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With so many great credit card options, each with its own unique perks and rewards, it's tough to pick just one card for your daily spending. But you may actually earn more cash back or points on your spending if you combine multiple credit cards, provided you choose them strategically.
The best credit card combination for you will help you earn more rewards and enjoy more perks, so you can sit back and watch them pile up.
Here are our top picks for the best credit card combinations, along with tips on how to make the right strategy work for your needs.
What makes a good credit card combination?
A good credit card combination maximizes your rewards points and their value, based on how you already spend. You use multiple credit cards with different rewards structures to cover the categories in which you spend the most, choosing complementary cards with minimal overlap.
A good credit card combo can maximize your rewards in many ways, including:
- Providing a high flat rewards rate for everyday purchases, plus a high rewards rate in one or more of your top spending categories
- Providing a high rewards rate in rotating categories, plus a few staples, so you're always getting boosted rewards on some of your purchases
- Providing premium travel benefits and travel rewards, plus a high flat rate or boosted rewards rate in select or rotating categories
When choosing a credit card combination, such as the Citi, Chase, or Amex trifectas, make sure the strategy fits with your actual spending.
The Chase Trifecta
| Credit card | Rewards rate | Annual fee |
| Chase Sapphire Reserve® | 8x points on all purchases through Chase Travel℠ (including The Edit℠), 4x points on flights and hotels booked direct, 3x points on dining worldwide & 1x points on all other purchases | $795 |
| Chase Freedom Flex® | 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate. Enjoy new 5% categories each quarter! Plus, earn 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3% on dining and drugstores, and 1% on all other purchases | $0 |
| Chase Freedom Unlimited® | 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases | $0 |
What is the Chase Trifecta?
The Chase Trifecta is a credit card strategy you can use to maximize your earnings by using different cards for different purchases, taking advantage of each card's maximum earnings rate.
The strategy works because all three cards earn Ultimate Rewards points, which you can combine. With the Chase Sapphire Reserve in the mix, you could pool your points from all three cards and redeem them for as much as $0.02 each on qualifying redemptions with Points Boost through Chase Travel.
Strategy to maximize rewards
- Make all travel and dining purchases with your Chase Sapphire Reserve card.
- Each quarter, activate Chase Freedom Flex bonus categories and use this card to spend within categories that earn 5% cash back. After spending $1,500 in a quarter, switch to your Chase Freedom Unlimited.
- Use your Chase Freedom Unlimited for everything else, including drugstores, unless you're redeeming a Sapphire Reserve credit.
- When you're ready to redeem points, transfer them to your Chase Sapphire Reserve.
- To further maximize your points, transfer them to travel partners or take advantage of Points Boost when redeeming.
Use the calculators below to customize points values and spending to better understand what you could earn with the Chase Sapphire Reserve and/or Chase Freedom Unlimited.
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| Monthly Category Spending |
|
Purchases through Chase Travel℠ (including The Edit℠)
$
Earn 8x Points
Value
|
|
Flights and hotels booked direct
$
Earn 4x Points
Value
|
|
Dining
$
Earn 3x Points
Value
|
|
All other purchases
$
Earn 1x Points
Value
|
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| Monthly Category Spending |
|
Travel purchased through Chase Travel℠
$
Earn 5% Cash Back
Value
|
|
Drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service
$
Earn 3% Cash Back
Value
|
|
All other purchases
$
Earn 1.5% Cash Back
Value
|
What is the Chase 5/24 rule?
The Chase 5/24 rule isn't an official Chase policy, but many credit card experts report that Chase won't approve applicants for a new Chase credit card if they've opened five or more credit cards from any issuer in the past 24 months.
If you're planning to try the Chase Trifecta strategy, pay attention to the timing of your credit card applications.
The Amex Trifecta
| Credit card | Rewards rate | Annual fee |
| American Express Platinum Card® | 5X points per dollar spent on eligible airfare (on up to $500,000 per calendar year, after that 1X) and eligible hotel purchases, and 1X points per dollar on all other eligible purchases | $895 |
| American Express® Gold Card | 4X Membership Rewards points at restaurants worldwide (up to $50,000 per year, after that 1X), 4X at U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 per year, after that 1X), 3X on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com, 2X on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com, and 1X on all other eligible purchases | $325 |
| The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express | 2X Membership Rewards points on everyday eligible business purchases up to $50,000 each year, and 1X points on eligible purchases after that | $0 |
How it works
The Amex Trifecta is a credit card strategy you can use to maximize your rewards if you own a small business. It involves using the ultra-premium Platinum Card® for travel, the slightly-less-premium Gold Card for dining and groceries, and a high-rate flat rewards business card, the Blue Business Plus, for your small business expenses.
All the American Express Membership Rewards points you earn are pooled together, and you can maximize your Amex points redemptions through transfers to travel partners.
Strategy to maximize rewards
- Use the Blue Business Plus Credit Card for all your small business expenses. Remember: You shouldn't use a business credit card for personal expenses.
- Use the American Express Gold Card at restaurants and supermarkets.
- Use the American Express Platinum Card® to book flights, hotels, and other prepaid travel reservations.
- Activate and use relevant dining or entertainment credits offered with either premium card.
- Redeem your points for maximum value, which typically involves a transfer to a hotel or airline loyalty program
What is the Amex 2/90 rule?
Like the Chase 5/24 rule, the Amex 2/90 is an informal "rule" widely reported by credit card users rather than an official American Express policy. It states that American Express won't approve applicants for more than two American Express credit cards within a 90-day period.
The max cash back combo: U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card + Chase Freedom Flex
| Credit card | Rewards rate | Annual fee |
| U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card | 5% cash back on two categories you choose (up to $2,000 in combined eligible purchases each quarter) and on prepaid air, hotel and car reservations booked directly in the Rewards Center; 2% cash back on one everyday category, like gas stations/EV charging stations, grocery stores, or restaurants; and 1% cash back on all other eligible purchases | $0 |
| Chase Freedom Flex® | 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate. Enjoy new 5% categories each quarter! Plus, earn 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3% on dining and drugstores, and 1% on all other purchases | $0 |
How it works
This cash back credit card combination strategy involves using two cash back credit cards from different issuers to earn the highest possible cashback rewards rate for all your purchases. This strategy requires a bit of planning, since you'll need to activate quarterly bonus categories for the Chase Freedom Flex and strategically choose categories for the U.S. Bank Cash+ Visa Signature Card.
You won't be able to combine your points with these cards, but both offer flexible redemption options. And, if you need to book travel, you could earn a comparable rewards rate with either card issuer's travel portal, which may give you more options.
Strategy to maximize rewards
- Activate and take note of your Chase quarterly 5% cash back bonus categories first.
- Choose two different categories to earn 5% on up to $2,000 in combined eligible purchases each quarter with your U.S. Bank Cash+ card, and one everyday category, like gas stations/EV charging stations, grocery stores, or restaurants to earn 2% cash back in.
- When shopping online, check for U.S. Bank Rewards Center Shopping Deals with the retailer before deciding which credit card to use.
- Use your Chase Freedom Flex card for dining purchases.
- When booking travel, compare options in the U.S. Bank and Chase Travel portals and choose the best deal for your travel needs.
The everyday purchases + travel combo: Citi Double Cash® Card + Citi Strata Premier® Card
| Credit card | Rewards rate | Annual fee |
| Citi Double Cash Card | 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases; plus, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked with Citi Travel | $0 |
| Citi Strata Premier Card | 10X Points on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked on CitiTravel.com; 3X Points on air travel and other hotel purchases, at restaurants, supermarkets, gas and EV charging stations; and 1X Points on all other purchases | $95 |
How it works
This is a simple rewards-maximization strategy that doesn't require you to track bonus categories. It could be a good option if you're looking for a mid-level travel card. Plus, the rewards credit card combination is flexible. You could swap out the Citi Strata Premier for the Citi Strata Elite℠ Card if you want more premium benefits, for example.
You can combine Citi points from both cards onto a single account, which allows for flexible redemptions and the opportunity to put rewards toward a high-value redemption with Citi's travel partners.
Strategy to maximize rewards
- Use your Citi Strata Premier Card for all travel and dining purchases. You should also use it at supermarkets (excluding superstores like Target), gas stations, and EV charging stations.
- Use your Citi Double Cash Card for all other purchases. Ensure you pay your balances on both cards in full and on time.
- When redeeming your points, you could often get more value by transferring your points to your Citi Strata Premier account and using them to book a trip through CitiTravel.com or transferring them to one of Citi's transfer partner loyalty programs.
- That said, if you prefer cash back, transfer them to your Citi Double Cash account instead, where you can redeem them at a value of up to $0.01 per point.
The Capital One rewards duo: Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card + Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
| Credit card | Rewards rate | Annual fee |
| Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card | 3% cash back at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®), on dining, entertainment and popular streaming services; 5% back on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel; 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases; and 1% cash back on all other purchases | $0 |
| Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card | 2 miles per dollar on every purchase, every day, 5 miles per dollar on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5 miles per dollar on Capital One Entertainment purchases | $95 |
How it works
If you like to eat out, go to concerts, stream a lot of shows and movies, and travel the world, this credit card combo covers the bases. It involves using the Capital One Savor Rewards Card for dining, entertainment, and grocery store purchases, and the Capital One Venture Rewards Card for a high flat rewards rate and access to premium travel benefits.
If you travel more than a few times per year, think about swapping the Venture Rewards for the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card. For a $395 annual fee, you get a $300 annual travel credit for bookings made through Capital One Travel, a 10,000-mile anniversary bonus, and much more.
Strategy to maximize rewards
- Use your Savor Rewards card for dining, entertainment (including event tickets and streaming services), and groceries (excluding superstores like Walmart and Target).
- Use your Venture Rewards card for all other purchases.
- To maximize the value of your Capital One rewards, combine them as miles on your Venture Rewards card and transfer them to a Capital One transfer partner. Or, if you'd rather book travel directly, purchase your trip through Capital One Travel with your Venture card to potentially earn more rewards, then use your miles to cover the travel purchase or request a statement credit.
How to avoid common mistakes with credit card combinations
Time your credit card applications
It may take time to get going with a credit card combination strategy. You might need to space out your credit card applications to avoid restrictions like the Chase 5/24 rule and to protect your credit score from potential damage.
You may also want to take advantage of each card's welcome offer if you can qualify without straining your budget. These typically have spending requirements you need to meet within two or three months of opening a card, so you might need to put many or all of your purchases on one card for a while.
Don't apply for two cards that serve the same purpose
The goal of combining credit cards is to cover your bases. Think about where you spend most of your money, and try to find two or three cards that each have high earnings in one or two of those categories. Another option is finding one card with a high flat rate and another that earns in an area that could offer a lot of value based on how you spend.
Track your spending
It's important to keep a budget and track your spending, whether you're maximizing credit card rewards or not. But it's especially important if you're using a strategy that includes a card with bonus rewards categories. You'll need to stay hands-on about activating and tracking your purchases in each category every quarter. Set reminders and use a budgeting app if you need help with this.
Redeem for maximum value
Don't fall into the trap of combining your points only to redeem them at a lackluster rate of exchange. For example, you often get less value when redeeming miles for cash with some travel credit cards. Travel points redemptions can offer a lot of bang for your buck, no matter the card, but that might not always be the most realistic way to redeem rewards if you don't travel a lot.
Make sure you understand how to maximize the value of your points based on your card's redemption program.
FAQs
What is the 2/3/4 rule for credit cards?
Some credit card issuers follow an informal rule that restricts applicants from being approved for two new credit cards within 30 days, three new credit cards within 12 months, and four new credit cards within 24 months. This limit may impact your ability to open a new credit card if you've applied for new credit in the past.
What is the Chase Sapphire combination?
The Chase Sapphire combination, also known as the Chase Trifecta, is a credit card strategy that uses the Chase Sapphire Reserve, the Chase Freedom Flex, and the Chase Freedom Unlimited credit cards to maximize rewards across a broad range of spending categories.
What is the best credit card mix for beginners?
The best credit card mix for beginners depends on your individual financial goals and spending habits, but it's a good idea to start by pairing a credit card that earns a high flat rate with a card that earns a higher rate in one or two spending categories that are relevant to you. You may want to choose no-annual-fee credit cards while you're still learning to manage credit cards.
Bottom line
To choose the best credit card combination, evaluate your spending habits, consider your credit score, analyze rewards programs and redemption rules, and look into credit card application restrictions to plan an effective strategy.
Choose a credit card combination that broadly covers your top spending categories with minimal overlap, offers the benefits that are most important to you, and will earn more than enough in rewards to offset annual fees. For more credit card combo inspiration, check out the best credit cards.
Benefits Card Details Intro Offer
$200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months
Annual Fee $0 Why we like it
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