Chase Ultimate Rewards (UR) Trifecta and Best Card Combinations

Building a multi-card setup can help you earn points faster, give you more flexibility when redeeming, and cover a wider range of everyday spending categories. Today, I want to share some Chase credit card combinations that I think are especially useful.

The Chase UR Trifecta

In my view, Chase has one of the clearest card lineups. Each credit card has a distinct role, with little overlap. On top of that, its points ecosystem, Ultimate Rewards (UR), is flexible and tends to hold fairly consistent value.

Chase cards can be grouped into several categories, and you can mix and match from there. No-annual-fee cards cannot transfer UR points to airline miles or hotel partners. But if you hold a card with an annual fee, you can transfer UR points to programs such as UA, BA, and Hyatt for award flights or free hotel nights. Transfers post immediately, which makes the system very convenient. So in general, a good setup is one or more no-annual-fee cards plus one annual-fee card.

• Personal, no annual fee: Chase Freedom, Freedom Unlimited, Sapphire
• Business, no annual fee: Chase Ink Cash, Chase Ink Unlimited
• Personal, with annual fee: Sapphire Preferred, Sapphire Reserve
• Business, with annual fee: Ink Business Preferred

UR points can be moved among the accounts above, and you can also add a Partner's Chase credit card account, including a spouse's. So in theory, a household only needs to keep one annual-fee card plus several no-annual-fee cards.

Some Strong Combinations

Freedom Unlimited + Freedom + Sapphire Preferred

This setup is basically for Chase loyalists. Freedom covers the quarterly 5x categories, Sapphire Preferred handles 2x on dining and travel, and Freedom Unlimited earns 1.5x on everything else. At the same time, because you have Sapphire Preferred, you can transfer UR points to partners like UA, BA, and Hyatt for award flights or free hotel nights. Transfers are instant, so it is very convenient. The annual fee is also quite reasonable: just the Sapphire Preferred's $95, which is a pretty solid value.

Freedom Unlimited + Freedom + Sapphire Reserve

This combination simply swaps Sapphire Preferred for the premium Sapphire Reserve. That gets you 3x on travel and dining, plus Priority Pass lounge access. Holding Sapphire Reserve also lets you redeem UR points directly at 1.5c/p, which is especially beginner-friendly. The annual fee does rise from Sapphire Preferred's $95 to Sapphire Reserve's $450. However, Sapphire Reserve comes with a $300 travel credit that can be used for airfare, hotels, parking, and more, and it is very easy to use. So the effective annual fee increase is really only $55. If you travel often, this setup may be a better fit.

Freedom Unlimited + Freedom

This is a favorite for people who want to avoid annual fees. The 5x + 1.5x earning rate is excellent, but the downside is that you cannot transfer UR points to airline or hotel partners. One workaround is to product change one of your no-annual-fee cards when you are ready to use your points. You need to make sure one of the cards has a credit limit above $5,000, and then you can just call in. If you want to upgrade to Sapphire Reserve, you need a credit limit of at least $10,000. After the upgrade, the annual fee will not be charged immediately, so you can call again a few months later and downgrade back to a no-annual-fee version.

Multiple Freedom Cards

This is also a pretty crafty setup: just maximize the quarterly 5x categories and rack up points quickly. Put your remaining spending on other cards, such as cards where you are working on a welcome bonus. Once you are past the 524 rule and the Sapphire 48-month rule, apply for an annual-fee card and use up the points you have accumulated over the years. After 1 year, downgrade the annual-fee card to Freedom and repeat the cycle.

Business Card Combinations

If you are able to apply for business cards, Ink Cash is also a great addition. Ink Cash earns 5x UR at office supply stores and on internet, cable, and phone services. These categories do not overlap with the personal cards. Ink Unlimited is not much different from the personal version, since both earn 1.5x on all purchases. If most of your spending is personal, then the personal version is enough. Finally, if you do not have much spending in Shipping or Advertising, then Ink Preferred is probably not necessary; CSP or CSR may be a more effective choice.

Of course, if you already have a Business, it still makes sense to use business credit cards for those expenses. That way, things will be much clearer when you calculate expenses for tax filing at year-end.

Application Strategy

Here are a few rules to keep in mind:

• Chase 524 rule: If you have opened more than 5 cards in the past 24 months, including both Chase and non-Chase cards, you will not be approved for another Chase card
• Sapphire 48-month rule: If you have received a Sapphire-family welcome bonus within the past 48 months, you will not be approved to apply again
• Credit limit requirements: Sapphire Preferred has a minimum credit limit of 5,000, and Sapphire Reserve has a minimum credit limit of 10,000

If you are just starting to build credit, it is best to begin with the basic Freedom and Freedom Unlimited. After you have built up some UR points, then apply for an annual-fee Sapphire card. By then, your credit history should be stronger, and you are less likely to be denied because your credit limit is too low. Of course, it also helps to report somewhat higher income on the application; otherwise, if the bank cannot extend the required credit line, the card may not be approved. Waiting at least 1 year before applying for a Sapphire card is generally the safer approach.

Because of the 524 rule, if you want to build the full trifecta, it is best to limit applications for other credit cards during your first and second years. In year one, get Freedom + Freedom Unlimited. In year two, add either Sapphire Preferred or Reserve.

Cards in the Trifecta

More Trifecta Series Articles

• Introduction to the Chase Ultimate Rewards Trifecta
• Introduction to the Citi ThankYou Points Trifecta
• Introduction to the AMEX Membership Rewards Trifecta