What are the best ways to use Chase points?
Quick insights
- Cardmembers can earn points, miles or cash back on eligible purchases with many Chase credit cards.
- Cardmembers with eligible Chase cards that earn Chase Ultimate Rewards® points can redeem points in the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal.
- The best way to use your Ultimate Rewards points will depend in part on your financial goals and preferences.
Chase Ultimate Rewards is a credit card rewards program for select Chase-branded credit cards that earn Ultimate Rewards points. Understanding how to earn, redeem and strategically use points can help you unlock more value from the rewards you earn with your Chase credit cards.
This guide will walk through some things you may want to know to help you make the most of your rewards points—both earning and redeeming them.
How do I earn Chase credit card points?
With most Chase credit cards, there is more than one way to earn rewards. The most common way is by making purchases with your card. The reward value you earn on each purchase varies by card.
Depending on the card, you can earn rewards as points, miles or cash back on purchases. For Chase-branded credit cards that earn Ultimate Rewards points, rewards can be tracked and managed through the Chase Ultimate Rewards program.
Across the Chase credit card portfolio, there are many ways to earn points, including:
Everyday purchases
Eligible Chase rewards credit cards typically earn at least 1 point or mile per dollar spent on purchases. Cash back credit cards generally earn at least 1% of the total amount on each purchase.
Chase also offers co-branded credit cards with specific airlines, hotels and other partner brands. Co-branded cards allow cardmembers to earn rewards too, and purchases made with the partner brand tend to have the highest earn rate.
Purchase categories
Many Chase cards offer the ability to earn accelerated rewards in specific spending categories. For instance, your card might provide 3 points per dollar on dining, 5% cash back at grocery stores or 7 miles per dollar spent on airfare with a co-branded card’s designated partner.
Categories vary by card and may have a fixed rate or change on a quarterly basis. Quarterly rotating bonus categories are more common with cash back cards and typically need to be activated by the cardmember in order to earn accelerated points on certain purchases.
Shopping portals
Shop and Earn is Chase’s online shopping portal that allows cardmembers to earn points for purchases made at participating retailers. By logging into the Ultimate Rewards portal, navigating to the Shop and Earn portal and clicking through to eligible stores, you can earn bonus points per dollar spent when shopping through the portal.
Shopping this way may provide a higher earning rate than purchasing directly through the merchant’s website.
Welcome bonus offers
One way to accumulate rewards quickly is by earning a new cardmember welcome bonus offer. To earn the bonus, cardmembers can earn it by meeting spending requirements within a set period of time after first opening your account.
This welcome bonus offer is typically only available to new cardmembers, so if you are an existing Chase customer, you may not qualify.
Refer-A-Friend program
If you enjoy using your Chase credit card, you may be able to earn even more rewards by referring friends. The amount of referral bonus points, miles or cash back you can earn varies by card, and not all Chase cards participate in the program. Friends must apply using your Personalized URL and be approved for any participating Chase credit card in order for you to earn rewards.
How can I redeem my Chase Ultimate Rewards?
Once you've accrued Chase Ultimate Rewards, you can redeem them in a variety of ways. The value you receive per point can vary depending on how you choose to redeem. Options include:
Cash back or statement credits
Regardless of whether you have earned your rewards as points, miles or cash back, you can redeem rewards for cash. Typically, points are redeemed at a value of 1 cent per point. Chase cardmembers can redeem cash as a direct deposit or a statement credit.
Booking through Chase Travel℠
Travel is another option for redeeming points. Through the Chase Travel portal, cardmembers can book flights, hotels, rental cars, cruises and more using points, cash or a mix of the two. When browsing through Chase Travel, cardmembers can see how many points are required to cover the cost of travel.
Transfer to travel partners
Chase partners with several airline and hotel loyalty programs, allowing cardmembers with eligible cards to transfer Ultimate Rewards points to these partner brands. Not all Chase cards offer this transfer program, but it is a common feature of Chase travel credit cards.
Gift cards, merchandise or experiences
Cardmembers can use their Ultimate Rewards points to purchase gift cards, merchandise or curated experiences through the Ultimate Rewards portal. Merchandise can be found in The Shops At Chase shopping portal where cardmembers can use rewards to purchase products from a variety of categories including apparel, technology, home, outdoors, beauty and more.
The best way to use your Chase points
Your preferred way to use your Ultimate Rewards points might depend on your financial situation and goals. You may be able to get value from your points by booking travel through Chase Travel or converting your points to gift cards, but those may only be the best options if they support your financial goals.
Instead, what you may want to consider is how best your points can be used for you. For example:
- Do you prefer the ease of using your points to pay down the balance of your card with a statement credit?
- Are you prioritizing paying down debt, and if so, would cash back support that goal?
- Do you have a trip on the horizon where your points could be used to save money or elevate your travel experience?
- Is there a high-ticket item you’re looking to purchase? If so, could you get a gift card or purchase the item directly through The Shops At Chase portal with points?
As a Chase cardmember, you have options. Your preferred way to use your points can change so considering your goals and plans at the moment can help you make a more informed decision.
Note that Chase points do not expire, provided the cardmember’s account is open and in good standing.
Pooling and transferring Chase Ultimate Rewards points
One useful feature of the Ultimate Rewards program is the ability to combine points across different cards and even accounts.
If you hold multiple Ultimate Rewards-earning credit cards, you can transfer points between your cards. This may be particularly useful if you have a card that earns points but doesn't allow transfers to travel partners.
Chase also allows cardmembers to transfer Ultimate Rewards points to a household member. This may be a valuable feature for families or couples looking to combine their rewards to achieve larger travel goals, such as booking a premium flight or a long hotel stay.
In summary
Chase Ultimate Rewards offers a variety of ways to earn and redeem your rewards. By earning points through everyday spending, purchase categories and welcome bonuses, cardmembers can build a balance of Ultimate Rewards points. Cardmembers can also combine points across Chase-branded credit cards and transfer them to household members to unlock even more redemption options.
When it comes to redeeming Ultimate Rewards, there are multiple options. They can book travel, receive cash back, transfer points to partner brands or use points to purchase merchandise, gift cards, experiences and more. The best way to use your Ultimate Rewards points will depend in part on your personal financial situation, goals and preferences.
With so many options, what is best for you may change over time. But since rewards points do not expire, you can accumulate your points until you’re ready to redeem them however you choose.
