Since we began masking the world of factors and miles right here at TPG, there’s been a development: Airways and resorts have constantly devalued their applications and elevated the variety of factors and miles wanted for flights and award stays.
Nonetheless, one product household that bank card consultants stay loyal to 12 months after 12 months is Chase. There are two important the reason why: Chase Final Rewards factors are extremely versatile and precious, and Chase presents a really pairable lineup that means that you can maximize each your incomes and redemption methods.
Whereas all Chase playing cards have stand-alone worth, combining three complementary ones can unlock a ton of worth throughout spending classes. There are greater than three playing cards you’ll be able to create the trifecta from, however the typical setup that maximizes rewards consists of the Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see charges and costs), the Chase Freedom Limitless® (see charges and costs) and the Ink Enterprise Most well-liked® Credit score Card (see charges and costs).
Let’s stroll via these playing cards and the way they work collectively to create an excellent bank card technique.
What’s the Chase Trifecta?
The Chase Trifecta is a pairing of three of Chase’s rewards-earning bank cards. By combining these playing cards, you’ll be able to maximize your earnings via spending. These playing cards all complement one another and make sure you earn at the least 1.5 factors on each buy.
Regardless of a few of these playing cards incomes money again, you’ll be able to convert money again to factors since your trifecta choices all the time embody an Final Rewards-earning card. To maximise the worth of your rewards, it would be best to convert all of your rewards to Final Rewards factors, as TPG’s Might 2025 valuations peg the worth of these factors at 2.05 cents apiece.
What playing cards are within the Chase Trifecta?
The Chase Trifecta consists of three playing cards. Your choices embody:
It is necessary to notice that you may additionally pair a Sapphire card with two Freedom playing cards for those who do not qualify for or need an Ink enterprise card.
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Let’s dive into the main points of the preferred choices on your Chase Trifecta.
Chase Sapphire Reserve
Annual payment: $550.
Welcome provide: Earn 60,000 bonus factors after spending $5,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening. This welcome provide is value $1,230 primarily based on TPG’s Might 2025 valuations.
Incomes charges:
- 10 factors per greenback spent on resorts and automotive leases booked via Chase Journey℠*
- 10 factors per greenback spent on Peloton tools and accent purchases of $150 or extra (via Dec. 31, 2027), with a most of fifty,000 factors
- 5 factors per greenback spent on flights booked via Chase Journey*
- 5 factors per greenback spent on Lyft purchases (via Sept. 30, 2027)
- 3 factors per greenback spent on all different journey*
- 3 factors per greenback spent on eating (together with takeout and supply)
- 1 level per greenback spent on all different purchases
*Bonus factors on journey are earned after the primary $300 is spent on journey yearly.
This card’s hefty $550 annual payment is offset by its $300 annual journey credit score, successfully making the annual payment $250 per 12 months. A number of TPG staffers love this credit score. You will additionally get a Precedence Move Choose membership and entry to Chase’s rising community of Sapphire lounges, plus as much as $120 in assertion credit on your utility payment to World Entry, TSA PreCheck or Nexus and different perks equivalent to complete journey protections and concierge service.
With the Chase Sapphire Reserve, you’ll be able to redeem your factors for 50% extra worth via Chase Journey (redeem at 1.5 cents per level slightly than the usual 1 cent per level). For optimum worth, you’ll be able to switch your factors to considered one of 11 airline and three lodge companions. With its flexibility and incomes energy, the Sapphire Reserve headlines Chase’s robust number of playing cards and is a good addition to any points-chaser’s pockets.
To study extra, try our full evaluate of the Chase Sapphire Reserve.
Apply right here: Chase Sapphire Reserve
Chase Sapphire Most well-liked
Annual payment: $95.
Welcome provide: Earn 100,000 factors after spending $5,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening. This provide ends Might 15 at 9 a.m. EDT and is value $2,050 primarily based on TPG’s Might 2025 valuations.
Incomes charges:
- 5 factors per greenback spent on all journey bought via Chase Journey
- 5 factors per greenback spent on Lyft purchases (via Sept. 30, 2027)
- 5 factors per greenback spent on Peloton tools and accent purchases of $150 or extra (via Dec. 31, 2027), with a most of 25,000 factors
- 3 factors per greenback spent on eating (together with takeout and supply)
- 3 factors per greenback spent on choose streaming providers
- 3 factors per greenback spent on on-line grocery purchases (excluding Goal, Walmart and wholesale golf equipment)
- 2 factors per greenback spent on all different journey
- 1 level per greenback spent on all different purchases
If you need a decrease annual payment, you could possibly go for the Sapphire Most well-liked, because it’s the most effective starter journey rewards playing cards. The Sapphire Most well-liked even has extra bonus-earning classes than the Sapphire Reserve.
You will obtain a lot of the journey protections and insurances which can be on the Sapphire Reserve, like main rental automotive insurance coverage and journey cancellation insurance coverage (an typically underrated however helpful profit), however at decrease ranges of protection.
To study extra, try our full evaluate of the Chase Sapphire Most well-liked.
Apply right here: Chase Sapphire Most well-liked Card
Chase Freedom Limitless
Annual payment: $0.
Welcome provide: Earn $200 money again after spending $500 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.
Incomes charges:
- 5% again on journey booked via Chase Journey
- 3% again on eating (together with takeout and supply) and drugstores
- 2% again on Lyft purchases (via Sept. 30, 2027)
- 1.5% again on all different purchases
To spherical out your trifecta, you could possibly choose the Freedom Limitless. This card is a wonderful selection for anybody who desires a catchall card for purchases that do not fall into bonus-earning classes with different playing cards.
As a result of you’ll be able to switch your rewards into an Final Rewards account, the rewards earned with the Chase Freedom Limitless are value 2.05 cents every (in response to TPG’s Might 2025 valuations) for those who hyperlink the cardboard to an Final Rewards-earning card.
To study extra, try our full evaluate of the Chase Freedom Limitless.
Apply right here: Chase Freedom Limitless
Chase Freedom Flex
Annual payment: $0.
Welcome provide: Earn $200 money again after spending $500 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.
Incomes charges:
- 5% again on journey booked via Chase Journey
- 5% again on rotating quarterly classes (on as much as $1,500 of mixed spending per quarter, then 1% thereafter; activation required)
- 3% again on eating (together with takeout and supply) and drugstores
- 2% on Lyft (via Sept. 30, 2027)
- 1% on all different purchases
As a substitute of the Freedom Limitless, you could possibly go for the Freedom Flex, which earns 5% money again on rotating quarterly classes (on as much as $1,500 of mixed spending every quarter) and 1% money again on all different purchases. The quarterly classes are usually very straightforward to make use of; the present ones are Amazon and choose streaming providers.
To study extra, try our full evaluate of the Chase Freedom Flex.
Apply right here: Chase Freedom Flex
Ink Enterprise Most well-liked Credit score Card
Annual payment: $95.
Welcome provide: Earn 90,000 bonus factors after spending $8,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening. This provide is value $1,845 primarily based on TPG’s Might 2025 valuations.
Incomes fee:
- 3 factors per greenback spent on journey, delivery, web, cable, telephone providers and promoting purchases made with social media websites and serps (on as much as $150,000 in mixed spending every account anniversary 12 months, then 1 level per greenback)
- 1 level per greenback spent on all different purchases
Together with main rental automotive insurance coverage on automobiles rented for enterprise functions, the Ink Most well-liked additionally presents cellphone safety. With this safety, your card will substitute your cellphone if it is stolen or broken (as much as thrice per 12 months) with only a $100 deductible, so long as you pay your month-to-month cellphone invoice together with your card.
You possibly can even defend your workers’ cellphones if their service traces are included on the identical invoice. Simply be aware that the restrict is $1,000 per declare and $3,000 or three claims per 12-month interval.
To study extra, try our full evaluate of the Ink Enterprise Most well-liked.
Apply right here: Ink Enterprise Most well-liked Credit score Card
How does a Chase Trifecta work?
Chase has a versatile bank card lineup, and primarily based in your spending habits, it’d make sense to interchange one of many playing cards listed above with one other Chase card. Every of those playing cards covers a definite spending space and presents distinctive perks as a part of a well-rounded bank card technique.
Use your Sapphire Reserve or Sapphire Most well-liked for journey and eating purchases, the Ink Enterprise Most well-liked for any enterprise bills and the Freedom Limitless or Freedom Flex for purchases that will not earn bonus rewards together with your different playing cards. This is only one iteration of the Chase Trifecta that you may go together with.
If one of many playing cards does not fit your life-style, you’ll be able to swap it out for one which does.
All the rewards you earn with the trifecta will be pooled, permitting you to switch them to considered one of Chase’s journey companions or redeem them for 1.5 or 1.25 cents every via Chase Journey.
When reserving economy-class award flights with airways or award stays with resorts that are not Chase switch companions, you will probably get probably the most worth by making the most of the redemption bonus in Chase Journey.
Nonetheless, for those who’re reserving a premium-cabin award flight or redeeming nights at considered one of Chase’s lodge companions, you would possibly need to switch your factors. Simply ensure you’re evaluating each choices so that you simply’re getting the most effective worth out of your Final Rewards factors and never lacking out on any unique switch bonuses.
Which Chase Trifecta ought to I choose?
When selecting a Chase Trifecta, there are various issues it’s a must to keep in mind, together with how a lot you need to spend on annual charges, your journey habits, your spending habits and whether or not you’re eligible for a enterprise card.
Chase Sapphire Most well-liked vs. Chase Sapphire Reserve
Newbies who’re cautious of the $550 annual payment on the Sapphire Reserve can substitute it with the Chase Sapphire Most well-liked. Together with a decrease annual payment of simply $95, the Sapphire Most well-liked comes with an analogous incomes construction to the Sapphire Reserve.
The Sapphire Most well-liked solely comes with a 25% redemption bonus and does not have lounge entry. Nonetheless, you will additionally take pleasure in a $50 annual assertion credit score for resorts booked via Chase Journey, plus a ten% factors bonus in your anniversary primarily based in your earlier 12 months’s spending.
In the event you do not journey sufficient to completely benefit from the Chase Sapphire Reserve, the Sapphire Most well-liked is a strong alternative choice.
Associated: Chase Sapphire Most well-liked vs. Sapphire Reserve: Must you go mid-tier or premium?
Chase Freedom Flex vs. Chase Freedom Limitless
If you have already got the Capital One Enterprise Rewards Credit score Card or the Citi Double Money® Card (see charges and costs) — each of which earn at a better fee on nonbonus spending — it’d make extra sense so that you can have the Chase Freedom Flex as a substitute of the Chase Freedom Limitless.
However, if you do not have a card that earns greater than 1 level per greenback spent or 1% again in your nonbonus spending, the Freedom Limitless could also be a better option than the Freedom Flex.
Associated: Chase Freedom Flex vs. Chase Freedom Limitless comparability: Rotating classes or flat money again?
Not eligible for an Ink card? No drawback
You too can create a Chase Trifecta with out an Ink Enterprise card. Since Chase does not limit you to solely having one Freedom card, you’ll be able to carry the Freedom Flex and the Freedom Limitless.
With this setup, you’ll use your Sapphire card on your Lyft (via Sept. 30, 2027), journey and eating purchases, the Freedom Flex for five% money again on rotating quarterly classes and the Freedom Limitless for the rest that does not fall into these bonus classes.
That is additionally one of the vital cost-effective trifectas for those who go for the Sapphire Most well-liked as a substitute of the Sapphire Reserve, because the mixed annual charges could be simply $95.
Different Ink Enterprise choices
The Ink Enterprise Most well-liked is the commonest choose for the Chase Trifecta, but it surely is not the one choice you will have.
You would additionally go for one other Ink Enterprise card with no annual payment, just like the Ink Enterprise Money® Credit score Card (see charges and costs) or the Ink Enterprise Limitless® Credit score Card (see charges and costs). These playing cards earn money again, however the money again will be transformed into Final Rewards factors you probably have an Final Rewards-earning card.
The Ink Enterprise Money earns 5% money again on the primary $25,000 you make in mixed purchases every account anniversary 12 months at workplace provide shops and on web, cable and telephone providers.
You will additionally earn 2% money again on the primary $25,000 you make in mixed purchases at gasoline stations and eating places every account anniversary 12 months and 1% money again on all different purchases. The Ink Enterprise Money is an effective choice for these with excessive spending in business-related bonus classes.
The Ink Enterprise Limitless earns 5% complete money again on Lyft purchases (via Sept. 30, 2027) and 1.5% limitless money again on all different purchases.
In the event you do not spend a lot within the bonus classes on the Ink Enterprise Most well-liked or Ink Enterprise Money, you could possibly go for the Ink Enterprise Limitless for a catchall enterprise card to finish your trifecta.
Each playing cards have comparable journey protections to these offered by the Ink Enterprise Most well-liked. Nonetheless, the Ink Enterprise Most well-liked is the one card that gives cellphone safety, so in case your telephone tends to slide out of your hand typically, this can be one thing to contemplate.
Associated: Chase Ink Enterprise Limitless vs. Ink Enterprise Money: Battle of the cash-back enterprise playing cards
Different trifecta card choices
You possibly can create different card trifectas with different card issuers like American Categorical, Citi and Wells Fargo.
American Categorical
In the event you favor American Categorical and the power to earn Membership Rewards factors, you could possibly construct the Amex Trifecta with The Platinum Card® from American Categorical ($695 annual payment; see charges and costs), the American Categorical® Gold Card ($325 annual payment; see charges and costs) and The Blue Enterprise® Plus Credit score Card from American Categorical (no annual payment; see charges and costs).
With this trifecta, you’ll earn at the least 2 factors per greenback spent on all purchases you make. That is probably the most profitable incomes trifecta, as you’ll be able to earn:
- 5 factors per greenback spent on airfare when booked instantly with airways or American Categorical Journey with the Amex Platinum (on as much as $500,000 of spending every calendar 12 months, then 1 level per greenback)
- 4 factors per greenback spent on eating at eating places worldwide (on as much as $50,000 per calendar 12 months, then 1 level per greenback) and at U.S. supermarkets (on as much as $25,000 per calendar 12 months, then 1 level per greenback) with the Amex Gold
- 2 factors per greenback spent on all purchases (on as much as $50,000 per calendar 12 months, then 1 level per greenback) with The Blue Enterprise Plus
This setup is the costliest, with mixed annual charges of over $1,000, however the playing cards present quite a few assertion credit that may absolutely offset the annual charges if absolutely utilized. Enrollment is required for choose advantages, and phrases apply. Amex factors are value 2 cents apiece primarily based on TPG’s Might 2025 valuations.
Associated: The facility of the Amex Trifecta: Platinum, Gold and Blue Enterprise Plus
Citi
In the event you favor Citi, you’ll be able to construct a formidable trifecta. The Citi Strata Premier℠ Card ($95 annual payment; see charges and costs), the Citi Double Money (no annual payment) and the Citi Customized Money® Card (no annual payment) make up the Citi Trifecta.
The knowledge for the Citi Customized Money has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or offered by the cardboard issuer.
With this trifecta, you’ll be able to earn:
- 10 factors per greenback spent on resorts, automotive leases and points of interest booked via cititravel.com with the Strata Premier
- 5% money again on the primary $500 of purchases in your prime spending class with the Customized Money
- 3 factors per greenback spent on air journey, lodge (when not booked via cititravel.com), gasoline station, electrical automobile charging station, grocery store and restaurant (together with takeout) purchases, with no caps or annual limits, with the Strata Premier
- 2% money again (1% once you purchase and 1% once you pay) with the Double Money
Any money again you earn will be transformed into Citi ThankYou Rewards factors that you may switch to considered one of Citi’s 21 switch companions. Citi factors are value 1.8 cents apiece primarily based on TPG’s Might 2025 valuations. This setup additionally prices simply $95 in mixed annual charges.
Wells Fargo
Lastly, you could possibly go for the Wells Fargo trifecta. It consists of the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card ($95 annual payment; see charges and costs), the Wells Fargo Lively Money® Card (no annual payment; see charges and costs) and the Wells Fargo Attune℠ Card (no annual payment).
The knowledge for the Wells Fargo Attune has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or offered by the cardboard issuer.
You will earn:
- 5 factors per greenback spent on resorts with the Autograph Journey
- 4 factors per greenback spent on airways with the Autograph Journey
- 4% money rewards on self-care, choose sports activities, recreation and leisure purchases, plus impactful purchases like EV charging, public transit and choose thrift shops with the Attune
- 3 factors per greenback spent on eating places and different eligible journey with the Autograph Journey
- 2% money rewards on purchases with the Lively Money
Money again will be transformed into factors that may be transferred to companions. The one draw back with Wells Fargo is that it has the fewest variety of switch companions, with simply eight companions. Its factors are additionally well worth the least (1.6 cents apiece) out of the issuers we have coated primarily based on TPG’s Might 2025 valuations. This setup will price you simply $95 in mixed annual charges.
Backside line
The last word objective is to maximise each greenback you spend by placing your purchases on the fitting bank cards. Getting worth out of factors and miles is not unique to frequent flyers; you simply have to be good about the way you spend your cash.
Keep in mind that all the above playing cards are topic to Chase’s 5/24 rule. In the event you do not at the moment have these playing cards in your pockets, you will need to be strategic about once you apply for them versus different playing cards to ensure you will not be denied resulting from too many account openings inside the previous two years.
For extra particulars on how one can enhance your approval odds, try our information to bank card utility guidelines and restrictions.
Associated: Higher collectively: The last word information to the most effective bank card mixtures
For charges and costs of the Amex Platinum, click on right here.
For charges and costs of the Amex Gold, click on right here.
For charges and costs of the Blue Enterprise Plus, click on right here.
