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Best Chase credit cards for December 2024

Updated December 12, 2024

Advertiser Disclosure: The listings that appear on the website are from credit card companies from which Bankrate receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers. Here's an explanation for and how we rate our cards.

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Showing 8 results

Best overall

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Bankrate score

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4.8
Bankrate review
Recommended credit score:(670 - 850)
Apply nowLock

on Chase's secure site

Intro offer

60,000 bonus points

Rewards rate

1x - 5x

Annual fee

$95

Regular APR

20.74% - 27.74% Variable

Why you'll like this: It’s an ideal starter travel credit card thanks to its robust welcome offer, solid reward categories and modest annual fee.

Best for cash back

Chase Freedom Unlimited®

Bankrate score

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4.8
Bankrate review
Recommended credit score:(670 - 850)
Apply nowLock

on Chase's secure site

Intro offer

Up to $300 cash back

Rewards rate

1.5% - 5%

Annual fee

$0

Regular APR

19.74% - 28.49% Variable

Why you'll like this: It has solid flat cash back rates in everyday spending categories.

Best for everyday business purchases

Ink Business Cash® Credit Card

Bankrate score

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4.3
Bankrate review
Recommended credit score:(670 - 850)
Apply nowLock

on Chase's secure site

Intro offer

Earn up to $750 bonus cash back

Rewards Rate

1% - 5%

Annual fee

$0

Regular APR

17.74% - 25.74% Variable

Why you'll like this: It offers one of the best rewards rates you can get on office supplies.

Best for luxury travel

Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Bankrate score

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5.0
Bankrate review
Recommended credit score:(740 - 850)
Apply nowLock

on Chase's secure site

Intro offer

60,000 bonus points

Rewards rate

1x - 10x

Annual fee

$550

Regular APR

21.74% - 28.74% Variable

Why you'll like this: Your points are worth 50 percent more when you redeem via Chase Travel — some of the best redemption value you can get.

Best for small-business owners

Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card

Bankrate score

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4.2
Bankrate review
Recommended credit score:(670 - 850)
Apply nowLock

on Chase's secure site

Intro offer

Earn $750 bonus cash back

Rewards Rate

1.5%

Annual fee

$0

Regular APR

17.74% - 23.74% Variable

Why you'll like this: It offers a solid flat rewards rate and flexible redemption at no annual fee.

Best for business travel

Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

Bankrate score

star iconstar iconstar iconstar iconstar icon
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4.4
Bankrate review
Recommended credit score:(670 - 850)
Apply nowLock

on Chase's secure site

Intro offer

Earn 90,000 bonus points

Rewards Rate

1X - 3X

Annual fee

$95

Regular APR

20.49% - 26.49% Variable

Why you'll like this: You can have a chance at a massive sign-up bonus and get an excellent reward rate in both travel and business categories.

Best Southwest starter card

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card

Bankrate score

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4.3
Bankrate review
Recommended credit score:(670 - 850)
Apply nowLock

on Chase's secure site

Intro offer

$400 statement credit + 40,000 pts.

Rewards rate

1X - 2X

Annual fee

$69

Regular APR

20.74% - 27.74% Variable

Why you'll like this: It offers solid Southwest perks and a valuable welcome offer, making it a good low-cost card for occasional Southwest flyers.

Best overall Southwest card

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card

Bankrate score

star iconstar iconstar iconstar iconstar icon
star iconstar iconstar iconstar iconstar icon
4.2
Bankrate review
Recommended credit score:(670 - 850)
Apply nowLock

on Chase's secure site

Intro offer

$400 statement credit + 40,000 pts.

Rewards rate

1X - 3X

Annual fee

$149

Regular APR

20.74% - 27.74% Variable

Why you'll like this: It easily carries the most value of any Southwest card thanks to its annual travel credit and bonus points.

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Compare Bankrate's top picks for Chase credit cards

Card Name Best For Rewards Highlights Bankrate Review Score

All-around travel + Best overall

5X points on travel booked through Chase Travel℠

3X points on dining (including eligible delivery services), select streaming services and online grocery purchases (excluding Walmart, Target and wholesale clubs)

2X points on other travel 

4.8 / 5

Info Icon
(Read card review)
Apply now Lock Icon
on Chase's secure site

Cash back

5% cash back on Lyft purchases (through March 2025) and on travel booked through Chase Travel

3% cash back on dining at restaurants and drugstore purchases

1.5% cash back on all other purchases

4.8 / 5

Info Icon
(Read card review)
Apply now Lock Icon
on Chase's secure site

Everyday business purchases

5% cash back on the first $25,000 of combined office supply store, cable service and phone service purchases each account anniversary year

2% cash back on the first $25,000 of combined gas station and restaurant purchases each account anniversary year 

4.3 / 5

Info Icon
(Read card review)
Apply now Lock Icon
on Chase's secure site

Luxury travel

10X points on Chase Dining purchases, hotel stays and car rentals through Chase Travel℠

5X points on air travel through Chase Travel℠ (after earning the $300 travel credit)

3X points on general travel and dining purchases

5.0 / 5

Info Icon
(Read card review)
Apply now Lock Icon
on Chase's secure site

Small business owners

1.5% cash back on all purchases

4.2 / 5

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(Read card review)
Apply now Lock Icon
on Chase's secure site

Business travel

3X points on the first $150,000 spent on travel and select business categories each account anniversary year (then 1X points)

4.4 / 5

Info Icon
(Read card review)
Apply now Lock Icon
on Chase's secure site

Southwest starter card

2X points on Southwest hotel partners, car rental partners and other Southwest purchases

2X points on local transit and commuting (including rideshares), plus internet service, cable service, phone service and select streaming service purchases

4.3 / 5

Info Icon
(Read card review)
Apply now Lock Icon
on Chase's secure site

Overall Southwest card

3X points on Southwest purchases

2X points on Southwest hotel and car rental partners

2X points on local transit and commuting (including rideshares), plus internet service, cable service, phone service and select streaming service purchases

4.2 / 5

Info Icon
(Read card review)
Apply now Lock Icon
on Chase's secure site

What to know about Chase credit cards

Chase Bank is the largest consumer bank, with assets worth about $3.39 trillion. Because Chase’s reach is so wide, branch and ATM locations are fairly accessible for many people. It's also known for its credit card families, including Freedom, Sapphire and Ink Business cards.

These Chase cards have exceptional rewards rates, diverse categories, versatile redemption options and high-caliber benefits that often outclass competing cards. Plus, Chase cards pair well with one another. You could easily fill the gaps in your rewards strategy and greatly increase your points’ redemption value by creating the Chase Trifecta with at least three Chase cards.

Types of Chase cards

Chase has some of the best travel credit cards available and it's no-annual-fee cards are some of the most popular. Its business credit card options also cater to plenty of spending categories and structures. Plus, Chase has a few stellar co-branded card options that hotel and airline loyalists may like.

Chase customer experience

Chase ranks fourth in customer satisfaction ratings among all credit card issuers, according to J.D. Power’s 2024 customer satisfaction study. The issuer scored 619, lagging behind American Express, Discover and Capital One.

J.D. Power annually ranks cards and issuers based on category and cost. The study also scores based on account management, benefits, customer service, new accounts, rewards earning, rewards redeeming and terms. While it doesn’t hold the highest ranking, Chase consistently scores in the top five issuers. The Chase Freedom Flex and Chase Sapphire Reserve also rank second and third in customer satisfaction amongst card users in their categories of bank rewards credit cards with no annual fee and bank rewards credit cards with an annual fee. This shows that Chase is still a great issuer to bank with, especially now.

Chase Ultimate Rewards

Chase’s Ultimate Rewards program is one of the best credit cards rewards programs. With Ultimate Rewards, cardholders can earn and redeem points for cash back, statement credits, gift cards or travel. Most Chase cards earn points that you can redeem for nearly any of the issuer’s options for 1 cent apiece, which is rare if you’re looking for a premium travel card that can also net you solid cash back if you ever need it.

However, the crown jewel of the Ultimate Rewards program is the travel redemption boost, which several cards provide if you redeem for travel through the Chase Travel℠ portal — a perk you’ll only find with a Chase card. Below, we’ve listed what Ultimate Rewards points can be worth up to through Chase Travel℠, plus Bankrate’s current valuation with the right transfer partner.

Chase card(s) Baseline value Bankrate value
Chase Sapphire Reserve 1.50 cents 2.0 cents
Chase Sapphire Preferred and Ink Business Preferred 1.25 cents 2.0 cents
Other Ultimate Rewards cards 1 cent 1.0 cents

Pros and cons of Chase cards

Pros

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    Flexible rewards redemption: Thanks to the Chase Ultimate Rewards program, most Chase cards have plenty of redemption options, including travel and 1:1 cash back.

  • Checkmark Icon

    Top-tier travel partners: Chase’s long list of travel partners and 1:1 points transfer give you even more ways to use your points at a potentially stellar reward value.

  • Checkmark Icon

    Impressive perks. Chase cards usually offer more than enough valuable perks to make up for a potential annual fee. Even the no-annual-fee rewards cards often carry perks not typically found for no annual fee.

Cons

  • High credit score requirements: With top-notch travel rewards and generous offers, most of Chase’s cards require a good or excellent credit score.

  • Costly premium cards: The Chase cards with the most generous benefits and rewards have annual fees ranging from a more standard $95 to more than $500.

  • Few options for limited credit: The majority of Chase credit cards require at least a good credit score, so there aren’t many options available if you need to establish or improve your credit.

Tips on choosing the best Chase card

Choosing the best Chase card is like picking the right credit card from any other issuer — the decision is based on which credit card best fits your needs. Here are a few points to consider before you apply:

Still unsure if a Chase credit card is right for you? Check out our Credit Card Spender Type Tool to get personalized credit card recommendations based on your credit score, spending habits and daily needs.

What people are saying about Chase credit cards

Chase Sapphire cards are particularly popular and a frequent topic of discussion among Reddit users thanks to their rich rewards, exclusive benefits and valuable point ecosystem. 

The Chase Sapphire Preferred is regarded as one of the best travel credit cards available and is commonly recommended by Reddit users. Many appreciate the credits available and the ability to pay for vacations through points, especially when paired with another Chase card that earns Ultimate Rewards.
“I've been an owner of one over the last couple of years, and I 110% would recommend … The value makes it very well worth it, in my opinion,” one Redditor said in the r/CreditCards subreddit.

Some users in the same thread mention that the Chase Sapphire Reserve card might be better for people seeking higher rewards or a greater variety of benefits. This card can be especially useful for frequent flyers and people who regularly use rideshares, especially when you factor in the high rewards and the annual travel credit.

However, some users warn the card's high annual fee is a significant investment and that its rewards and benefits may not make sense for those who do not travel frequently.

Bankrate writer Garrett Yarbrough is also a fan of Chase credit cards, especially the Ultimate Rewards program. He appreciates the travel resources the program gives him access to and its flexibility.

But more importantly, I chose the Freedom Unlimited as my first rewards card mainly because of how effectively Chase cards pair together and how convenient the reward redemption options are. Most of the cards many other issuers offer don’t work together nearly as well, and the Ultimate Rewards program gives me the flexibility to redeem rewards for travel or for cash back. Plus, the Chase Sapphire cards’ unique opportunity to boost my travel rewards’ value without relying on transfer partners makes Chase cards a no-brainer. — Garrett Yarbrough, Bankrate writer

Remember: selecting the right combination of Chase cards should be based on your personal financial goals, lifestyle and spending patterns. 

*The quotes and citations included on this page have been verified by our editorial team and are accurate as of the posting date. Outlinked content may contain views and opinions that do not reflect the views and opinions of Bankrate. Please see the issuer’s website for updated terms and conditions.

Our data: Chase cards have high credit score requirements

Where Chase shines is with its suite of rewards credit cards. Its cash back, business and travel cards are great rewards-earning machines and even won Bankrate awards in 2024. However, this also means that the issuer’s credit score requirements for approval can be pretty high.

We dug into our proprietary data and analyzed the credit scores of Bankrate users approved for Chase’s business and travel cards.

Our data shows that Bankrate users approved for the Southwest co-branded cards averaged a credit score of 792. For the Ink Business and Chase Sapphire cards, approved Bankrate users had average scores between 699 and 790. If you want to apply for these cards but have a lower score than the average, other factors, such as your available credit and income, may increase your approval odds. However, your best bet to get approved for the best Chase credit cards — as with most rewards credit cards — will be to increase your credit score and practice responsible credit use. You can also double-check your approval odds before applying, whether through tools like Chase’s preapproval tool or Bankrate’s CardMatch™.

How to maximize your Chase card

Maximizing a new credit card can be complicated, but Chase is a relatively straightforward issuer with cards that are easy to make the most of. Even the no-annual-fee cards often have a top-tier rewards program and high-value benefits you typically don’t find in that card class. The premium rewards cards offer a long list of travel partners that can help you squeeze a ton of value out of your points, making it easy to combine the issuer’s cards for a rewards strategy that fits your needs. 

  • Education Icon

    Learn about Chase Ultimate Rewards

    Your credit card’s rewards program is just as important as its rates, fees and features. You should familiarize yourself with Chase Ultimate Rewards points and its travel portal features to maximize your Chase credit card.

    If you want to get the most out of Chase’s travel cards, make sure you’re transferring or redeeming points for the most value. For example, the Chase Sapphire cards’ points get a 25 or 50 percent value boost when you redeem them for travel in the Chase Travel℠ portal. You may also occasionally get a few extra points if you make purchases through programs like Chase Dining, Shop Through Chase and Chase Offers.

  • Rewards Icon

    Calculate potential rewards

    Chase points can be some of the most valuable credit card rewards available. The value of your points will vary based on your card and redemption method, so make sure you calculate the potential value of your rewards before you redeem. It’s also one of the few cards with travel rewards that can be redeemed toward cash back at an equal value, so you can always redeem for cash if your rewards are worth less than 1 cent through certain travel partners.

  • Travel Icon

    Research Chase travel partners

    You can transfer your Chase points to one of its partner airlines through its travel portal when you log into your account. Once you choose the partner, you can transfer points in increments of 1,000 points and typically at a 1:1 ratio, so 1 point equals 1 mile. You may even increase the value of your Chase points this way — to perhaps about 2.0 cents per point on average based on our latest valuation  — depending on your travel plans and the airline or hotel you transfer your points to.

  • Credit Card Icon

    Use multiple Chase cards

    The Chase trifecta refers to a group of Chase card families — Chase Freedom cards, Sapphire cards and Ink Business cards — that can boost rewards earnings and rack up points when you use them together. By pairing these cards, the points you earn with even your Chase Freedom card spending can be worth far more than 1 cent apiece once you redeem them toward Chase Travel or transfer partners with a Sapphire card or the Ink Business Preferred. 

    For example, if you use the Chase Sapphire Preferred, Chase Freedom Unlimited and the Chase Ink Business Preferred, you can pool the rewards you earn from the cards in one account and accumulate tons of points. If you don’t have a business, you can use two Freedom cards and one Sapphire card together to complete the trifecta.

  • Credit Card Reviews Icon

    Take advantage of your card’s perks

    One of the signature benefits of having a Chase card is the exceptional benefit roster you have at your fingertips. Chases’s cash back cards even have a stockpile of perks that you won’t find with many other cards of the same caliber from other issuers. 

    For example, the Chase Sapphire Preferred adds up to $50 toward Chase Travel hotel stays each year and 10 percent anniversary bonus points. This can be more than enough to offset the $95 annual fee — as long as you take advantage of these perks. Otherwise, it’s like leaving money on the table.

Have more questions for our credit cards editors? Feel free to send us an email, find us on Facebook, or Tweet us @Bankrate.

How we assess the best Chase credit cards

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250+
cards rated
Congrats Icon
50+
rewards programs valued
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5000
data points analyzed
Credit Card Reviews Icon
40+
Perks evaluated

When evaluating the best credit cards from Chase, we take into account several factors, including how cards score in our proprietary card rating system and whether they offer features that fit the priorities of a diverse group of cardholders, from earning rewards to scoring a large sign-up bonus to saving on interest. 

Our rating database covers over 250 of the most popular credit cards, allowing us to compare the quality of various Chase cards to each other and to cards in the same category from other issuers. We scored each card based on the factors most relevant to its primary category, including its rewards rate, estimated annual earnings, intro APR period, ongoing APR, perks and more to determine whether it belonged in this month’s roundup. 

Here’s a look at how our card ratings are distributed as of August 2024, as well as some of the key factors that we considered in selecting this month’s best Chase cards.

5
Rating: 5 stars out of 5
Overall Score
  • 5 stars 2%
  • 4 - 4.9 stars 35%
  • 3 - 3.9 stars 39%
  • 2 - 2.9 stars 22%
  • 1 - 1.9 stars 2%

Frequently asked questions about Chase credit cards