Considering getting one of Chase’s popular cards but don’t know where to start? The best Chase card for each person depends on the individual and their goals. Here are the cards I would suggest based on travel goals, cash back goals, average spending, and more.
Why You Should Choose Carefully With Chase
Over the last year, Chase has tightened up their process for approvals. This has resulted in what’s been called the “Chase 5/24 rule” – a somewhat forgiving rule that says Chase won’t give you a new credit card if you’ve had 5 or more new credit cards during the last 24 months.
Of course, there have been exceptions to this rule. They do count authorized user cards in your 5 cards, for example, but seem willing to exclude them in certain cases.
And it’s been shown how some people have been approved for popular Chase credit cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve despite being way over 5/24 if they had a pre-approved offer in their account.
Regardless, the fact Chase cards are somewhat harder to get means it’s smart to line them up first.
Chase Freedom
With the Chase Freedom, you earn $150 in cash back after you spend $500 on your card within three months of account opening. You also earn 1 point per dollar spent on all purchases and 5x points on your first $1,500 spent in categories that rotate every quarter. These points can be redeemed for cash back, travel, gift cards, and awesome travel benefits if you pair it with a premier Chase travel card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred.
This card is best for:
- Someone who doesn’t want to pay an annual fee
- People who love cash back
- Someone who doesn’t spend enough to earn a larger signup bonus
Chase Freedom Unlimited
The Chase Freedom Unlimited offers the same $150 signup bonus as the traditional Chase Freedom card. However, the way it doles out points is quite different. Instead of rotating categories, this card lets you earn 1.5 points for each dollar you spend on all purchases.
You can redeem your points for cash back, travel, gift cards, and more.
This card is best for:
- Someone who doesn’t want to pay an annual fee
- People who don’t like to keep track of rotating categories
- Someone who loves cash back.
Chase Sapphire Preferred
The Chase Sapphire Preferred card is offering an amazing 50,000 points after you spend $4,000 on your card within the first 90 days. Not only can you redeem these points for $625 in travel through the Chase portal, but you can transfer them to popular loyalty programs like Southwest, United, Marriott, British Airways, and Ritz Carlton at a 1:1 ratio.
Beyond the signup bonus, you’ll earn 2x points on travel and dining and 1x points on everything else.
This card is best for:
- Travel enthusiasts who will utilize transfer partners
- Big spenders, particularly on travel and dining
- A travel-lover who doesn’t like huge annual fees
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Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
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$0 intro first year
$95 annual fee |
Earn 50,000 bonus points when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $625 in travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards® Read Review » |
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Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card |
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Chase Sapphire Reserve
The Chase Sapphire Reserve sent most of us in a frenzy earlier this year, and that’s despite its $450 annual fee. With this card, you get 100,000 points after you spend $4,000 within the first three months. Plus, you get a $300 travel credit each year, Priority Pass lounge membership, rental car benefits, and additional travel benefits.
On top of all that, you get 3x points on travel and dining and 50% more value from points used to book travel through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal.
This card is best for:
- Travel enthusiasts who will use all the card’s benefits
- People who don’t mind paying an annual fee in return for good value
- Big spenders who spend a lot on travel and dining
Final Thoughts
Chase rewards cards are some of the most popular out there, but that doesn’t mean the right Chase card for one person is the right card for everyone. At the end of the day, the right card for you depends on your travel goals, cash back goals, and spending style.
And if you can’t decide which Chase cards to get, you can always get more than one provided you can qualify.
Which Chase cards do you have? Why?