You’ve probably heard all about the Chase Trifecta. “Chase Trifecta” this and “Chase Trifecta” that. But what if you don’t want or need to juggle three Chase credit cards? What if you just want two?
There are still plenty of rewards and benefits to be reaped by pairing two Chase credit cards. It just all depends on what you hope to accomplish. Here are some of the best Chase pairings and whom they’re suited for.
Top Chase Pairings
Best Overall: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and Chase Freedom Unlimited®
| Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card | Chase Freedom Unlimited® | |
| Annual fee | $95 | $0 |
| Rewards rate |
— Five points per dollar on travel purchased through Chase Travel? (excluding hotel purchases that qualify for the $100 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit) — Three points on online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs) — Three points on select streaming services — Three points on dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services — Three points on gas stations and EV charging — Three points on vacation homes at top brands — Two points on all other travel purchases — One point on all other purchases |
— 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel — 3% cash back on dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services — 3% cash back on drugstore purchases — 1.5% on all other purchases |
| Extra benefits |
— Airline and hotel transfer partners — Five points on Lyft rides through Sept. 30, 2027 — Five points on eligible Peloton equipment and accessory purchases over $150 through Dec. 31, 2027 — Travel insurance and auto rental coverage |
— Six months of complimentary access to DashPass — 2% cash back on Lyft rides through Sept. 30, 2027 |
Why we chose it: These two cards complement each other extremely well — which is why they make up the bulk of the Chase Trifecta.
The Freedom Unlimited is essentially your everyday spending card since it earns 1.5% cash back on all purchases. The Sapphire Preferred, on the other hand, can act as your travel card, especially since it gives you access to Chase’s travel transfer ecosystem. The trick is to turn your Freedom Unlimited cash back rewards into Ultimate Rewards points.
Plus, food is covered by both cards since the Preferred earns bonus rewards on grocery purchases and both earn bonus rewards on dining (including takeout and delivery).
[SEE: Best Chase Credit Cards]
Best for Southwest Loyalists: Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card and Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
| use | Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card | Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card |
| Annual fee | $149 | $95 |
| Rewards rate |
— Three points per dollar on Southwest Airlines purchases — Two points at grocery stores and restaurants on the first $8,000 in combined purchases per year — One point on all other purchases |
— Five points on travel purchased through Chase Travel (excluding hotel purchases that qualify for the $100 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit) — Three points on online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs) — Three points on select streaming services — Three points on dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services — Three points on gas stations and EV charging — Three points on vacation homes at top brands — Two points on all other travel purchases — One point on all other purchases |
| Extra benefits |
— First checked bag free — Complimentary Standard or Preferred seat selection within 48 hours prior to departure, when available — 6,000 points every year on your card anniversary — 15% flight discount promo code each year (excludes Basic fare) — Earn 1,500 tier qualifying points toward A-List status for every $5,000 spent in purchases — 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points boost each year — Board with no later than Group 5 on your Southwest flight — 25% back on in-flight purchases — Travel & purchase coverage |
— Airline and hotel transfer partners — Five points on Lyft rides through Sept. 30, 2027 — Five points on eligible Peloton equipment and accessory purchases over $150 through Dec. 31, 2027 — Travel insurance and auto rental coverage |
Why we chose it: The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card is designed for frequent flyers of the airline. And the Sapphire Preferred fills in the gaps for loyalists who like the co-branded card for its airline-specific perks.
Instead of putting every purchase on your Southwest card, you can use the Sapphire Preferred card’s stronger bonus categories. Those points can then be transferred to the Southwest Rapid Rewards program. Your Sapphire points essentially become Southwest points when you want them to.
[Read: Airline Credit Cards]
Best for Small Business Owners: Ink Business Cash® Credit Card and Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
| Ink Business Cash® Credit Card | Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card | |
| Annual fee | $0 | $95 |
| Rewards rate |
— 5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone services each account anniversary year — 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year — 1% cash back on all other purchases |
— Five points on travel purchased through Chase Travel (excluding hotel purchases that qualify for the $100 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit) — Three points on online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs) — Three points on select streaming services — Three points on dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services — Three points on gas stations and EV charging — Three points on vacation homes at top brands — Two points on all other travel purchases — One point on all other purchases |
| Extra benefits |
— Complimentary three-month Instacart+ membership — Employee cards at no additional cost — Travel and purchase coverage |
— Airline and hotel transfer partners — Five points on Lyft rides through Sept. 30, 2027 — Five points on eligible Peloton equipment and accessory purchases over $150 through Dec. 31, 2027 — Travel insurance and auto rental coverage |
Why we chose it: The Ink Business Cash® Credit Card is a business-spending workhorse, targeting office supply purchases and internet, cable and phone services. And the Sapphire Preferred can give those rewards a travel-oriented purpose.
A small business owner can earn aggressively on their business expenses and then turn those rewards into flexible travel value.
[Read: Business Credit Cards]
At a Glance
| Pairing | Best for | What each card does |
| Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card + Chase Freedom Unlimited® | Most consumers | Flexible travel rewards + everyday earning |
| Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card + Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card | Southwest loyalists | Southwest perks + flexible travel rewards |
| Ink Business Cash® Credit Card + Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card | Small business owners | Business-category rewards + flexible travel rewards |
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is like that pair of jeans in “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants”; it just fits everyone. It’s the most flexible, offering the most additional value in all three pairings.
Whichever combination you choose, consider how the two cards complement each other. The right pairing can provide useful benefits and help you earn more rewards all without forcing you to overhaul the way you spend.
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Best Chase Credit Card Combinations originally appeared on usnews.com
