Getting began with credit card rewards will be extremely overwhelming. Do you have to begin with money again or factors and miles? Which card family do you have to select first? Or, do you have to strive playing cards from totally different households? Will the annual fee on cards be worth it?
When newcomers ask for assist building a card portfolio, we at all times suggest card applications that may scale — that means playing cards that you may pair with different playing cards later to construct a complete technique with out sacrificing the old card to the sock drawer.
You will discover that transferable points are extremely beneficial for avid and aspiring vacationers as a result of you possibly can redeem rewards throughout all kinds of airline and resort companions. However these travel credit cards typically have stricter approval necessities, so they are not at all times an possibility as a first rewards credit card. The excellent news is that some issuers provide sure households of bank cards that let you begin with a no-annual-fee credit card that may pair with a higher-tier card afterward for max worth.
The straightforwardness of Chase Ultimate Rewards — together with Chase’s 5/24 rule — make this program an excellent place to start out for factors and miles newbies. When selecting bank cards to earn Final Rewards, the Chase Freedom Unlimited® (see rates and fees) and the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees) make a robust duo.
Learn on to learn the way these two playing cards can jump-start your award journey.
Associated: How much are Chase Ultimate Rewards points worth?
Why pair Chase Sapphire Most popular with Chase Freedom Limitless?
We’ll break down the complete advantages of every card under, however this is a fast rationalization of why you will need to begin with these two particularly. The highest purpose is that Chase limits the variety of bank cards for which you’ll be able to efficiently apply. That is because of the issuer’s 5/24 rule.
In brief, if you happen to’ve opened 5 or extra private playing cards throughout all banks prior to now 24 months, it is unlikely you will be authorized for many playing cards in Chase’s portfolio, together with the Freedom Unlimited and the Sapphire Preferred.
While you’re simply beginning out, it is best to cowl crucial bases first. If you have already got a stable credit score rating, you will doubtless need to apply for the Chase Sapphire Most popular first as a result of it earns these beneficial transferable factors. However in case you are newer to the world of rewards bank cards, the Chase Freedom Limitless can also be a terrific place to begin to earn money again.
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One of the best half? The Freedom award factors can later switch to the Sapphire Most popular if you happen to apply for it down the road.
Associated: What credit score do you need for the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card?
Chase Sapphire Most popular highlights
Welcome bonus: New cardholders earn 100,000 Final Rewards factors after spending $5,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.
Incomes charges: Earn 5 factors per greenback spent on journey booked via Chase Travel℠, 3 factors per greenback spent on dining (together with eligible supply companies and takeout) in addition to choose streaming companies and on-line groceries (excludes Goal, Walmart and wholesale golf equipment), 2 factors per greenback spent on all different travel and 1 level per greenback spent all over the place else.
Perks: The Sapphire Most popular comes with no foreign transaction fees, and cardholders can take pleasure in perks like a 10% points bonus on their cardmember anniversary and a $50 annual hotel credit for reservations made via Chase Journey℠. The cardboard additionally consists of quite a few journey protections like primary auto rental insurance, baggage delay insurance, trip delay reimbursement, trip cancellation and interruption insurance, extended warranty protection and purchase protection.
Annual price: $95
Causes to get it: TPG’s April 2025 valuations place this welcome bonus at $2,050, based mostly on maximizing the factors with resort and airline switch companions.
The beauty of this card is that all kinds of things fall throughout the journey class — from airline purchases, taxis and tolls to parking heaps and journey businesses. So, even when your day-to-day journey is restricted to transportation, you possibly can rack up Final Rewards factors shortly. You will additionally get glorious travel protections on these purchases.
As for utilizing these factors, you’ve got multiple travel partners to select from. You can even redeem Final Rewards factors immediately for a number of eligible purchases via the Chase Journey portal at a charge of 1.25 cents apiece.
Associated: After 15 years, why the Chase Sapphire Preferred should still be your first rewards card
Chase Freedom Limitless highlights
Welcome bonus: For a restricted time, new cardholders can earn a $250 bonus after spending $500 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.
Incomes charges: Earn 5% money again on journey bought via Chase Journey℠, 3% money again on eating, 3% money again at drugstores and 1.5% money again on all different purchases.
Annual price: $0
Causes to get it: This card provides arguably higher on a regular basis incomes classes than the Sapphire Most popular. What actually makes the Freedom Limitless worthy of a slot in your pockets is when you have a full-fledged Chase Ultimate Rewards-earning card. With bank cards such because the Chase Sapphire Preferred, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see rates and fees) or the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card (see rates and fees), you possibly can redeem your money again as Final Rewards factors.
And even when you do not have a type of playing cards proper now, you possibly can at all times apply for one later after which mix your factors into the Final Rewards account of the extra premium card.
TPG’s April 2025 valuations peg the worth of Chase Final Rewards factors at 2.05 cents every. Meaning the 1.5% money again you will earn on nonbonus purchases turns into 1.5 factors per greenback spent (for a return of over 3%).
If money again is finally what you are after, contemplate among the different best cash-back credit cards — such because the Citi Double Cash® Card (see rates and fees), which supplies you a better return on on a regular basis purchases. With the Citi Double Money Card, you will get 2% money again (1% if you purchase and one other 1% as you pay down your steadiness). You can even convert the money again earned on the Citi card to Citi ThankYou Rewards factors through a linked ThankYou account.
Associated: Why the Chase Freedom Unlimited should be the first card in every student’s wallet
Utilizing the playing cards collectively
As talked about above, rewards earned with the Freedom Unlimited — and its sibling, the no-annual-fee Chase Freedom Flex® (see rates and fees) — turn into rather more beneficial if you additionally maintain a higher-end Chase card. It’s because you possibly can solely convert your money again into transferable factors with a card that earns Final Rewards factors outright.
So, to redeem rewards earned with the Freedom playing cards as factors that may be transferred to companions, it’s essential maintain a higher-tier card just like the Chase Sapphire Preferred. Another choice is the premium Chase Sapphire Reserve for individuals who assume the $550 annual price is well worth the card’s higher earnings, further advantages and $300 annual travel credit.
The Ink Business Preferred Credit Card can be a terrific various — or addition — for small-business homeowners.
Even if you happen to do not plan on transferring factors to journey companions equivalent to United Airways, Hyatt, Southwest Airways and British Airways, these playing cards assure 25% to 50% in additional worth when redeeming factors via the Chase Journey℠ portal for journey at a set worth. In different phrases, quite than redeem every level for 1 cent every with only a Freedom card, you’ll redeem them at a charge of 1.25 or 1.5 cents apiece by additionally having the Sapphire Most popular or Sapphire Reserve, respectively.
In the event you merely need money again and by no means plan on pairing your playing cards, you must try different cash-back bank cards with greater returns. However these trying to construct a long-term card technique can make the most of the Chase Freedom Limitless pairing capabilities with a card that unlocks Final Rewards redemptions.
Utilizing these two playing cards strategically places you in an excellent place to earn and redeem journey rewards for max worth.
For starters, all travel purchases not made via the Chase Journey℠ portal (like Uber rides and Airbnb stays) ought to go on the Chase Sapphire Preferred to earn bonus factors and get glorious journey protections. You also needs to use the Sapphire Most popular for eating, choose streaming companies and on-line grocery purchases to earn 3 factors per greenback spent. And, for the reason that card waives overseas transaction charges, you will need to use it for all purchases outdoors the U.S.
Then, you will use the Freedom Unlimited for drugstores and all different on a regular basis purchases.
When it is time to redeem your hard-earned factors, see this guide to getting the maximum value out of your awards and this guide for finding sweet spots in the Ultimate Rewards program.
Associated: Chase Sapphire Preferred vs. Sapphire Reserve: Should you go mid-tier or premium?
Backside line
The Chase Freedom Unlimited and the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card make a terrific Final Rewards points-earning crew. Whereas the latter is not at all times the most suitable choice in your spending, it opens up some nice switch companion choices on the redemption aspect. Plus, with its present 100,000-point welcome bonus, the Sapphire Most popular can increase your Final Rewards factors steadiness — excellent for these simply beginning on the earth of rewards journey.
In the event you’re beginning to earn journey rewards with bank cards, these two playing cards must be your high precedence relating to functions — however be sure to take note of the issuer’s 5/24 rule to optimize your possibilities for approval.
For added data, try our Chase Freedom Unlimited review and Chase Sapphire Preferred review.
Apply right here: Chase Freedom Unlimited
Apply right here: Chase Sapphire Preferred
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