If you’re looking for the best Chase credit cards in 2026, you’ve come to the right place.
Whether you’re just getting started in the points and miles world, or you’re finally ready to get serious about it, there is one place I tell almost everyone to begin.
Chase.
Chase Ultimate Rewards is, in my opinion, the single best points ecosystem for beginners and pros alike. The welcome bonuses are strong, the points are flexible, and the transfer partners include some of the most valuable programs in the entire game. This is the foundation I built my own travel on, and it is the foundation I help my clients build too.
But before we go any further, one quick housekeeping note.
Download the Travel Freely app first.
Travel Freely is a free app that tracks all of your cards, your welcome bonus deadlines, your annual fees, and, most importantly for Chase, your 5/24 status (more on that in a minute). When you are ready to apply for any card in this post, search for it inside the Travel Freely app and apply through there. It costs you nothing extra and it is how we keep these free guides coming.
Download Travel Freely and log in your current cards before you read another word.
Now let us break down every Chase card worth having in 2026, personal and business, and exactly how their welcome bonuses stack up right now.
This guide compares the best Chase credit cards available in 2026 so you can choose the right card based on your travel goals, spending habits, and whether you’re applying for a personal or business card.
Best Chase Credit Cards 2026
Below is a quick comparison of the best Chase credit cards currently available, including their welcome bonuses, annual fees, and who each card is best suited for.
Personal Chase Credit Cards:
– Chase Sapphire Preferred: 100,000 points, $95 annual fee (limited time, highest we have seen)
– Chase Sapphire Reserve: 100,000 points, $795 annual fee (best ever)
– Chase Freedom Unlimited: $200 cash back, $0 annual fee
– Chase Freedom Flex: welcome offer around $200, $0 annual fee
Business Chase Credit Cards:
– Ink Business Preferred: 100,000 points, $95 annual fee
– Ink Business Unlimited: $1,000 cash back, $0 annual fee (highest offer ever)
– Ink Business Cash: up to $1,000 cash back, $0 annual fee
– Sapphire Reserve for Business: 200,000 points, $795 annual fee (elevated)
First, Why Chase Ultimate Rewards Points Are So Valuable
One of the biggest reasons the best Chase credit cards consistently rank among the top travel rewards cards is the flexibility of Chase Ultimate Rewards points.
Before you chase any welcome bonus, you need to understand what you are actually earning, because this is the part that separates people who get real value from people who leave thousands of dollars on the table.
Chase Ultimate Rewards points are flexible, transferable points. That means they are not locked to one single airline or hotel. You can move them, at a 1 to 1 ratio, to a long list of airline and hotel partners, and that is where the magic happens.
Chase transfer partners include:
– World of Hyatt (the crown jewel, and the reason a lot of us keep our Chase cards)
– United MileagePlus
– Southwest Rapid Rewards
– Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
– Air Canada Aeroplan
– British Airways, Iberia, and Aer Lingus (Avios)
– Air France and KLM Flying Blue
– JetBlue, Emirates, and Singapore Airlines
That Hyatt partnership alone is worth the price of admission. You can book hotel nights that cost hundreds of dollars in cash for a fraction of the points, and you can book international business class flights through partners like Virgin Atlantic and Aeroplan that would otherwise cost thousands.
You can also redeem your points directly for travel through Chase Travel, and on the premium cards you get a boosted rate when you do. But the real outsized value almost always comes from transferring to partners. Learn that one move and your points go so much further.
The One Rule You Must Understand Before You Apply: Chase 5/24
This is the most important rule in the entire Chase world, so please do not skip it.
Chase has an unofficial rule called 5/24. If you have opened 5 or more credit cards from any bank in the past 24 months, Chase will almost always deny your application. It does not matter how good your credit score is.
Here is what that means for your strategy:
Apply for the Chase cards you want FIRST, before you go opening a bunch of cards from other banks. Once you are over 5/24, the best Chase cards are off the table until those older cards age out of your 24 month window.
Good news for business cards: most business cards, including the Chase Ink cards, do not add to your personal 5/24 count once you have them, because they do not report to your personal credit. But you still need to be under 5/24 to be approved for them in the first place. So the order you apply in really matters.
This is exactly why I tell people to track everything in Travel Freely. It shows you your 5/24 status at a glance so you never accidentally lock yourself out.
Personal Chase Credit Cards
When people talk about the best Chase credit cards, these four personal cards almost always top the list. Each serves a different purpose, from premium travel perks to maximizing everyday spending.
Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
Welcome Bonus: 100,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points after $5,000 spend in 3 months
Annual Fee: $95
Our Take: Around $2,000 in value
LIMITED TIME, HIGHEST WE HAVE SEEN
If you only get one travel card this year, make it this one. Full stop. And the timing could not be better, because the Sapphire Preferred is sitting at a 100,000 point welcome bonus right now, one of the highest offers this card has ever had.
The Sapphire Preferred is the perfect first travel card. It has a very manageable $95 annual fee, a huge welcome bonus, full access to all of those Chase transfer partners, and a solid set of travel protections that most beginners do not even realize they are getting.
Earning rates:
– 5X points on travel booked through Chase Travel
– 3X points on dining, select streaming services, and online groceries
– 2X points on all other travel
– 5X points on Lyft rides (through September 30, 2027)
– 1X points on everything else
Benefits worth knowing:
– $50 annual hotel credit through Chase Travel
– 10 percent anniversary points bonus every year
– Complimentary DashPass when you activate by December 31, 2027
– Primary rental car coverage, trip cancellation and interruption insurance, and baggage protections
– No foreign transaction fees
– Transfer to all 14 Chase airline and hotel partners
Who this card is for: Anyone starting out in points, anyone who wants serious flexibility without a big annual fee, and honestly anyone who travels even a few times a year. With this bonus at 100,000 points, do not sit on it too long, because limited time Chase offers can disappear without warning.
Sweet spot redemption: Transfer 50,000 points to Virgin Atlantic and fly business class to select destinations in Africa, or move points to Hyatt and book hotel nights worth hundreds of dollars for as little as 15,000 to 35,000 points.
Apply for Chase Sapphire Preferred inside the Travel Freely app
Chase Sapphire Reserve
Welcome Bonus: 100,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points after $6,000 spend in 3 months
Annual Fee: $795
Our Take: Around $2,000 in bonus value, plus over $2,000 in annual credits
The Sapphire Reserve is the premium big sister of the Preferred, and right now it is carrying a best ever 100,000 point welcome bonus. Yes, the $795 annual fee makes people pause, but this card is stuffed with credits that offset most of it before you even touch the points.
Earning rates:
– 8X points on all Chase Travel purchases
– 4X points on flights and hotels booked directly
– 3X points on dining worldwide
– 5X points on Lyft rides plus a $10 monthly in app credit (through September 30, 2027)
– 1X points on everything else
The credits that offset that fee:
– $300 annual travel credit (automatic, applies to any travel purchase)
– $300 annual dining credit
– Up to $500 annual credit with The Edit hotel bookings (up to two $250 credits)
– Up to $300 annually on StubHub and viagogo (up to $150 twice a year, through December 31, 2027)
– DoorDash credits plus complimentary DashPass (activate by December 31, 2027)
– Up to $250 in prepaid hotel credits through Chase Travel at select brands (through December 31, 2026)
The premium perks:
– Chase Sapphire Lounge and Priority Pass access for you and two guests
– Complimentary IHG One Rewards Platinum Elite status
– Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS credit (up to $120)
– Points Boost, letting you redeem points at up to 2X on select flights and hotels through Chase Travel
– A premium package of travel insurance and protections
Who this card is for: Frequent travelers who will actually use the travel and dining credits, want lounge access, and value top tier trip protections. If you travel often enough to use those credits, the effective cost of holding this card drops dramatically.
Apply for Chase Sapphire Reserve inside the Travel Freely app
Chase Freedom Unlimited
Welcome Bonus: $200 cash back after $500 spend in 3 months
Annual Fee: $0
Our Take: $600 plus in value when paired with a Sapphire card
This is the best no annual fee card in the Chase family, and here is the secret most people miss: it does not just earn cash back, it earns Ultimate Rewards points. The moment you pair it with a Sapphire card, that cash back turns into fully transferable travel points.
Earning rates:
– 5X points on travel booked through Chase Travel
– 3X points on dining and drugstores
– 1.5X points on all other purchases
– 0 percent intro APR for 15 months on purchases
– No annual fee
Strategy tip: Get a Sapphire card first, then add this one. Your Freedom Unlimited points pool together with your Sapphire points and instantly become transferable to airlines and hotels. That 1.5X on everyday spending suddenly becomes very powerful.
Apply for Chase Freedom Unlimited inside the Travel Freely app
Chase Freedom Flex
Welcome Bonus: typically around $200 cash back after $500 spend in 3 months
Annual Fee: $0
The Freedom Flex is the rotating category sibling of the Freedom Unlimited. It earns 5 percent back in categories that change every quarter (think groceries, gas, or specific stores that rotate through the year), plus 5X on Chase Travel and 3X on dining and drugstores.
Like the Freedom Unlimited, it earns full Ultimate Rewards points when paired with a Sapphire card, and it charges no annual fee.
It is a great complement if you are willing to activate the quarterly categories and want to squeeze extra points out of specific spending. Always confirm the current welcome offer when you apply, since the Freedom offers move around.
Apply for Chase Freedom Flex inside the Travel Freely app
Chase Business Credit Cards
Some of the best Chase credit cards are actually business cards. Even if you’re a freelancer or have a side hustle, these cards can unlock some of Chase’s largest welcome bonuses.
Here is something a lot of people do not realize: you almost certainly qualify for a business card. You do not need a registered company or an LLC. Freelance work, selling online, consulting, rideshare driving, or any income generating side hustle counts. You apply as a sole proprietor using your Social Security number.
That matters because business cards open up an entirely separate set of huge welcome bonuses, and most of them do not add to your 5/24 count once approved.
Ink Business Preferred Credit Card
Welcome Bonus: 100,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points after $8,000 spend in 3 months
Annual Fee: $95
Our Take: Around $2,000 in value
The Ink Business Preferred consistently carries the highest welcome bonus of any card that earns Chase Ultimate Rewards, and it does it for just a $95 annual fee.
Earning rates:
– 3X points on travel, shipping, internet, cable, phone services, and advertising purchases (on the first $150,000 in combined spending each account anniversary year)
– 1X points on all other purchases
Benefits worth knowing:
– Cell phone protection (up to $600 per claim)
– Primary rental car insurance for business rentals
– Trip cancellation and interruption insurance
– 25 percent more value when redeeming through Chase Travel
– Full access to Chase transfer partners
Who this card is for: Small business owners, freelancers, and side hustlers with natural spending in those 3X categories. Those are expenses many businesses are already paying, so the points add up fast. Remember, the Chase 5/24 rule still applies to business cards, so make sure you are under 5/24 when you apply.
Apply for Ink Business Preferred inside the Travel Freely app
Ink Business Unlimited Credit Card
Welcome Bonus: $1,000 cash back after $6,000 spend in 3 months
Annual Fee: $0
Our Take: $1,000 value
HIGHEST OFFER EVER
This is the simplest decision on the entire list, and right now it is carrying the highest bonus in its history. Zero annual fee, a $1,000 welcome bonus, and unlimited 1.5X on every single purchase. No categories, no caps, no thinking required.
Earning rates:
– 1.5X points on all purchases (unlimited)
– 0 percent intro APR for 12 months on purchases
– Primary rental car insurance
– No annual fee
Just like the Freedom Unlimited, pair this with a Sapphire card and your cash back becomes fully transferable travel points. A $1,000 bonus that can convert into transferable points, for no annual fee, is an easy yes.
Apply for Ink Business Unlimited inside the Travel Freely app
Ink Business Cash Credit Card
Welcome Bonus: Up to $1,000 cash back after $6,000 spend in 3 months
Annual Fee: $0
Our Take: $1,000 value
LIMITED TIME OFFER
The Ink Business Cash rewards the expenses most businesses are already racking up, and it is also elevated right now.
Earning rates:
– 5 percent cash back on office supplies and on internet, cable, and phone services (on the first $25,000 spent per year)
– 2 percent cash back on gas stations and restaurants (on the first $25,000 per year combined)
– 1 percent cash back on everything else
– 0 percent intro APR on purchases
– No annual fee
Pair it with a Sapphire card and those points transfer to partners too. This card is a quiet workhorse for anyone spending on tech, office supplies, or communications.
Apply for Ink Business Cash inside the Travel Freely app
Sapphire Reserve for Business
Welcome Bonus: 200,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points after $30,000 spend in 6 months
Annual Fee: $795
Our Take: Over $7,000 in total value in the first year
ELEVATED OFFER
This is everything the personal Sapphire Reserve offers, plus business specific perks, and right now it is running a massive elevated 200,000 point bonus. The spending requirement is high at $30,000 in 6 months, so this one is best for established businesses with real expenses, but the payoff is enormous.
Earning rates:
– 8X points on Chase Travel purchases
– 4X points on flights and hotels booked directly
– 3X points on advertising purchases with social media and search engines (uncapped, which is huge for digital businesses)
– 5X points on Lyft rides plus a $10 monthly in app credit (through September 30, 2027)
Credits and perks:
– $300 annual travel credit
– Up to $500 annual credit with The Edit
– $400 annual ZipRecruiter credit
– $200 annual Google Workspace credit
– $100 Giftcards.com credit
– Chase Sapphire Lounge and Priority Pass access
– Complimentary IHG One Rewards Platinum Elite status
Who this card is for: Business owners who travel frequently and especially those with significant advertising spend, since that uncapped 3X category alone can generate a mountain of points.
Apply for Sapphire Reserve for Business inside the Travel Freely app
The Chase Trifecta: How to Actually Build Your Points Empire
Many experienced points collectors consider this combination to be the smartest way to maximize the value of the best Chase credit cards.
Here is the strategy that ties all of this together and turns a few cards into a points machine.
The classic Chase Trifecta is:
1. A Sapphire card (Preferred or Reserve) for the transfer partners and premium earning
2. The Freedom Unlimited for 1.5X on all your everyday spending
3. The Freedom Flex for 5 percent on rotating quarterly categories
Individually, the Freedom cards earn what looks like cash back. But when you hold a Sapphire card alongside them, all of those points pool together into one Ultimate Rewards balance, and the whole stack becomes transferable to airlines and hotels.
Then you add the Ink business cards on top. The Ink Business Unlimited covers everything at 1.5X, the Ink Business Cash covers your 5 percent business categories, and the Ink Business Preferred covers travel and advertising at 3X. Every one of those points flows into the same transferable pool.
That is how someone with very average spending ends up with enough points to book lie flat business class seats and luxury hotel stays. It is not about spending more. It is about routing the spending you already do through the right cards and then transferring those points out to partners.
How to Choose Your First Chase Card
Choosing among the best Chase credit cards doesn’t have to be complicated if you first identify whether your priority is travel, cash back, or business rewards.
Not sure where to start? Here is my simple framework.
– If you want one card to start with: Chase Sapphire Preferred. The 100,000 point offer makes this an easy first move.
– If you travel a lot and want lounge access and credits: Chase Sapphire Reserve.
– If you want a free everyday earner: Chase Freedom Unlimited.
– If you have any kind of business or side hustle: Ink Business Unlimited for the $1,000 bonus, or Ink Business Preferred for 100,000 transferable points.
– If you run an established business with big expenses: Sapphire Reserve for Business for 200,000 points.
And always, always apply while you are under 5/24.
Application Tips for Chase Cards
– Apply for Chase cards before opening cards from other banks, because of 5/24.
– Only apply if you can meet the minimum spend through purchases you were already going to make. Never overspend just to hit a bonus.
– You need at least one Sapphire, Ink Preferred, or Ink Business Preferred to unlock transfer partners. The Freedom and Ink Cash and Ink Unlimited cards earn points, but you transfer them through a premium card.
– Pay your balance in full every month. Interest will wipe out the value of any welcome bonus.
– Track your 5/24 status and your welcome bonus deadlines in Travel Freely so nothing slips.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Chase card should I get first?
For most people, the Chase Sapphire Preferred, especially while it is at 100,000 points. It has the transfer partners, a low annual fee, and it is the anchor of your whole Chase strategy.
What is the Chase 5/24 rule?
Chase will typically deny your application if you have opened 5 or more cards from any bank in the past 24 months. Apply for the Chase cards you want first, before opening cards from other issuers.
Do I need a real business to get a Chase Ink card?
No. Any income generating activity counts, including freelancing, reselling, consulting, or rideshare. You apply as a sole proprietor with your Social Security number.
Do business cards count toward 5/24?
You still need to be under 5/24 to be approved for Chase business cards, but once you have them, they generally do not add to your personal 5/24 count.
Can I combine points from my Freedom and Ink cards?
Yes. As long as you also hold a Sapphire, Ink Preferred, or Ink Business Preferred, all of your Ultimate Rewards points pool together and become transferable to partners.
Are Chase points worth more than cash back?
Almost always, yes, when you transfer them to partners like Hyatt, Virgin Atlantic, or Aeroplan. That is where you get the outsized value that makes business and first class travel affordable.
Final Thoughts
If you’re trying to decide which of the best Chase credit cards to apply for first, Chase remains the best place to build a long-term points strategy.
The transfer partners are elite, the points are flexible, and right now the welcome bonuses are some of the strongest we’ve seen in a long time.
The Sapphire Preferred at 100,000 points, the Sapphire Reserve at a best ever 100,000, and the Ink Business Unlimited at its highest ever $1,000 are all offers worth acting on.
Just remember the golden rules. Apply while you are under 5/24. Start with a Sapphire card to unlock transfer partners. Only spend what you can pay off in full. And learn that one skill that changes everything, transferring your points out to partners.
Do that, and a few average months of spending can turn into your next business class seat.
Apply for your first Chase card through the Travel Freely app here, and start building.
Happy earning.
Disclaimer: We may earn a commission when you apply for a credit card through our links. This helps us continue creating free content and resources for our community. Our opinions and recommendations are entirely our own and are not influenced by any card issuer. Terms apply to all offers listed. Offers are subject to change without notice.
