To get the most value from Chase Ultimate Rewards, you will need to have the Chase Sapphire Reserve card, because its points are worth 1.25 cents each when redeemed for travel. You will also need to spend enough to earn the card's initial bonus of 60,000 bonus points for spending $4,000 in the first 3 months.
The Chase Sapphire Reserve card offers the highest redemption value of any Chase card, as its points are worth 50% more than the points on most other Chase cards when redeemed for travel. If you don't plan on using your rewards for travel, though, points on all Chase Ultimate Rewards cards are worth the same amount toward other redemption options. In that case, getting the most value depends on selecting the Chase card that allows you to earn the most rewards. There are a few other things you can do to maximize your value, too.
Ways to Get the Most Value From Chase Ultimate Rewards
Get the Chase Sapphire Reserve and spend your points on travel.
Have both a cash back card and a travel card from Chase to maximize the categories in which you earn bonus rewards.
Earn the cards' initial bonuses by spending a certain amount of money in the first few months.
Consider transferring points to Chase's travel partners, as some may offer more value per point than Chase itself.
Refer friends to Chase cards to earn extra rewards.
Redeem your points often. They don't expire as long as your account is open and in good standing, but keeping large amounts of points in your account for a long time increases the risk of devaluation by the issuer.
You can learn more about the ins and outs of Chase Ultimate Rewards on WalletHub. Plus, you can take a look at WalletHub's editors' picks for the best Chase credit cards by category.