Let’s start with Credit card rewards It can be incredibly overwhelming. Shall we start with cashback or miles? Which of Card Family Do I need to choose first? Or should I try different family cards? What should I do? The annual fee for the card is worth it?
When beginners seek help Building a card portfoliowe always recommend looking at card programs that can scale. This means cards that can be built without sacrificing comprehensive strategies later with other cards. Old card to sock drawer.
You’ll find it Transferable points It is invaluable for enthusiastic and aspiring travelers as they can redeem rewards with a variety of airlines and hotel partners. But they Travel credit cards They are not always an option as there are usually more strict approval requirements First reward credit card. The good news is that some publishers offer specific families. No credit cards every year This can be paired with a high-rise card later to get the maximum value.
The simplicity of Track the ultimate reward – with Chase’s 5/24 rule – Make this program a good place to get started for beginners in points and miles. When choosing a credit card to earn the ultimate reward, Chase FreedomUnlimited® (look Fees and fees)and Chase SapphirePreferred® Card (look Fees and fees) Make a powerful duo.
Read on to learn how these two cards can jumpstart your awards trip.
Related: How much is Chase Ultimate Rewards Points worth?
Why was Chase Sapphire preferred by Chase Freedom Unlimited?
We’ll analyze the full benefits of each of the cards below, but here’s a brief explanation of why you want to start with these two in particular: The biggest reason is that Chase limits the number of credit cards that can be applied successfully. This is based on the Publisher’s 5/24 rule.
In short, if you have opened more than five personal cards to all banks in the last 24 months, it is unlikely that most cards in Chase’s portfolio will be approved. Unlimited freedom and Sapphire is desirable.
When you’re just starting out, it’s best to cover the most important base first. If you already have a solid credit score, we recommend applying for the first selected Chase Sapphire, as they have earned these valuable transferable points. But if you’re new to the world of reward credit cards, Chase Freedom Unlimited is also the perfect place to earn cashback.
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The best part? Freedom Award points can be transferred later if you wish to have a sapphire.
Related: What credit score do I need for my Chase Sapphire Priority Card?
Chase Sapphire’s favorite highlights
Welcome Bonus: New cardholders earn 100,000 ultimate reward points after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first three months of opening an account.
Revenue Rate: Earn 5 points per dollar spent on booked trips A chased trip℠3 points per dollar spent dining I spent 2 points per dollar on (including eligible delivery services and takeout), streaming services of my choice and online groceries (except Target, Walmart, wholesale clubs), and everything else trip And 1 point per dollar spent anywhere else.
Benefits:Sapphire included to request There are no foreign transaction feesand cardholders can enjoy perks like 10% Points Bonus Their Card Members Anniversary and A $50 per year hotel credit Regarding bookings made through Chase Travel. This card also includes numerous travel protections such as Major car rental insurance, Baggage delay insurance, Travel delay refund, Travel cancellation and interruption insurance, Enhanced Warranty Protection and Purchase Protection.
Annual fees: $95
Why you get it: TPG April 2025 evaluation Place this welcome bonus at $2,050 based on maximizing your points with hotel or airline forwarding partners.
What’s great about this card is that a wide range of items fall under travel categories, from airline purchases, taxis, tolls to parking and travel agents. So, even if your daily travel is limited to transportation, you can quickly earn the ultimate reward points. You’ll be wonderful too Travel protection About these purchases.
When it comes to using those points, you have Multiple travel partners Select from. You can also redeem the final reward points directly for several eligible purchases via the Chase Travel Portal. 1.25 cents each.
Related: 15 years later, the reason why Chase Sapphire likes should still be your first reward card
Chase Freedom UnlimitedHighlights
Welcome Bonus: For a limited time, new cardholders can earn a $250 bonus after spending $500 on purchases in the first three months of opening an account.
Revenue Rate: Earn 5% cashback on travels purchased by Chase Travel, 3% cashback on meals, 3% cashback on drugstores, and 1.5% cashback on all other purchases.
Annual fees: $0
Why you get it: This card offers arguably better everyday revenue categories than Sapphire prefers. It is if you have that freedom really makes the right thing to be in your wallet slot Authentic Chase Ultimate Rewards-Hirding Card. Use credit cards such as Chase sapphire is desirable, Chase Sapphire Reserve® (look Fees and fees)or Ink BusinessPreferred® Credit Card (look Fees and fees), you can redeem your cashback as the ultimate reward points.
Also, even if you don’t currently have one of these cards, you can apply for one card at any time before combining your points into the ultimate reward account for more premium cards.
TPG April 2025 evaluation The Chase Ultimate Rewards values are 2.05 cents each to points. This means that the 1.5% cashback you earn from non-bonus purchases is 1.5 points per dollar (as it is over 3%).
If cashback is ultimately what you’re looking for, consider some other things Best cashback credit card – etc. City Double Cash® Card (look Fees and fees), it gives You’re a better return About daily purchases. Using the City Double Cash Card will earn you 2% cashback (1% on purchase and 1% on repayment of your balance). You can also convert cashback earned with your City Card into Thank you Citi You’ll be grateful for the reward Points via linked thank you account.
Related: Why Chase Freedom Unlimited will be the first card in every student’s wallet
Use the cards together
As mentioned above, I got the reward Unlimited freedom – And the brothers, annual salary ChaseFreedomFlex® (look Fees and fees) – If you have a high-end chase card, it’s much more valuable. This is because it is a card that earns you the ultimate reward points completely, and you can only convert your cash to points that can be transferred.
Therefore, in order to redeem the rewards you earn on your Freedom card as points that can be transferred to your partner, you must hold the following high-rise cards: Chase sapphire is desirable. Another option is premium Chase Sapphire Reserve Annual fee of $550 includes better revenue from the card, additional benefits, and $300 annual travel credit.
Ink Business Priority Credit Card It can also be a great alternative – Or add – For small business owners.
Even if you don’t plan to transfer points to travel partners like United Airlines, Hyatt, Southwest Airlines, or British Airways, these cards guarantee an extra 25% to 50% value when redeeming points that pass through the Chase Travel Portal for travel at a fixed value. In other words, instead of redeeming each point for one cent each with a free card alone, you can redeem it at a rate of 1.25 or 1.5 cents by preferring or sapphire each.
If you simply need cashback and don’t plan on card pairing, you will need to check other cashback credit cards with higher returns. However, those looking to build a long-term card strategy can use the Chase Freedom Unlimited pairing feature with cards that unlock the ultimate reward redemption.
Using these two cards strategically will bring you a good position to earn travel rewards and redeem them for maximum value.
For starters, everything trip Purchases not made through the ChaseTravel℠ portal ( Uber Rides and Airbnb stays) will be as follows: Chase sapphire is desirable To earn bonus points and get excellent travel protection. You will also need to earn 3 points per dollar using priority sapphires for dining, select streaming services, and online grocery purchases. We also recommend that you use the card for all purchases outside the US as it waives foreign transaction fees.
Next, use Unlimited freedom Drugstores and all other everyday purchases.
See this when it’s time to redeem your hard-earned points A guide to deriving maximum value from awards and This guide to finding sweet spots in the ultimate rewards program.
Related: Chase Sapphire Preferred vs. Sapphire Reserve: Should I go to the mid-tier or premium?
Conclusion
Chase Freedom Unlimited and Chase Sapphire Priority Card Create an amazing, ultimate reward points revenue team. The latter is not always the best option for spending, but it opens up a great transfer partner option on the redemption side. Plus, the current 100,000 points welcome bonus allows Sapphire Preferred to enhance the ultimate reward point balance.
If you are beginning to earn travel rewards with your credit card, these two cards should be your top priority when it comes to your application, but be aware of the issuer’s 5/24 rule to optimize your approval potential.
For more information, please see Chase Freedom Unlimited Review and Chase Sapphire Priority Review.
Apply here: Chase Freedom Unlimited
Apply here: Chase sapphire is desirable
