When you’ve spent any time round TPG, you already know that the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees) is one in every of our most beloved playing cards.
We regularly suggest it as an ideal journey rewards card for beginners and journey rewards veterans alike for its stable incomes potential, wonderful level redemption choices and comparatively low annual price.
However in case you’ve already listened to us and gotten the Chase Sapphire Most well-liked, your subsequent card determination might sound extra daunting and sophisticated. In actuality, there are a number of actually good card choices to take you to the subsequent section of your factors and miles journey. It is onerous to make a nasty alternative so long as you retain a couple of issues in thoughts.
Let’s break down the three main faculties of thought on which card it’s best to get to pair along with your trusty Sapphire Most well-liked that can assist you resolve which strategy is greatest for you.
Three approaches
Your choices fall into three classes:
There is no such thing as a single proper reply that applies to everybody, so you may need to take into account your individual state of affairs to find out which makes probably the most sense. Take into consideration what bonus classes you usually spend in, what loyalty packages you like and whether or not you need to concentrate on Chase earlier than going over 5/24.
Associated: The power of the Chase Trifecta
Possibility 1: A card to earn further Final Rewards factors
This can be a nice alternative in case you like Chase’s switch companions and need to earn as many Chase Ultimate Rewards points as doable on your dream journey.
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With one of many Chase Freedom cards, you possibly can maximize your spending classes to earn much more of those factors out of your on a regular basis spending.
On their very own, the Chase Freedom Unlimited® (see rates and fees) and Chase Freedom Flex® are marketed as cash-back playing cards.
When you even have the Chase Sapphire Preferred, although, you can combine your rewards and switch them to the complete vary of Chase’s switch companions.
If you end up able to juggle a couple of playing cards however need to maintain incomes Chase Final Rewards factors, you should utilize all three playing cards (Sapphire Most well-liked, Freedom Limitless and Freedom Flex) to maximise your Final Rewards-earning potential on all your purchases. TPG bank cards editor Olivia Mittak makes use of this technique to maximise the quantity of Final Rewards she earns.
Simply make sure to time your applications carefully to maximise your approval probabilities.
The knowledge for the Chase Freedom Flex has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or supplied by the cardboard issuer.
Chase Freedom Limitless
Annual price: $0
Welcome bonus: Earn $200 money again after spending $500 within the first three months of account opening.
Rewards price: With the Freedom Limitless, you may earn:
- 5% money again on journey booked by way of Chase Journey℠
- 3% again on eating
- 3% again on drugstores
- 1.5% again on all different purchases
Why this card pairs properly: This card is great to pair along with your Chase Sapphire Most well-liked as a result of it earns 1.5% (or factors per greenback spent) on all purchases, which is 50% greater than the Sapphire Most well-liked (1 level per greenback spent on purchases exterior of its bonus classes).
Even with our personal extra superior card portfolios, this can be a card TPGers attain for sometimes. It permits us to earn a good return on purchases that do not fall underneath most bonus classes, resembling auto repairs and specialty gadgets. With its present welcome bonus, it’ll make sense for many Chase Sapphire Most well-liked cardholders.
To be taught extra, take a look at our full review of the Freedom Unlimited.
Apply right here: Chase Freedom Unlimited
Chase Freedom Flex
Annual price: $0
Welcome bonus: This card is at the moment closed to digital candidates, however potential cardholders might be able to apply and obtain a welcome provide in-branch.
Rewards price: The Freedom Flex earns:
- 5% money again on as much as $1,500 in mixed purchases in bonus classes every quarter you activate
- 5% again on journey booked by way of Chase Journey
- 3% again on drugstore purchases
- 3% again on eating
- 1% again on all different purchases
Why this card pairs properly: With this card, you may get 5% money again (or 5 factors per greenback spent) on qualifying purchases in service provider classes and at particular retailers that change every quarter (on as much as $1,500 of spending every quarter).
For instance, through the third quarter of 2025 (July 1 by way of Sept. 30), the bonus classes are electrical car charging stations, gasoline stations, Instacart and choose dwell leisure. Activation required.
This card provides you a good way to earn extra Chase Final Rewards factors on totally different spending classes.
To be taught extra, take a look at our full review of the Chase Freedom Flex.
Possibility 2: A card to earn further factors with a Chase switch accomplice
When you constantly switch your Chase Final Rewards to a selected switch accomplice, like United MileagePlus or World of Hyatt, it’s best to take into account a cobranded card to maximise your points-earning potential. A cobranded card can even present advantages related to that particular accomplice, like free checked baggage or complimentary resort elite standing.
United Quest Card
Annual price: $350
Welcome bonus: Earn 100,000 bonus miles and three,000 Premier qualifying factors after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening.
In accordance with TPG’s July 2025 valuations, this welcome provide is value $1,300.
Rewards price: With the United Quest℠ Card (see rates and fees), you may earn:
- 8 miles per greenback spent on United flights
- 5 miles per greenback spent whenever you prepay for a reserving by way of Famend Resorts and Resorts for United Cardmembers
- 3 miles per greenback spent on different eligible United Airways purchases
- 2 miles per greenback spent on all different journey, eating and choose streaming providers
- 1 mile per greenback spent on all different purchases
Why this card pairs properly: Since United is one in every of Chase’s most beneficial journey companions, this card will enormously enhance the worth you obtain whenever you switch your Final Rewards factors to United. For instance, when you’ve a United Quest card, your miles will go a lot additional because of the additional award availability offered to all United cardholders.
Plus, the present 100,000-mile bonus on the United Quest is the best offer we’ve seen in the card’s history. This card final supplied 100,000 miles throughout its 2021 launch, and the spending requirement was a lot increased then.
You will additionally obtain a free first and second checked bag for your self and a companion, and precedence boarding. Different advantages embrace two 10,000-mile award flight reductions (one after each card anniversary and one other you possibly can earn after spending $20,000 on purchases every calendar 12 months), 25% again on United inflight purchases and an as much as $120 Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or Nexus utility price credit score.
An automated annual $200 in United TravelBank Money can even assist take the sting out of this card’s $350 annual price.
The United Quest card presents elitelike advantages you possibly can get pleasure from whereas taking the journeys you’ve got redeemed along with your Final Rewards. When you fly United frequently, this can be a nice card so as to add to your pockets.
To be taught extra, take a look at our full review of the United Quest card.
Apply right here: United Quest Card
World of Hyatt Credit score Card
Annual price: $95
Welcome bonus: Earn two free nights after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening. Plus, earn 25,000 bonus factors after spending $12,000 on purchases within the first six months of account opening.
In accordance with TPG’s July 2025 valuations, the factors on this welcome provide are value $425.
Rewards price: The World of Hyatt Credit Card (see rates and fees) earns:
- 4 factors per greenback spent at Hyatt properties
- 2 factors per greenback spent at eating places
- 2 factors per greenback spent on airline tickets bought immediately from the airline, native transit and commuting and health membership and health club memberships
- 1 level per greenback on all different purchases
Why this card pairs properly: The World of Hyatt program is definitely probably the most beneficial resort switch accomplice supplied by Final Rewards, so you may need to get pleasure from as many perks as doable when redeeming your rewards for stays at Hyatt.
You will obtain Hyatt Discoverist status for so long as your account is open and 5 qualifying night time credit towards your subsequent standing tier yearly. Plus, you possibly can earn two further qualifying night time credit each time you spend $5,000 in your card, making it a lot simpler to succeed in the subsequent tier of elite standing even in case you’re not on the street consistently.
One other standard profit on this card is the annual free night you obtain after your cardmember anniversary (legitimate at any Class 1-4 Hyatt resort or resort), in addition to a further free night time at any Class 1-4 Hyatt resort or resort in case you spend $15,000 in a calendar 12 months.
All that stated, this card’s present welcome provide will not be the very best. We suggest ready for a greater provide earlier than making use of.
To be taught extra, take a look at our full review of the World of Hyatt card.
Apply right here: World of Hyatt Credit Card
Possibility 3: A card that diversifies your rewards
Suppose you’re feeling able to enterprise into one other issuer’s loyalty program. In that case, you may need to open a card that can construct you one other set of transferable rewards. Listed here are some nice selections:
American Categorical Gold Card
Annual price: $325 (see rates and fees)
Welcome bonus: New cardmembers can discover out their provide and see if they’re eligible for as excessive as 100,000 bonus factors after spending $6,000 on purchases inside the first six months of card membership. Welcome presents differ, and also you will not be eligible for a suggestion.
In accordance with TPG’s July 2025 valuations, this welcome provide is value as a lot as $2,000.
Rewards price: With the American Express® Gold Card, you possibly can earn:
- 4 factors per greenback spent on eating at eating places worldwide (as much as $50,000 per calendar 12 months; then 1 level per greenback)
- 4 factors per greenback spent at U.S. supermarkets (as much as $25,000 per calendar 12 months; then 1 level per greenback)
- 3 factors per greenback spent on flights booked immediately with the airline or on amextravel.com
- 2 factors per greenback spent on pay as you go accommodations and different eligible purchases on amextravel.com
- 1 level per greenback spent on all different purchases.
Why this card pairs properly: The Sapphire Most well-liked would not provide bonus rewards for grocery purchases (apart from on-line groceries), so this is a superb card to make use of at U.S. supermarkets.
The Amex Gold additionally presents quite a lot of assertion credit geared towards foodies each calendar 12 months to assist offset its $325 annual price. Enrollment is required for choose advantages; phrases apply.
Most significantly, you may diversify your rewards portfolio by getting access to American Express Membership Rewards. Amex’s loyalty program consists of switch companions that Chase would not have, resembling Hilton Honors, Delta SkyMiles, ANA Mileage Club and Qantas Frequent Flyer.
To be taught extra, take a look at our full review of the Amex Gold.
Apply right here: American Express Gold Card
Capital One Enterprise Rewards Credit score Card
Annual price: $95
Welcome bonus: Earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases inside the first three months of account opening.
In accordance with TPG’s July 2025 valuations, this welcome provide is value $1,388.
Rewards price: With the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card, you may earn:
- 5 miles per greenback spent on accommodations, trip leases and rental vehicles booked by way of Capital One Journey
- 2 miles per greenback spent on all different purchases
Why this card pairs properly: The Sapphire Most well-liked has unbelievable switch companions, however it may’t account for all journey purchases. That is the place the Enterprise Rewards can are available in. The miles you earn out of your Capital One Enterprise Rewards may be redeemed for statement credits towards practically any journey buy.
The Enterprise Rewards means that you can switch your miles to 15-plus airline and hotel programs, together with some companions that Chase would not have.
Worthwhile additions embrace Wyndham Rewards, Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles and Choice Privileges. You even have entry to some shared switch companions like British Airways Club, so pairing the Enterprise Rewards with the Sapphire Most well-liked might speed up your potential earnings with these packages.
This card additionally presents as much as $120 as a World Entry or TSA PreCheck utility price credit score.
To be taught extra, take a look at our full review of the Venture Rewards.
Be taught extra: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Citi Strata Premier Card
Annual price: $95
Welcome bonus: Earn 60,000 bonus factors after spending $4,000 in purchases inside the first three months of account opening.
In accordance with TPG’s July 2025 valuations, this welcome provide is value $1,110.
Rewards price: The Citi Strata Premier® Card (see rates and fees) earns ThankYou factors on the following charges:
- 10 factors per greenback spent on accommodations, automobile leases and sights (excluding air journey) whenever you e book by way of CitiTravel.com
- 3 factors per greenback spent at eating places, supermarkets, gasoline stations and EV charging stations
- 3 factors per greenback spent on air journey and different resort purchases made exterior CitiTravel.com
- 1 level per greenback spent on all different purchases
Why this card pairs properly: The Citi ThankYou Rewards program presents a number of switch companions that Chase would not, resembling Qatar Airways Privilege Membership, Etihad Visitor and Turkish Airways Miles&Smiles. It additionally presents beneficial bonus-earning charges at supermarkets and gasoline stations, which the Sapphire Most well-liked would not.
This card additionally comes with a resort financial savings profit value $100 off a $500 or extra single resort keep (excluding taxes and charges) as soon as every calendar 12 months. Nonetheless, that keep have to be booked by way of Citi’s journey portal, limiting its utility to some extent.
To be taught extra, take a look at our full review of the Citi Strata Premier.
Apply right here: Citi Strata Premier Card
Backside line
The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card is great by itself, but it surely’s even higher when paired with different playing cards. Whether or not you need to concentrate on incomes extra Chase Final Rewards factors, construct out your stash of factors or miles with one in every of Chase’s switch companions or diversify into one other set of transferable rewards, you’ve nice choices accessible to you.
No matter your alternative, you may construct on the data you’ve got obtained by way of the Sapphire Most well-liked and take one other step towards paying on your subsequent dream journey with factors and miles.
Associated: How I chose my next credit card with help from fellow TPGers
For charges and charges of the Amex Gold Card, click on here.
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