Frequent Uber or Lyft user? These are the best credit cards for you
Over the past few years, we've embraced ride-hailing services so fully that it's hard to imagine a time when our only options to get around a new city were public transportation or calling a taxi.
But as convenient as they are, services like Uber and Lyft can get expensive. Fortunately, ride-hailing services have become a common bonus category for both travel credit cards and cash-back credit cards, and many cards offer specific credits and benefits when you book a ride via an app.
Below, we're breaking down the best Uber and Lyft credit cards to help you maximize your earnings on each trip.
Overview of the best credit cards for Uber and Lyft
Card | Earn rates and benefits | Annual fee | Return on spending* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chase Sapphire Reserve® | 10 points per dollar on Lyft rides through March 31, 2025
Complimentary Lyft Pink All Access membership $300 in annual travel credits | $550 | 21% |
| Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card | 5 points per dollar on Lyft rides through March 31, 2025 | $95 | 10% |
| American Express® Green Card | 3 points per dollar on transit, including ride-hailing | $150 | 6% |
| 5% cash back on Lyft rides through March 31, 2025
1.5% cash back on all other non-bonus category purchases, including Uber | $0 | 5% on Lyft
1.5% on Uber | |
| Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card | 2 miles per dollar on ride-hailing | $95 | 3% |
| Citi Double Cash® Card (see rates and fees) | 2 points per dollar on all purchases (1 point when you buy, plus 1 point per dollar when paying your bill) | $0 | 2% (or 3.6% if you also have a premium Citi card) |
| Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express | 3% cash back on transit, including ride-hailing services
Cash back received in the form of reward dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout | $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95 (see rates and fees) | 3% |
| Apple Card | 3% Apple Cash on Uber and Uber eats | $0 | 3% |
| The Platinum® Card from American Express | 1 point per dollar on ride-hailing (note that the card also offers monthly Uber Cash) | $695 (see rates and fees) | 2% |
*Valuations are based on TPG's August 2024 calculations and are not provided by card issuers.
The information for the American Express Green and Apple Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
The best credit cards for Uber and Lyft
Chase Sapphire Reserve
Annual fee: $550
Rewards on ride-hailing: 10 points per dollar on Lyft purchases through March 31, 2025, and 3 points per dollar on travel, which includes Uber
Why it's great for ride-hailing: The Chase Sapphire Reserve — one of the best travel credit cards on the market— offers an unbeatable 10 points per dollar on Lyft purchases and a solid 3 points per dollar on Uber expenses, which code as travel on your statement.
The Lyft and Uber benefits with the Sapphire Reserve don't end with the earning structure — there's also the $300 annual travel credit that comes with the card; because Chase considers ride-hailing services to be a travel expense, you can also potentially get up to $300 off your rides every year thanks to the travel credit. Chase automatically reimburses you in statement credits for your travel purchases.
Finally, Chase Sapphire Reserve cardholders get a complimentary Lyft Pink All Access membership. This grants members benefits like priority pickups, free cancellations and 10% off all Lux rides.
For more details, read our full review of the Chase Sapphire Reserve.
Apply here: Chase Sapphire Reserve
Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
Annual fee: $95
Rewards on ride-hailing: 5 points per dollar on Lyft rides through March 31, 2025 (3 bonus points in addition to the 2 points earned on all travel)
Why it's great for ride-hailing: While it has a lower earning rate than the Sapphire Reserve (and no travel credit), the Preferred is a good choice if you prefer not to pay a steep annual fee.
For more details, read our full review of the Chase Sapphire Preferred.
Apply here: Chase Sapphire Preferred
American Express Green Card
Annual fee: $150
Rewards for ride-hailing: 3 points per dollar on transit, including Lyft and Uber
Why it's great for ride-hailing: When Amex relaunched its iconic Amex Green Card a few years ago, it added expanded bonus categories to the benefits list — including 3 points per dollar on transit (Lyft and Uber purchases fall into that category). The card earns Membership Rewards points, which TPG's August 2024 valuations peg at 2 cents each. That's a 6% return on all of your Uber and Lyft spending.
For more details, read our full review of the Amex Green Card.
Chase Freedom Unlimited
Annual fee: $0
Rewards on ride-hailing: 5% cash back on Lyft rides through March 31, 2025, along with 1.5% cash back on all other non-bonus category purchases, which includes Uber and Lyft.
Why it's great for ride-hailing: The Freedom Unlimited is the card for you if you prefer cash back over points and miles (and enjoy not paying an annual fee).
However, you can get even more value from the card when you pair it with a premium card like the Sapphire Preferred or Sapphire Reserve. Chase allows you to combine your Ultimate Rewards points into a single account, effectively converting your cash-back rewards on the Freedom Unlimited to fully transferable points.
For more details, read our full review of the Chase Freedom Unlimited.
Apply here: Chase Freedom Unlimited
Alaska Airlines Visa Signature credit card
Annual fee: $95
Rewards for ride-hailing: 2 miles per dollar on ride-hailing purchases
Why it's great for ride-hailing: Alaska Airlines miles are the most highly-valued airline miles on TPG's August 2024 valuations, providing a solid rate of return on your spending and miles that you can redeem for aspirational flights.
For more details, read our full review of the Alaska Airlines Visa card.
Apply here: Alaska Airlines Visa card
Citi Double Cash Card
Annual fee: $0
Rewards for ride-hailing: 2% back on every purchase (1% when you buy and 1% when you pay your bill).
Why it's great for ride-hailing: The Citi Double Cash offers up to 2% across every purchase, including Lyft and Uber purchases. This is one of the highest-earning, flat-rate cash-back cards on the market, and it's a common choice for those who want a straightforward way to earn rewards across every purchase without needing to keep track of activating rotating bonus categories.
For more details, read our full review of the Citi Double Cash.
Apply here: Citi Double Cash Card
Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express
Annual fee: $0 introductory annual fee for one year, then $95 (see rates and fees)
Rewards for ride-hailing: 3% on transit, including ride-hailing apps like Lyft and Uber
Why it's great for ride-hailing: The Blue Cash Preferred is another Amex card that received a makeover in 2019, adding expanded earning categories.
One of those additional categories was transit, which includes Lyft and Uber purchases. This card remains a strong option to use on all of your transit expenses including Uber and Lyft. Cash back is received as reward dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout.
For more details, read our full review of the Blue Cash Preferred.
Apply here: Blue Cash Preferred Card
Apple Card
Annual fee: $0
Rewards for ride-hailing: 3% cash back on Uber and Uber Eats
Why it's great for ride-hailing: In 2019, Uber became one of the vendors to earn 3% cash back (Daily Cash) on the Apple Card.
The truth is, this card is best for true Apple loyalists since you only earn the highest Daily Cash at select merchants like Apple, Uber and Walgreens. You receive Daily Cash right after each purchase. That's good if you're a fan of simple cash back, but if you're going for points or miles, this card isn't the best choice.
For more details, read our full review of the Apple Card.
The Platinum Card from American Express
Annual fee: $695 (see rates and fees)
Rewards for ride-hailing: 1 point per dollar on ride-hailing service purchases, plus various benefits (see below).
Why it's great for ride-hailing: While you're not earning bonus rewards on Uber or Lyft purchases, the Platinum Card is one of the best options out there for Uber perks.
The highlight of those benefits is up to $200 in Uber Cash to use annually (for U.S. services), which is broken down as $15 each month, plus a $20 bonus in December ($35 total for this month). Enrollment is required. Uber Cash will only be deposited into one Uber account when you add the Amex Platinum as a payment method and redeem with any Amex card.
To get the credits, you need to add your Platinum Card as a payment option in your Uber app — the monthly credits will then be loaded into your Uber Cash account automatically at the beginning of each month. As an Amex Platinum cardholder, you'll also get Uber VIP status, which allows you to request top-rated drivers in select cities.
Just note that this Uber Cash doesn't roll over from month to month, but it's also valid for Uber Eats orders in the U.S. Be sure to use it before the last day of the month so it doesn't go to waste.
For more details, read our full review of the Amex Platinum Card.
Apply here: Amex Platinum Card
Another option: Gift cards
Gift cards earn a special mention in this article.
That's because you may earn a better return when purchasing Uber gift cards instead of paying for Uber rides directly. There are some caveats: Uber gift cards can only be used for rides or UberEats orders in the country where the gift card was purchased, and they can't be used for family profiles, scheduled rides or university campus card rides.
Buying Uber gift cards can be a good way to earn a solid return if you have a credit card that offers high bonus earnings for merchants where you can purchase gift cards, such as grocery stores, gas stations or office supply stores.
Three popular options for purchasing gift cards at select merchants are the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card, American Express® Gold Card and the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express. You'll need to find a store in the bonus category for your card that sells Uber gift cards and will allow you to purchase gift cards with a credit card.
Bottom line
With ride-hailing an integral part of modern travel, it makes sense to maximize your credit card benefits when booking a ride-hailing service like Uber or Lyft. The trick is to find the card or cards that work for you — and as you can see, there's no shortage of solid options available.
Related: The best cards for every bonus category
For rates and fees of the Amex Platinum Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Amex Blue Cash Preferred card, click here.