Best Chase Credit Cards: Top Picks for 2024

Written by |
Advertisement

When it comes to picking credit cards, not all card issuers are created equal. From small local credit unions to large national banks, the perks and rewards for credit cards can vary.

One constant you will find in the industry is an abundance of card options from Chase Bank. Whether its no-annual-fee cards or high-end travel cards, Chase usually has a compelling credit card option.

Team Clark regularly assesses credit cards in an effort to help consumers identify the best options for rewards, cash back, travel and more.

In this article, we’ll walk you through some of our favorite Chase credit cards options for 2024. Read more about our credit card analysis methodology to better understand the selections.


Best for Everyday Cash Back: Chase Freedom Unlimited®

Why We Like It: You get a minimum of 1.5% cash back on every purchase you make, but there’s a chance to earn an even better rate on popular spending categories like dining and travel. The bonus offer is attractive for new customers as well. However, if you’re willing to look outside the Chase credit card ecosystem, there are some credit cards that offer a flat 2% cash back on every purchase you make.


Best for Rotating Rewards: Chase Freedom Flex® Card

Why We Like It: This card checks a lot of boxes. Not only do you get the rotating 5% cash back categories, but you also get a steady 3% on restaurants and drug stores. It also has grocery, ride-sharing and food delivery perks. An easy welcome bonus is the cherry on top. This card is on our list for best credit cards with no annual fee.


Best for Travel Rewards: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Why We Like It: This card lands just right with a strong welcome bonus and an annual fee under $100. And you’re getting yourself into a pretty solid card once the sign-up bonus disappears.


Best for High-Volume Travel: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Why We Like It: The annual fee is hefty, but serious travelers are likely to get a good return on their investment in this card. You can earn a $300 annual travel credit and receive TSA PreCheck® or Global Entry fee credits as well. Based on Team Clark’s review of the Chase Sapphire Reserve, you can easily make the case that this card is a net positive for your wallet if you’re spending more than $10,000 per year on travel and dining.


Best for Online Shopping: Prime Visa

Why We Like It: If you need to buy something online, there’s a good chance that Amazon has it and will deliver it to your front door tomorrow-ish. So if you had to pick just one card for your online shopping, getting 5% off everything you buy from Amazon and Whole Foods seems like a sound strategy. This card is on our list of best credit cards with no annual fee.


Best for Hotel Rewards: Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card

Why We Like It: If you make frequent hotel stays, you’ve probably figured out that it’s best to pick one of the major brands and stick with it for the rewards perks. The next level to that methodology is to get the branded credit card to earn even more points. There are several options for both Marriott and Hilton, but this one strikes us as the best bang for your buck. You’ll receive a free reward night each year that should cancel out the $95 annual fee on this card. You’ll also get Silver Elite status automatically each year. Oh, and you get the free premium WiFi during your Marriott stays (it’s the little things, right?).

Advertisement

Best for Airline Rewards: Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card

Why We Like It: A lot of the perks some other airline cards offer, such as waivers on bag fees or change fees, are standard for all Southwest Airlines customers. That allows this card to focus on going a little deeper with its promotions such as unlimited rewards seats and no blackout dates. Also, you’ll get an annual $75 Southwest credit that is like slashing the annual fee in half. Clark carries this card in his wallet.


Methodology for Credit Card Analysis

For the purposes of determining which rewards cards are “best” in various categories, we got input from Clark Howard and sought to find cards that fit his credit card strategy best.

Team Clark spent many hours reviewing the rewards credit cards on the market, assessing them for several factors including:

  • Annual fees (Clark recommends avoiding them in most cases, but there are times it is worth it.)
  • Rewards programs
  • Welcome bonuses
  • Length of Introductory APR periods
  • Balance transfer introductory periods
  • Additional fees (transaction or otherwise)
  • Perks offered to cardholders

We did not factor in non-introductory APR as a part of the evaluation, because interest rates are going to vary based on your financial circumstances. Clark recommends never carrying a balance on credit cards, so the non-introductory interest rate shouldn’t matter for your card anyway.


Advertisement
How many credit cards should I have? How Many Credit Cards Should I Have? - Are you worried that the number of credit cards you have could have a negative impact on your financial life? Is there a “right” number of credit cards for one person to have in 2024? The answer is a little…
Welcome bonuses can be a great way to boost the value of a credit card. Best Credit Card Sign-up Bonuses for 2024 - Team Clark spent hours reviewing the market for credit card sign-up bonuses and evaluated them according to the guidelines for usage set by money expert Clark Howard. Clark believes credit cards with exorbitant annual fees are a bad idea for most…