Chase Freedom Flex
Readers willing to track rotating quarterly categories and activate each quarter. Stacks beautifully with a Sapphire Preferred or Reserve for transfer-partner upside on Ultimate Rewards.
86 / 100
Solid pick
Chase Credit Cards
Chase's Ultimate Rewards is the strongest transfer-partner ecosystem we cover (Hyatt + United are the load-bearing partners). Sapphire and Freedom families pair tightly to multiply rewards.
Chase Freedom Unlimited
Readers who want a single, no-fee cashback card that earns at least 1.5% on everything and stacks with other Chase Ultimate Rewards cards.
86 / 100
Solid pick
Chase Ink Business Cash
Small businesses with real office-supply and telecom spend. The 5% back at office supply stores and on internet, cable, and phone services (first $25,000 combined per year) is the best $0-fee business earn rate for that spend profile — and the points are Ultimate Rewards when paired with a premium Chase card.
85 / 100
Solid pick
Chase Ink Business Preferred
Small business owners spending $5,000+/yr on travel, shipping, internet/cable/phone, or advertising (search + social) — the 3x category at $150k cap annually transfers to Hyatt/United at our 1.5 cpp benchmark for real value.
83 / 100
Solid pick
Chase Sapphire Preferred
Mid-frequency travelers (4-8 trips/yr) who want Ultimate Rewards transfer-partner access without the Sapphire Reserve's $795 AF. The 1:1 transfer to Hyatt + United at our 1.5 cpp benchmark is where the real value lives.
83 / 100
Solid pick
Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority
Southwest loyalists chasing the Companion Pass — 7,500 anniversary points + $75 Southwest travel credit + 4 upgraded boardings/yr. Stacked with Southwest's free-checked-bag policy, the AF math is the cleanest of any single-airline card.
81 / 100
Solid pick
Chase Freedom Student
Students who plan to eventually hold a Chase Sapphire or Freedom Unlimited and want to start inside the Chase ecosystem — 1% on all purchases, a $20 Good Standing Reward each cardmember year for the first five years, a $0 annual fee, and no foreign transaction fee.
79 / 100
Worth considering
The World of Hyatt Credit Card
Hyatt guests who value per-point redemption — an annual Category 1–4 free-night certificate that often exceeds the $95 fee at mid-tier properties, automatic Discoverist status, 5 elite-night credits, and 4x at Hyatt plus 2x on dining, flights, and local transit.
79 / 100
Worth considering
United Explorer Card
Travelers loyal to United who fly 2-4 round trips a year, want a free checked bag, and value priority boarding + 2× United-spend earning.
77 / 100
Worth considering
IHG One Rewards Premier
IHG loyalists (Holiday Inn, Crowne Plaza, Kimpton, InterContinental, Six Senses) who use the annual free-night certificate at a $200+/night property — single-handedly clears the AF + automatic Platinum Elite status.
76 / 100
Worth considering
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless
Marriott guests who stay 5+ nights a year and want the annual free-night certificate (up to 35k points) — when redeemed at a $200+/night Marriott property, the cert alone clears the $95 AF.
75 / 100
Worth considering
Chase Sapphire Reserve
Frequent travelers who will work the post-June-2025 credit stack: the $300 travel credit (auto-applies to any travel), up to $500 in 'The Edit' hotel credits, $300 Sapphire Exclusive Tables dining, $300 in StubHub/viagogo credits, ~$120 Peloton, plus Lyft and Apple perks, Priority Pass, and automatic IHG One Rewards Platinum status. At high utilization the $795 AF clears — and transferring Ultimate Rewards to Hyatt or United is the upside on top.
74 / 100
Worth considering
Reviewed by the ClearValue Editorial Team. See methodology and disclosure.