Even folks who own or lease their own vehicles and use those rides for the majority of their trips can occasionally benefit from ride-hailing services like Uber and Lyft.
If you count yourself among them, you’ll come out ahead when you use one of these Uber-friendly cards as your default payment method. The cards near the top of the list treat Uber fans better, but they also carry high annual fees — a potential deal breaker for frugal cardholders who can’t take full advantage of their rewards programs and value-added perks. So take some time to review all your options.
Best Credit Cards for Uber Rides
For best results, choose your preferred Uber card from this list and designate it as your default Uber payment method.
If you own a small business or earn sufficient income as a freelancer or solopreneur to qualify for a small-business credit card, designate your preferred business card as your default payment method for business-related travel (and ask your accountant whether said travel qualifies for a self-employment tax deduction).
1. Chase Sapphire Reserve®
$300 Annual Credit Against Qualifying Travel Purchases, Including Uber Fares; 50% Boost on Eligible Travel Redemptions
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is the best credit card for frequent Uber rides for one simple reason: Chase characterizes ridesharing fares and tips as travel purchases for the purposes of its industry-leading $300 annual travel credit.
If you make no other travel purchases with your Sapphire Reserve card until you’ve spent $300 in Uber fares year-to-date, you rack up $300 in free Uber rides. Since Sapphire Reserve is an ultra-premium travel rewards credit card marketed to frequent travelers, most cardholders don’t spend their entire travel credit on ridesharing fares. But it’s nice to have so much leeway.
Even better, once you’ve used up your $300 travel credit, you’ll still earn 3 points per $1 spent on Uber purchases. That’s a 4.5% rate of return when you redeem for travel bookings through the Chase Ultimate Rewards travel portal.
- Sign-Up Bonus: Spend at least $4,000 in qualifying purchases within 3 months to earn 60,000 bonus Ultimate Rewards points. That’s worth up to $900 when redeemed for airfare, hotels, and other travel purchases through the Chase Travel℠.
- Earning Rewards: After earning your annual travel credit, you’ll earn unlimited 3 Ultimate Rewards points per $1 spent on travel and dining purchases worldwide. Uber rides are classified as travel purchases. All other eligible purchases earn an unlimited 1 Ultimate Rewards point per $1 spent.
- Redeeming Rewards: Redeem for travel bookings through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal, cash back via bank account deposits and statement credits, gift cards, point of sale purchases with select merchants (including Amazon), and other options. Points are worth $0.015 apiece when redeemed for travel and $0.01 apiece when redeemed for cash.
- Key Fees: The annual fee is $550, and there’s a $75 authorized user fee per additional user, per year. There is no foreign transaction fee.
- Other Perks: Transfer accrued points to about a dozen travel partners at a 1-to-1 ratio. Enjoy complimentary airport lounge access at more than 1,000 Priority Pass lounges worldwide. Earn valuable perks at high-end hotels and resorts worldwide, including flexible check-in and complimentary room upgrades when available
See our Chase Sapphire Reserve® review for more information.
2. The Platinum Card® from American Express
Up to $200 in Uber Credits Per Year ($15 Per Month & $20 in December)
The Platinum Card® from American Express appeals directly to Uber riders with a $15 monthly credit (and an extra $20 credit in December) against Uber fares paid with the card.
Compared with across-the-board travel credits calculated on a year-to-date basis, the Platinum Card’s Uber credits demand more intentionality. Because the credit is capped at $15 per month for 11 months out of the year and the Platinum Card earns just 1 point per $1 spent on Uber rides above the credit threshold, you’ll want to have a backup Uber payment method if you plan to spend significantly more than $15 per month on ridesharing.
- Welcome Offer: Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum Card®, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu.
- Earning Rewards: Earn 5 Membership Rewards points per $1 spent on certain eligible travel purchases: flights booked directly with airlines or through American Express Travel and prepaid hotels booked through American Express Travel.
- Redeeming Rewards: Redeem Membership Rewards points at the Membership Rewards portal for travel bookings, gift cards, cash back, general merchandise, and special experiences offered by Amex partners. Redemption minimums generally start at 1,000 points, and points are usually worth $0.005 to $0.01 apiece at redemption. Travel redemptions offer the best value.
- Key Fees: The annual fee is $695. There’s no authorized user fee or foreign transaction fee. See rates & fees for more information.
- Other Perks: In addition to the $200 annual Uber credit, there’s a $200 annual airline fee credit that’s good against purchases with the airline of your choice. Other benefits include complimentary access to more than 1,000 airport lounges worldwide, special perks and benefits at some of the world’s most luxurious hotels, and automatic Gold and Gold Elite loyalty status with Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy, respectively.
See our Platinum Card® from American Express review for more information. Learn more about this card and find out how to apply here.
3. Chase Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
3x Points on Eligible Travel Purchases, Including Uber Fares; 25% Boost on Eligible Travel Redemptions
Like the Chase Sapphire Reserve Card, the Chase Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card earns 3 points per $1 spent on eligible travel purchases, including ridesharing fares. The difference is that the 3x earning rate on travel purchases tops out at $150,000 in combined category purchases per year, after which travel purchases earn 1 point per $1 spent.
That said, unless you have a lot of globe-trotting employees, you’re probably not going to rack up $150,000 in Uber charges each year on your small-business credit card.
Points earned through Uber spending with the Ink Business Preferred card are worth $0.0125 when redeemed for travel bookings at the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal. That’s a 3.75% return on spending. Points transferred to participating travel partners may earn an even higher return, depending on the redemption method.
- Sign-Up Bonus: When you spend at least $8,000 in eligible purchases within 3 months of opening your account, you earn 100,000 bonus Ultimate Rewards points. That's worth $1,250 when redeemed for travel purchases on Chase Travel℠, and $1,000 when redeemed for cash back or general merchandise.
- Earning Rewards: Earn 3 points per $1 spent on travel (including Uber and other ridesharing fares), shipping, communications, and certain digital advertising purchases, up to an annual combined spending limit of $150,000. Earn an unlimited 1 point per $1 spent on everything else, including favored category purchases above the cap.
- Redeeming Rewards: Redeem for Chase Ultimate Rewards travel bookings, cash back, gift cards, point of sale purchases with Amazon and other merchants, and more. Points are worth $0.0125 apiece when redeemed for travel and $0.01 apiece when redeemed for most other options.
- Key Fees: The annual fee is $95. There is no foreign transaction fee or fee for additional authorized users.
- Other Perks: Transfer points to about a dozen Chase Travel℠ partners at a 1-to-1 ratio, potentially magnifying points’ value significantly. Enjoy travel insurance and other travel protections, including trip interruption and cancellation coverage.
See our Chase Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card review for more information.
4. Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
2x Points on Eligible Travel Purchases, Including Uber Fares; 25% Boost on Eligible Travel Redemptions
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is the junior cousin to the Chase Sapphire Reserve Card. While Sapphire Preferred isn’t quite as generous, it still earns 2 points per $1 spent on Uber fares and offers a nice value boost on travel redemptions: 25% over the $0.01-per-point baseline for cash redemptions. That’s a 2.5% return on Uber spending. Points transferred to participating travel partners may earn an even higher return on spending, depending on how they’re redeemed.
- Sign-Up Bonus: Earn 60,000 bonus points, worth up to $750 on travel purchased through Ultimate Rewards, when you spend at least $4,000 within 3 months.
- Earning Rewards: Earn unlimited 3 points per $1 spent on eligible dining purchases. Earn unlimited 2 points per $1 spent on qualifying travel purchases, including Uber fares. Earn unlimited 1 point per $1 on all other eligible purchases.
- Redeeming Rewards: The best way to redeem is for travel bookings made through the Chase Ultimate Rewards travel portal. This option values points at $0.0125 apiece. Other redemption options, all of which value points at $0.01 apiece, include gift cards, cash back, and purchases with select merchant partners (including Amazon).
- Key Fees: The annual fee is $95. There’s no fee for additional authorized users and no foreign transaction fee.
- Other Perks: Transfer accrued points to participating travel partners (about a dozen in all) at a generous 1-to-1 ratio.
See our Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card review for more information.
5. Apple Card
3% Cash Back on Uber Purchases Made Using Apple Pay
Apple Card is a different type of credit card, and it’s worth reading our full review (linked below) for more on exactly what that means. When you make purchases with the Uber ridesharing and Uber Eats app using Apple Pay, you’ll earn 3% cash back, automatically redeemed to your account on a daily basis.
- Sign-Up Bonus: There’s currently no sign-up bonus. Check the issuer’s website for the latest bonus details.
- Earning Rewards: Earn 3% cash back on purchases made with Apple, including any merchandise or services at the Apple Store, Apple.com, the App Store, or iTunes. Earn 3% cash back on select Apple Pay purchases, including those made through the Uber ridesharing and Uber Eats apps.
- Redeeming Rewards: Cash back is automatically redeemed to your account every day.
- Key Fees: There is no annual fee or foreign transaction fee.
- Other Perks: Apple Card has novel interest-reduction features and other perks not common in the credit card world.
See our Apple Card review for more information. Learn more about this card and find out how to apply here.
6. Capital One® Venture® Rewards Credit Card
2x Points on All Eligible Purchases, Including Uber Fares
The Capital One® Venture® Rewards Credit Card is one of the most popular travel rewards credit cards on the market. Its rewards program delivers unlimited 2 points on every purchase, every day, including on Uber ridesharing and Uber Eats purchases. That adds up to a 2% rate of return on Uber spending when you redeem points for statement credits against prior travel purchases.
- Early Spend Bonus: Earn 75,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 on the card within 3 months from account opening. That's worth $750 in travel expenses at redemption.
- Earning Rewards: Earn unlimited 2 miles per $1 spent on most purchases, including all purchases with Uber apps. For a limited time, earn 10 miles per $1 spent on purchases at hotels.com/venture.
- Redeeming Rewards: The best way to redeem is for statement credits against prior travel purchases at a per-point rate of $0.01. Partial redemptions are allowed. Other redemption options include gift cards, general statement credits, and merchandise, all at variable point values.
- Introductory APR: None.
- Key Fees: The $95 annual fee is waived during the first year. There is no foreign transaction fee.
- Other Perks: Enjoy $100 off your Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee, plus a host of shopping and travel benefits, including extended warranties and car rental coverage.
See our Capital One® Venture® Rewards Credit Card review for more information. Learn more about this card and find out how to apply here.
Methodology: How We Select the Best Uber Credit Cards
The best credit cards for Uber rides also tend to be the best credit cards for other types of travel purchases. But each card on this list has some important features and capabilities in common. These are the most important ones we considered when putting it together.
Reward Rate for Local Transportation Purchases
Uber purchases qualify as local transportation purchases, a merchant code that also encompasses public transit, tolls, parking fees, and related expenses. Most credit card rewards programs treat all local transportation purchases the same, and we look out for those that reward them above and beyond most other types of purchases.
Reward Rate on Complementary Purchases
We also look at how credit cards reward purchases that naturally complement ride-hailing purchases and local transportation purchases in general. The most important complementary categories for frequent Uber users are restaurant (dining) and general travel purchases, since many people use ride-hailing services when they’re out on the town or traveling far from home.
New Cardmember Bonus
Most of the cards on this list offer attractive bonuses for new cardmembers. That’s no accident, as the best Uber credit cards (and the best travel credit cards in general) tend to be generous on this front.
Annual Fee
The lower the annual fee, the better. But credit cards with no annual fees at all tend not to be as generous as those with recurring levies. Where possible, we prefer cards with low or no annual fees, with costlier-but-more-generous cards close behind.
Notable Perks
The best Uber credit cards have loads of perks and benefits for frequent travelers. Few offer direct benefits for Uber riders beyond the reward rate, but those that do get favored treatment in our analysis. Otherwise, the more value a card offers for travelers, the higher it’s likely to be on this list.
Uber Credit Card FAQs
If you’re still unsure about what to expect from your next Uber-friendly credit card, we have answers to some common questions.
Do You Need Good Credit to Get an Uber Credit Card?
Not necessarily. However, in general, premium travel rewards credit cards require good or excellent credit, including many cards on this list. If you have limited credit history or your FICO score is much below 700, you may have trouble qualifying for these cards.
What Are the Best Uber Credit Cards Without Annual Fees?
Sad to say, the best Uber credit cards have annual fees, sometimes in excess of $250. The best Uber credit card without an annual fee is the Apple Card.
How Do Credit Card Companies Categorize Uber Fares?
Uber fares almost always qualify as general travel or local transportation purchases. Many credit cards specifically reward local transportation purchases, but if yours doesn’t, check the fine print on its rewards program to see if ride-hailing purchases qualify as general travel.
Do These Credit Cards Reward Purchases With Uber Eats and Postmates?
Some do, but not as part of the local transportation category. Purchases with Uber Eats and Postmates, both of which are owned by Uber, typically qualify as restaurant or dining purchases. If you want to earn bonus points or miles on them, choose a card that favors restaurant or dining spending or a card that favors a certain payment method, like Apple Card does with Apple Pay.
Is the Consumer Uber Credit Card Still Around?
No, the Uber consumer credit card is no longer available. While this is no doubt disappointing to Uber fans, this list shows just how many alternatives there are for rewarding Uber rides. And if you drive for Uber, you can take advantage of the newer Uber Pro Card, a business debit Mastercard that offers rewards and perks for ride-hailing drivers.
Final Word
While the best all-around Uber card is the Chase Sapphire Reserve Card, thanks mainly to the generous $300 travel credit, the Platinum Card from American Express isn’t a bad choice either if you can keep your Uber spending at or near $15 per month.
If you spend more than $200 to $300 per month on Uber rides, there’s no reason to stop at one card. Credit-qualified Uber enthusiasts can claim up to $500 in Uber credits per year by rotating their Uber spending through these two premium travel rewards credit cards — though, in practice, Uber spending won’t account for most Chase Sapphire Reserve users’ entire travel credit allowance.
