards

Grabbing a co-branded credit card for those who are loyal to a specific airline or hotel brand can expedite earnings in that individual program while giving you brand-specific benefits (such as free checked bags for some airline cards) or potentially helping you earn elite status faster. United Airlines cards like the United MileagePlus Explorer can help you save money if you frequently travel with United.
Editor’s pick: United Explorer Card

Cash back cards

Imagine earning money—by spending money on everyday purchases. Every time you swipe your Chase card, you can earn points from daily spending and other purchases, and your Chase card may allow you to earn more points in qualifying rotating bonus categories. You can even use your cash back rewards as a statement credit applied towards your monthly balance.
Editor’s pick: Prime Visa or Chase Freedom Unlimited®

Low APR cards

Low APR cards include:

Editor’s pick: Chase Freedom Unlimited®

No annual fee cards

A zero annual fee credit card does not charge members a yearly fee just to own it. Historically, cards with an annual fee often come with perks and rewards, but these days no annual fee cards often offer significant rewards like miles earned or cash back.
Editor’s pick: Chase Freedom Unlimited®

Business cards

Small business owners can pad their finances with a credit card to earn rewards and perks on business purchases they make monthly, including advertising, shipping, office supplies, lab equipment, and more. Even anyone who has a side hustle, like dog walking, can apply for a business card through Chase.
Editor’s pick: Chase Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

Student cards

College is the perfect time to build your credit with student credit cards. The good news is that the application process is generally less strict, with fewer requirements.
Editor’s pick: Chase Freedom Student

How to choose the best Chase card for you

If you’re in the market for a new credit card, the odds are high that there is at least one Chase option on your list. Knowing what the best Chase credit card is will all depend on your needs, credit score, and spending lifestyle. Consider the following when choosing a Chase credit card:

1

Your goals & lifestyle

The most important factor to consider right off the bat is what you’re looking to get out of your new Chase credit card. Are you looking for a business card, a balance transfer card, a cash back card, a travel credit card, etc.? You can get the “shiniest” card out there, but if it doesn’t meet your goals or match your lifestyle, it’s not for you.

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2

The annual fee

Premium Chase credit cards often have high annual fees in exchange for valuable benefits. Although this may be worthwhile for some consumers, others may not utilize the card’s benefits enough to justify the fee. Evaluate whether the added benefit of a high-end card is worth the extra cost, compared to a lower-fee alternative.

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3

Rewards

Some Chase credit cards offer rewards in different categories, while others offer no rewards at all. If you’re in the market for a rewards credit card, choose one with categories that align with your spending habits and lifestyle. Also think about whether you’re willing to utilize the Chase Ultimate Rewards program.

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How to apply for a Chase card

It’s a relatively simple process to apply for a Chase credit card online. Before beginning, consider checking your credit score to know which cards you’re eligible for.

Most credit card applications require the following personal and financial elements, so it may be best to prepare them ahead of time:

Once you’ve decided on which card to apply for, select the “Learn More” button at the top of this page, next to the Chase card you choose, which will lead you to a page with more information and a button to “Apply Now.”

You may be denied or approved for a card instantly, or it may take a few minutes to a few days to hear back. If you’ve been approved for 5 credit cards in the past 2 years, you’ll automatically be rejected due to the Chase 5/24 rule.

What is the Chase 5/24 rule?

The Chase 5/24 rule means that applicants who have gotten approved for five new credit cards (from any issuer) in the past 24 months will automatically be denied a Chase credit card. Although Chase hasn’t officially published this rule, it’s been shown to be true.

This rule helps Chase to have fewer applicants who are only looking to open an account, earn the welcome bonus, and then subsequently close their account.

How we selected our top cards

When selecting our favorite Chase cards we looked at their rewards rate program, travel perks, balance transfer options, zero intro APR rate, and more.

Our comprehensive methodology compares Chase credit cards to determine which brings the most value to cardholders.

Best Chase credit cards FAQ

Is the Chase Sapphire Reserve card worth it?

The Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card is one of the most popular premium credit cards since it came on the market five years ago. The $550 annual fee may be considered high by some, but it depends on how much you are willing to spend to reap the rewards. While the pandemic may have stifled frequent travel, keep in mind that Chase has announced additional bonus categories to make the card much more attractive to cardholders.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve card is worth it if you travel frequently and want to explore its zero foreign transaction fees, $300 annual travel credit, and access to airline lounges.

It’s also worth it if you like to spend on dining and travel, especially if you use Grubhub and DoorDash. Additionally, the card offers purchase protection and travel insurance to save money when you need it most. However, don’t get this card if you do not travel often enough to justify the high annual fee.

How to cancel a Chase credit card?

If you ever need to cancel your Chase credit card, the process is fairly straightforward.

The steps to cancel a credit card:

  • Settle any balance left on the card and pay it off
  • If there are rewards points, redeem them for eligible offers like cash
  • Contact Chase and speak with an agent
  • Formally notify Chase with a letter
  • Check your credit score and credit report
  • Cut up the card

Does Chase have a secured credit card?

While Chase remains one of the country’s largest credit card lenders, they do not offer secured credit cards for those with bad to no credit history.

In fact, almost all Chase cards require a good to excellent credit score, except for the Chase Freedom Student card.

Is the Chase Sapphire Reserve card better than the American Express Platinum?

Both cards have many benefits. The Chase Sapphire Reserve gives you more bonus points on everyday categories, while The Platinum Card® from American Express gives you more points on flights.

The best card for you depends on your shopping and travel habits. Read more in our Amex Platinum vs. Chase Sapphire Reserve review.

How many Chase credit cards can you have?

There isn’t a set limit on how many Chase cards any one person can have, only on how many you can be approved for in a certain amount of time. Chase denies applicants who have already been approved for five credit cards from any issuer within a 24-month period.

Is Chase Visa or Mastercard?

Most Chase credit cards are Visas, but a select few are Mastercards, like the Chase Freedom Flex® Credit Card and the Instacart Mastercard®.

The comparison team is a proud partner of the LA Times and is a combination of expert writers, editors, and contributors specially selected for their extensive experience writing and working in the financial industry. Every article written is thoroughly researched, edited, reviewed, and then fact-checked by a member of The LA Times staff before publication to ensure you receive accurate information.

* Opinions expressed here are those of the LA Times Compare Cards Team and have not been reviewed or approved by any advertiser or entities included within this content. See our editorial policy for more details.

All products or services are presented in this content without warranty. The information, including card details such as rates and fees, is accurate at the time of publish. Please visit each bank's website directly for the most current information.

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