Personal Finance Credit Cards
Written by Jasmin Baron; edited by Katherine Fan; reviewed by Angela Fung
- Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
- Chase Sapphire Reserve®
- Chase Freedom Unlimited®
- Chase Freedom Flex®
- Chase Freedom Rise℠
- FAQs
- Why You Should Trust Us
Affiliate links for the products on this page are from partners that compensate us and terms apply to offers listed (see our advertiser disclosure with our list of partners for more details). However, our opinions are our own. See how we rate credit cards to write unbiased product reviews.
The information for the following product(s) has been collected independently by Business Insider: Chase Freedom Flex®, Chase Freedom Rise℠. The details for these products have not been reviewed or provided by the issuer.
Introduction to the Best Chase Credit Cards
Credit card points and frequent flyer miles are incredibly useful, no matter what program you earn them with or what you eventually choose to do with them. While there are a few different types of credit card rewards, you benefit regardless of which kind your card earns by collecting a rebate on your everyday spending — as long as you practice financial discipline and pay off your statement in full each month.
Take a look below at our choices of the best available Chase-branded credit cards including our overall top pick, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card.
Best Chase Credit Cards of July 2024
- Best overall for travel rewards: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
- Best premium card with airport lounge access: Chase Sapphire Reserve®
- Best for 1.5% cash back on everything: Chase Freedom Unlimited®
- Best for 5% bonus categories: Chase Freedom Flex®
- Best for building credit: Chase Freedom Rise℠
Looking for a business credit card? Read our guide to find the best Chase business credit card for your needs.
Compare the Top Chase Credit Cards
Best overall for travel rewards
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
On Chase's website
Insider’s Rating
Business Insider's Ratings are decided by our editorial team. The rating system considers various factors and evaluates cards against others of the same type so you can pick a card that is a good fit for your goals.
4.4/5
Perks
Earn 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠. Earn 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries. Earn 2x on all other travel purchases. Earn 1x on all other purchases.
Annual Fee
$95
Intro APR
N/A
Regular APR
21.49% - 28.49% Variable
Intro Offer
60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening
Earn 60,000 bonus points
Recommended Credit
Recommended credit score. Note that credit card lenders may use many different variations of credit score models when considering your application.
Good to Excellent
Pros
- High intro bonus offer starts you off with lots of points
- Strong travel coverage
Cons
- Doesn't offer a Global Entry/TSA PreCheck application fee credit
Insider’s Take
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.
Sapphire Preferred Card review External link Arrow An arrow icon, indicating this redirects the user."
Product Details
- 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℠.
- Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
- Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
- Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2024.
- Member FDIC
Best premium card
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
On Chase's website
Insider’s Rating
Business Insider's Ratings are decided by our editorial team. The rating system considers various factors and evaluates cards against others of the same type so you can pick a card that is a good fit for your goals.
4.4/5
Perks
Earn 5x points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1x point per $1 spent on all other purchases.
Annual Fee
$550
Intro APR
N/A
Regular APR
22.49% - 29.49% Variable
Intro Offer
60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening
Earn 60,000 bonus points
Recommended Credit
Recommended credit score. Note that credit card lenders may use many different variations of credit score models when considering your application.
Good to Excellent
Pros
- 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
Cons
- Very high annual fee
Insider’s Take
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 Reserve review External link Arrow An arrow icon, indicating this redirects the user."
Product Details
- 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℠.
- $300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursem*nt for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
- Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
- Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $900 toward travel.
- 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
- Access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select and up to $100 application fee credit every four years for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck®
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
- Member FDIC
Best for everyday spending
Chase Freedom Unlimited®
On Chase's website
Insider’s Rating
Insider's Ratings are decided by our editorial team. The rating system considers various factors and evaluates cards against others of the same type so you can pick a card that is a good fit for your goals.
4.35/5
Perks
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% on all other purchases
Annual Fee
$0
Intro APR
0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 months
Regular APR
20.49% - 29.24% Variable
Intro Offer
Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back
Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy
Recommended Credit
Good to Excellent
Pros
- Solid flat cash-back rate
- You can combine cash-back rewards with Ultimate Rewards points if you have an eligible card
- No annual fee
Cons
- Some other cards offer a higher rate of cash back on certain types of purchases
Insider’s Take
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 review External link Arrow An arrow icon, indicating this redirects the user."
Product Details
- Intro Offer: Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back!
- Enjoy 6.5% 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; 4.5% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, 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 unlimited 1.5% cash back 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 20.49% - 29.24%.
- 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
Best for bonus categories
Chase Freedom Flex®
Insider’s Rating
Insider's Ratings are decided by our editorial team. The rating system considers various factors and evaluates cards against others of the same type so you can pick a card that is a good fit for your goals.
4.4/5
Perks
Earn 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate. Earn 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠. Earn 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services. Earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
Annual Fee
$0
Intro APR
0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 months
Regular APR
20.49% - 29.24% Variable
Intro Offer
$200 cash bonus (received as 20,000 bonus points) after spending $500 on purchases in the first three months from account opening, plus earn 5% cash back on PayPal, wholesale clubs, and select charities on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in this quarter's bonus categories
Earn $200 cash bonus
Recommended Credit
Good to Excellent
Pros
- No annual fee
- Generous bonus cash-back categories
- Great welcome bonus
Cons
- Booking through Chase Travel℠ can restrict outside earning potential
- Varying percentages and rotating calendar categories require extra attention
- 3% foreign transaction fees
Insider’s Take
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 Flex review External link Arrow An arrow icon, indicating this redirects the user."
Best for new or no credit
Chase Freedom Rise℠
Read Review
Insider’s Rating
Insider's Ratings are decided by our editorial team. The rating system considers various factors and evaluates cards against others of the same type so you can pick a card that is a good fit for your goals.
3.8/5
Perks
Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on purchases.
Annual Fee
$0
Intro APR
N/A
Regular APR
26.74%
Intro Offer
N/A
Recommended Credit
No credit history
Pros
- Good cash-back earning rate on all purchases
- No-annual-fee
- Possible to be approved if you’re new to credit
Cons
- Requirement to open a Chase checking account with a minimum balance of $250 to increase likelihood of approval
- Modest welcome bonus requires setting up autopay
- Foreign transaction fees
Insider’s Take
The Chase Freedom Rise℠ card offers a new opportunity to build credit with a credit card, and it's specifically designed for new-to-credit consumers like young adults and college students. This no-annual-fee credit card earns 1.5% cash back on all purchases, and if you enroll in autopay within the first three months of account opening, you'll earn a $25 statement credit.
Chase Freedom Rise review External link Arrow An arrow icon, indicating this redirects the user."
Chase Credit Card Reviews
Chase is one of the most beloved credit card issuers, for very good reason. Each card mentioned in this guide represents the best of what Chase has to offer, whether it's bonus rewards on travel and dining or generous trip insurance, travel benefits, or purchase protection.
These are the best Chase credit cards of 2024, as chosen by Business Insider's credit card experts.
Best Overall for Travel Rewards: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card has a reasonable annual fee and great benefits, and comes with an excellent welcome bonus offer.
The Sapphire Preferred offers a substantial welcome bonus offer for a moderate annual fee. It earns 5x points on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠ (2x points on all other travel purchases), 3x points on dining, 3x points on online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart, and wholesale clubs), 3x points on select streaming services, and 1 point per dollar on everything else.
Points are worth 1.25 cents on travel booked through Chase, but you can still transfer them to Chase's frequent flyer and hotel loyalty program partners. You'll also receive primary car rental insurance coverage, trip delay coverage,purchase protection, and a 10% anniversary points bonus. The annual fee is a manageable $95.
Read our Chase Sapphire Preferred card review to learn more about this card.
Best Premium Card: Chase Sapphire Reserve®
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® makes it easy to earn rewards for travel and more with a great welcome bonus offer and a lucrative points-earning scheme.
With 5x total points on air travel and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals purchased through Chase Travel℠ (after earning the $300 travel credit), 3x points on other travel and dining, and 1 point per dollar on everything else, the Sapphire Reserve earns points quickly through your everyday spending, and it comes with a slew of perks.
Points are worth 1.5 cents each toward travel booked through Chase, but you can also transfer them to over a dozen Chase airline and hotel partners — typically, this gets you the most value for your points. Benefits include trip delay coverage, purchase protection, up to $100 to cover the Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS application fee, and primary car rental insurance.
You also have access to airport lounges through the Priority Pass network, and can visit Chase Sapphire Lounges in JFK, LaGuardia, Boston, and Hong Kong, as well as the Chase Sapphire Terrace at Austin airport. Most Priority Pass lounges are in international terminals, however, which isn't helpful when you're flying within the U.S.
The annual fee is $550, but that's offset by up to a $300 travel credit each year, which is good for things like taxis, subway fares, parking, tolls, and flights.
There aren't many downsides to this card — besides the upfront annual fee. Chase has invested heavily in making the Chase Ultimate Rewards® program competitive. Booking flights by transferring points to frequent flyer partners is generally more lucrative — that's usually how people use points to fly in first and business class — but it can be complicated because you have to decipher award charts, find availability, and work around often complex airline rules.
However, because the Sapphire Reserve allows you to get 1.5 cents for each point when you book paid travel through the Chase Travel℠, there's a simpler and still-valuable option.
Read our Chase Sapphire Reserve credit card review to learn more about this card.
Best for Everyday Spending: Chase Freedom Unlimited®
The Chase Freedom Unlimited® helps you earn points for everyday purchases and get cash back with no annual fee.
If you already have the Sapphire Reserve or the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and are saving your points for a big redemption, the Freedom Unlimited can give your balance a nice boost. While Chase markets the card as "cash back," it actually earns Chase Ultimate Rewards® points that you can redeem for cash, gift cards, travel, and more (1 point = 1 cent).
If you have a premium card like the Sapphire Reserve, you can pool your points from the two cards. The Freedom Unlimited earns a minimum of 1.5% cash back (or 1.5 points per dollar spent), so paired with a Sapphire Reserve, it's a great card to use for purchases that aren't made on travel expenses or dining.
The Freedom Unlimited also earns 5% cash back on travel booked through Chase and 3% back on dining and drugstore purchases. Best of all, the card has no annual fee and comes with a 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 months. After that, there's a 20.49% - 29.24% Variable APR. If you have a major purchase ahead of you, that introductory offer can be useful.
The Chase Freedom Unlimited is a fantastic all-around card. However, to get the most value when it's time to spend your points, you need the Sapphire Reserve,Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, or Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card, too, so you can pool your points. Otherwise, points are only worth 1 cent each no matter how you use them and they can't be transferred to airline or hotel partners.
Read our Chase Freedom Unlimited review to learn more.
Best for Bonus Categories: Chase Freedom Flex®
The Chase Freedom Flex® offers 5% cash back or 5x points on up to $1,500 of spending in categories that rotate each quarter when you activate (then 1%), in addition to 5% back on travel booked through Chase Travel℠, 3% back on dining and drugstore purchases, and 1% back on everything else
Just like the Chase Freedom Unlimited, the Chase Freedom Flex® is marketed as a cash-back card, but actually earns Chase Ultimate Rewards® points that you can redeem for cash, gift cards, and travel (1 point = 1 cent). You can combine them with Chase Ultimate Rewards® earned from a different card, which gives you the option to get a bonus when redeeming them for travel or transfer them to travel partners.
The key feature of the Chase Freedom Flex® is that it earns 5% cash back (5x points) on up to $1,500 spent per quarter once activated in rotating quarterly bonus categories. In the past, quarterly categories have included Amazon, grocery stores, and gas stations.
However, that's not where the bonus cash back ends; the Chase Freedom Flex® also earns 5% cash back (with no cap) on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3% back on dining and drugstore purchases, and 1% back on everything else.
It doesn't have an annual fee, and there's a 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 months (with a 20.49% - 29.24% Variable APR afterward).
Read our Chase Freedom Flex credit card review to learn more.
Best if You Have No Credit History: Chase Freedom Rise℠
A new product called the Chase Freedom Rise℠ is specifically designed for people with no credit history at all. This no-annual-fee card earns 1.5% cash back on all 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.
Cardholder who enroll in autopay within 90 days of opening the Chase Freedom Rise℠ will earn a $25 statement credit.
Chase Credit Card Consumer Insights
We've shared our top insights here, but consumer feedback is also really important to consider when evaluating your next credit card. Our experts scoured Reddit, FlyerTalk, and other popular forums to summarize common themes from current cardholders.
Chase cardholders emphasize how easy it is to use Ultimate Rewards for different redemptions. If you just want a single card with no annual fee and cashback rewards, the Chase Freedom Flex® or the Chase Freedom Unlimited will work well for most everyday spend 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 orSapphire Reserve can expand your redemption possibilities.
Chase Credit Card Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best credit card with Chase?
Chase issues some of the best credit cards available to consumers. The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card is the best credit card for most people because it offers top-tier benefits and generous rewards on common spending categories for a low annual fee.
Which Chase card is hardest to get?
The premium 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.
Why You Should Trust Us: How We Chose the Best Chase Credit Cards
Chase issues a lot of extremely valuable credit cards. We landed on the best of the best in this post by only including Chase-branded credit cards with one or more of the following attributes:
- A sizable welcome bonus
- Above-average return rates
- Valuable ongoing benefits
We take a look at the pros and cons of each credit card in narrow categories to determine which card has the highest upside for each financial situation.
Here's more abouthow we rate and review credit cards at Business Insider.
Editor
Jasmin Baron was an editor at Insider, responsible for credit card coverage on Business Insider. Her expertise in maximizing travel rewards grew from over two decades of experience in the aviation industry, including 18 years working as a pilot and flight instructor in her native Canada.
Marketing Compliance Manager
Angela Fung is the Compliance Manager for Business Insider'sPersonal Financedivision, overseeing a team that ensures content accuracy and editorial independence so readers are always getting up-to-date and objective financial advice.The compliance team's mission is to maintain reader trust by confirming stories are fact-checked and current so that readers can make informed financial decisions. The team also works to minimize risk for partners by maintaining clear, precise language that is compliant with regulatory and partner marketing guidelines that align with the editorial team.
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