The Chase Ultimate Rewards program is a valuable incentive for cardholders. But maybe you haven’t yet applied for a Chase credit card or are unsure which option gives you the biggest bang for your buck. Or perhaps you’re already a cardholder and are looking to maximize your earning potential.
Either way, we’ve got you covered in this comprehensive guide that pulls back the curtain so you can get a closer look at the inner workings of Chase Ultimate Rewards.
What is Chase Ultimate Rewards?
Chase Ultimate Rewards is a loyalty program offered by Chase Bank for certain credit card holders. Members can earn points through credit card spending, promotions and bonuses, or transferring points from other programs.
These points can be redeemed for rewards like cash back, travel, merchandise, or transferred to partner loyalty programs. The program offers a range of options for earning and redeeming points, as well as additional benefits and perks.
How to Earn Chase Ultimate Rewards Points
There are several ways to earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points and cash back, but it depends on which product you choose.
Let’s take a closer look at the earning potential by card type:
Chase Cash Back Cards
| CHASE FREEDOM Flex | Chase Freedom Unlimited | Chase Ink Business Cash | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cashback Rewards | 5% on purchases in select bonus categories (up to $1,500). | 1.5% unlimited cash back on all purchases. | 5% on select business expenses (up to $25,000) 2% on purchases at gas stations and restaurants 1% on all other purchases |
| Annual Fee | $0 annual fee | $0 annual fee | $0 annual fee |
| Interest Rates | 16.74% – 25.49%. | 14.99% – 23.74% | 14.99% – 20.99% |
| Liability / Protection | Zero liability for unauthorized charges with extended warranty protection. | Zero liability for unauthorized charges with extended warranty protection. | Zero liability for unauthorized charges with extended warranty protection. |
| Promotions | Spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening and get $200 cash back or 15,000 reward points | Spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening and get $200 cash back or 20,000 reward points 5% back on grocery store purchases up to $12,000 | Spend $3,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening and get $500 cash back or 50,000 reward points 5% cash back on purchases at office supply stores and on internet, cable, and phone services up to $25,000 |
| Introduction Offer | 0% intro APR for the first 15 months on all purchases | 0% intro APR for the first 15 months on all purchases | 0% APR for first 12 months on all purchases and balance transfers |
Chase Travel Cards
| Chase Sapphire Preferred | Chase Sapphire Reserve | Chase Ink Business Preferred | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cashback Rewards | Earn 2x Chase points on travel and dining | Earn 3x Chase points on travel and dining | Earn 3x Chase points on select business purchases (up to $150,000) |
| Annual Fee | $95 annual fee (waived the first year) | $550 annual fee, $75 per authorized user | $95 annual fee |
| Interest Rates | 15.99% – 22.99% | 16.99% – 23.99% | 15.99% – 20.99% |
| Liability / Protection | Travel and purchase coverage Travel cancellation insurance up to $20,000 Delayed baggage insurance Car Rental insurance | Travel and purchase coverage Travel cancellation insurance up to $20,000 Delayed baggage insurance Car Rental insurance | Travel and purchase coverage Travel cancellation insurance up to $20,000 Delayed baggage insurance Car Rental insurance Cell protection up to $600 per claim for both damage and theft |
| Cardholder Perks | Points redeemable for an additional 25% when used for travel | Priority Pass Select lounge access $300 annual travel credit Fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck | Points redeemable for an additional 25% when used for travel |
| Promotions | Earn 60,000 sign-up bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening | Earn 50,000 sign-up bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening | Earn 100,000 sign-up bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening |
Other Ways to Earn Ultimate Rewards Points
Beyond swiping your credit card to make purchases, there are numerous other ways to earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points.
Shop Through the Chase Portal
You can earn even more bonus points by shopping through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal. Stores can be filtered by category, or you can conduct a keyword search. Click through a store in the portal to see how many bonus points you’ll earn before you shop.
Look for rotating seasonal offers on the Shop through Chase homepage—some stores offer up to 8% back in bonus points.
There are no earning caps, and once you’ve completed your transaction, points will appear on the dashboard.
Refer Friends for Bonus Points
You can also earn extra cash back through the Refer-a-Friend Program. If you invite friends, and they are approved, you’ll earn cash back simply for getting them to sign up.
To start inviting friends, all you need to do is send a unique link via Twitter, Facebook, or email, and it only takes a few seconds of your time.
Rules vary by credit card, so it’s best to read the cardholder agreement to learn about bonus amounts and referral limits.
See also: Credit Cards That Reward You for Referring Your Friends
Unlock Signup and Cardholder Bonuses
While it varies by card, many of Chase’s credit cards offer lucrative cardholder bonuses. For example, some offer a hefty sum of sign-up bonus points or cash back for spending a certain amount within three months of opening an account.
Others extend a set amount of cash back simply by adding an authorized user. Since these introductory credit card offers tend to change over time, it’s best to visit Chase.com to learn more about the current promotion.
Best Ways to Redeem Chase Ultimate Rewards Points for Maximum Value
Chase Ultimate Rewards points can be used for cash back, travel, gift cards, and more—but the value you get depends on how you redeem them. Some options give you just 1 cent per point, while others can stretch your points far beyond that. Here’s how each redemption method stacks up.
Cash Back and Statement Credits
If you want simple and flexible rewards, cash back and statement credits are the easiest ways to use your Chase Ultimate Rewards points. Each point is worth 1 cent, whether you deposit the money into your bank account or apply it to your credit card balance.
Using points for a statement credit lets you erase recent purchases—like groceries, gas, or bills—directly from your statement. It’s a fast way to get value from your points without needing to plan a trip or track partner programs.
That said, this option offers less value than travel redemptions or point transfers. But if you prefer a no-hassle option that gives you immediate savings, cash back and statement credits are hard to beat.
Travel Redemptions
Travel enthusiasts often find the greatest value in using their points toward travel bookings. Through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal, points can take on more value; for example, with the Chase Sapphire Preferred card, you can enjoy a 25% bonus when booking travel through the portal, effectively making each point worth 1.25 cents.
The Chase Sapphire Reserve goes even further, offering a 50% bonus and valuing each point at 1.5 cents when used for travel. The real magic happens with point transfers to airline and hotel partners, where savvy travelers can sometimes redeem points for international business and first-class tickets, pushing their value to several cents per point.
Gift Cards
At first glance, gift cards seem like a straightforward and appealing option, allowing you to convert points into spending power at your favorite retailers. While Chase occasionally offers gift cards at discounted rates, this method generally aligns with the standard 1 cent per point value, mirroring the cash back option. It’s a solid choice for gifts or personal use, but doesn’t necessarily maximize value.
Shopping with Points
For those who enjoy the convenience of online shopping, Chase offers the option to use points directly on Amazon.com. After linking your Chase card to your Amazon account, points can be applied at checkout to purchase a wide array of products.
However, it’s important to note that this redemption method values your points at less than 1 cent per point, making it one of the less efficient uses of your rewards. It’s easy to use points on Amazon, but they’re usually worth less than 1 cent each—so you’ll get more value elsewhere.
Who are the Chase Ultimate Rewards Transfer Partners?
1:1 Chase transfer partners include:
Airline Partners
- Aer Lingus
- Air Canada Aeroplan
- British Airways
- Emirates Skywards
- Flying Blue (Air France/KLM)
- Iberia
- Jet Blue
- Singapore Airlines
- Southwest Airlines
- United MileagePlus
- Virgin Atlantic
Hotel Loyalty Programs
- IHG Rewards Club
- Marriott Rewards
- World of Hyatt
But keep in mind that once your transfer points to partner programs, you can’t transfer them back. So, you want to be sure that your decision to book is final.
Chase Ultimate Rewards Travel Portal
The Chase Ultimate Rewards Travel Portal is an online tool that allows Chase cardholders to redeem points to book car rentals, flights, hotels, event tickets, and tours.
If you have multiple Chase credit cards that offer Chase Ultimate Rewards points, you can transfer those points to the credit card with the highest redeeming value.
Here’s how the Chase Ultimate Rewards cards stack up to one another:
| Card type | Point Value |
|---|---|
| Chase Freedom | $0.01 |
| Chase Freedom Unlimited | $0.01 |
| Chase Ink Business Cash | $0.01 |
| Chase Ink Business Preferred | $0.0125 |
| Chase Ink Business Unlimited | $0.01 |
| Chase Sapphire Preferred | $0.0125 |
| Chase Sapphire Reserve | $0.01 |
Accessing the Portal
To use Chase Ultimate Rewards, log into your Chase account and look for the Ultimate Rewards section—usually on the homepage sidebar. Click it to enter the portal.
From there, head to the “Use Points” tab. You’ll see options like “Get Cash Back,” “Shop Gift Cards,” “Use Points to Shop,” and “Explore and Book Travel.” The travel option is especially popular since it often gives your points more value when booking flights, hotels, or car rentals.
Experience Portal
The Experience Portal (you may also have heard of Exclusive Events) is another way cardholders can uThe Chase Experience Portal gives you access to exclusive, limited-time events you can book with points—like concerts, private dinners, or VIP sports tickets. New options drop regularly, so it’s worth checking in often if you’re looking for something unique.
You’ll find everything from floor seats at major games to wine tastings and backstage passes. These events won’t always offer the best point value, but if it’s something you couldn’t buy with cash—or wouldn’t want to miss—it can be well worth it.
Chase Ultimate Rewards Points Expiration
Most rewards programs offered through other credit cards cancel any points you have accumulated if your accounts are inactive for 6 to 18 months. Note: An account is considered inactive when there aren’t any payments or purchases on it for a certain period of time.
As long as your credit card is open and in good standing, Chase will not cancel any points you have accrued. However, should you decide to cancel your account, you will lose the points. But, if you just want to switch to a different Chase credit card, you can save your points to that account, even a Chase card with no annual fee.
How to Contact Chase Ultimate Rewards Customer Service
To reach Chase Ultimate Rewards directly, call 1-866-951-6592. This number connects you with representatives who can help with points, redemptions, transfer partners, or portal issues.
For general credit card questions—like billing or account changes—use the number on the back of your Chase card instead.
Bottom Line
Chase Ultimate Rewards is one of the most versatile and valuable credit card rewards programs out there. Whether you want cash back, free travel, or exclusive experiences, there’s a smart way to use your points.
To get the most out of it, choose a card that matches your spending habits and offers a solid sign-up bonus. Just make sure any fees or interest don’t cancel out the value you’re earning. Used right, these points can stretch further than you think.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the best redemption value I can get per point?
The best value usually comes from transferring points to Chase’s airline and hotel partners. With the right transfer and booking, you can get 2 cents or more per point—and in some cases, even 5 to 10 cents per point for international business or first class flights.
By comparison, cash back and most gift cards give you a flat value of 1 cent per point. Travel booked through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal can boost that to 1.25 cents with the Sapphire Preferred or 1.5 cents with the Sapphire Reserve.
Can I combine Chase Ultimate Rewards points from multiple cards?
Yes, you can combine points from multiple Chase cards that earn Ultimate Rewards. For example, if you have both the Chase Freedom Unlimited and the Chase Sapphire Preferred, you can transfer points from the Freedom to the Sapphire to redeem them at a higher value for travel. You can also combine points between your own accounts or with a household member, as long as they live at your address.
Is there a limit to the number of Chase Ultimate Rewards points I can earn?
No, there are no overall limits to the number of Ultimate Rewards points that you can earn in a year or over the lifetime of your membership.
How long does it take for Chase Ultimate Rewards points to post?
In most cases, points show up in your account within a few days of a qualifying purchase. For sign-up bonuses, it usually takes 1–2 billing cycles after you meet the spending requirement. If you’re not seeing your points, check your statement or call Chase customer service to confirm the timeline.
Can I use Chase Ultimate Rewards points to cover past purchases?
Yes, Chase allows you to use points for statement credits to offset recent purchases. Just log into your account, go to the Ultimate Rewards portal, and choose “Pay Yourself Back” if it’s available on your card. This feature lets you erase eligible purchases at an elevated point value, depending on your card and the category.
