Posts by Ryan

Getting a good travel rewards credit card is really going to make a difference for you. Being able to rack up rewards miles for business purchases will be a rewarding experience if you can find the right card. There are so many different types of cards on the market that it can be tough to whittle down the choices. If you are having trouble figuring out which travel business credit card you want to apply for, then it is smart to take the time to look at your options. One popular option that is gaining a lot of traction lately is the Capital One Spark Miles for Business credit card.

 

The Capital One Spark Miles card is a very good option for any business that wants to be able to earn miles as rewards. If you have travel needs as a business, then this card is going to work out quite nicely for you. Does this card stack up to the competition, though?

 

Taking the time to look at the credit card from all of the different angles before applying is smart. Your business deserves a business credit card that offers the right level of flexibility along with the expected ample rewards. We will dig into everything that you need to know about the Capital One Spark Miles for Business credit card. It will be a lot easier for you to see whether this is the credit card for your business after getting all of the information.

 

	Capital One Spark Miles
Introductory Offer:	You’ll earn 50,000 points after you spend $4,500 in the first 3 months.
Rewards:	You’ll earn 2X points on every purchase.
Benefits:	No limits on earning points.
Annual Fee:	$95 annual fee. (waived year 1)
Our Thoughts:	This is a good business travel credit card. It offers a large introductory offer and the annual fee is waived the first year.
	LEARN MORE >>

 

Capital One Spark Miles Fees

Overall, the prices and fees that are associated with this credit card are very reasonable. The first thing that you should know is that there is an annual fee that you will have to pay when using this credit card. It costs $95 per year, but the first year’s fee is going to be waived for you. This is a pretty standard annual fee that should not put you off too much, so it isn’t really worth making a fuss over.

 

If you like to travel abroad, then you will be happy to hear that this credit card has no foreign transaction fees. This means that if you send employees to another country on business, they will be able to use the credit card while avoiding any outrageous fees. It gives this card some advantages over travel credit cards that are not so lenient. If your business has dealings outside of the country that necessitate occasional travel, then this business credit card will be appealing to you.

 

The APR of this credit card falls within a very reasonable range too. It is not unusually good or anything, but it comes in at an average rate that will work well for your business. This is a sensible business credit card that you can make use of very easily. If you have been needing a solid business credit card that has agreeable fees and a good interest rate, then you will be pleased with this card.

 

Features of the Spark Miles Card

Most of the features of this business credit card that are going to pique your interest will be related to rewards. One of the first things that you will notice is that this card comes with a very good sign-up bonus opportunity. By spending a certain amount of money in the first three months of having the card, you will be able to earn a large number of bonus miles. You will be able to get a substantial reward quite easily, as the amount of money that you need to spend to get the bonus is quite attainable.

 

There are many great features that make this card easy for you to use too. This card makes it easy to keep track of your spending with quarterly and yearly summaries that are convenient to access. You will be able to manage your card and get all of the necessary information using a dedicated mobile app. You will even be able to download purchase records for your convenience for when you want to keep a close eye on the details.

 

This credit card makes it easy for you to give employees purchasing power as well. You will have access to free employee cards that you can hand out to your staff. You won’t be able to set up any spending limits on these employee cards, but you will be able to give your employees the cards to use as they see fit. To add to this, you can also take advantage of certain discounts on business purchases using Visa Savings Edge.

 

The features of this card aim to be as customer friendly as possible. It is a card that simply makes running your business a smooth experience. You will always be able to use this card in the most convenient ways and you will be racking up miles as rewards the entire time. It is a great card that will truly come in handy for many types of businesses.

 

Benefits of the Spark Miles Card

There are several benefits that you will be able to enjoy when you are a cardholder. Like many of the best business credit cards, this card is going to offer you purchase protection coverage. If an item that you have purchased has been damaged or stolen within 90 days of purchasing it, then you will be covered for up to $10,000. There is a maximum of $50,000 in claims per account, but this is a very helpful benefit that can keep your purchases safe.

 

This card can also provide you with an auto collision damage waiver when you are renting vehicles. This will allow you to decline the insurance from the rental car company if you want to do so. Many cards offer some type of secondary car insurance coverage as a benefit to their cardholders, but this coverage is actually primary. As long as the rental is happening due to business reasons, you will be able to use your credit card as primary car insurance coverage on your rental car.

 

Another neat little feature is that the card will extend the manufacturer’s warranties on many products. When you buy an item that has a warranty of three years or less, this card will be capable of extending that warranty by one year. This is a convenient little extra that can help your business to keep certain items under warranty for longer than usual. It can be quite beneficial to your business, so it is a benefit that is worth taking note of.

 

Rewards Program Information

The rewards program that you will be taking advantage of here is very straightforward. If you are not the type of business that likes having to micromanage credit cards, then you are going to love this one. This business credit card allows you to earn two miles for every dollar that you spend. There are no categories that you will need to worry about and there is not a cap on how many miles you can earn.

 

No matter what your business is purchasing, you will be earning miles for that purchase. This is a simple rewards structure that works to give your business many bonus miles that can be redeemed at your leisure. If you have traveling expenses as a business, then your bonus miles can be used to mitigate those costs. Spending bonus miles to help pay for business trips will make your life a lot easier.

 

The miles that you earn can be transferred over to many different airlines. There are currently a dozen partners that are participating in the transfer program with this credit card. You will be able to transfer your miles at a 2:1.5 rate for most of them and at a 2:1 rate for two of the partners. You can also simply choose to book your travel through the Capital One travel portal, if that method appeals to you more.

 

There may be some travel rewards cards out there that offer a more lucrative opportunity, but this card has a strong level of appeal. It is simple to use and it is easy to understand the rewards structure. Being able to just spend your business money on any purchases and being rewarded for it will be appealing to most. If you would prefer to avoid bonus categories and extreme micromanagement, then this business credit card may be for you.

 

The Pros

• Easy to use
• Earn rewards on every purchase made
• Several airline partners
• No foreign transaction fees
• Good benefits

 

The most appealing thing about this credit card is probably that it is very easy to use. People who want to have a streamlined experience with their business credit card will appreciate this one. It does not have any convoluted rules or strange things that you will need to do to use the card right. Simply buy things for your business and you will earn miles.

 

Being able to earn rewards for every purchase that you make will be incredible. You will really be able to earn miles fast if you use your business credit card to make purchases frequently. The fact that you can get employee credit cards for free makes using the card as easy as it can be. You will be able to use this credit card as your everyday business card without having any problems.

 

When it comes to redeeming miles, you will have a very easy time. There are a dozen airline partners that you can transfer the miles to and it should work out well. Being able to spend your miles on business trips will help to keep your expenses lower as a business. It should prove to be a very helpful thing for your company overall.

 

If you regularly do business outside of the country, then the lack of foreign transaction fees will really help you out. Not having to pay exorbitant sums of money out due to foreign transaction fees will make your travel experience that much better. Any business that has dealings abroad will be able to appreciate this aspect of the card. It keeps you safe while you are traveling and you will never have to worry about unexpected fees.

 

The benefits of this card are various as well. If you like the idea of having access to good purchase protection coverage, then you’ll love this card. It can even act as primary car insurance on your rental cars when you are going on a business trip. These card benefits will definitely help you out over the years and it showcases that there are perks that come with being a cardholder.

 

The Cons

• Miles transfer rate
• Could use more domestic airline partners
• May lack some convenient features

 

The biggest problem that people will have with this business credit card is that the transfer rate of your miles is not always going to be the best. Most of the airline partners allow you to transfer your earned miles at a rate of 2:1.5, with a couple of them only allowing a 2:1 transfer rate. This may not be ideal, as you will, sometimes, feel like you are losing out on miles due to how it works. You can simply book trips through the Capital One travel portal, but it is worth noting that some may not like the transfer rate.

 

It is good that there are many airline travel partners with this credit card, but it could use some more. There is a lack of many large domestic airline partners. This means that many of the largest airlines may not work together with your card when redeeming miles. If this won’t work out well for you, then you may want to find a different card that will meet your specific business needs.

 

This credit card may lack a few convenient features that would make life easier for everyone too. A good example is the employee credit card situation. You can create employee credit cards for free, but you cannot set up specific spending limits at this time. This is a bit inconvenient and it may wind up making it less useful to have the employee credit cards when you don’t want to allow people to use the card without restrictions.

 

Credit Score Needed for Approval

Getting approved for this business card is going to take a good credit score. If you have a credit score of 690 or higher, then you are likely to get approved for this card. Credit scores need to fall in the good range and you will have a very high chance of being approved if your credit score is excellent. Keep this in mind and check on your credit score to make sure that you will qualify ahead of time.

 

Who Does This Card Appeal to Most?

This credit card is going to be perfect for businesses that want to keep things simple. If your business wants to have a reliable business credit card that is easy to use, then this one will certainly meet the mark. It is also going to be very appealing to those who dislike having to pay attention to bonus categories. If you want a credit card that simply works, then you will like this one.

 

Being able to earn on every purchase is very convenient. You will earn bonus miles at a very high rate and these can be used to help with business travel expenses. This card will mostly appeal to businesses that need to spend some of their budget on travel expenses. If you don’t ever travel, then the rewards are not really going to be all that useful to you.

 

An Alternative Business Credit Card to Consider

You might want to consider looking into the Chase Ink Business Preferred credit card. It is an excellent business credit card that will offer you many benefits. You can earn three points for every dollar that you spend on travel for the first $150,000 of an anniversary year. This will allow you to earn rewards faster than with many other credit cards, but there is a cap to how much you can earn at the increased rewards amount.

 

There are benefits to choosing the Chase Ink Business Preferred credit card. It has a great list of travel partners and it is easy to earn lots of rewards using the card. The Ink Preferred does not offer the same flexibility for earning points as the Capital One Spark Miles, though. It just comes down to what you want out of a business credit card and what your spending habits look like.

 

See our full review of the Chase Ink Business Preferred card.

 

Decision Time: Is the Capital One Spark Miles for You?

Signing up for the Capital One Spark Miles for Business credit card should prove to be a good decision. This is a credit card that can really come in handy for most businesses. You will be able to constantly earn miles and you will be able to redeem those miles with ease. There are some flaws with this credit card that pop up here and there, but it is a very reliable card that will be useful for your business.

 

If you like the idea of having a business credit card that is simple to use, then you should keep this one on your radar. It is a card that will offer you a streamlined experience and it won’t take up too much of your time with micromanagement. As long as you have a good credit score, your business will be able to make use of this card without having any problems. For earning travel points, the Capital One Spark Miles is a good option.

 

Anyone who travels regularly should really think about having a good travel rewards credit card in his or her wallet. When you have access to a premium travel rewards credit card, it can really wind up helping you to earn great rewards. This can save you money on travel expenses and it will make your overall traveling experience quite a bit nicer. One credit card that has proven to be a popular option is the Capital One Venture Rewards credit card.

 

This credit card offers fantastic rewards and is overall very simple to use. Some credit cards are a bit convoluted with their rewards structure. Many cards make it difficult to figure out how to maximize the use of your credit card to get the best rewards. This one is quite a bit simpler but it still manages to help you earn great rewards in a straightforward way.

 

Before you go ahead and apply for this credit card, it will be beneficial to look into all of the details. You want to know everything about the card so that you can determine if it is the right one for your situation. This is definitely a good card that has a lot of positives that will appeal to you. Take in all of the information so that you can get the perfect travel rewards card that you need in your life.

	Capital One Venture
Introductory Offer:	You’ll earn 50,000 points after you spend $3,000 in the first 3 months.
Rewards:	You’ll earn 2X points on every purchase.
Benefits:	Statement credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck. Transfer points to airline and hotel travel partners.
Annual Fee:	$95 annual fee. (waived year 1)
Our Thoughts:	This is a great travel credit card. It offers a large introductory offer, free TSA PreCheck for 5 years, plus the annual fee is waived the first year.
	LEARN MORE >>

 

Capital One Venture Rewards Card Fees

Prices and fees really do matter when you are looking into signing up for a new credit card. Some credit cards will have great rewards but they may come with a hefty annual fee attached to them. This credit card does have an annual fee that you will have to pay but it is not too high overall. You will need to pay a $95 annual fee for this credit card and the fee will be waived for the first year.

 

This card also offers you a generally favorable APR. It is not really anything to write home about but it will fall within a range that you can be comfortable with. You always want to make sure that you are getting the best deal that you can with these cards. This is an easy card to keep in your wallet as it will not be throwing any unreasonable interest rates or odd fees at you.

 

You won’t even have to pay foreign transaction fees when you make use of this card. If you travel abroad on occasion for either business or pleasure, then you will be able to use your card without worrying. This is a great deal as there are several travel credit cards on the market that do charge these fees. Being able to keep fees to a minimum in most areas and avoiding foreign transaction fees completely make this credit card stand out from the competition.

 

Features of the Capital One Venture Card

The biggest feature of this credit card is that it has a high rewards rate. You will be able to earn 2X miles on every dollar that you spend. This is very convenient for helping you to earn those travel rewards that you are seeking. If you happen to fly very often, then you will definitely be mitigating the costs of your travel by using this card.

 

You will also be able to enjoy a really nice sign-up bonus with this credit card. Spending a certain amount of money within the first three months will net you a large chunk of points. These points can be redeemed to go towards your travel expenses and it will be very beneficial to you. The spending amount to reach the bonus level for this reward is reasonable so it should be simple for you to take advantage of it.

 

Redemption is very flexible with this credit card too. You will be able to redeem your miles at the travel center to help you get great deals on flights, hotels, rental cars, and much more. You can also choose to book your travel outside of the Capital One travel center and receive a statement credit. Redeeming rewards will always feel intuitive and you will never have a hard time making use of your earned miles.

 

Benefits of the Capital One Venture Card

One really useful benefit of being a cardholder is that you get a fee credit for the Global Entry or TSA PreCheck programs. These programs are excellent for frequent fliers as they allow you to have a more streamlined experience. Applying for these programs involve associated fees and they are normally fairly high. Being a cardholder will allow you to get an application fee credit, making it easier to gain membership.

 

You will also be able to enjoy certain travel benefits that can make your life easier. The Capital One Venture Rewards will give you travel accident insurance that will protect you from certain mishaps. This insurance goes up to $250,000 in coverage and you will also be able to get $3,000 in lost luggage coverage. The card can also act as secondary auto rental insurance when you are traveling with a rental car.

 

Another benefit that you will passively make use of is this card’s ability to extend warranties on products that you are purchasing. When you buy a product with a warranty that is normally three years or less, your card is going to extend that warranty by one year. You will also be able to make use of purchase protection insurance which will protect you in the event that an item is stolen or damaged. You can be reimbursed for up to $500 per claim when it is within 90 days of the purchase date with a maximum of $50,000 in claims per cardholder.

 

Rewards Program Information

For the most part, this credit uses a very straightforward rewards program. No matter what you purchase, you will be able to earn two miles per every $1.00 that you spend. This allows you to rack up the rewards miles very quickly. It does not make a difference whether you are using your card to buy groceries or if you are purchasing airline tickets; you will still be earning those rewards miles.

 

There is one really good exception to this rule that you will want to look into further. When you book and pay for hotels using the Hotels.com website, you can earn an increased rewards rate. This involves using a special link, but it will allow you to earn 10 miles for every $1.00 spent on this purchase. This is certainly incredible and it is something that you will want to try to use when you are booking a hotel.

 

Otherwise, this is just a great general travel rewards credit card. Earning is very easy and redeeming your points will be a simple task as well. You can redeem your rewards miles at participating airlines and hotels without having any problems. Booking your travel through the Capital One travel portal is going to be ideal but since you can earn statement credit when booking elsewhere, it will be easy to just use the card as you see fit.

 

The Pros

• Very good rewards rate
• Ease of use
• Good benefits
• Reasonable fees
• Capital One now has travel partners!

 

This credit card has a very good rewards rate that you will be able to take advantage of. If you are interested in earning travel miles for all of your purchases, then this credit card should be on your radar. You will be able to earn two miles for every $1 spent, making it one of the most practical credit cards out there. There is no need to worry about cumbersome bonus categories either.

 

The fact that this rewards credit card is so easy to understand makes it perfect for just about anyone. If you like to travel from time to time, then you will be earning miles that you can use to go on vacation. All of your purchases on the card will be earning you points and booking hotels through certain websites can be especially lucrative if you choose to pay attention to that bonus. Either way, you will be earning plenty of rewards miles and will be able to redeem them in a simple way.

 

The benefits of card membership are very nice too. You will be able to enjoy good purchase protection benefits as well as fee credit for the Global Entry or TSA PreCheck programs. These benefits are very useful and they just make being a cardholder that much better. Even if they are not the reason that you will want to sign up, they are useful perks.

 

Being able to enjoy using a rewards card with reasonable fees is nice too. The annual fee is there but it is not overly high. This fee is waived for the first year and it should not be too much of a burden to pay it in subsequent years. The fact that you can earn a lot of points with this card makes it great for just about everyone.

 

The Cons

• Some cards offer higher rewards
• Cash back options are not great
• Some won’t like the annual fee

 

You should know that there are travel credit card options that can give you a greater reward potential. This is a great card to get if you do not want to have to concern yourself with bonus categories. Being able to earn miles on all of your purchases is very nice. Some people will prefer the bonus structure of other cards due to being able to earn very high rewards on specific categories.

 

The cash-back options on this card are not incredible either. You can choose to receive rewards as cash back but they will essentially be given to you at half value. If you want to get cash back, then you will be better off going with another rewards card. This is going to be a card that you will want to use towards travel purposes when it comes to redeeming the rewards.

 

It is also worth noting that some people may not be comfortable with the annual fee. It is a reasonable fee with the first year being waived; however, it is still an extra cost. You need to consider whether or not this is going to be worthwhile for you specifically. If you can benefit from the way that this card is set up, then it is easy to justify the annual fee.

 

Credit Score Needed for Approval

Getting approved for this credit card is going to difficult if you do not have a good credit score. You will want to have a good score of 690 or higher in order to have the right approval chances. Those with excellent credit scores should not have a problem getting this credit card. Taking the time to check your credit score before applying may prove to be beneficial.

 

Who is the Capital One Venture Rewards Card for?

This credit card is great for anyone who wants to earn rewards that can be used toward travel. If you like to be able to use your credit card rewards to help pay for your vacations or business travel expenses, then this card will be appealing to you. It is a great general rewards card that allows you to earn miles on every purchase that you make. If you do not like having to micromanage your credit card purchases in order to hit on certain bonus categories, then this card is going to be perfect for you.

 

There may be some people who would prefer travel rewards credit cards that have a more specialized bonus structure, though. If you want a streamlined and straightforward rewards card experience, then this one is perfect for your wallet. Those who want to really dig into bonus categories to squeeze the rewards out of a credit card may want to look elsewhere. This is a very solid credit card that appeals more to people who want to have an easy experience.

 

Regular travelers will love having this credit card in their wallets. Simply being able to make use of the application fee credit for the Global Entry and TSA PreCheck programs will be very handy. This makes the yearly fee justifiable even when you do not consider the various other perks. Your traveling experience can be better when you have a reliable card like this available to use so you will likely want to consider applying for this one if you think that you can make use of it.

 

An Alternative Travel Card to Consider

The Chase Sapphire Preferred credit card is a good alternative for you to look into. It offers you similar benefits but it differs in several ways. You can earn 2X points on travel and dining expenses, allowing you to earn rewards fast when traveling. This card can pair effectively with other Chase credit cards too and it will transfer over to many airlines and hotel chains, making redemption very easy.

 

The reason to consider the Chase Sapphire Preferred credit card over the Capital One Venture Rewards credit card is that it can be micromanaged a bit more. If you like trying to maximize your rewards, then you can get creative with this Chase card. For some people, the Capital One Venture Rewards card is going to be easier and better overall due to offering extra rewards on every purchase. It just depends on what you want out of a travel credit card, but both are good options.

 

Decision Time: Is this the Right Card for You?

Signing up for the Capital One Venture card will prove to be a very good choice for many people. This credit card makes earning rewards simple and it allows you to continually rack up those rewards miles. It is a travel credit card that is very practical to use for many people. Being able to earn those rewards on all of your purchases is convenient and you should never have any trouble redeeming the rewards effectively.

 

The fact that you get so many benefits from being a cardholder makes it an easy decision to go ahead and sign up. This is a card that can offer you many great perks while also remaining practical. You won’t be paying a high annual fee just to gain access to the credit card. The first year’s annual fee is waived and the subsequent yearly fees fall within a very reasonable range.

 

This just might be the best travel credit card to keep in your wallet when you want something that is straightforward. It is a rewards credit card that does not leave you guessing in any way. You can earn rewards constantly and use them as you see fit. It is a lot easier to use than most other travel credit cards and gives you so much value.

 

If you make the decision to take advantage of the Hotels.com partnership, then you can increase the overall value of this card even further. Being able to earn 10 miles on every $1.00 spent is a great deal and you can really use it to make earning rewards fast. If you travel often enough and stay in hotels, then this is something that you should keep in mind. Whatever your needs are, the Capital One Venture card is a travel credit card that will prove to be beneficial.

 

Rewards credit cards have continued to grow in popularity over the years. People love being able to earn cash-back rewards and bonus points on the purchases that they make. It gives them incentives to use the credit cards and makes it more practical for them to buy the things that they need. These rewards are often quite lucrative and can really make a difference. This is the case when it comes to the Amex Platinum Card.

 

It pays to get a rewards credit card that offers you the best perks and the most possible benefits. There are so many different options out there when thinking about rewards credit cards now. Some of them are specifically geared towards travel purchases and others are more of a general purpose type of rewards card. One of the earliest to the game and most highly regarded rewards credit cards is the Amex Platinum Card.

 

This credit card has been seen as one of the premier rewards credit cards for a very long time. Does it still stack up as a worthy option that deserves a place in your wallet? Keep on reading as The Amex Platinum Card is put under the microscope in this Travel Freedom review. You will be able to discover all of the little details about this credit card that you need to know. It will make it easier to determine whether this card is for you or if you are better off looking elsewhere for a rewards credit card fix.

	Amex Platinum Card
Introductory Offer:	You’ll earn 60,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $5,000 in the first 3 months.
Rewards:	You’ll earn 5X points on flights booked directly with airlines or through American Express Travel. You’ll earn 5X points on prepaid hotels booked on amextravel.com.
Benefits:	Enjoy Uber VIP status and free rides in the U.S. up to $15 each month (bonus $20 in December). Enjoy access to the exclusive Global Airport Lounge Collection. $200 Airline Fee Credit, up to $200 every calendar year with one qualifying airline. Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases at Saks Fifth Avenue on your card. Enrollment required.
Annual Fee:	$550 annual fee. Terms Apply
Our Thoughts:	With a large introductory offer, statement credits, and airport lounge access, this is an excellent premium travel credit card.
	LEARN MORE >>

 

Amex Platinum Card Fees

One of the first things that you’ll notice about this rewards credit card is that the annual fee is very high. This card is going to cost you quite a sum of money if you want to sign up for it. The annual fee is set at $550 and whether or not this is going to be worthwhile to you is going to depend on how well you can take advantage of what this card offers. For some people, paying this fee is completely justified due to the various perks that are offered by the card.

 

You won’t have to pay many other fees when you make use of this card, though. One nice feature that you can enjoy is that this card does not have any type of foreign transaction fee. If you are a person who travels out of the country frequently, then this will certainly appeal to you. Many comparable rewards cards charge foreign transaction fees of up to 3% but this card will allow you to enjoy a fee-free experience while you are abroad.

 

Features of the Amex Platinum

To fully understand the appeal of this rewards card and its features, you are going to need to travel regularly. If you travel often enough and if you like to stay in nice hotels, then this card really starts to make sense. Those who travel only sparingly will not be able to see as many benefits from this rewards credit card. It is going to be more useful to those who like to fly business class or first class rather than going coach as well.

 

That being said, there are many features that make this credit card a very useful one to keep in your wallet. Firstly, you automatically get a $200 credit every year that you can use at your airline of choice. You must choose the airline ahead of time and it can be used to offset expenses such as baggage fees or even in-flight purchases. This is a good feature that people really do get a lot of use out of. One negative is that you cannot use this toward airfare in any way but it is still going to come in handy for anyone who travels regularly as it is essentially free money.

 

You will also be receiving $200 worth of Uber credits every year. This is a fantastic feature for anyone who travels on business. This can potentially give you several completely free rides that will make getting around a new city that much easier. These credits will come in on a monthly basis and you will get an increased credit of $35 in December with the other months coming in at $15.

 

The Amex Platinum Card has a pretty good introductory offer as well. You will be able to get a hefty amount of points when you spend a certain amount on purchases in the first three months of having the card. This can be very useful for helping you to rack up quick rewards and helps to offset the high annual fee somewhat. Most people who will be traveling regularly will be able to easily hit the spending requirements so it is a nice bonus that you should keep in mind.

 

Benefits of the Amex Platinum

The benefits that this card has to offer are numerous and are likely going to be what draws you in. These benefits are very meaty and offer you some real perks. If you want to have a rewards credit card that comes with some real extra privileges, then this might be the one for you. Many of these benefits are very valuable and will make your traveling experience that much nicer.

 

Perhaps the biggest benefit is that you will gain entry into more than one thousand airport lounges around the world. American Express has its own Centurion Lounges that you will be able to take advantage of during your travels. You will also be gaining access to the premium lounges of several other airlines just by being a cardholder. This rewards card offers you the greatest lounge access of any credit card on the market and it can really make traveling so much easier for you.

 

To add to this, you are going to be given complimentary access to Gold status membership at Hilton Hotels. You will also automatically become a Gold Elite status member at the Marriott Bonvoy line of hotels. You’ll gain membership into the Avis Preferred, Hertz Gold Plus Rewards, and National Car Rental Emerald Club Executive programs as well.

 

You will have an easier time getting both hotels and rental cars when you make use of this credit card. You’ll even be enjoying access to many fine American Express hotels and resorts so you can see how much this appeals to those who travel often. It makes getting great hotel rooms simple and you will always be treated with the utmost respect. The annual fee is worth the price of admission for people who are looking for this type of superior travel experience.

 

It is also worth noting that you will be able to apply for the Global Entry or TSA Pre-Check programs for free. Every four years, this card is going to waive the usual fee for you to apply to these programs. Programs such as this make things so much simpler for regular travelers so you will want to get in on this if at all possible. Not having to pay the associated fees to apply will be fantastic so it is a huge benefit to you.

 

This credit card also offers significant purchase protection as a benefit of membership. When you buy an item and it gets stolen or damaged, then the American Express card will reimburse you for the cost of the item. You can claim up to $10,000 for an individual item with a maximum of $50,000 in claims per year. This is very generous and it should help you out immensely.

 

Rewards Program Information

This card is going to allow you to earn 5X points on every dollar that you spend on airfare. If you spend a lot of money on airfare every year, then you could potentially earn a lot of rewards points using this credit card. This is the highest rewards rate possible for airfare and it makes this card very appealing to people who travel a lot. The more you spend on airfare, the better this card is going to be.

 

You can also potentially earn 5X points on every dollar that you spend on hotels. There is a bit of a catch to this, though. You need to make use of the American Express Travel Portal to book your hotels in order to earn the increased rewards rate. If you just book a hotel normally, then you will not be getting your 5X points.

 

Redeeming the points that you have earned through this credit card will be simple too. You can simply transfer these points over to various different hotels and airline partner programs. This will allow you to use your rewards to book flights, book hotels, and generally save yourself money on travel expenses. It is a very appealing rewards program and the number of participating airlines and hotels will definitely please you.

 

The Pros

• Great rewards rates on airfare and hotels
• Easy-to-redeem rewards
• Incredible travel benefits of membership

 

You will be able to earn a great rewards rate when you make use of this credit card. Being able to earn five points per dollar spent on airfare is incredible and you can earn 5X points on hotels as well. As long as you are booking hotels through the American Express Travel Portal, you will have a really good experience. It makes it practical to keep this card in your wallet when you are spending a lot of money on travel.

 

Redeeming your rewards is so simple with this program that it will be very appealing to just about anyone. You can use your earned rewards points to book hotels or buy flights. The points transfer over to many different airlines and hotel partner programs. You will not have a tough time using your points when you sign up for this card.

 

The benefits of membership are so varied too. You will become a member of many different premium hotel programs and you will also enjoy car rental perks. It makes it easier to travel in pretty much every way. When you combine this with the benefits such as purchase protection, free Uber credits, and airline credits, you can see how appealing this card truly is.

 

The Cons

• Less usefulness for people who spend less money on travel
• Rewards categories that are not varied
• High annual fee

 

Of course, this card is not going to be the perfect option for everyone. Even though this card is an incredible rewards card for people who travel often, those who don’t spend as much money on travel might find it to be less than ideal. If you try to limit your travel spending, then this card is going to be less useful for you than it would be for someone who flies first class regularly. You need to spend enough on travel every year to justify signing up for this card.

 

Also, the rewards categories are not really varied. There are many travel credit cards that offer bonus rewards on categories such as dining. This card only allows you to earn the increased rewards rate on airfare and hotels. For some people, another card with more rewards categories may make more sense.

 

The high annual fee is going to scare some people away too. If you do not like the idea of paying $550 a year for the privilege of using this card, then you may wish to shy away. It is an excellent credit card with some of the best perks out there but it will come down to whether or not you are going to use these perks. For some people, this will be the best credit card in their wallets so try to think about your personal situation before applying.

 

Credit Score Needed for Approval

In order to qualify for this credit card, you are going to need to have the right credit score. People with credit scores in the good range may qualify for this card and you will have better chances if your scores are excellent. A score of 690 or above will make it possible for you to be approved. It is always smart to check your credit score ahead of applying for a new card in order to avoid disappointment and any surprises.

 

Who is the Amex Platinum Card For?

This credit card is aimed at people who want to have a premium traveling experience. If you travel very frequently and you want to stay as comfortable as possible, then this is a rewards card that will appeal to you. The bonus categories are all related to travel and the perks center around providing you with a more comfortable traveling experience. It is a perfect rewards credit card for people who are willing to pay a little extra to stay in a nice hotel while they are out.

 

If you travel first class or business class regularly, then you will get a lot of use out of this credit card. Simply having access to the premium airport lounges will making flying a much nicer experience. You can pass the time during layovers in the most pleasant way possible and you will always feel your best. People who do not travel quite so often will not really be able to enjoy these benefits so much.

 

There are travel credit cards on the market that are geared toward more cost-effective travel experiences. If you fly coach every so often and only travel a few times in a calendar year, then this one might not be for you. Take a look at the perks and benefits to ensure that you will be able to take advantage of them often enough to justify that annual fee. You want to spend your money wisely and this card will only be a perfect fit for some people.

 

An Alternative Credit Card to Consider

For some people, the Capital One Venture Rewards credit card is going to be a more sensible option. It actually offers a high rewards rate on all of your purchases and it is very easy to redeem the rewards that you are earning. It is more robust in some ways when compared to this offering from American Express. You will be able to claim your rewards in the form of airline miles or you can enjoy getting statement credit if that is going to work out better for you.

 

Being able to get two miles for every single dollar that you spend is very appealing. You do not have to keep track of categories quite as much as you do with The Amex Platinum Card. The perks and benefits of membership may not be quite as intriguing with this option, though. Even so, the annual fee is significantly lower so it is automatically going to appeal more to some people.

 

Capital One Venture Rewards Card: Learn More >>

 

Conclusion

The Amex Platinum Card is a truly excellent credit card for people who travel all the time. If you are a businessperson who is on the go, then this is going to be a great card to keep in your wallet. It will offer you many perks and you will be able to enjoy a better travel experience overall just by being a cardholder. The benefits of being a cardholder are numerous but they are all geared toward high-end travel experiences.

 

If you like to travel while keeping your costs low, then this card might not be a good fit for you. This is something that works out nicely for people who enjoy nice hotels and don’t mind spending that extra cash. The more budget-conscious people who look into this credit card may not be as thrilled by what they are getting. The annual fee is quite high so you need to spend enough to justify that high fee with the rewards and perks.

 

You should keep this rewards credit card in mind if you are going to be traveling on a regular basis. Whether you are traveling for leisure or you are a touring professional of some kind, the Amex Platinum card is going to work out nicely. It allows you to stay in nice hotels by offering complimentary memberships in sought-after programs. You’ll gain access to the nicest airport lounges to hold you over during layovers. It makes renting cars simpler and it does many things to make your life easier.

Did you have a Toys R Us credit card when they went bankrupt as a company and closed all their stores? I’m sure with the holiday season in full effect, you’ve now found a new place to buy toys, but have you found a new credit card to replace your Toys R Us credit card? There are hundreds if not thousands of credit cards to choose from so it can be a daunting task. Your Toys R Us credit card may have been automatically replaced with a Synchrony credit card. I’m here to tell you that there are better credit card options out there.

“What happened to my Toys R Us credit card?”

 

In this article, we’ll help you understand what happened to the Toys R Us credit card and Babies R Us credit card. In case you missed it, we’ll also inform you about what happened to Toys R Us last year. Plus, we’ll show you some other credit card options to seriously consider getting.

 

What Was the Toys R Us Credit Card?

The Toys R Us credit card was a store credit card, specifically to be used at Toys R Us and Babies R Us stores. The card offered some excellent benefits for people who shop for toys frequently. The features included the following.

• Introductory Offer: Choose from either 15-20% off a single purchase or special financing with the R Us credit card
• Spending Bonus: Earn 2 Points per dollar spent at Toys R Us and Babies R Us
• Exclusive Discounts: 10% off at R Us stores on Thursday
• R Us Rewards: Every 125 points is worth $5 in R Us Rewards
• Baby Registry Benefits: Registrants get up to 10% back on purchases made from their Babies R Us registry
• Birthday Club: Geoffrey’s Birthday Club offers for members

 

For a card that had no annual fee, the R Us credit card had a ton of valuable benefits for those who shopped at Toys R Us or Babies R Us regularly. If you had a huge purchase of toys, the introductory offer alone could save you tons of money. Getting 2 points per dollar and 10% off every Thursday were great features too.

 

Just think, if you purchased $70 worth of toys on a Thursday, you would get $7.00 off and earn another $5 in R Us Rewards points for later use. That’s a great earning rate for a credit card.

 

The downside of the Toys R Us credit card was that it could only be used at R Us branded stores. This means that you had to have one credit card specifically for purchasing toys, that couldn’t be used anywhere else. Here’s the information on how you used to contact Toys R Us regarding their store credit card.

 

Toys R Us Credit Card Customer Service Number

• R Us Card Customer Service Phone Number: 1-855-389-2365

 

Toys R Us Credit Card Payment Address

If you had a Toys R Us Mastercard, you would have sent payments to this address:

• R Us MasterCard
  Post Office Box 530939
  Atlanta, GA 30353

 

If instead, you had the Toys R Us store credit card then your payment would have gone here:

• R US Credit Services
  Post Office Box # 530938
  Atlanta, GA 530938-0938

 

Toys R Us Credit Card Login Information

• Online R Us Credit Card Login

 

Toys R Us Credit Card Payment Phone Number

• R Us Mastercard Phone Payments: 1-855-389-2359
• R Us Story Credit Card Phone Payments: 1-855-389-2365

 

What Happened to Your Toys R Us Credit Card?

In June of 2018, Toys R Us officially closed all of its stores. The year before, it had filed for Bankruptcy with the hopes of staying in business but failed to do so. In the same month, communications went out by email notifying cardmembers that their Toys R Us credit cards would be automatically converted into a new Synchrony Mastercard. While your new Synchrony credit card may not be as good for buying toys as the Toys R Us card was, it’s a decent replacement.

 

Your Toys R Us Card is Now a Synchrony Credit Card

The new Synchrony credit card is not a publicly available card. It’s exclusively for converted Toys R Us cardmembers. This Synchrony card offers 2% cash back on all purchases, which is not great, but also not bad.

 

What Stores Accept Synchrony Credit Cards?

Because the new credit card is a Synchrony Mastercard and not a store specific card, it can be used anywhere Mastercard is accepted. That means you can use it basically anywhere that credit cards are accepted.

 

Better Credit Card Options You Should Consider

You may want to consider getting a completely different credit card. There are other credit cards that might make more sense for you. You’ll first need to decide whether you want cash back or a travel rewards credit card. There are some credit cards available with very valuable introductory offers. A few of them have offers worth more than $500. It’s even possible to get more than $1000 of value from the introductory offer from the Chase Sapphire Preferred card.

 

If You Want to Earn Cash Back

Chase Freedom

• Introductory Offer: $150 Bonus after spending $1000 in the first 3 months
• Spending Bonus Categories: 5% Cash Back on quarterly rotating categories
• Annual Fee: $0
• Learn More >>

 

Capital One Quicksilver Learn More >>

• Introductory Offer: $150 Cash Bonus after spending $1000 in the first 3 months
• Spending Bonus Categories: 1.5% Cash Back on all purchases
• Annual Fee: $0
• Learn More >>

 

Blue Cash Everyday Card Learn More >>

• Introductory Offer: $150 Statement Credit after spending $1000 in the first 3 months
• Spending Bonus Categories: 3% Cash Back at US supermarkets and 2% at US gas stations
• Annual Fee: $0
• Terms Apply
• Learn More >>

 

If You Want to Earn Travel Points

Chase Sapphire Preferred

• Introductory Offer: 50,000 points after spending $3000 in the first 3 months
• Spending Bonus Categories: 2X points on travel and dining worldwide
• Annual Fee: $95 (waived in year 1)
• Learn More >>

 

Capital One Venture Learn More >>

• Introductory Offer: 50,000 points after spending $3000 in the first 3 months
• Spending Bonus Categories: 2X points on all purchases
• Annual Fee: $95 (waived in year 1)
• Learn More >>

 

Ink Business Preferred

• Introductory Offer: 80,000 points after spending $5000 in the first 3 months
• Spending Bonus Categories: 3X points on travel and select business categories
• Annual Fee: $95
• Learn More >>

The Rise and Fall of Toys R Us

Here’s the story of how Toys R Us went from “toy giant” to going bankrupt and having to close all of its stores in 2018. See where they went wrong.

 

Is Toys R Us Making a Come Back?

In a recent press release, the owners of the Toys R Us intellectual property announced that they will be making a comeback. They’ll have a slightly different business model this time around. Their first move is to wholesale toys under the brand name “Geoffreys Toy Box”. These toys will be available in nearly 600 Kroger owned stores around the US starting in the 2018 holiday season. The stores will include Kroger, Ralphs, Smith’s, and Fred Meyer.

“We’re excited to offer Geoffrey’s Toy Box this holiday season to provide our customers with the opportunity to purchase a selection of toys once exclusive to Toys R Us”

-Robert Clark, Kroger’s senior vice president of merchandising

 

Geoffreys Toy Box will initially include a mix of 35 toys priced from $19.99 to $49.99. While you won’t be seeing any Toys R Us stores popping up, you might see their exclusive toys.

Express is a major retailer and like many other retailers today, it offers its own credit card. Applying for the store credit card from Express can save you money when shopping from the store. However, you would have to use the card a lot before you can actually start benefiting from it. If you frequently shop at Express and are considering adding an Express card to your wallet, read this comprehensive Express credit card review.

 

The Express Next Credit Card

The store credit card offered by Express is called the “Express Next Credit Card”. It’s fairly easy to set up and offers standard rewards program allowing cardholders to collect points on purchases made from the store with the credit card. The points accumulate over time and once you have collected enough points, you’ll get a reward certificate. This card also gives you access to exclusive offers and discounts.

 

Since the Express card isn’t affiliated with major payment networks, you can only use it to make purchases at Express stores. The rewards can also only be utilized at Express.

 

 

Pros of the Express Credit Card

Express Credit Card quick benefits:

• Cardholders earn 20 points per every $1 they spend at Express stores, both online and in-store.
• 20 percent off on first purchase
• At 2,500 points, you get a $10 gift card.
• Upgrading to A-List status by getting 7,500 points within a year gives better benefits
• Complimentary birthday gift
• No annual fee

 

The Express Next Credit Card provides a few benefits that may enhance the experience of Express shoppers. Like most store credit cards, the Express card doesn’t have an annual fee. Once you’re approved for the credit card, you’ll receive a 20% discount on your first purchase made with the card.

 

It offers great reward opportunities. The Express Card reward program is similar to the program included with standard store credit cards. When shopping at Express stores, you’ll earn 20 points per every $1 you spend. Once you collect 2,500 points, you’ll be awarded $10 gift card. A-List credit card holders (details below), will get $15 gift card.

 

Aside from the discount on card approval and rewards program, you’ll receive additional benefits like access to special offers and birthday gift.

 

If you earn 7,500 points in a year, your Express Next Credit Card will be upgraded to Express Next A-List Credit Card. A-List cardholders get additional benefits like free standard shipping on orders from Express and premium birthday gift.  

 

Cons of the Express Card

Express Credit Card quick cons:

• Limit on the card
• High APRs
• No special financing offers

 

While the card does offer good rewards and discounts, there are certain things that aren’t that feasible. For instance, the card comes with a very high APR – 28.49 percent variable. This isn’t a problem for you if you can pay off your balance in full every month. But, if you often carry a balance on your credit cards, you will pay handsomely in interest. Another downside of Express Credit Card is that many new cardholders receive a $500 or $750 credit limit. There are several factors that determine the credit limit, but a low credit limit makes it difficult for people to charge their entire purchase on the card.

 

Credit Score Needed for Express Credit Card Approval

Comenity Bank, the issuer of Express Credit Card doesn’t specify the minimum credit score required for this card. However, you have a good chance of qualifying if your credit score is in the range of 600-650. Since the card doesn’t have an annual fee, you can use it for rebuilding your credit. However, be careful about the high APRs and always pay off your balance in full on time.

 

Express Credit Card Login Information

You can sign in into your credit card account by visiting the Express credit card login page. Enter your username and password to login into your account. From your account, you can check your statements, pay bills, make payments and more.

 

Is the Express Card Right for You?

The Express Credit Card can certainly save you some bucks when you’re shopping at Express stores. This credit card does offer good rewards and discounts allowing you to save money on your purchases. But, are the rewards and discounts worth it?

 

The 20 percent off on your first purchase will save you money, but it’s only for one time. You’ll collect 20 points per every $1 spent and once you have collected enough points, you’ll be given a gift card. As an Express Next cardholder, you’ll also receive a birthday gift. Express Next Credit Card is very limited and Express doesn’t have a MasterCard version of its credit card like other stores. So, you can only use the card and its associated rewards at Express stores.

 

It also comes with a very high 28.49 percent variable APR. That means if you can’t pay your balance in full every month, you’ll be paying high interest rates.

 

If you frequently shop at Express and shop big, then the Express Next Credit Card could be right for you. You’ll surely save a few bucks from the rewards programs and exclusive discounts on the card when shopping at Express. However, if you usually struggle to pay off your balance in full on credit cards, it would be best to steer clear of this card. It’s also not the right card for you if you don’t frequently shop at Express stores as you won’t be able to accumulate enough points to be eligible for in-store credit.

 

Alternative Cards for You

If you don’t usually shop at Express stores, then Express Next Credit Card might not be right for you. Instead, you should consider other credit cards like the Chase Freedom Unlimited card that offers the best introductory zero-percent APR. Once you’re approved for this card, you’ll be given a limited time zero-percent introductory APR that applies to both balance transfers and purchases. There are also other perks associated with this credit card like the signup bonus points and no annual fee.

 

Our Last Thoughts on the Express Credit Card

In a nutshell, Express Next Credit Card is a good option for those who frequently shop at Express stores or shop big when they do shop at the store. Once you’ve earned enough points, you’ll be awarded in-store credit which can save you a few bucks. Not only that, but you also get access to exclusive offers and discounts as a cardholder which may allow you to save more money. However, if you aren’t an avid Express shopper, then you won’t get much value from the Express Next Credit Card. Instead, you should consider other credit cards that offer cash back and rewards that can be redeemed at different stores or the stores that you frequently shop from.

 

 

The 3 Best Alternative Credit Cards to Consider

Maybe you can do better than this credit card. If you have good credit, you should consider a few other options that will give you better benefits. The credit cards below are a few of our favorites, especially if you’re interested in traveling more. A few of these cards have signup bonuses that are big enough to redeem for multiple round trip flights. My wife and I used our Chase Sapphire Preferred signup bonus to book round trip flights for the both of us to Hawaii! It was well worth researching and getting the best credit card.

 

	Cash Back Alternative	Cash Back Alternative	Travel Rewards Alternative
	Chase Freedom	Chase Freedom Unlimited	Sapphire Preferred
Signup Bonus	$150 (15,000 pts)	$150 (15,000 pts)	50,000
Bonus Spending Categories	5X on select rotating quarterly categories	1.5X on all purchases	2X on travel and dining
Annual Fee	$0	$0	$95 (waived year 1)
Extra Perks	Introductory APR offer	Introductory APR offer	Baggage insurance, trip insurance, rental car insurance
Best for People Who...	Want no annual fee Also have a Sapphire card Want to earn bonus points on spend	Want no annual fee Also have a Sapphire card Want simple 1.5 bonus points on every purchase you make	Want a large introductory bonus Want the annual fee waived year 1 Like to Travel
	Learn More >>	Learn More >>	Learn More >>

 

Decision Time: Which Credit Card is Really the Best for You?

Here at Travel Freedom, we like to travel, which is why we always prefer travel credit cards for ourselves. You might be the same as us or maybe you’d rather use your points as cashback. Either way, all of these cards earn Ultimate Rewards that can be used for either travel or as cash back.

 

We think that any four of these cards are a better option than the above-reviewed credit card. They earn points that are both valuable and very versatile. You can redeem them for an assortment of things including our favorite, TRAVEL!

Using credit cards is an important part of life for many people. When you are using your credit card, you want it to be as convenient as possible. Those who are traveling regularly on business or for pleasure will want their credit cards to offer them good perks. For this reason, travel credit cards have continued to increase in popularity over the years. One of the most popular and prevalent travel rewards credit cards is the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card.

 

It has been around for a long time and continues to offer customers robust and convenient perks. If you like to travel or if you need to travel regularly for your job, then it will pay to have a good credit card such as this in your wallet. You want to make sure that you are getting the very best travel credit card to suit your needs, though.

 

Take the time to read our review of the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card. It should give you all of the crucial information that you need to know. It will be a lot simpler to figure out just how good this card is and whether or not it is going to earn a place in your wallet. Every aspect of the card will be examined and you will have access to all of the important details.

 

The value of one credit card introductory bonus can be of enormous value. The Chase Sapphire Preferred offers a very nice signup bonus and good benefits. Credit card signup bonuses are the points or miles that a bank is willing to give you when you sign up for their credit card and meet an initial spending level that they designate. A typical credit card introductory bonus could be 50,000 points or miles for signing up for a particular credit card and spending $3000 on that card within the first 3 months of applying.

 

The Best First Travel Credit Card

The card that I refer to people who are interested in earning travel points through credit cards is most often the Chase Sapphire Preferred card. It typically offers 50,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points after spending $4,000 within the first three months of having the card. The offer changes occasionally in how many points are offered or how much the initial minimum spend is.

 

Whenever someone asks me what credit card is best to get first, I always ask them what they want to achieve with the points. Usually, the person asking has no idea, they just know that they want to travel more. In this situation, the Chase Sapphire Preferred card is one of the best offers around due to its versatility. It allows the customer to either spend their Chase Ultimate Rewards points directly with Chase or transfer to an array of airlines and hotels.

 

The transferring of the points will typically give a more valuable redemption. I’ll share a recent example of what the points from signing up for this one card, the Chase Sapphire Preferred, achieved for someone in real life. My sister-in-law and her husband recently took advantage of this offer to book all of the flights for their Hawaiian honeymoon!

 

First let’s go over the details of the Chase Sapphire Preferred.

 

Chase Sapphire Preferred

50,000 Points after spending $4000 in the first 3 months

• Introductory Offer: You’ll earn 50,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
• Earning Categories: You’ll earn 2 points on travel and dining at restaurants worldwide & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases.
• Travel Point Transfer Partners: 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs.
• Extra Point Value: Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Ultimate Rewards.
• Annual Fee: $95 (waived in year 1)

This is the best first travel credit card. Learn more about the Chase Sapphire Preferred and find out how to apply HERE.

 

Chase mentions that this signup bonus is worth $625 worth of travel. While that’s true if booked through the Chase travel portal, I’m going to show you that those points can be worth quite a bit more. How much more? You’ll see… it’s pretty crazy!

 

Features

This is a full-featured credit card that is going to work out great for most people. It has the potential to earn you travel rewards at a very good rate. Most of the appeal of this credit card is going to have to do with the reward structure. Even so, there are some other interesting features that you should take note of.

 

For instance, this card has the potential for a very big sign-up bonus. If you are able to spend a certain amount on your new credit card within the first three months, then you can earn a large number of points. This helps you to redeem rewards rather quickly and it is something that you can turn into real rewards fast. If a sign-up bonus is something that appeals to you, then you should know that this card has a good offer.

 

Another great feature of this card is just how flexible the redemption options are. It is possible to redeem your points in the form of cash back or as gift cards. You can also choose to redeem your points in the form of travel. When choosing to book through Chase, you will be able to save an extra 20% of your money, increasing the overall value of those points that you have been earning.

 

The travel options that you can make use of through Chase are all really good too. Chase has many different airline and hotel partners that will allow you to use your rewards points effectively. This should help you to get to where you want to go as easily as possible. If you want to have a great traveling experience while continuing to earn rewards, then using the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card is a fantastic idea.

 

It should also be noted that this card can link up with the Chase Freedom line of cards. Using different rewards cards in tandem can help you to really maximize your benefits. If you use the two credit cards intelligently, then it will be possible to earn extra rewards points during travel bonus category months. This is worth mentioning due to the overall popularity of the Chase Freedom cards so if you have one already, then it makes getting this card an even more attractive option.

 

Benefits

As you might expect, this Chase Sapphire Preferred Card comes with many great benefits for you to enjoy. One of the most useful benefits is the purchase protection guarantee. You will be able to use this card while enjoying protections against certain problems. It has a $500 claim maximum per item and a limit of $50,000 worth of claims per account.

 

You will also be able to make use of trip delay insurance while using this card. The trip delay insurance will offer up to $500 per ticket. You will be able to use up to $10,000 in trip cancellation insurance too so you can keep yourself safe from potential travel problems. This card even protects your luggage with $100 per day baggage delay coverage and luggage reimbursement insurance of up to $3000 per person.

 

This card can also be used to help you out with your rental cars. You can use this credit card as primary insurance coverage for a rental car. This can keep your costs low and it will cover any issues with the car just as a normal primary insurance policy would. This is a very useful feature that is sure to help regular travelers out.

Fees

Prices and fees are always going to be big factors in deciding how good a credit card is. If you are going to be using a credit card regularly, then you do not want there to be fees that are not agreeable to you. There is an annual fee that is associated with this credit card. That may seem like bad news at first, but the first year’s fee is actually waived when you sign up.

 

After the first year, you are going to be paying $95 per year for the privilege of using this credit card. Overall, that is not too unreasonable. This falls in line with the fees that other credit card companies offer. It is a reasonable annual fee that should not come across as too much of a burden to you.

 

The APR on this credit card is not anything that is particularly good or bad. It is a fairly standard APR that should work out pretty nicely for you. This is a card that keeps its fees lows and keeps its interest rates in a good range. You should be able to appreciate the customer-friendly nature of this credit card.

 

Speaking of being customer-friendly, you will also be able to enjoy the perk of having no foreign transaction fees while using this card. This is an important feature for a travel credit card to have. If you plan on traveling abroad using this credit card, then you will not have to worry about being saddled with extra fees. It makes it easy to recommend this card for people who are going to be traveling outside of the country.

 

 

Rewards Program Info

This rewards program is going to be very helpful to people who travel all the time. You will be able to earn 2X reward points on all of your travel expenses. You will also be earning the 2X reward points on any of your dining expenses. This is going to help you to rack up the bonus points very quickly and redeeming the points for real rewards will always be easy.

 

One good thing to note is that these categories are actually quite broad. For instance, the dining category is going to earn you 2X points on purchases at restaurants. This is also going to earn you the points when eating at a fast food restaurant while on the road. Even some delivery services will count for the 2X points so you will be earning points on pretty much all of your dining while out on travel.

 

The same can be said for the travel options. Travel expenses will help you to rack up points quickly and this covers many categories. Of course, you will be earning 2X points on flights and hotels. This travel card is going to give you 2X points on various other travel expenses too.

 

If you need to hail a taxi and you pay with your credit card, then that is going to earn you the double points. Paying for parking lots, toll bridges, riding on a train, taking the bus, car rentals, and many other things will all earn you the increased points. This means that you will be earning a lot of points no matter how you decide to travel. You can even earn points on local travel expenses while you are close to home so it is a very convenient credit card to make use of.

 

The Pros

• Points easy to earn
• Many redemption options for your points
• No foreign transaction fees
• Good benefits

 

This credit card really does make it easy for you to earn points. If you want to be able to earn travel rewards regularly, then you will have many chances to do so. This card gives you the double points on so many things that are associated with travel and dining. If you use this card often enough, then you are going to reap the rewards as a regular traveler.

 

Redeeming the points is very intuitive overall too. Whether you are looking for simple cash-back options or you want to redeem gift cards, you will have options available to you. You can use the card in tandem with a Chase Freedom card to really open up your options for maximizing your rewards. Redeeming your rewards for travel will net you an extra 20% when booking through Chase, making it easy to book your next trip.

 

You won’t even have to worry about foreign transaction fees if you are planning on traveling outside of the country. Being able to make use of the card to travel abroad is a nice feature. It makes it a practical option for many people and it might be the only travel credit card you will ever need. Simply being able to avoid the high foreign transaction fees of some other cards will save you a lot of money.

 

The benefits of this card are substantial as well. You can enjoy purchase protections and trip cancellation insurance. Using this card will even protect you in the event that your luggage is lost on a flight. It is a very convenient card for any traveler so applying for it is certainly a good idea if you are regularly on the go.

 

The Cons

• Annual fee
• Rewards that work best for people who spend a lot on travel expenses

 

The annual fee that is associated with this credit card is not too bad but it is something that you should consider. Having to pay an annual fee will mean that you will want to get enough out of this card to justify it. This makes it so that you have to earn a certain amount of rewards per year to make it feel as if you are not wasting money. Depending on how often you travel, this may or may not be possible for you.

 

People who do not regularly travel will not be able to take advantage of this card as readily. It may not wind up coming in handy as much if you only travel once or twice a year. This is something that is more geared towards business people and people who travel regularly for recreational purposes. Think about how often you will be using this card before applying for it.

 

Credit Score Needed for Approval

As with many good credit cards in this range, you will need to have a good credit score in order to be approved for this card. A credit score of 690 or above is recommended for you to take advantage of this card. If you fall in the lower credit score ranges, then the likelihood of getting approved is lower. Those with excellent scores will have no problem getting approved for this card so take the time to check your scores before applying.

 

Meeting the Minimum Spend for the Chase Sapphire Preferred

After applying for the card you’ll need to meet the initial minimum spend so that your bonus points will be released into your account. When Amber and Sean received their Sapphire Preferred, they had their regular spending, plus some of their wedding expenses that needed to be paid. This allowed them to easily meet the initial minimum spend.

 

If you already spend $4,000 per three months, great! You’ll meet your spend just with that.

 

If you don’t typically spend that much, you can get extra spending in a variety of creative ways. A few of these ways to get extra spending are by saving up large purchases that you have been planning on, or Christmas gift shopping ahead of time. There are many ways to meet minimum spending requirements to earn your bonus. A good reference for meeting minimum spending limits can be found on the Frequent Miler blog.

 

How Many Points were Earned with the Chase Sapphire Preferred?

Using their wedding expenses and regular spend, Amber and Sean spent about $9,000 in the initial three months of having the Chase Sapphire Preferred. It earned them the following points:

• 50,000 pts – introductory bonus
• 9,000 pts – regular spend points
• 5,000 pts – authorized user bonus points (this offer is no longer available)

Total = 64,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points

 

Where to travel using your Chase Ultimate Rewards

Amber and Sean decided that they wanted to travel to the beautiful islands of Hawaii for their honeymoon! They’ve been to Oahu already, so wanted to experience something new… (Or some things)! They ended up finding flights that were available through Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines to travel from San Francisco to Kauai, then to Maui, and back home to San Francisco.

 

Here’s a look at their flights and how many points and dollars it took them to book.

 

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1. OAK to LIH = 25,000 miles + $11.20 taxes/fees (booked using British Airways miles)
2. LIH to OGG = 14,000 miles + $11.20 taxes/fees (booked using United Airways miles)
3. OGG to SFO = 25,000 miles + $11.20 taxes/fees (booked using British Airways miles)

They had just enough Chase Ultimate Rewards to cover all their flights.

 

The total amount of money that they saved on these flights was a combined: $1,345.40 SAVED! (I’d call that a win)

---

 

Overall, this was a great travel rewards redemption, which got excellent value out of their points. Their flights to and from Hawaii ended up with a value of 2.3 cents per point, and their inter-island flight earned a value of 1.4 cents per point. That comes out to a total of 2.1 cents per point. 64,000 points spent and $1,345.40 saved.

 

Understanding the Value of Just One Credit Card Signup Bonus

This is just one example of how a single credit card signup bonus can make an enormous impact on the price of travel. Earning points through travel credit cards can give you extraordinary value. Amber and Sean ended up saving over $1,300 dollars on their honeymoon, which is pretty incredible. I’d say that’s quite a bit better than the $625 value that Chase puts on the introductory bonus!

 

Who is the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card for?

This credit card is specifically targeted towards people who travel regularly. If you travel on business many times a year, then this is going to be a card that will work out well for you. It will allow you to earn rewards consistently and you can use it to help lower your overall travel expenses. If you do not travel often enough, then this card will not work out as well for you.

 

Even people who travel regularly for recreation have a great time with this credit card. If you are often booking hotels or flying to different locations, then this is going to be a perfect credit card to keep in your wallet. It helps you to earn rewards points and you will be able to redeem those points in a variety of different ways. This is a very useful card for people who travel so you will want to travel often enough to justify the annual fee.

 

This is also going to be a great card for people who travel for a number of different purposes. You can earn rewards points on travel and dining in a number of ways. This is not limited to air travel and hotels as some other travel rewards cards are. Being able to earn the 2X points on bus travel, train travel, fast food dining, and other expenses will be helpful. It just might be the best travel card when you consider how easy it is to earn those points.

 

An Alternative to Consider

One alternative credit card to keep in mind is the Bank of America travel rewards credit card. It is able to offer you similar benefits to the Chase Sapphire Preferred credit card but it does not have an annual fee. If the annual fee is something that is holding you back from wanting to pursue the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card, then this one might be one to look into. It is able to give you 1.5X points for every dollar spent and is a good travel credit card overall.

 

Being that the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card is able to offer you 2X points, it is likely going to be the better choice for regular travelers. Just take the time to examine your options and you will be able to determine which is best. Those who travel all of the time will be able to enjoy the robust rewards options that Chase has to offer. The Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card is another good option but it may lack in some areas where the Chase card shines.

 

Compare All of the Chase Ultimate Rewards Personal Cards

	Sapphire Preferred	Sapphire Reserve	Chase Freedom	Freedom Unlimited
Signup Bonus	50,000	50,000	$150 (15,000 pts)	$150 (15,000 pts)
Bonus Spending Categories	2X on travel and dining	3X on travel and dining	5X on select rotating quarterly categories	1.5X on all purchases
Annual Fee	$95 (waived year 1)	$450	$0	$0
Extra Perks	Baggage insurance, trip insurance, rental car insurance	$300 annual travel credit, TSA PreCheck or Global Entry, Priority Pass Select	Introductory APR offer	Purchase protection, extended warranty
Best for People Who...	Want a large introductory bonus Want the annual fee waived year 1 Like to Travel	Want a large introductory bonus Want luxury travel benefits Travel often	Want no annual fee Also have a Sapphire card Want to earn bonus points on spend	Want no annual fee Also have a Sapphire card Want simplicity in earning points
	Learn More >>	Learn More >>	Learn More >>	Learn More >>

 

Decision Time: Is the Chase Sapphire Preferred the Travel Card You Need?

The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card is a fantastic travel credit card that has many perks. The annual fee is not unreasonable and you won’t have to deal with any foreign transaction fees when using this card. It is a practical travel credit card that will work great for anyone who travels often enough to warrant applying for it. This can help you to earn rewards quickly and you will always be able to redeem your rewards in a variety of different ways.

 

This is seen as one of the premier travel credit cards for a reason. All of the perks that this credit card offers are top-notch and your overall experience should be stellar. If you have been waiting for the right travel credit card to come along, then you may wish to apply for this one. It has a great reputation and has been making customers happy for many years.

 

Chase Sapphire Preferred: 50,000 point signup bonus

• Earns Ultimate Rewards – the most valuable points around
• Ultimate Rewards can be transferred to airlines or hotels
• Book travel through the Chase travel portal at 1.25 cents per point
• Earns 2X on travel and dining

When you want to apply for a new credit card, you need to make sure that the card is going to be worth your while. You want to have a credit card that offers you many perks and helps to improve your overall situation. There is an abundance of different credit cards on the market and it can be tough to whittle down which ones are worth taking the time to pursue. One of the more popular credit cards that people have been excited about recently is the Chase Freedom credit card.

 

If you have been paying attention to credit cards for a little bit, then you likely know that Chase is one of the most prevalent providers. They have many credit cards that will appeal to different types of people. This one is a rewards credit card that can offer you substantial benefits. This might be a card that is worth putting into your wallet if you can take advantage of the many bonus categories.

 

Take a look at every aspect of the Chase Freedom credit card as we give it a thorough review. This will help you to make your choice a lot easier. You will be able to see exactly how it will benefit you and you will be able to take note of areas where it may be lacking. Is this the right credit card for your wallet? Read on to find out.

 

Chase Freedom

15,000 Points after spending $500 in the first 3 months

• Introductory Offer: You’ll earn a $150 Bonus (via 15,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points) after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening
• Introductory APR: 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 16.74-25.49%.
• Earning Categories: You’ll earn 5 points per $1 spent on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate.  The categories are things like grocery stores, gas stations, internet, cable, phone services, Walgreens, and even using Chase Pay.  You’ll earn unlimited 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases.
• Free Credit Score: View your credit score, updated every week on Credit Journey.
• Annual Fee: No annual fee

 

Learn more about the Chase Freedom and find out how to apply HERE.

 

Features of the Chase Freedom

The biggest feature that is going to get you to want to sign up for this credit card is the cash-back reward on purchases. This is one of the premier cash-back credit cards on the market. If you want to earn rewards on all of your different purchases using your credit card, then this is going to be a superb card to keep in your wallet. It will work out nicely for you and will allow you to earn a constant stream of rewards.

 

This card makes use of rotating categories and offers a rewards rate of 5% on certain purchases. Being able to earn such a high percentage of your money back through a cash-back rewards program is great. It really allows you to make the most of your purchases and the rewards can rack up very quickly. If you have been looking for one rewards credit card to keep in your wallet, then there is a strong case to make for it being this one.

 

Other key features of this credit card include the introductory APR and the very nice sign-up bonus. Being able to enjoy a good sign-up bonus is always going to be a helpful thing. You will be able to earn a good amount of money if you meet the requirements and the introductory APR makes it easy to take advantage. Once the introductory period is over, this credit card still has an APR that falls in a good range so you should be happy with the situation.

 

Lastly, this card has the great feature of being able to give you access to the Chase Ultimate Rewards site and program. This is going to allow you to really maximize your rewards potential and broadens the ways that you can redeem your rewards. Chase has one of the most robust rewards programs around and it has been pleasing customers for a long time. If you want to be able to take advantage of lucrative rewards in an intuitive way, then the Chase Freedom card has you covered.

 

Card Benefits

You will also be able to enjoy several benefits due to being a member of this credit card program. It will make it easier for people to do many things, giving you an added reason to consider applying. For instance, this card comes with purchase protection guarantees that help to protect your interests. You will be able to cover new purchases against theft and damage just by using your Chase Freedom card.

 

The coverage will last for 120 days and it can go up to $500 per claim. You are allowed up to $50,000 of claims per account too so it is a very useful feature. It can help to ease your mind about making purchases as you know that you are covered within that period of 120 days no matter what. It is easy to take advantage of this if necessary so keep it in mind as a useful benefit of card membership.

 

Your Chase Freedom card can also give you access to many extended warranties. Being able to keep certain products under warranty for longer will prove to be beneficial. There are many partners that work with this card and will offer to extend their warranties for an extra year. This works great for many partner companies and will extend the warranty of something that normally has a warranty of three years or less.

 

Liability protection is great on this credit card too. If unauthorized charges are made on your credit account, then you will not be held responsible for this. Information and identity theft are real problems and the Chase Freedom card seeks to shield its customers from the ramifications of encountering such issues. Being able to feel safer while using your credit card will be a real blessing.

 

It should also be quickly noted that the balance transfer fee on this credit card is very reasonable. One of the appealing features of this card is that it makes balance transfers easy. You will either pay $5.00 or 3% when transferring a balance from another card, depending on which is greater. Using this card due to its appealing APR is quite common so you may want to look into balance transfers to see how much money it could potentially save you.

 

What Fees Does the Chase Freedom Have?

One of the first things that stands out about this credit card is that it does not have an annual fee. This is great news for anyone who is looking to keep his or her credit card costs down. This is going to be an easy credit card to keep in your wallet without having to worry about it costing you money. It should wind up being a good way to help you earn cash back so it is a good card to look into for most people.

 

The only real fees that you need to be concerned with while using this credit card are foreign transaction fees. These can be quite a problem if you are the type who travels outside of the country regularly. If you plan on taking your card with you on a business trip abroad, then you may want to avoid using it. This card has foreign transaction fees of 3% on qualifying purchases, making it impractical to use this card in other countries.

 

Knowing about those fees might come across as a bit of a letdown but this card does redeem itself in many ways. When you sign up for the card, you will be able to make use of a very nice introductory APR period on top of earning signup bonus points. This is great news as it can allow you to really save some money if there’s a big purchase in your near future. Using this card to its full potential is easy.

 

Chase Freedom Earns Ultimate Rewards Points

As mentioned earlier, this is one of the premier cash back rewards credit cards that you can sign up for. If you want to have one credit card in your wallet that can give you access to a steady stream of cash-back rewards, then signing up for the Chase Freedom card is a very sensible option. It has the right mix of rewards potential and good features to make it an easy choice. You are going to be able to earn a very high percentage of your cash back on certain purchases during rotating category periods.

 

You can earn 5% cash back on purchases in certain categories. Over the course of the year, there are going to be different quarters where the categories switch out. Purchases made in that particular category will net you the bonus cash-back percentage. All purchases that are made outside of the categories will still earn you cash-back rewards but it will just be at the normal rate of 1%.

 

Admittedly, there are higher cash back rewards cards in the market when looking at only the normal rate. If you want to take advantage of this credit card, then you are really going to want to pay attention to the bonus categories. You will be able to earn that 5% cash back on purchases totaling up to $1,500. This can really be a helpful rewards amount and taking advantage of the bonus categories should never be overly difficult. By taking advantage of the category bonuses you can earn up to 7,500 Ultimate Rewards per quarter, or 30,000 per year.

 

You will also be able to redeem your rewards in many ways. Through linking up to the Chase Ultimate Rewards program, you will be able to increase your redemption options. It will be easy to redeem your normal cash-back rewards whenever you want and it will also be possible to redeem points for gift cards. Through the website, you will even be able to redeem points for airline miles at participating airlines so there are plenty of options to consider.

 

The Pros

• Many ways to earn rewards points
• Great cash-back percentage for bonus categories
• Easy to redeem points to maximize their value
• No annual fee
• Great introductory APR

 

If you make the decision to sign up for the Chase Freedom card, then you will be able to enjoy a credit card that offers you many ways to earn rewards points. The various bonus categories that rotate out every month should be convenient for you to use. This will allow you to earn points steadily while enjoying a very high percentage of cash-back rewards.

 

Redeeming your points is always going to be easy when using this card. It has access to the Chase Ultimate Rewards program, making it simple to maximize the value of your earned points. You can choose to get the cash-back rewards, redeem the points for gift cards, or try to transfer the points into airline miles. Either way, you will love the options that are available to you.

 

The fact that this credit card is available with no annual fee is going to be quite appealing to many. It makes it easier to sign up while keeping your costs low. The great introductory APR rate is something that is sure to attract people to the credit card as well. Combine this with reasonable balance transfer fees and you can see why this is such a popular option.

 

The Cons

• Foreign transaction fees
• Bonus categories that may be inconvenient for some people
• Low cash back percentage on normal purchases

 

There are many benefits to this credit card but there are some negatives to consider too. The foreign transaction fees can be a big problem for people who travel outside of the country regularly. Using the card outside of the country will result in a 3% fee. This is not the best deal and it could wind up souring your opinion a bit.

 

Also, the bonus categories may not wind up appealing to everyone. In order to make good use of this card, you need to be able to use the bonus categories properly. The bonus percentage on these categories is quite high but they will wind up rotating every quarter into something new. If you have no interest in the bonus categories, then this card is not going to feel that useful to you.

 

To add to this, this card has a low cash-back percentage on normal purchases. Only being able to get 1% back on the normal purchases is going to be lower than you would like. There are credit cards out there with a flat 2% cash-back rate so you may want to look into those instead. It all depends on how you feel about the rotating bonus categories.

 

The Chase Freedom Signup Bonus

The Chase Freedom signup bonus is not one of the highest in the market, but it’s good for a no-fee card. 15,000 Ultimate Rewards is worth $150 when redeemed for cash back or to purchase gift cards or products on Amazon. With the Chase Freedom offer, $150 cash bonus is how they advertise it, but it can be worth more than that. The signup bonus gets more valuable when you double the value of your points and are able to redeem for at least 2 cents per point instead of 1. Who wouldn’t rather redeem points for double what they’re marketed as? Let’s take a look at how this can be done.

 

 

How to Transfer Chase Freedom Ultimate Rewards for Travel

Here’s the one thing that will potentially turn 1.5% rewards into 3% or more on all your purchases. The Chase Freedom card is advertised as earning 1.5% cash back on every purchase, but it’s more than that. Chase Ultimate Rewards can be transferred between card accounts, making it possible to pair one of the three primary Ultimate Rewards cards with the Chase Freedom.

 

Why do this?

 

Well, when you redeem Ultimate Rewards directly with the Chase Freedom, you’re redeeming at a value of one cent per point. But, when you redeem them from one of the primary Chase card accounts they are redeemable for at least 1.25-1.5 cents per point using the Chase travel portal. This gives you 25-50% more value for your Ultimate Reward points.

 

Even better, with any of the primary Ultimate Rewards cards, you can transfer points to airline and hotel travel partners which makes your points redeemable at well over 2 cents per point! Which Ultimate Rewards cards are “primary cards”? Let’s take a look.

 

The 3 Primary Ultimate Rewards Credit Cards

Chase Sapphire Preferred: Ultimate Rewards redeem at 1.25 cents per point. (at least 25% more value)

• 50,000 Points after spending $4000 in the first 3 months.
• Earns 2 points per dollar on travel and dining.
• Transfer to travel partners at 1:1 ratio (often redeem points for more than 2 cents per point)
• Annual fee of $95 (waived in year 1)

 

Learn more about this card and find out how to apply HERE.

 

Chase Sapphire Reserve: Ultimate Rewards redeem at 1.5 cents per point. (at least 50% more value)

• 50,000 Points after spending $4000 in the first 3 months.
• Earns 3 points per dollar on travel and dining.
• Transfer to travel partners at 1:1 ratio (often redeem points for more than 2 cents per point).
• Airport lounge access with Priority Pass Select.
• $300 Travel statement credit.
• TSA PreCheck or Global Entry
• Annual fee of $450

 

Learn more about this card and find out how to apply HERE.

 

Ink Business Preferred (business card): Ultimate Rewards redeem at 1.25 cents per point. (at least 25% more value)

• 80,000 Points after spending $5000 in the first 3 months.
• Earns 3 points per dollar on travel and select business categories.
• Transfer to travel partners at 1:1 ratio (often redeem points for more than 2 cents per point)
• Annual fee of $95

 

Learn more about this card and find out how to apply HERE.

 

Since all three of these credit cards come with the ability to use Chase’s travel transfer partners, you can essentially double your points if you have one of them. If you’re able to combine one of these premium Chase credit cards to partner with your Freedom Unlimited, it always makes sense to transfer points before redeeming.

 

What Credit Score is Needed to be Approved?

In order to be approved for this credit card, it is recommended that you have a credit score of 690 or above. You will need to have a good credit score in order to be approved for this card. Your approval chances will be really high if your credit score falls in the excellent range. Be sure to check your credit score ahead of applying to avoid any surprises.

 

Credit Sesame Price: Free Get your free credit score each month, and monitor your credit report at no cost. We'll also send you monitoring alerts about changes to your credit report. CHECK YOUR CREDIT SCORE NOW Last Updated: 10/02/2018

 

Who is the Chase Freedom Card for?

The Chase Freedom card is going to appeal to just about anyone who needs a regular credit card to make purchases. If being able to earn cash-back rewards is important to you, then this credit card should stand out as a good option. So long as you are willing to use the rotating bonus categories to their full potential, you will be able to make good use of this card. It is a card that can earn you many rewards and it is easy to use as well.

 

If you only want to keep one credit card in your wallet, then this one might work out fine. It has robust rewards options and it is also easy to use. There are a few negatives but it is a very good card overall. It is something that appeals to anyone who needs a reliable credit card.

 

An Alternative to Consider

You might want to consider applying for the Chase Freedom Unlimited credit card instead. If you do not like the idea of rotating bonus categories, then this credit card might wind up being more appealing. It offers a flat 1.5% cash-back rate on all of your purchases. You will not have to be concerned about bonus categories of any kind and can simply use the card as you see fit.

 

Aside from differing in the bonus categories and percentages, the Chase Freedom Unlimited is going to be very similar to the Chase Freedom card. It offers you the same access to the Ultimate Rewards program and will give you many redemption options. This is a good card that will prove to be preferable for people who want simplicity. The only difference between the two cards is how rewards are earned. The Freedom Unlimited earns 1.5% on every purchase, while the regular Freedom earns 5% on rotating categories and 1% on everything else.

 

All the Chase Ultimate Rewards Personal Credit Cards

	Sapphire Preferred	Sapphire Reserve	Chase Freedom	Freedom Unlimited
Signup Bonus	50,000	50,000	$150 (15,000 pts)	$150 (15,000 pts)
Bonus Spending Categories	2X on travel and dining	3X on travel and dining	5X on select rotating quarterly categories	1.5X on all purchases
Annual Fee	$95 (waived year 1)	$450	$0	$0
Extra Perks	Baggage insurance, trip insurance, rental car insurance	$300 annual travel credit, TSA PreCheck or Global Entry, Priority Pass Select	Introductory APR offer	Purchase protection, extended warranty
Best for People Who...	Want a large introductory bonus Want the annual fee waived year 1 Like to Travel	Want a large introductory bonus Want luxury travel benefits Travel often	Want no annual fee Also have a Sapphire card Want to earn bonus points on spend	Want no annual fee Also have a Sapphire card Want simplicity in earning points
	Learn More >>	Learn More >>	Learn More >>	Learn More >>

 

Conclusion

If you like the idea of using the rotating bonus categories, then you will get a lot of use out of the Chase Freedom credit card. It is a good credit card with a high bonus rewards rate. This card is easy to use and the bonus categories are usually things that you won’t have a hard time making use of. It is worth applying for this credit card if you need a reliable rewards credit card in your wallet.

 

There are going to be some negatives that will deter some people from wanting to sign up. Depending on your feelings on bonus categories, you might prefer something such as the Chase Freedom Unlimited credit card. Regardless, this is a good credit card that many people love and use often. It can offer you a superb experience and it will be a good fit for your wallet if you can use it to its full potential.

 

Chase Freedom: $150 Introductory Bonus (15,000 Ultimate Rewards)

• Earns “cash back” in the form of Ultimate Rewards
• Ultimate Rewards can be transferred to your premium card accounts for valuable travel rewards
• Earns 5X on rotating categories

Chase is one of the primary companies that provide rewards credit cards for both individuals and businesses. They have many great offerings on the market for you to consider. If you are looking for a good rewards credit card to apply for, then there will be a few Chase options that you will want to consider. It is always a good idea to look into what a card has to offer before proceeding, though. Here, we’ll take a look at the Chase Freedom Unlimited.

 

Many people are currently using and loving the Chase Freedom Unlimited credit card. This is a very traditional rewards credit card that manages to stand out in several important ways. It offers many good rewards and has the potential to be a very lucrative rewards credit card for you. Depending on what your rewards credit card expectations are, this may wind up being the perfect card for you to start out with.

 

Take your time to look at all of the available features of this credit card. If you are able to examine everything that the Chase Freedom Unlimited credit card brings to the table, then it will be simple to determine whether or not it is for you. We will thoroughly examine every aspect of this card below so that you can make an informed choice. Take the time to read through the information and you just might find your new favorite credit card.

 

Is the Chase Freedom Unlimited New?

The Chase Freedom Unlimited credit card has been around since 2016. It was announced as Chase’s first Ultimate Rewards credit card that earns a fixed amount on all purchases. The Chase Freedom Unlimited earns 1.5 points on every purchase with no limit. Other than its earning format, it’s the exact same credit card as the original Chase Freedom card.

 

I mentioned that the Chase Freedom Unlimited is technically an Ultimate Rewards credit card, but is actually marketed as a cash back card. Every dollar spent will earn 1.5% “cash back” in the form of Ultimate Rewards. This feature makes the Freedom Unlimited much more valuable because of the ability to transfer Ultimate Rewards between Chase card accounts.

 

Chase Freedom Unlimited: It’s So Simple to Earn Rewards

The Chase Freedom Unlimited is made for the people who want simplicity when it comes to spending. They do not enjoy strategically getting the most points out of every dollar spent. That’s too much of a hassle for this type of person. But, they do still want to earn extra points on the things they buy.

 

By earning 1.5 points on every dollar spent, it makes earning extra points very easy. With the Chase Freedom Unlimited, you don’t have to worry about using a certain card for groceries, a different card for gas, and yet another card for your cell phone bill. This card is perfect for people who just want their points to be simple to earn. If this is the type of person you are, the Chase Freedom Unlimited should be in your wallet.

 

Chase Freedom Unlimited Offer

15,000 Points after spending $500 in the first 3 months

• Introductory Offer: You’ll earn a $150 Bonus (via 15,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points) after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening.
• Introductory APR: 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 16.74-25.49%.
• Earning Points: You’ll earn 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases.  No worrying about category bonuses.
• Free Credit Score: View your credit score, updated every week on Credit Journey.
• Annual Fee: No annual fee

 

Learn more about this card and find out how to apply HERE.

 

The Features

The features that you can enjoy when using the Chase Freedom Unlimited credit card are actually really nice. Of course, this is a rewards credit card that makes it easy to earn cash back on your purchases. It is a flat rate rewards card that does not use any type of bonus categories. This will either be a very good thing or a bad thing, depending on your perspective.

 

People who love this credit card generally enjoy that it is simple to use. You will be able to expect a flat cashback rate on all of your purchases so that you will not have to worry about having to mess with bonus categories. It allows for a more streamlined experience in many ways. You will be earning a constant stream of rewards just by using your credit card as you see fit.

 

One of the reasons that this is referred to as the “freedom” card is that you are free to redeem rewards as you see fit. Most rewards credit cards force you to earn a certain amount of rewards before redeeming them. That is not the case with the Chase Freedom Unlimited credit card. You can redeem rewards as often as you want, as there is no minimum redemption amount that is holding you back.

 

You will also be able to pair this credit card with other credit cards in the Chase family. For example, the Chase Sapphire Preferred card might be something that you already use. You can pair the cards together to increase the redemption options for your rewards points. This has the potential to turn your rewards into ultimate rewards points, leading to an increased value of the rewards that you have been earning.

 

The Benefits

The biggest benefits that you will enjoy by using this credit card will be related to the rewards program. The rewards that you can receive through the use of this credit card are plentiful. Having the option to redeem rewards at any point in time is very nice, too. It puts the power in your hands to decide how you want to do things.

 

Aside from this, people will also be drawn in by the lucrative sign-up bonus that this credit card has to offer. Simply signing up for this card will allow you to earn some cash within the first three months. Taking advantage of the sign-up bonus offer is rather easy and it makes it even more appealing to apply. If you decide which cards to apply for based on their sign-up offers alone, then this one is likely to pique your interest.

 

One of the biggest benefits that is worth mentioning is how well this credit card pairs with the different Chase credit cards. If you have been using Chase credit cards for quite some time, then it might be sensible to add this one to the mix. It can work in tandem with other Chase credit cards to provide a superior rewards experience. If you have one of the higher tier Chase cards, then you can turn your rewards from this card into ultimate rewards points.

 

Simply having the option to make your cards work together is going to be great. It is even possible to use business credit cards from Chase along with this personal credit card. If you are a small business owner and you happen to use one of the Ink Business credit cards, then the rewards from that can pair with this too. Sometimes, it does make sense to stick with one credit card provider, as the loyalty incentives can be worthwhile.

 

The Fees

The prices and fees of a credit card are among the most important pieces of information to look at. You want to make sure that the fees and any type of pricing structure are agreeable to you before proceeding. Luckily, the Chase Freedom Unlimited credit card is pretty good in this department. You will be able to enjoy a very generous introductory APR when you sign up for this credit card.

 

The good thing about the introductory APR is that the length of time you can take advantage of not paying interest is 15 months. That is a very long time and it will work with both purchases and balance transfers. It makes transferring the balance of other credit cards to this one a very practical option for you. If you want to use this card as a way to help save yourself some money, then the option is there for you to do that.

 

Aside from this, the traditional fees that are associated with this card are very customer friendly. You will not be paying any type of annual fee to use this credit card. It really does make a difference to be able to avoid paying out yearly fees just to use your credit card. The fact that this is a rewards card that can earn you cashback rewards constantly makes it a very cost-effective option for you to consider.  

 

The one negative fee that you will have to face while using this card is the foreign transaction fee. This is actually a bit of a high fee and it can become a nuisance for people who travel abroad regularly. If you go outside of the country on business or for recreation, then you can expect to pay a fee when you decide to use your card. An extra three percent fee is going to make some people wary about this card, but it does make up for this flaw in several ways.

 

Rewards Program Info

As you might expect, the appeal of this card is all about the rewards. You will be able to consistently earn rewards while using this credit card. This is a great option for people who want to be able to earn rewards without being forced to concern themselves with various bonus categories. This credit card offers a simpler experience that still gives you access to ample rewards through just using your credit card as you see fit.

 

Note that this credit card does not make use of bonus categories in any way. Instead, you will be getting a flat cashback rate on all of your purchases. The rate that you will be able to enjoy is set at 1.5% and it should help you to earn rewards very fast. The fact that you can redeem these rewards whenever you want to just makes things even more convenient.

 

This is set up in such a way that you can choose to redeem your rewards even when they are at low amounts. It is set up to offer you the most flexibility possible. The redemption options are also very robust. If you want to try to maximize the value of your rewards points, then you may want to take the time to tinker around with the system. You will be able to get more for your rewards if you have a complimentary primary Chase Ultimate Rewards card as well. It’s possible to transfer points between accounts to get more value for travel rewards.

 

If you want to book your travel through the Chase travel portal, it is going to be possible to use your points at a higher dollar value. It can make booking hotels or flights more cost effective for you. Likewise, you can choose to use your rewards points to convert them into airline miles or hotel points with the Chase transfer partners.

 

When you transfer your points to airlines and hotels, it can make booking a full travel experience a lot less expensive in points. You will be able to use your rewards points for extra value. You can pair cards together to use the rewards points in different ways or you can simply get your cashback options as you normally would. This is a flexible card that offers you many different rewards features when you are willing to look into your options.

 

The Pros

• Simple rewards experience
• Flat cashback rate is good (better than common 1%)
• No minimum redemption amount on points
• Excellent introductory APR offer
• No annual fee

 

The Chase Freedom Unlimited credit card is appealing in several different ways. It works out well due to being able to keep things simple for those that want a streamlined experience. If you desire an easy to understand credit card with a flat cashback rewards rate, then this will work well for you. It can also be more robust than that and will offer you many great redemption features when paired with other Chase cards and partner programs.

 

Your ability to redeem points at any time is another positive feature that puts you in control. You get to decide when you want to redeem your rewards and there is no minimum redemption requirement to worry about. As long as you have the rewards to redeem, they will be available to you at any time. This is one of the few cashback cards that offers a convenient feature such as this.

 

The excellent introductory APR is going to be appealing to many people, too. Avoiding interest for a 15-month period is a nice touch and you can even do balance transfers. You’ll have plenty of options with how you want to take advantage of this credit card. The lack of an annual fee is something that keeps Chase customers happy as well, so it is worth noting that this is a very customer friendly credit card.

 

The Cons

• Foreign transaction fees
• Lack of bonus categories
• 1.5% is not great (but it’s simple)

 

 

 

The most notable flaw of this credit card is that it has foreign transaction fees. If you like to travel outside of the country, then you will be paying a fee if you decide to use your card while traveling. The three percent fee can really put a damper on your experience and you may wish to avoid using this card outside of the country because of it. This is one of the few areas where this card stumbles, so it probably isn’t enough to deter you from being interested.

 

Some people will lament the lack of bonus categories, too. If you like being able to earn more points by using your credit card to purchase items in specific categories, then this card won’t be for you. This is a cashback card with a flat rate and no bonus categories. It is meant to be easier to use and this is not going to be a bad thing as far as many people are concerned. It really comes down to what you want out of a rewards credit card.

 

Also, there are some credit cards on the market that offer a higher rewards rate. For instance, you might be able to find a rewards credit card that offers you two percent cashback on every purchase. The Chase Freedom Unlimited still manages to stand out from these cards in several positive ways, but you may want to go with the higher cashback reward percentage anyway. It will all depend on what you want to get out of your rewards credit card experience.

 

The Chase Freedom Unlimited Signup Bonus

The Chase Freedom Unlimited signup bonus is not one of the highest in the market, but it’s good for a no-fee card. 15,000 Ultimate Rewards is worth $150 when redeemed for cash back or to purchase gift cards or products on Amazon. A Chase Freedom Unlimited $150 bonus is how they advertise it, but it can be worth more than that. The signup bonus gets really good is when you double the value of your points and are able to redeem for 2 cents per point instead of 1. Who wouldn’t rather redeem points for double what they’re marketed as? Let’s see how it’s possible.

 

How to Transfer Chase Freedom Unlimited Rewards to Multiply their Value

Here’s the secret that will potentially turn 1.5% back into 3% or more on all your purchases. The Chase Freedom Unlimited is advertised as a card that earns 1.5% cash back on every purchase, but it’s more than just that. Because Chase Ultimate Rewards can be transferred between card accounts, it makes sense to pair one of the three premium Ultimate Rewards cards with the Chase Freedom Unlimited.

 

Why?

 

When you redeem Ultimate Rewards directly with the Freedom Unlimited you redeem at a value of one cent per point. But, when you redeem them from one of the premium card accounts they are redeemed for at least 1.25-1.5 cents per point using the Chase travel portal. This gives you 25-50% more value for your Ultimate Reward points. Even better, with any of the premium Ultimate Rewards cards, you can transfer points to airline and hotel travel partners which makes your points redeemable at well over 2 cents per point! Which Ultimate Rewards cards are “premium cards”? Let’s take a look.

 

The 3 Primary Ultimate Rewards Credit Cards

Chase Sapphire Preferred: Ultimate Rewards redeem at 1.25 cents per point. (at least 25% more value)

• 50,000 Points after spending $4000 in the first 3 months.
• Earns 2 points per dollar on travel and dining.
• Transfer to travel partners at 1:1 ratio (often redeem points for more than 2 cents per point)
• Annual fee of $95 (waived in year 1)

 

Learn more about this card and find out how to apply HERE.

 

Chase Sapphire Reserve: Ultimate Rewards redeem at 1.5 cents per point. (at least 50% more value)

• 50,000 Points after spending $4000 in the first 3 months.
• Earns 3 points per dollar on travel and dining.
• Transfer to travel partners at 1:1 ratio (often redeem points for more than 2 cents per point).
• Airport lounge access with Priority Pass Select.
• $300 Travel statement credit.
• TSA PreCheck or Global Entry
• Annual fee of $450

 

Learn more about this card and find out how to apply HERE.

 

Ink Business Preferred (business card): Ultimate Rewards redeem at 1.25 cents per point. (at least 25% more value)

• 80,000 Points after spending $5000 in the first 3 months.
• Earns 3 points per dollar on travel and select business categories.
• Transfer to travel partners at 1:1 ratio (often redeem points for more than 2 cents per point)
• Annual fee of $95

 

Learn more about this card and find out how to apply HERE.

 

Since all three of these credit cards come with the ability to use Chase’s travel transfer partners, you can essentially double your points if you have one of them. If you’re able to combine one of these premium Chase credit cards to partner with your Freedom Unlimited, it always makes sense to transfer points before redeeming.

 

Chase Freedom Unlimited vs Freedom (There’s Only 1 Difference)

Every feature of the Chase Freedom Unlimited is identical to the original Chase Freedom card, besides one thing. How points are earned through purchases. We thought about making a comparison chart of the two cards side by side, but this is the one and only difference. The Chase Freedom Unlimited earns 1.5 points per dollar on every purchase. The Chase Freedom earns 5 points per dollar on quarterly rotating categories (things like groceries, gas, movies, and Chase Pay), and 1 point per dollar on everything else.

 

Which card is better for you depends on if you want the potential to earn extra points or want simplicity. Below are the features that both Freedom cards offer.

• $150 Introductory Offer (15,000 Ultimate Rewards)
• $25 for adding Authorized User (2500 Ultimate Rewards)
• 0% Introductory APR for 15 months
• No Annual Fee

 

The Chase Freedom card might wind up working out better for you. Depending on what you want to do, it is possible that the Chase Freedom card may fit your needs slightly better. It has a different signup bonus and offers rotating rewards categories. This will not be a better option for those who want to keep things simple, but it is another good credit card from Chase to look into. For more information on the comparison, check out our Chase Freedom Vs Freedom Unlimited article.

 

Chase Freedom Unlimited: Credit Score Needed for Approval

Now that you understand the value that the Chase Freedom Unlimited comes with, let’s find out what credit score is needed for approval. Although it is a no annual fee credit card, you still must have good to excellent credit to be approved. This means your score needs to be 670 or above to have a very good shot at being approved.

 

If your score is under this level, it doesn’t mean that you won’t be approved, but your odds go down. I’ve seen online reviews that mention people being approved with credit scores in the mid 600’s.

 

Chase regularly approves people for this credit card who have scores that fall in the good range, but having excellent credit will make things even easier. If you want to apply for this card, it will be smart to check your credit score ahead of time to be safe.

 

If you don’t know what your credit score is, you can find out for free. It’s simple. Just go to Credit Sesame and make a 100% free account and it will give you a monthly estimate of your TransUnion credit score. Their estimations are very accurate. A free Credit Sesame account is also a good tool for keeping an eye on your credit to make sure nothing bad ever happens to it.

 

Credit Sesame Price: Free Get your free credit score each month, and monitor your credit report at no cost. We'll also send you monitoring alerts about changes to your credit report. CHECK YOUR CREDIT SCORE NOW Last Updated: 10/02/2018

 

Know the Chase 5/24 Rule Before Applying

You should also know that Chase has a rule that they refer to as the 5/24 rule. This means that if you have opened five credit card accounts or more in the last 24 months, then your application will be turned down. If you have been signing up for new credit cards a lot lately, then you may need to wait to be able to qualify for this one. It is a safety feature to prevent people from gaining access to credit without restraint.

 

Who Is This Credit Card for?

This is a perfect credit card for people who are just getting into the idea of rewards credit card programs. If you are a person who is looking for a reliable credit card to use for everyday purposes, then this will work out well. You will be earning cash back on your purchases every single time. It does not take a lot of micromanagement to use this credit card effectively and the rewards will be there for you whenever you need to use them.

 

People who have been using Chase credit cards for years may also benefit from signing up for this card. It is going to be able to work together with other Chase cards in effective ways. If you are a regular Chase customer, then using this credit card will be even easier than it would otherwise be. You can earn some very lucrative rewards and it can really give you a fantastic experience.

 

Anyone who just likes using a credit card with a simple structure will find this card appealing as well. It’s less complex than many of the rewards credit cards on the market. The Chase Freedom Unlimited makes it simpler for those who are just starting out with rewards points, but you will be able to use this card in complex ways if you so choose. It is a very flexible credit card to have in your wallet.

 

Is the Chase Freedom Unlimited for You?

With all the details in order, I’m sure you know whether the Chase Freedom Unlimited is for you or not. If you’re all about simplicity, then the straightforward 1.5 points per dollar spending is probably a great fit for you. Also, if you want to get a premium Ultimate Rewards card to partner with the Chase Freedom Unlimited, it’s also a good option. Instead of earning 1 point per dollar on “everything else”, you can earn 1.5 points.

 

If you’re purely looking for a cash back credit card you may be better off with a different card. There are a few options that earn 1.5-2% cash back and some even have bonus categories. The Chase Freedom Unlimited is more about earning Ultimate Rewards than it is cash back.

 

Either way, the Chase Freedom Unlimited credit card is something that deserves a place in your wallet. This versatile credit card will give you the convenient cash back options that you are looking for. Being able to use this card to its full potential is not overly difficult and it pairs well with other Chase credit cards. Apply for this card today if you are in need of a credit card that is simple to use while still offering many great options.

 

Chase Freedom Unlimited: $150 Introductory Bonus (15,000 Ultimate Rewards)

• Earns “cash back” in the form of Ultimate Rewards
• Ultimate Rewards can be transferred to your premium card accounts for valuable travel rewards
• Earns 1.5X on all purchases

Having access to an exceptional business credit card can really make a difference for your company. You need to be able to fund purchases in an easy way to make things simple. A business credit card with good features can actually wind up rewarding you for the purchases that you have to make anyway. This is why most businesses take getting a new business credit card so seriously. If you’re looking for the simple way to earn 1.5 Chase Ultimate Rewards points for every dollar spent, the Chase Ink Business Unlimited is the card for you.

 

If you’ve been looking into getting a new credit card for your company, then you might want to consider the Chase Ink Business Unlimited credit card that Chase is offering. This is the business version of their popular Chase Freedom Unlimited card and it is becoming very prevalent due to its desirable features and how simple it is to use. Before you make the decision to apply for this credit card, it is important to determine whether or not it is right for you and your business. Digging into all of the important details will give you the information that you need to make the right choice.

 

Chase Ink Business Unlimited

50,000 Point Signup Bonus

Features That Make This Chase Business Credit Card Great:

• Introductory Offer: You’ll earn $500 bonus cash back (via 50,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points) after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
• Category Spend Bonuses: You’ll earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase made for your business.
• Annual Fee: There is no annual fee.

 

Our thoughts about the Chase Ink Business Unlimited:

Receiving this large of an introductory offer bonus on a no annual fee credit card used to be unheard of.  Now Chase has two of them.  I see this card as an excellent supplemental credit card to go along with the other Ink credit cards.  Because it earns 1.5 points per dollar on ALL purchases, it’s great for those purchases that don’t fall into a category bonus of the other cards.

Learn more about this card and find out how to apply HERE.

 

Fees of the Chase Ink Business Unlimited

Of course, when it comes to signing up for a new credit card, you want to know about any prices and fees right away. One of the most appealing aspects of this card for any small business owner is that it has no annual fee. This makes it easy to make use of this card without having to worry about paying out money for the privilege. This is great news for anyone who is looking for a new business credit card that is cost effective.

 

Another positive point in this card’s favor is that it has a good introductory APR. This will allow you to save money on purchases and balance transfers within the first 12 months. Being able to avoid paying interest for a long period of time will prove to be beneficial for many businesses. There are several businesses that will be able to justify applying for this card simply due to being able to use the balance transfer feature in a savvy way.

 

It is not all good, though. One negative thing about this card is that you are going to have to put up with foreign transaction fees. Depending on how your business is structured, this will either not matter at all or it will be a big deal. Keep this in mind when you are making your decision about this card, as the fees are a bit of an inconvenience for some.

 

Otherwise, all of the fees are very much in line with other small business credit cards. This comes in as a very good option due to the lack of an annual fee. If you do not do business outside of the country often, then the foreign transaction fees will not wind up being too much of a problem for you. Consider all of the factors and determine if these prices and fees will work for you.

 

Features of the Chase Ink Unlimited

The Chase Ink Business Unlimited card is fully featured like most of the credit cards that the Chase brand offers are. If you are looking for a high-quality credit card that will be convenient for your small business, then you have come to the right place. This credit card is aimed to be simple to use for any type of small business owner. One of the primary features has to do with keeping the reward structure simple and convenient for everyone.

 

There are many rewards cards on the market that are very complicated. Sometimes, business owners do not have the time to micromanage every little aspect of their rewards points. If you consider yourself to be a busy professional, then the features of this card will really appeal to you. It offers you a rewards structure that is simple enough to be practical for the busiest of individuals while also giving you great flexibility.

 

For example, this credit card can be paired with higher tier Chase rewards credit cards if you have them. This gives you the potential to increase your rewards points and to maximize your rewards potential. You do not have to do this to have a good experience with this card, but it is a helpful feature that some will love. The rewards are going to come in steadily no matter what and your card will always be helpful to your business.

 

Another positive feature is that this card lacks any type of spending categories. This really does help you to keep things simple and you won’t have to worry about how you are spending your money. A flat rewards rate across all types of purchases will appeal more to certain businesses. If you spend your business funds on a variety of different services, expenses, and goods, then this card likely makes sense for you.

 

Benefits of the Card

There are several good perks that you will be able to take advantage of when you sign up for this credit card. Purchase protection is one of the benefits that you will likely get a lot of mileage out of. This is a standard benefit that covers your purchases within the first 120 days in case of theft or damage. You can claim up to $10,000 on an individual claim and are allowed $50,000 of claims per account.

 

You will also find that many warranties of US manufacturers will be extended for you when you hold this card. There are many eligible warranties that can be extended just by using this card. Having products that are within warranty for an extra year at no additional cost can be a really great thing. This is a benefit that flies under the radar, sometimes, but it is actually exceedingly useful for small business owners.

 

Renting a car for business purposes will be easier with the help of this credit card, too. If you want to do so, you can decline the rental car company’s collision insurance and just use the insurance of this card. It is going to give you primary auto rental collision damage coverage that will work out nicely. You will be covered by your card completely up to the cash value of the car in case the car is stolen or damaged in some way.

 

One last important benefit is that you can have employee credit cards issued at no additional cost. If you need to hand out credit cards for your employees to make important purchases on behalf of the business, then this will be very handy. You can avoid extra fees and get the credit cards that you need into the right hands. You can give them purchasing privileges that are equal to you or set up a spending limit on certain cards.

 

Earning Chase Ultimate Rewards Points

The rewards program for the Ink Business Unlimited credit card is simultaneously simple and robust. The first thing that you should know is that this rewards program lacks any type of bonus spending categories. This is preferable for many people, as they do not always want to have to stick to certain types of spending to feel like they are using the business credit card to its full potential. You will be getting a flat rewards rate no matter what types of purchases you are making.

 

This card has a flat cashback rewards rate of 1.5% and it works on everything. You will not need to be concerned about bonus categories or anything of that nature. It allows businesses to simply use the card as they see fit and the rewards will come in naturally. The reason that this program is still considered to be robust is that it has the potential to be paired with other high tier Chase rewards cards.

 

If you have a Chase Ultimate Rewards credit card, then this credit card can be paired with it. If you choose to forego getting the cashback reward, then you can transfer it to points and wind up earning a higher rewards rate. This is not necessary to enjoy using this card, but it is an option for people who use multiple Chase credit cards. Knowing that the cards can pair could make this credit card a more attractive option for some business owners.

 

Even when you are just using the standard card, you will be able to redeem your rewards in several ways. The most common and appealing way is to receive your 1.5% cash back on your card. It is also possible to receive the money in the form of gift cards or through other services offered by the Chase rewards program. It will always be simple to use your earned rewards and they can help your business to thrive.

 

50,000 Ultimate Rewards in an Ink Cash Account (cashback).	50,000 Ultimate Rewards transferred from Ink Cash account to your Ink Preferred account.
Redeemed in the Chase travel portal at 1 cent per point. Value: $500	Redeemed in the Chase travel portal at 1.25 cents per point. Value: $625 Redeemed by transferring to an airline partner. (2 cents or more value per point) Value: $1000

 

The Pros

• Easy to use
• Pairs with higher tier Chase rewards cards for travel
• No annual fees
• Great introductory APR
• Good benefits

 

One of the biggest pros of this credit card is just how simple it is to use. This is a credit card that aims to keep things easy for busy business owners. You do not have to be bothered by the cumbersome rewards structures that some other business credit cards use. This has an easy to understand flat cashback rate on all purchases.

 

Being able to pair this card with higher tier Chase rewards cards, if you want to, is a great feature. It gives you the potential to earn more rewards but also allows you to keep things simple. This card can be versatile for your business and it will always be capable of earning you rewards on purchases. There are no rewards earning limits or anything of that nature.

 

To add to this, you will not be paying any annual fees. Being able to save money by not worrying about fees such as this will be useful to your business. The excellent introductory APR will help you out for the first 12 months on purchases and balance transfers. Many businesses are able to justify signing up simply for the purpose of balance transfers.

 

Combine all of the above with the good benefits of this card and you have a very attractive business credit card that will appeal to many businesses. You will be able to run your business smoothly when you have access to a high-quality credit card such as this. It really does work nicely to make your small business experience easier. Even aspects of this card such as purchase protection and extended warranties go a long way toward helping your business out.

 

The Cons

• Foreign transaction fees
• Not the highest flat cashback rewards rate possible
• Lack of spending categories

 

The only negative thing about this card that is undisputed is that the foreign transaction fees can be a pain. You will be paying a three percent fee on foreign transactions and this could hurt your bottom line. If you regularly do business outside of the country, then this card might not be optimal. It just depends on your situation and whether you are comfortable with this fee percentage.

 

Aside from that, some people will note that there are business credit card options out there with a slightly higher cashback rate. If you are looking for the highest possible flat cashback rate on a credit card, then you may want to turn elsewhere. This is still a card with a good rate, but it is not at the very top of the heap. Many people choose this card due to the Chase affiliation making it possible to earn higher rewards by being paired with other cards.

 

Certain businesses will lament the lack of spending categories, too. This means that you will not be earning any special bonuses for using your credit card in certain categories. If your business spends a lot of money on travel, then you might be better off seeking a travel rewards credit card for your business. This is going to appeal more to businesses that don’t want to worry about bonus categories, but that won’t be optimal for every business out there.

 

Credit Score Needed for Approval

To be approved for this credit card, you are going to want to have a good credit score. A score of 690 or above should give you very good odds of being approved. You also need to be a qualified small business owner to get this card. Many types of business owners will qualify, so it should not be overly difficult to get this credit card if your business meets the standards.

 

Note that even freelancers are considered to be small businesses by many standards. If you meet the credit standards and feel that your small business should qualify, then it will be worth applying for the card. It is a good credit card that can help your business to earn steady rewards while having access to proper funding. It is not overly difficult to get this card, but just check your credit score before applying to ensure the best results.

 

Who is the Ink Unlimited Credit Card for?

This credit card is going to appeal to small business owners the most. Any small businesses that want to have a streamlined business rewards credit card will enjoy this. It offers a simple rewards structure that is perfect for busy professionals who just want something that works. You can make use of this credit card to its full potential rather easily and it offers many positive features.

 

A credit card such as this is also going to work well for anyone who has other Chase credit cards. If you have been using Chase credit cards for a long time, then you may have access to one of the higher tier rewards cards as well. You can pair this card with those higher tier rewards cards if you want to. This can allow you to earn higher rewards rates and will prove to be a selling point to many loyal Chase customers.

 

An Alternative Credit Card to Consider

Perhaps the most practical alternative to consider is the Capital One Spark Cash for Business credit card. This is a comparable card that has some advantages that will appeal to you. The most obvious benefit is that this card offers a two percent cash back rate on all purchases. It also has a good signup bonus that can help cardholders to earn an increased reward within the first three months.

Compare this card >>

 

There are some drawbacks to this card too, though. You will have to pay an annual fee if you decide to make use of this credit card as an alternative. The first year’s annual fee is waived, but you will be paying $95.00 per year after that. Either way, this is a good credit card that is comparable to the Chase Ink Business Unlimited credit card in most ways.

Compare this card >>

 

All of the Chase Business Credit Card Options Compared

	Ink Bus. Preferred	Ink Business Cash	Ink Bus. Unlimited
Signup Bonus	80,000	$500 (50,000 pts)	$500 (50,000 pts)
Bonus Spending Categories	3X on travel, shipping, internet, cable, phone, and online ads	5X on office supply stores, phone, internet, and cable, 2X on gas and dining.	1.5X on all purchases
Annual Fee	$95	$0	$0
Extra Perks	Cell phone protection	Introductory APR Offer	Purchase protection, extended warranty, free employee cards
Best for People Who...	Want a huge introductory bonus Spend money advertising online Want cell phone accident coverage	Want a large introductory bonus Want no annual fee Spend money at office supply stores	Want a large introductory bonus Want no annual fee Want simplicity in earning through spend
	Learn More >>	Learn More >>	Learn More >>

 

Decision Time: Is Simplicity What You’re Looking for in a Business Rewards Card?

The Chase Ink Business Unlimited credit card might be the best option for your business. Depending on your expectations, you will be able to make good use of this credit card in many ways. This will give you a good flat cashback rate and is always going to be simple to use. Any businesses that need a reliable card will find this one to be up to par.

 

Pairing the card with other Chase credit cards can be beneficial as well. If you already do business with Chase, then the value of this card becomes even higher. If this will be your first and only credit card, then it will still be helpful for your business. It offers steady rewards and a convenient structure, so do not hesitate to sign up if you are in need.

 

Ink Business Unlimited: $500 Introductory Bonus (in the form of Ultimate Rewards)

• Earns “cash back” in the form of Ultimate Rewards
• Ultimate Rewards can be transferred to your premium card account*
• Earns 1.5X on all purchases