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Chase Ultimate Rewards is one of the best-known travel rewards programs — and for good reason. It’s easy to use and offers some of the best value when redeeming points, thanks to a strong lineup of transfer partners and a wide variety of cards that earn them.
This guide covers the best ways to earn and redeem Ultimate Rewards, the credit cards that earn them, how to safeguard your points, and what they’re worth. Let’s dive in.
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How to Earn Chase Ultimate Rewards
It should come as no surprise, but there are plenty of ways to build your Chase Ultimate Rewards balance.
Earn a credit card welcome bonus
One of the fastest ways to earn a large number of Chase points is by signing up for an Ultimate Rewards credit card. Some of these cards are marketed as cash back, but as long as you hold at least one card with access to transfer partners — like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (Rates & Fees) — you can combine your rewards across your Chase cards to capture the full value of Ultimate Rewards.
Many of these cards come with generous sign-up bonuses when you meet a minimum spending requirement in the first few months. This can give your balance a serious boost right off the bat.
- Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
- Earn up to $50 in statement credits each account anniversary year for hotel stays through Chase Travel℠
- 10% anniversary points boost - each account anniversary you'll earn bonus points equal to 10% of your total purchases made the previous year.
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
- Complimentary DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees & lower service fees for a min. of one year when you activate by 12/31/27. Plus, a $10 promo each month on non-restaurant orders.
- Member FDIC
- Rates & Fees
- 5X points on Lyft rides through September 2027
- 5X points on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠
- 3X points on dining at restaurants worldwide
- 3X points on eligible streaming services
- 3X points on online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart, and wholesale clubs)
- 2X points on all other travel
- 1X point per dollar spent on all other purchases
Refer friends or businesses to Chase
The Chase Refer a Friend program is another way to build your rewards balance quickly. If someone signs up for a Chase card using your referral link, you’ll earn a bonus — often 5,000 to 20,000 points per referral.
Just keep in mind that referral bonuses are classified as taxable income and are valued at 1 cent per point. This is one of the few times earning Chase points carries tax implications.
Shop Through Chase
The “Shop Through Chase” portal allows you to earn bonus points when you shop with select retailers. Bonus rates vary over time and by store — from 1x up to 15x per dollar spent. To access this shopping portal, log into your Ultimate Rewards account, go to “Shopping Experiences,” then select “Shop & earn bonus points.”
Points usually post in a few days, but in some cases, it can take up to 60 days or two billing cycles.
Earn bonus points with Chase Freedom categories
Each quarter, the Chase Freedom Calendar is updated with new purchase categories for which Chase Freedom Flex℠ and Chase Freedom® cardholders can earn 5% cash back — or 5X Ultimate Rewards points.
To qualify, you'll need to activate the offer each quarter through your Chase account. The enrollment deadline is typically about two weeks into the final month of the quarter. As long as you meet that requirement, you'll qualify for 5X points on the first $1,500 in combined eligible purchases across the categories. This includes retroactive credit for purchases made earlier in the quarter — even before you activated.
The Chase Freedom categories tend to feature common purchases for every household budget, like gas, groceries, and dining out. You'll also see some bonuses tied to specific merchants like Amazon. This is a great example of why holding multiple Chase Ultimate Rewards cards can boost your earning potential — especially when paired with a premium card that unlocks full point value.
Earn Points with Ultimate Rewards Credit Cards
The Ultimate Rewards credit card lineup includes both personal and small-business options with a range of benefits and annual fees.
Chase Sapphire cards
If you want access to travel partners, elevated redemption rates, and travel perks, you'll likely find the ideal fit in one of the two Chase Sapphire credit cards.
- 5X points on Lyft rides through September 2027
- 5X points on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠
- 3X points on dining at restaurants worldwide
- 3X points on eligible streaming services
- 3X points on online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart, and wholesale clubs)
- 2X points on all other travel
- 1X point per dollar spent on all other purchases
- 10X points on hotels and car rentals purchased through Chase Travel℠
- 10X points on Chase Dining (including prepaid reservations and prepaid takeout purchased through Chase)
- 5X points on airfare purchased through Chase Travel℠
- 3X points on all other travel
- 3X points on dining at restaurants
- 1X points on all other purchases
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card charges a modest $95 annual fee and comes with valuable perks like primary car rental insurance and robust trip delay and cancellation protections. Cardholders have full access to Chase transfer partners and get 25% more value when redeeming points through Chase Travel℠. The card also offers a $50 annual hotel credit that can be used on Chase Travel bookings.
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® carries a $550 annual fee but comes with premium perks like a $300 annual travel credit, Priority Pass lounge access, and comprehensive travel and purchase protections. You’ll also get full access to Chase transfer partners and receive 50% more value when redeeming points through Chase Travel℠.
If you’re not sure which Sapphire card is right for you, check out our full comparison: Chase Sapphire Preferred vs Reserve — our guide on how to decide between the two.
Chase Freedom cards
The Chase Freedom cards are a great way earn points in everyday spending categories without paying an annual fee. On their own, they’re cash-back cards, but the rewards you earn become more valuable if you also hold a Sapphire Preferred, Sapphire Reserve, or Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card.
The Chase Freedom Unlimited® (Rates & Fees) is the everyday spending workhorse of the Ultimate Rewards family, earning 1.5% cash back on all eligible purchases. In short, this card is your default choice for any purchase that doesn't fall into a bonus category for another Ultimate Rewards card in your wallet. For anyone who dislikes keeping tabs on which purchase categories earn at the highest rate, this is the perfect card to keep things simple.
The Chase Freedom Flex℠ is immensely popular with those who are willing to put in a little work to maximize their rewards. Each quarter, the Freedom Flex card can earn up to 7,500 Chase points through rotating 5% cash-back categories that require activation. The Chase Freedom® (available via product change only) has a similar earning structure, but it's no longer available to new applicants.
- Earn 5% on purchases through Chase Travel℠
- Earn 3% on dining at restaurants
- Earn 3% on drugstore purchases
- Earn 1.5% on all purchases
- Earn 5% on up to $1,500 on combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate
- Earn 5% on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards
- Earn 3% on dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services
- Earn 3% on drugstore purchases
- Earn 1% on all other purchases
Chase Ink Business cards
If you have any type of business or side hustle, a Chase Ink Business card can help you rack up Ultimate Rewards quickly, with bonus categories tailored to business spending. However, only one Chase Ink card earns transferable Ultimate Rewards on its own.
- Earn 90k bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 cash back or $1,125 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Travel℠
- Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent on travel and select business categories each account anniversary year. Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases
- Round-the-clock monitoring for unusual credit card purchases
- With Zero Liability you won't be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
- Redeem points for cash back, gift cards, travel and more - your points don't expire as long as your account is open
- Points are worth 25% more when you redeem for travel through Chase Travel℠
- Purchase Protection covers your new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per account.
- Member FDIC
- Rates & Fees
- 3X points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent in combined purchases on travel, shipping purchases, Internet, cable and phone services, advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines each account anniversary year
- 1X point per $1 on all other purchases
In exchange for a modest $95 annual fee, the Chase Ink Business Preferred can unlock the full value of your Ultimate Rewards with access to transfer partners and a 25% boost in value when you redeem through Chase Travel℠. And for businesses with significant spending, this card can supercharge your earnings with 3X points on the first $150,000 in combined purchases each year across select business categories.
The other two cards in the Chase Ink lineup have no annual fee and are marketed as cash-back products. Like with the Freedom cards, the rewards earned on these cards become more valuable when combined with the Ink Preferred or a Sapphire card that carries an annual fee.
The Ink Business Cash® Credit Card (Rates & Fees) offers some of the best earning rates you'll find anywhere on select business categories, although there are annual caps on how much spending qualifies for those elevated rates. If this card is a good match for your business spending patterns, it's a clear winner.
The Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card (Rates & Fees) is the perfect alternative for businesses that don't have significant spending in categories rewarded by other Ink Business cards. It's also the card to grab once you've reached the annual spending caps on bonus categories. With a flat 1.5% cash back on all eligible purchases, this card offers the best overall earning rate on everyday business expenses.
- 5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone services each account anniversary year
- 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year
- 1% cash back on all other card purchases with no limit to the amount you can earn
- Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase made for your business
Supercharge your earning strategy with a Chase card pairing
Chase offers excellent category bonuses across its cards — but the real magic happens when you combine them.
For example, pairing the Freedom Unlimited, Freedom Flex, and Sapphire Preferred gives you:
- 5x on Chase Travel and rotating quarterly categories
- 3x on dining, drugstores, and streaming
- 2x on other travel
- 1.5x on everything else
- 25% more value (1.25 cents per point) when redeeming points through Chase Travel℠
Swapping in the Sapphire Reserve increases your annual fee burden to $550 but adds:
- $300 travel credit
- 10x on select Chase Travel purchases
- 50% more value (1.5 cents per point) when redeeming points through Chase Travel℠
- Lounge access and stronger travel protections
Business users can combine Ink Preferred, Ink Cash, and Ink Unlimited for:
- 5x on office supplies, internet, cable, and phone services (on the first $25,000 in combined purchases each year)
- 3x on travel, shipping, and select advertising (on the first $150,000 in combined purchases each year)
- 2x on dining and gas (on the first $25,000 in combined purchases each year)
- 1.5x on all other eligible purchases
- $95 per year in annual fees
Related: Best Chase Credit Card Combinations: From Simple 2-Card Setups to 5-Card Power Combos
Don't forget about the Chase 5/24 rule
If you're going to apply for a Chase card, it's important to understand the Chase 5/24 rule. This unofficial but well-established policy means that if you’ve opened five or more personal credit cards (from any issuer) in the past 24 months, you won’t be approved for a new Chase card.
Business cards generally don’t count toward your 5/24 number — but you still must be under 5/24 to get approved for one.
How Much Are Ultimate Rewards Points Worth?
Ultimate Rewards points are worth an average of 1.95¢ apiece based on actual AwardWallet user redemptions. However, when you redeem them for award flights via Chase's transfer partners, the value varies a bit more:
- Short-haul economy: 1.39¢
- Long-haul economy: 1.66¢
- Short-haul business/first: 2.36¢
- Long-haul business/first: 3.03¢
Related: How Much Do AwardWallet Members Actually Save When Redeeming Points?
How to Use Chase Points
The best use of Chase points comes down to your travel goals and understanding of the available options. The best thing about Ultimate Rewards is their flexibility. Whether you're just learning the ropes or a seasoned points expert, Chase makes it easy to turn your rewards into something valuable.
Chase transfer partners
With rare exceptions, the highest-value way to redeem your Ultimate Rewards is to transfer them to one of 14 Chase travel partners.
Some award programs will provide better value than others, but you generally can't go wrong by transferring Ultimate Rewards to World of Hyatt or an airline partner like United MileagePlus, Virgin Atlantic, and Air Canada.
Chase partners with 11 airline loyalty programs:
And three hotel loyalty programs:
Related: How to Transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards Points
Pay Yourself Back
Chase Pay Yourself Back offers a fixed cash value for each point redeemed toward eligible categories of purchases. Although this feature was initially launched as a temporary redemption option during the pandemic, it has endured as a straightforward way to exchange your points for a statement credit.
The Pay Yourself Back feature is available on select cards, including those that earn Ultimate Rewards and a handful of co-branded cards tied to specific airlines or hotels.
Book through Chase Travel℠
The Chase Travel portal is a website you can use to book flights, hotels, rental cars, cruises, and more. You can redeem Ultimate Rewards points towards these purchases at fixed rates that vary depending on which card you use.
- 1.5 cents per point with Sapphire Reserve
- 1.25 cents per point with Sapphire Preferred or Ink Preferred
- 1 cent per point with Ultimate Rewards cards that don't charge an annual fee
Purchase gift cards
Chase offers a wide selection of gift cards that you can purchase with points at a value of 1 cent apiece.
Cash out your points
You can redeem points for cash as a statement credit or direct deposit at a rate of 1 cent per point. This isn't an ideal way to redeem your points, but it’s an option when you need some extra financial flexibility.
Cover Amazon and PayPal purchases
You can also use points to checkout via Amazon or PayPal — but you’ll only get 0.8 cents per point. This is one of the least valuable ways to redeem your Chase points.
Do Ultimate Rewards Expire?
Chase points do not expire as long as your account remains open. However, if you close a card, you’ll lose any unspent points associated with that card unless you move them to another Chase card you plan to keep — or transfer them to a Chase airline or hotel partner. Fortunately, Chase makes it easy to move points between your Ultimate Rewards cards.
Remember, your ability to transfer points depends on holding a card that offers access to Chase partners. Closing the wrong card can limit your options to spend your points and reduce the value of the rewards you already have. Make sure you have a plan before you close a card.
Final Thoughts
Chase Ultimate Rewards is a powerhouse program. With valuable earning opportunities, top-tier transfer partners, and flexible redemptions, it offers something for nearly every traveler. Whether you're building your entire points strategy around Chase or using it alongside other programs, this is one rewards ecosystem you don't want to overlook.
- Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
- Earn up to $50 in statement credits each account anniversary year for hotel stays through Chase Travel℠
- 10% anniversary points boost - each account anniversary you'll earn bonus points equal to 10% of your total purchases made the previous year.
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
- Complimentary DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees & lower service fees for a min. of one year when you activate by 12/31/27. Plus, a $10 promo each month on non-restaurant orders.
- Member FDIC
- Rates & Fees
- 5X points on Lyft rides through September 2027
- 5X points on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠
- 3X points on dining at restaurants worldwide
- 3X points on eligible streaming services
- 3X points on online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart, and wholesale clubs)
- 2X points on all other travel
- 1X point per dollar spent on all other purchases
For rates and fees of the cards mentioned in this post, please visit the following links: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (Rates & Fees), Chase Sapphire Reserve® (Rates & Fees), Chase Freedom Unlimited® (Rates & Fees), Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card (Rates & Fees), Ink Business Cash® Credit Card (Rates & Fees), and Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card (Rates & Fees)
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