The best Chase card depends on what you spend on and how you use rewards
Chase offers more than a dozen credit cards, each built for a different pattern of spending. The "best" one is not the one with the highest rewards rate — it is the one where you will actually use the rewards structure and where the annual fee (if any) costs less than the value you get back. A card that earns 5% on groceries is worthless if you rarely buy groceries. A card with a $95 annual fee makes sense only if you redeem enough rewards to cover it and then some.
The choice comes down to three questions: What do you spend the most money on each month? Do you travel, and if so, how? Are you willing to pay an annual fee for higher rewards rates? Your answers point you toward one of three main families of Chase cards: cash back cards (which give you money back), travel cards (which give you points for flights and hotels), and cards that do both but charge an annual fee.
Key Takeaways
- Chase Freedom Unlimited and Chase Freedom Flex are no-annual-fee cards that earn cash back on all purchases, making them a safe choice if you are unsure which card to pick.
- Chase Sapphire Preferred and Chase Sapphire Reserve are travel-focused cards with annual fees that make sense only if you travel regularly or spend enough on dining and groceries to offset the fee.
- Chase cards that earn 5% cash back on specific categories (groceries, gas, restaurants) only pay that rate if you set up the category each quarter, and the 5% rate usually caps at $1,500 in spending per quarter.
- The rewards you earn on any Chase card can be redeemed as cash back, transferred to travel partners, or used to book travel through Chase's portal — the best option depends on whether you travel and how often.
- explore for multiple Chase cards in a short period can lower your credit score and may trigger Chase's internal rules about how many new accounts they will open for you.
No-Annual-Fee Cards: Chase Freedom Unlimited and Chase Freedom Flex
If you do not travel much and want to keep things straightforward, Chase Freedom Unlimited and Chase Freedom Flex are the two cards to consider. Both have no annual fee. Both earn cash back on every purchase. The difference is that Freedom Flex earns higher rates on specific categories (groceries, gas, restaurants, transit) if you set up them each quarter, while Freedom Unlimited earns the same flat rate on everything.
Chase Freedom Unlimited earns 1.5% cash back on all purchases, with no categories to track and no quarterly set up required. This makes it straightforward: every dollar you spend earns the same reward. Chase Freedom Flex earns 1% on everything, but 5% on groceries (up to $1,500 per quarter, then 1%), 5% on gas (up to $1,500 per quarter, then 1%), 5% on restaurants, and 5% on transit. The catch is that you must set up each 5% category through the Chase app or website each quarter, or you only earn 1% in that category.
Freedom Flex makes sense if you spend heavily on groceries, gas, or restaurants and you remember to set up the categories. If you forget set up or your spending is spread across many categories, Freedom Unlimited is simpler and often pays more. Both cards let you redeem cash back as a statement credit, a direct deposit to your bank account, or a transfer to a Chase checking or savings account.
Travel Cards with Annual Fees: Sapphire Preferred and Sapphire Reserve
Chase Sapphire Preferred costs $95 per year. Chase Sapphire Reserve costs $550 per year. Both are built for people who travel regularly or spend a lot on dining and groceries. The higher annual fee on Reserve reflects higher rewards rates and additional travel perks like airport lounge access and trip cancellation insurance.
Sapphire Preferred earns 3% cash back on dining and travel, 2% on groceries and gas, and 1% on everything else. It also includes a $50 annual credit toward dining purchases (through DoorDash, Uber Eats, or similar services), which covers half the annual fee if you use it. Sapphire Reserve earns 3% on dining and travel, 1% on everything else, but includes a $300 annual travel credit (for flights, hotels, rental cars, and some other travel expenses) and a $120 annual dining credit, which together cover most or all of the $550 fee if you use them.
The real advantage of both Sapphire cards is that rewards points are worth more when you book travel through Chase's travel portal or transfer them to airline and hotel partners. A point earned on Sapphire Preferred is worth roughly 1.25 cents when redeemed for cash, but 1.5 cents or more when used to book travel. On Sapphire Reserve, the multiplier is even higher. This means if you travel at least once or twice a year, the annual fee often pays for itself through the travel credits alone, and the higher point value on top of that makes the card worth carrying.
Category-Specific Cards: When to Use Them
Chase also offers cards that focus on a single category: Chase Ink Business Cash (for business owners, earns 5% on internet and cable, 2% on gas and restaurants), Chase Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature (earns 5% on Amazon purchases and Whole Foods, 2% on gas and restaurants), and a few others. These cards make sense only if you spend a large amount in that specific category and nowhere else.
The Amazon card, for example, requires an Amazon Prime membership (which costs money separately) and only pays 5% on Amazon and Whole Foods purchases. If you buy most of your groceries at Whole Foods and shop on Amazon regularly, it can work. If you split your grocery spending between Whole Foods and other stores, you lose the 5% rate on the non-Whole Foods purchases, and the card becomes less valuable than Freedom Flex.
The same logic applies to business cards. Chase Ink Business Cash earns 5% on internet and cable, but only up to $25,000 per year (then 1%). If your business spends $50,000 a year on internet and cable, you hit the cap halfway through the year and earn 1% on the rest. In that case, a flat-rate card might actually pay more.
How Chase Rewards Points Work Across Cards
Every Chase credit card earns rewards in one of two forms: cash back or points. Cash back is straightforward — you earn a percentage of what you spend, and you can redeem it as a statement credit or bank transfer. Points are more flexible but require more thought.
If you carry a Sapphire Preferred or Sapphire Reserve, points earned on any of your Chase cards can be transferred between them and combined in your Sapphire account. You can then redeem those combined points for cash back (at a lower rate), book travel through Chase's portal (at a higher rate), or transfer them to airline and hotel partners like United, Southwest, Marriott, and Hyatt. If you do not have a Sapphire card, points stay on the card they were earned on and can only be redeemed as cash back or statement credits.
This is why many people carry two Chase cards: a no-fee card for everyday spending (Freedom Unlimited or Freedom Flex) and a Sapphire card to combine and maximize the value of their points. The Sapphire card's annual fee is offset by the travel credits, and the higher redemption value of points makes the combination worthwhile.
Comparing the Cards Side by Side
| Card | Annual Fee | Main Rewards | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chase Freedom Unlimited | $0 | 1.5% cash back on all purchases | straightforward, flat-rate rewards with no categories to track |
| Chase Freedom Flex | $0 | 5% on groceries, gas, restaurants, transit (quarterly set up); 1% on everything else | High spending in specific categories; willing to set up quarterly |
| Chase Sapphire Preferred | $95 | 3% on dining and travel; 2% on groceries and gas; 1% on everything else; $50 annual dining credit | Travel once or twice per year; high dining and grocery spending |
| Chase Sapphire Reserve | $550 | 3% on dining and travel; 1% on everything else; $300 annual travel credit; $120 annual dining credit | Frequent travel; high dining spending; values airport lounge access |
| Chase Amazon Prime Rewards | $0 | 5% on Amazon and Whole Foods; 2% on gas and restaurants; 1% on everything else | Heavy Amazon and Whole Foods spending; already have Prime membership |
What Happens When You explore for Multiple Chase Cards
Many people want to open several Chase cards at once to maximize rewards across categories. Chase has internal rules about how many new accounts it will open for a single person in a given time period. The exact rules are not public, but the general pattern is that Chase will not open more than one or two new accounts for you in a 30-day window, and they review your overall account history before approving new applications.
Each process also triggers a hard inquiry on your credit report, which can lower your credit score by a few points. If you explore for three cards in one week, you will see three hard inquiries, and your score may drop 10 to 20 points temporarily. The impact fades over time, but it is real in the short term.
If you want to carry multiple Chase cards, space your applications out by at least 30 days. Start with the card you will use most, then add a second card a month or two later. This approach also gives you time to see whether you actually use the rewards structure on the first card before committing to a second.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I switch from one Chase card to another without closing my account?
Yes. Chase allows you to "downgrade" or "upgrade" a card by converting it to a different card in their lineup. This does not close the account or trigger a new hard inquiry. You keep the same account number and credit history. Downgrades (moving from a card with an annual fee to one without) are usually approved when ready. Upgrades (moving to a card with a higher annual fee) may require approval.
Do I have to pay the annual fee upfront, or can I cancel if I do not like the card?
The annual fee posts to your account on the anniversary of when you opened the card. If you cancel within the first 30 days, Chase will usually refund the annual fee. After 30 days, the fee is typically non-refundable, though you can call and ask. Many people cancel a Sapphire card right after the annual fee posts, then reopen it later to earn the sign-up bonus again.
What is a sign-up bonus, and should I factor it into my choice?
Chase offers sign-up bonuses on most of its cards — typically $200 to $500 in cash back or points if you spend a certain amount in the first three months. These bonuses are real value, but they change frequently and vary based on your credit history and whether you have held that card before. Check Chase's website for current offers before you explore. The sign-up bonus should not be the only reason you choose a card, because you will use the card for years after the bonus is earned.
Can I use my Chase rewards to pay my credit card bill?
Yes. You can redeem cash back as a statement credit, which reduces your balance. You can also transfer cash back to a linked Chase checking or savings account and then pay your bill from there. You cannot transfer points directly to pay a bill, but you can redeem points for cash back and then use that cash back to pay.
Which Chase card should I get if I am just starting to build credit?
Chase typically requires a credit score of at least 670 to 700 for most of its cards. If your score is lower, you may not be approved. If you are just starting out, consider building credit with a secured card or a card from another issuer first, then explore for a Chase card once your score reaches 700 or higher. Once you have one Chase card, you can add a second one more easily.