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Chase is considered one of the premier issuers of branded and co-branded credit cards. Its Ultimate Rewards program is popular because of its flexibility and the numerous airline and hotel partners that you can transfer to. Given its broad selection of credit cards and its national banking footprint, it's not surprising that there are legions of people searching for the best Chase products online. To save you time, we've done extensive research to single out the best Chase cards based on the needs of individual consumers, students, and small business owners.
Best Chase Credit Cards for December 2021
- Best Overall, Best Cash Back: Chase Freedom Unlimited
- Best Business: Ink Business Unlimited
- Best Bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred
- Best Student: Chase Freedom Student
- Best Travel: Chase Sapphire Reserve
- Best Airline: United Explorer
- Best Hotel: Marriott Bonvoy Boundless
Best Overall, Best Cash Back : Chase Freedom Unlimited
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Earn a $200 bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. And earn 5% cash back on gas station purchases on up to $6,000 spent in the first year.
| Regular APR (%) | 17.24% - 25.99% variable |
| Annual Fee | $0 |
| Rewards Earning Rate | Earn 5% on travel purchases through Chase Ultimate Rewards. Earn 3% on dining and restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services. Earn 3% on drugstore purchases. Earn 1.5% on all other purchases. |
| INTRO PURCHASE APR | 0% for 15 Months |
| INTRO BALANCE TRANSFER APR | 0% for 15 Months |
| Balance Transfer Fee | Intro fee of either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater, on transfers made within 60 days of account opening. After that: Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater. |
| Foreign transaction fee (%) | 3% |
- Why We Chose This Card:
- Pros & Cons
The Chase Freedom Unlimited is our choice for the best overall card from Chase, as well as the best cash back option, because of its robust rewards on all spending, reasonable interest rates, and solid customer service features. Freedom Unlimited also has no annual fee, which makes it an easy card to keep for the long term as either a primary card in your wallet or as a complement to another rewards card that features bonus earnings on certain purchase categories.
And now, Freedom Unlimited provides the opportunity to earn a $200 bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. And earn 5% cash back on gas station purchases on up to $6,000 spent in the first year. New cardholders can now 5% on travel purchases through Chase Ultimate Rewards. Earn 3% on dining and restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services. Also, earn 3% on drugstore purchases and earn 1.5% on all other purchases.
Unlimited rewards at a decent rate
Earn 5% on travel plus 3% at restaurants and drugstores
0% introductory APR offer on purchases
Flexible redemption options
Does not offer APR promotion on balance transfers
Other cards offer higher flat rewards rates
Best Business : Ink Business Unlimited
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$750 bonus cash back after you spend $7,500 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
| Regular APR (%) | 15.49% - 21.49% variable |
| Annual Fee | $0 |
| Rewards Earning Rate | Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase. |
| INTRO PURCHASE APR | 0% for 12 Months |
| Balance Transfer Fee | Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater. |
| Cash Advance APR (%) | 27.24% |
| Cash Advance Fee | Either $15 or 5% of the amount of each transaction, whichever is greater. |
- Why We Chose This Card:
- Pros & Cons
The Ink Business Unlimited card was selected as our best Chase business card because of its flat cash back earnings rate of 1.5% on all business purchases and no annual fee. Business owners can also add employees to the account for free to earn even more rewards on their spending and meet the minimum spending requirement to receive the one-time bonus. Rewards can be taken as cash back or transferred to another business or consumer Chase card that earns Chase Ultimate Rewards.
Strong introductory bonus offer
Versatile rewards program
Employee cards can be added at no cost
Larger minimum spend requirement to earn bonus
No bonus rewards categories
Flat rewards rate
Best Bonus : Chase Sapphire Preferred
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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 Ultimate Rewards®.
| Regular APR (%) | 18.24% - 25.24% variable |
| Annual Fee | $95 |
| Rewards Earning Rate | Enjoy benefits such as a $50 annual Ultimate Rewards Hotel Credit, 5x on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3x on dining and 2x on all other travel purchases, plus more. |
| Balance Transfer Fee | Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater. |
| Foreign transaction fee (%) | 0% |
- Why We Chose This Card:
- Pros & Cons
The Chase Sapphire Preferred wins the award for best one-time bonus opportunity because it offers 80,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $1,000 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. The annual fee is $95, but that is very reasonable for such a versatile rewards card with bonus earnings on travel and dining.
Outstanding one-time bonus for new cardholders
Bonus points for travel and dining
Enhanced, 25% points redemption value on travel booked through Chase
Airline and hotel transfer partners for potentially higher value
$95 annual fee
No introductory 0% APR offer
Fewer travel benefits than some competing cards
Best Student : Chase Freedom Student
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$50 Bonus earned after first purchase made within the first 3 months from account opening.
| Regular APR (%) | 17.24% variable |
| Annual Fee | $0 |
| Rewards Earning Rate | Earn 1% cash back on all purchases. |
| Balance Transfer Fee | Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater. |
| Foreign transaction fee (%) | 3% |
- Why We Chose This Card:
- Pros & Cons
The Chase Freedom Student card is our choice for the best student card because of its flat cash back rewards program that offers 1% on all purchases with no annual fee. Students can also earn a $20 bonus each year with on-time payments for up to five years. After five on-time payments in the first 10 months, you may also be eligible for an increased credit limit. Access to FICO credit scores, credit education, and account management tools are also valuable features for college students searching for a first credit card.
Annual rewards for on-time payments
Automatic credit limit increases for eligible accounts
Simple rewards program
Must apply in person
No introductory APR
3% foreign transaction fee
Best Travel : Chase Sapphire Reserve
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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 Ultimate Rewards®.
| Regular APR (%) | 19.24% - 26.24% variable |
| Annual Fee | $550 |
| Rewards Earning Rate | Earn 10x total points on chase Dining purchases with Ultimate Rewards®. Earn 5x total points on flights and 3x on other travel worldwide. Earn 3x points on other dining at restaurants, including eligible delivery services, takeout and dining out. Plus, earn 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases. |
| Balance Transfer Fee | Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater. |
| Foreign transaction fee (%) | 0% |
- Why We Chose This Card:
- Pros & Cons
We selected the Chase Sapphire Reserve card as the best Chase general travel rewards card because of its outstanding earnings bonuses for travel and dining, along with the 50% premium it offers when you redeem points for travel through Ultimate Rewards. You can unlock even more value by transferring to one of its hotel and airline partners and redeeming for travel benefits. There is a substantial annual fee of $550, but that can potentially be justified by its airport lounge access, primary rental car coverage, and earnings potential.
Excellent points rewards rate for travel and dining
Large bonus for new cardholders
Premium travel features
Points are worth 50% more for travel bought through Chase Ultimate Rewards
$550 annual fee
Limited high-rewards categories
Strong credit is recommended
Best Airline : United Explorer
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Earn 50,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
| Regular APR (%) | 18.74% - 25.74% variable |
| Annual Fee | $0 for the first year, then $95 |
| Rewards Earning Rate | Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on purchases from United, including tickets, Economy Plus®, inflight food, beverages and Wi-Fi, and other United charges. 2 miles per $1 spent on dining, including eligible delivery services. 2 miles per $1 spent on hotel accommodations when purchased directly with the hotel. 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases. |
| Balance Transfer Fee | Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater. |
| Foreign transaction fee (%) | 0% |
- Why We Chose This Card:
- Pros & Cons
The United Explorer Card is the best Chase airline card based on the combination of its mileage earning structure, travel benefits, and the average value we calculate for United Miles, which is the highest of any domestic airline at 2.28 cents each. Each year, cardholders also receive two United Club airport lounge guest passes. While traveling on United, you'll also enjoy free checked bags, priority boarding, and 25% back on in-flight purchases. Cardholders also receive expanded award availability with no blackout dates when redeeming miles. The $95 annual fee should be easy to justify with its travel benefits and the rewards earned from everyday spending, United purchases, and dining.
Valuable rewards program
Special benefits every time you fly United
Several travel benefits and protections
Fewer free checked bags than some competing airline cards
Larger minimum spend required to earn full bonus
$95 annual fee starting in second year
Best Hotel : Marriott Bonvoy Boundless
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Earn 100,000 Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
| Regular APR (%) | 18.24% - 25.24% variable |
| Annual Fee | $95 |
| Rewards Earning Rate | Earn 3X Bonvoy points per $1 on the first $6,000 spent in combined purchases each year on grocery stores, gas stations, and dining. Earn 1 Elite Night Credit towards Elite Status for every $5,000 you spend. Earn up to 17X total Bonvoy points per $1 spent at over 7,000 hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy(R) with the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless(R) Card. 2X Bonvoy points for every $1 spent on all other purchases. |
| Balance Transfer Fee | Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater. |
| Foreign transaction fee (%) | 0% |
- Why We Chose This Card:
- Pros & Cons
We chose the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless card as the best Chase hotel card because of its outstanding rewards earning structure for Marriott purchases and a very respectable 2X points on all other purchases. You'll receive automatic Silver Elite status and the ability to earn Gold status by spending $35,000 each year. The annual fee for Marriott Bonvoy Boundless is $95, but most cardholders can redeem the annual free night certificate for a room that would cost at least that much.
Outstanding introductory rewards bonus
Solid rewards rate for Marriott hotel stays
Automatic Silver Elite Status in the Marriott Bonvoy program
Complimentary award night each year you renew the card
Must spend $35,000 per year to upgrade to Gold Status
Bonvoy hotel rewards account (though not your credit card) must stay active to avoid points expiration
The $95 annual fee may be off-putting
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
| Credit Card | Annual Fee | Intro Offer | Rewards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chase Freedom Unlimited Best Overall, Best Cash Back |
$0 | $200 after $500 within 3 months | 6.5% travel through Chase, 4.5 % at restaurants and drug stores, Unlimited 1.5% all else during first year; 2nd year or after $20,000 spent earn 5% travel through Chase, 3% at restaurants and drug stores |
| Ink Business Unlimited Best Business |
$0 | $750 after $7,500 within 3 months | Unlimited 1.5% |
| Chase Sapphire Preferred Best Bonus |
$95 | 60,000 points after $4,000 within 3 months | 5X points on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards(R), 3X points on dining and 2X points on all other travel purchases |
| Chase Freedom Student Best Student |
$0 | $50 after 1st purchase within 3 months | 1% on all purchases |
| Chase Sapphire Reserve Best Travel |
$550 | Earn 80,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $1,000 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards® | After spending $300 on travel purchases annually, earn 10x total points on chase Dining purchases with Ultimate Rewards®. Earn 5x total points on flights and 3x on other travel worldwide. Earn 3x points on other dining at restaurants, including eligible delivery services, takeout and dining out. Plus, earn 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases |
| United Explorer Best Airline |
$95 (first year waived) | Earn up to 70,000 bonus miles. Earn 60,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open. Plus, earn an additional 10,000 miles after you spend $6,000 total on purchases in the first 6 months your account is open. | Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on purchases from United, including tickets, Economy Plus®, inflight food, beverages and Wi-Fi, and other United charges. 2 miles per $1 spent on dining, including eligible delivery services. 2 miles per $1 spent on hotel accommodations when purchased directly with the hotel. 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases. |
| Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Best Hotel |
$95 | Earn 100,000 Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. | 6x at Marriott 2x all else |
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 60,000 points, which is worth up to $750 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, primary rental car protection, and much more. Earn 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards® after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 10x total points on Chase dining purchases with Ultimate Rewards®. Earn 5x total points on flights and 3x on other travel worldwide after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other dining at restaurants, including eligible delivery services, takeout and dining out. Plus, earn 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases.
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.
Types of Chase Credit Cards
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.
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.
How Chase’s Ultimate Rewards Program Works
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
MEET OUR CREDIT CARDS EXPERT
Ben Woolsey is Investopedia's Associate Editorial Director of Financial Products and Services, including credit cards. He has more than 30 years of experience in the financial services industry, including marketing for banking and financial institutions such as Associates First Capital and Bank One. Prior to Investopedia, he managed credit card content for CreditCards.com and Bankrate.com.
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