Best Chase Credit Cards

Final Verdict

Chase offers numerous credit cards that offer cash back, rewards, and other attractive benefits. It partners with many well-known brands and its proprietary rewards program is one of the most popular. Of all of its credit cards, the Chase Freedom Unlimited is our choice for the best overall card. With its lucrative cash back offers and flexible redemption program, it's also our choice for the best cash back credit card.

Compare the Best Chase Credit Cards

Editorial Picks for Best Chase Credit Cards

Chase Freedom Unlimited

Best Overall, Best Cash Back

The Chase Freedom Unlimited is the best overall Chase card and best for cash back with its unlimited 1.5% cash back and bonus categories for travel, dining, and drugstores. Rewards can be redeemed for cash back, travel, gift cards, and more.

Read the Full Chase Freedom Unlimited Review.

Ink Business Unlimited

Best Business

The best Chase credit card for business owners is the Ink Business Unlimited because it earns an unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase. It has a strong one-time bonus offer and comes with free employee cards to help earn additional rewards.

Read the Full Ink Business Unlimited Review.

Chase Sapphire Preferred

Best Bonus

The best bonus from Chase is available with the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card. New cardholders can earn 100,000 points, which is worth up to $1,250 when booking airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Ultimate Rewards.

Read the Full Chase Sapphire Preferred Review.

Chase Freedom Student

Best Student

Students will love the Chase Freedom Student card because of its unlimited 1% cash back and annual bonuses for being responsible with the card. It includes free access to your credit score and it's possible to earn a larger credit limit after making five payments on time.

Read the Full Chase Freedom Student Review.

Chase Sapphire Reserve

Best Travel

The best travel credit card from Chase is the Chase Sapphire Reserve because of its valuable rewards and travel perks. Cardholders receive airline lounge access, a $300 annual travel credit, primary rental car protection, and more.

Read the Full Chase Sapphire Reserve Review.

United Explorer

Best Airline

The United Explorer Card is the best airline credit card from Chase because of its travel perks when flying United, reimbursement for Global Entry or TSA Precheck, and two complimentary airport lounge passes each year. It also offers a substantial one-time bonus and waives the annual fee for the first 12 months.

Read the Full United Explorer Review.

Marriott Bonvoy Boundless

Best Hotel

The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless card provides automatic Silver elite status and an upgrade to Gold based on your spending. It comes with an annual free night certificate and offers an attractive welcome bonus that can be used to book a rewarding getaway.

Read the Full Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Review.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What Is the History of Chase?

Chase credit cards are issued by Chase Bank, N.A., which itself is part of the retail banking arm of financial services behemoth J.P. Morgan Chase, the largest banking organization in the U.S. and sixth-largest in the world. J.P. Morgan Chase has grown over time through the acquisition and merger of multiple large banking organizations in the past 20 years, such as Bank One, Chemical Bank, and Washington Mutual. The biggest of these was the merger of J.P. Morgan and Chase Manhattan Bank in 2000, which resulted in the company's new name and branding.

Chase issues many rewards cards to consumers, students, and small business owners, with rewards that include both cash back and points. Its cards also provide options for cardholders wishing to transfer balances and manage spending. Chase has partnerships with numerous major airlines, hotels, and retail organizations and offers specialized rewards programs through co-branded credit cards. Partnerships include Amazon, Disney, Hyatt, Marriott, IHG, United Airlines, and Southwest Airlines.

What Kinds of Credit Cards Does Chase Issue?

Chase issues Visa and Mastercard network-branded cards but not American Express or Discover network-branded cards. It offers the following types of credit cards:

• Generic travel points
• Cash back cards
• Co-branded partner loyalty programs
• Small business credit cards
• 0% APR promotions
• Student cards

Chase does not offer a secured credit card at this time.

What Credit Score Is Needed for a Chase Credit Card?

Chase generally requires excellent credit for most of its card products but does offer a few cards aimed at those with merely good credit. Excellent credit typically requires a FICO score of 740 or better, while a good credit score starts at 670. The Chase Freedom Student Card is targeted to young adults that are just starting out, but it also requires a credit score of 670 or greater. Chase does not offer cards for fair or bad credit and doesn't have a secured credit card.

You can apply for a Chase credit card online 24 hours a day through our referral links above. When applying for a personal Chase credit card, you'll need to provide the following information:

• Full name
• Address
• Type of residence
• Date of birth
• Mother's maiden name
• Email address
• Phone number
• Social Security number
• Total gross annual income
• Source of income

Many applicants will receive an instant decision with their new credit limit. If you're approved, you should receive your new card in 7 to 10 business days.

Pending applications can call Chase at 800-432-3117 to discuss the application and answer any questions they might have. Or you may choose to wait until a letter arrives in 7 to 10 business days that explains their decision or requests additional information.

Is a Chase Credit Card Right for Me?

Chase offers credit cards that attract a diverse set of customers using a variety of rewards programs, welcome bonuses, benefits, annual fees, and interest rates. The majority of its credit cards earn rewards, like the Chase Freedom Unlimited (cash back), United Explorer (airline miles), and Chase Sapphire Preferred (general travel points). Chase is an excellent match for customers who pay their balance in full each month to avoid interest while earning rewards on their purchases.

Chase Credit Card Benefits

Its cards include a variety of benefits that cater to its target customer, like airport lounge access for the Chase Sapphire Reserve. Benefits like purchase protection and extended warranty protect your purchases and are included with a majority of its cards. Chase also provides free credit scores to customers through its Credit Journey program.

Fees for Chase Credit Cards

Customers can choose from a variety of annual fees with Chase, ranging from $0 to $550 per year. While some people are hesitant to pay an annual fee, many others feel that the benefits received far outweigh the fees that they pay.

Many of its credit cards waive foreign transaction fees, which can be up to 3% of any international purchase. A handful of its cards still charge this fee, like the Chase Freedom Unlimited, so double-check before departing on an international vacation.

Interest Rates for Chase Credit Cards

Most of the Chase credit cards have interest rates starting in the 14% to 17% range. However, depending on your creditworthiness, your rates may be higher. If you pay your statement balance in full each month by the due date, you will not be charged any interest for your purchases.

Some of its credit cards have 0% APR promotions on balance transfers, purchases, or both. These offers provide extra time to pay off your balance before being charged interest.

Does Chase Have a 5/24 Rule?

Chase uses an in-house guideline to manage its card risk, called the 5/24 Rule. It will not approve applicants who have opened five or more accounts in the past 24 months. This rule applies to any new credit card accounts, not just those with Chase. Small business credit cards generally do not count toward this limit because most banks do not report them to your personal credit report.

How Does Chase’s Ultimate Rewards Program Work?

Chase issues numerous cards that earn Ultimate Rewards, which can be redeemed for travel, gift cards, Amazon.com gift certificates, and Apple merchandise or transferred to Chase travel partner loyalty programs (like Hyatt, Marriott, and United Airlines), usually on a 1:1 basis. Chase’s premium travel card, Sapphire Reserve, offers a 50% premium on Ultimate Rewards points when they're redeemed for travel through the UR travel portal, while the Sapphire Preferred and Ink Preferred provide a 25% premium.  

The following Chase cards offer Ultimate Rewards:

• Chase Sapphire Reserve
• Chase Sapphire Preferred
• Chase Ink Preferred
• Chase Freedom 
• Chase Freedom Unlimited
• Chase Freedom Student
• Ink Business Preferred 
• Ink Business Unlimited
• Ink Business Cash

For more details on Ultimate Rewards, please see our Ultimate Guide to Chase Ultimate Rewards.

Aside from Chase’s Ultimate Rewards program, the bank offers other rewards cards that include cash back (both flat rate and ones with bonus cash back on quarterly rotating categories) and partner-based programs like airline, hotel, and retailer loyalty points.

Methodology

To find the best Chase credit cards, we analyzed every publicly available credit card offered by the bank. We gathered data points on each card, including annual fees, interest rates, welcome bonuses, earnings power, benefits, and more. Each data point was assigned a score and ranked against other Chase cards to pick the best for each category. We continuously monitor data from card issuers to update our rankings and ensure that we're presenting the most accurate information to our readers.