The Chase Trifecta is any combination of three high-earning Chase credit cards. Using all three credit cards in tandem for the right purchases is an excellent way to earn Ultimate Rewards (UR) Points quickly.
Like the Citi Trifecta and the Amex Trifecta, the Chase Trifecta is customizable. That’s because there are many three-card combinations that earns a plethora of points. Therefore, this post will go over the seven UR-earning cards and then highlight a few popular versions of the Chase Trifecta.
Premium Card Mini Reviews
The beauty of Chase is that you can mix and match cards to create your trifecta. But the catch is that you must have at least one premium card. Premium Chase cards let you transfer UR points to partners and can be considered “hubs” for UR points.
Chase Sapphire Reserve
Chase’s most premium credit card is the Chase Sapphire Reserve. It earns 3x UR points on dining & general travel. Plus, Chase is offering a sign-up bonus worth 50,000 points for the Sapphire Reserve. It can be earned by spending $4,000 within the first three months.
The Reserve comes with Chase’s famous $300 General Travel Credit and some of the best travel insurances in the industry. It also comes with a bevy of temporary benefits in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. But it also has a $550 annual fee (NOT waived the first year).
Chase Sapphire Preferred
The Chase Sapphire Preferred is the Reserve’s “little sibling”. But its one of the best cards for those who are starting out. It earns 2x UR points on dining & general travel. Plus, Chase is offering a sign-up bonus worth 60,000 points for the Sapphire Preferred. It can be earned by spending $4,000 within the first three months.
The Sapphire Preferred has a $95 annual fee (NOT waived the first year), making it better for beginners. It’s also a Visa Signature, which means that it is easier to get approved for than the Reserve. The Sapphire Preferred also comes with the same travel insurances as the Reserve. But it does not offer any general travel credits.
Chase Ink Business Preferred
Chase’s premium business card is the Ink Business Preferred. It has a $95 annual fee and earns 3x UR points in six different categories:
- Cable & TV Services
- General Travel
- Internet Services
- Phone Services
- Shipping
- Social Media and Search Engine Advertising Purchases
There is a limit of $150,000 per year across all categories. That means you can earn up to 450,000 UR points per year if you spend within the categories.
Furthermore, Chase is offering a sign-up bonus worth 80,000 UR points – the issuer’s largest. New cardholders must spend $5,000 within the first three months to earn the bonus.
No Annual Fee Card Mini Reviews
Chase’s non-premium credit cards have no annual fee. These cards earn cash back without a premium card. Otherwise, they become integral parts of the trifecta because earned rewards can be transferred to a premium card.
Chase Freedom Flex
The Chase Freedom Flex is awesome because it earns 5x UR points on quarterly rotating categories. It also earns 3x points on dining and pharmacy purchases. Picking up the Freedom Flex might be great in the short-term because of its sign-up bonus. Chase is offering a bonus worth 20,000 UR points (or $200 in cash back) for a minimum spend of just $500. This is one of the easiest sign-up bonuses to earn, making it great for beginners.
Chase Freedom Unlimited
The Freedom Unlimited used to be Chase’s flat rate card. But it became an incredibly powerful earner in 2020. Not only does it earn 1.5x UR points on all purchases without any spending limits (hence its name). But it also earns 3x points on dining and pharmacy purchases and 5x points on travel booked via the Chase Travel Portal.
Like the Freedom Flex, Chase is also offering a bonus worth 20,000 points (or $200 in cash back) for a minimum spend of just $500. The Freedom Unlimited is a fantastic alternative to the Freedom Flex for those who do not want to deal with rotating categories.
Chase Ink Business Cash
The Chase Ink Business Cash is one of my favorite business cards because of its earning potential. It earns 2x points on dining and gas. And best of all, it earns 5x points in the following categories:
- Cell Phone Bills
- Internet Bills
- Office Supply Stores
- TV & Cable Bills
Plus, Chase is offering a sign-up bonus worth 75,000 points (or $750 in cash back) for a minimum spend of $3,000. That’s one of the biggest bonuses for any no annual fee cards.
Chase Ink Business Unlimited
The Chase Ink Business Unlimited is the business counterpart of the Freedom Unlimited. But the Ink Unlimited earns than 1.5x UR points on all purchases. It does not offer any other bonus categories. However, the Ink Business Unlimited comes with the same bonus as the Ink Business Cash. And it comes with a few more perks that are more relevant for entrepreneurs and business owners.
Three Suggested Combinations
Sapphire Reserve – Ink Business Preferred – Freedom Unlimited
This is the most popular version of the trifecta. It’s the version that the Points Guy (H/T) talks about so often. But why?
You can earn 3x points in a plethora of categories between the Reserve and the Ink Preferred! You get 3x points on general travel (shared by both cards), dining, and the other five business categories. But travel purchased via the Chase Travel Portal earns 5x points. All non-bonus spend earns 1.5x points per dollar.
Furthermore, you get all the travel benefits of the Reserve and the business benefits of the Ink Preferred. Some of the highlights include the $300 General Travel Credit, Chase Cell Phone Protection, and 6-Hour Trip Delay Insurance. However, all three cards have a total annual fee of $645.
Sapphire Reserve – Freedom Unlimited – Ink Business Cash
This alternate version of the Chase Trifecta substitutes the Ink Business Preferred for the Ink Business Cash. It also saves cardholders $95 per year, lowering the total annual fee to $550. Plus, cardholders receive all the benefits from the Sapphire Reserve.
This combination earns 5x UR points in travel purchased via the Chase Travel Portal and within the Ink Business Cash’s categories. It also earns 3x points on general travel, pharmacies, and dining as well as 2x points on gas. All non-bonus spend earns 1.5x points.
Sapphire Preferred – Freedom Unlimited – Ink Business Cash
This version of the Chase Trifecta substitutes the Ink Business Preferred for the Ink Business Cash and the Sapphire Reserve for the Sapphire Preferred. It’s the “cheap” version of the Chase Trifecta costing only $95 per year.
This combination earns 5x UR points in travel purchased via the Chase Travel Portal and within the Ink Business Cash’s categories. It also earns 3x points on pharmacies and dining as well as 2x points on general travel and gas. All non-bonus spend earns 1.5x points.
The Sapphire Preferred acts as a hub for points and provides cardholders with Chase’s excellent travel insurances. It’s not optimal for any spend.
Final Draw
The Chase Trifecta is one of the most useful card combinations in the industry. It’s the best way to earn valuable Ultimate Rewards points quickly and reap some excellent benefits too. Beginners should look into the Chase Trifecta first because of Chase’s application rules (mainly 5/24). And experienced travelers can get lots of use from UR points as well, making the Chase Trifecta a viable strategy for lots of people.
