Your Guide to Earning Ultimate Rewards Points with the Chase Trifecta

What is the Chase Trifecta?

The “Chase Trifecta” typically refers to having the following three Chase cards in your wallet:

While all three are Chase credit cards, they have different use cases. For example, the Chase Sapphire Preferred is best for travel expenses, while the Freedom Flex has rotating bonus categories spanning from Amazon to grocery stores. Meanwhile, the Chase Freedom Unlimited earns an elevated rate on all purchases.

There’s one key thing to understand about these cards, however. While the Freedom cards technically earn Ultimate Rewards points, Chase brands the points they earn as cash back. This is because they cannot be transferred to airline and hotel partners without being transferred to a Chase Sapphire card. This makes the Sapphire Preferred an essential part of the Chase Trifecta for travelers.

Here’s a closer look at each card in the Chase Trifecta and where you should use each card.

Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card

Earn Big on Travel with the Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card

• 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
• 5X points on travel booked through Chase Travel℠
• 3X points on dining, vacation home rentals, gas & EV charging, plus top streaming services and online groceries (excludes Walmart, Target and wholesale clubs)
• 2X points on all other travel
• 1X point on everything else
• Up to $100 in hotel statement credits each account anniversary year for stays booked through Chase Travel℠
• Complimentary DashPass: $0 delivery fees and reduced service fees for at least one year (activate by 12/31/27), plus a $10 monthly promo on non-restaurant orders
• One year of Apple TV on us when you activate by 12/31/26 (a $156 value)
• Up to $120 every four years as a statement credit for your Global Entry, TSA PreCheck^® or NEXUS application fee
• No foreign transaction fees
• $95 annual fee

Make every trip count. Transfer your points 1:1 to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs, or redeem them through Chase Travel℠, where Points Boost can make them worth up to 1.5x on top-booked hotels and flights with select airlines. You’re also covered by built-in travel protections like trip cancellation/interruption insurance, auto rental collision damage waiver and lost luggage insurance, with everything managed in the Chase mobile app. Whether you fly often or are planning your next getaway, the Chase Sapphire Preferred^® delivers premium perks at an approachable price.

Terms apply. Bonus offer requires minimum spend. Annual fee applies. Member FDIC. See Chase for full details.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card is one of the most iconic travel credit cards on the market. It launched in 2009 and has seen many changes and improvements since then. It’s often seen as the baseline travel rewards credit card in the U.S. market since it offers a suite of powerful travel perks with a low $95 annual fee.

Here’s a look at the card’s earning rates:

Some of the card’s other perks include:

When to use this card: Use this for travel and dining purchases.

Chase Freedom Unlimited^®

Supercharge Every Purchase with thisOffer on the Chase Freedom Unlimited^® Credit Card

• $200 bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months
• 5% cash back on travel booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards^®
• 3% cash back on dining (including takeout & delivery) and drugstore purchases
• 2% cash back on Lyft rides through September 2027
• 1.5% cash back on all other purchases
• No annual fee

Manage your card seamlessly in the Chase Mobile^® app, track your Ultimate Rewards^® points in real time, and redeem them instantly as statement credits or toward travel, gift cards and more. With flexible bonus categories and effortless redemptions, Freedom Unlimited^® is your go‑to for maximizing everyday rewards.

Terms apply. 3% foreign transaction fee. See issuer’s website for complete rates and fees.

The Chase Freedom Unlimited Card earns 1.5% cash back on all purchases, with some multipliers for some everyday purchases. While it’s branded as a cash back card, it earns Ultimate Rewards points you can transfer to airlines and hotels after transferring them to a Sapphire card. This card has no annual fee.

Here’s how many points you’ll earn with the Chase Freedom Unlimited:

When to use this card: At drugstores and on all purchases that do not earn bonus points on other cards.

Chase Freedom Flex^®

Earn Flexibility & Rewards with the Chase Freedom Flex^® Credit Card

• $200 bonus after $500 in purchases in the first 3 months
• 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined spending each quarter in rotating categories (activation required)
• 5% cash back on travel booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards^®
• 3% cash back on dining, including takeout and delivery
• 3% cash back on drugstore purchases
• 2% cash back on Lyft rides through September 2027
• 1% cash back on all other purchases
• 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 billing cycles
• No annual fee (3% foreign transaction fee)

Take control of your rewards by activating quarterly categories that match your spending—whether groceries, gas or streaming services—and enjoy broad bonus rates on travel, dining and more. With no annual fee, seamless mobile management and built‑in protections like purchase protection and extended warranty, the Freedom Flex^® delivers powerful cash back on every dollar.

Terms apply. See issuer for details.

The Chase Freedom Flex is a newer addition to the Chase Freedom family. It has many similarities to the Chase Freedom Unlimited, but it swaps earning 1.5 points per dollar on unbonused spending for rotating 5x points categories. These change once per quarter, and you can earn up to 7,500 points every quarter.

These quarterly bonus categories are announced throughout the year. When writing this article, Freedom Flex cardholders earn 5 points per dollar at grocery stores (excluding Walmart^® and Target^®), Norwegian Cruise Line, fitness clubs and gym memberships, and hair, nail and spa services.

Here’s how many points you’ll earn with this card:

When to use this card: Use it to maximize earnings on quarterly purchase categories.

Other Chase cards to consider

While these three cards make up the typical Chase Trifecta, there are a couple of cards you can swap in. Namely, you might consider opening the Sapphire Reserve^® Card instead of the Sapphire Preferred.

This card has a substantially higher $795 annual fee, but it includes access to 1,300+ airport lounges (Priority Pass^™ Select plus the Chase Sapphire Lounge^® with two guests), a $300 annual travel credit, up to $300 per year in dining credits at Exclusive Tables restaurants, and Apple TV and Apple Music memberships. It earns 8 points per dollar on Chase Travel℠ purchases (including The Edit℠), 4 points per dollar on flights and hotels booked direct, and 3 points per dollar on dining worldwide. However, we only recommend this card to those who can take advantage of the card’s premium travel benefits and higher earnings on travel purchases.

You might consider opening one (or more) of the Chase Ink cards if you’re a small business owner. The Ink family has four cards, each with different earning categories. The cards without an annual fee must be paired with a Sapphire card or the Chase Ink Business Preferred^® to transfer to airlines.

Note that rewards earned with the Ink Business Premier℠ Credit Card cannot be transferred to airlines or hotel loyalty programs, even if combined with a Sapphire card or the Ink Preferred. Make sure to read our full guide to Chase Ink small business credit cards for more information on each card.

Things to consider before applying for Chase credit cards

When building the Chase Trifecta — whether using the two Freedom cards and a Sapphire Preferred, or mixing in other Chase cards — you should be aware of Chase’s unique credit card application restrictions. Namely, you should know about the infamous 5/24 rule.

In short, this rule means you can only be approved for a Chase card if you’ve opened less than five new credit cards in the past 24 months. These are credit cards across all issuers, but do not include small business credit cards. For those interested in maximizing benefits, consider exploring the World of Hyatt card for additional rewards opportunities.

We have a full guide to Chase 5/24 that shows how the rule works and how to track your current 5/24 status. Make sure to read this article before you apply for any Chase credit card, regardless of if the card is mentioned in this article.

Bottom line

The Chase Trifecta is a great way to increase your rewards earning on everyday purchases. If you go the route outlined in this article, you’ll earn bonus points on travel, dining, drugstores, and rotating purchase categories. Plus, having the Sapphire Preferred in your wallet means you can transfer these points to airline and hotel loyalty programs.

FAQs – The Chase Trifecta Strategy

What is the Chase Trifecta?

The Chase Trifecta is a strategy where you hold three Chase credit cards — typically the Sapphire Preferred^®, Freedom Unlimited^®, and Freedom Flex℠ — to maximize Ultimate Rewards points across different spending categories.

Why is the Sapphire Preferred essential for the Trifecta?

The Sapphire Preferred is the only card among the three that allows you to transfer points to travel partners. While Freedom cards technically earn cashback, combining them with a Sapphire Preferred unlocks full Ultimate Rewards functionality.

How do the Freedom cards complement the Sapphire Preferred?

Freedom Unlimited earns 1.5 points on non-bonused spend, while Freedom Flex offers 5x points on quarterly rotating categories. This complements the Sapphire Preferred’s focus on travel and dining.

Can I substitute one of the cards in the Trifecta?

Yes. You can swap the Sapphire Preferred for the more premium Sapphire Reserve^® if you want added perks like lounge access and a $300 travel credit. You can also add Ink Business cards if you’re a small business owner.

Do Chase cards have application restrictions?

Yes. Chase is known for its 5/24 rule — you may be denied if you’ve opened five or more credit cards in the past 24 months. Be sure to check your status before applying.

What are the main benefits of using the Trifecta strategy?

Using all three cards together helps you earn more points on everyday spending categories like dining, travel, groceries, drugstores, and rotating 5x bonus categories. You also gain access to valuable travel redemptions via transfer partners.