Welcome to the Points Pro, where I answer your credit cards and travel rewards questions each week. If you have a question you’d like answered, you can submit it here.
This week, reader Joey asks:
Which credit card is best for earning rewards with Uber?
(This question has been edited for clarity and brevity.)
It’s possible to earn 3X to 5X rewards on Uber rides and Uber Eats purchases without the hassle of an annual fee. Many of these cards are also rewarding for other purchases and may be useful for more than just your next rideshare.
Aside from how many points you’re earning, it’s a good idea to think about what type of rewards you want. Cash back is straightforward, but you can also earn flexible travel rewards, which you may find more valuable.
Let’s take a look at the most rewarding consumer credit cards for Uber purchases.
Earn 5X on Uber with a flexible bonus category
The U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature Card earns 5% cash back on the first $2,000 in combined purchases each quarter on two categories you choose. Eligible categories include ground transportation, which Uber falls into.
That’s an incredible return, but the big caveat is that you’ll only earn 5% back on around $667 in purchases per month. You probably don’t spend that much on Uber, but depending on what your other 5% back category is, it’s possible you’ll exceed the $2,000 limit each quarter. When that happens, you’ll only earn 1% back on your selected category purchases.
If you have a lower credit score or are just building your credit history, the U.S. Bank Cash+® Secured Visa® Card is one of the most lucrative secured credit cards. It earns the same 5% cash back on up to $2,000 in combined purchases in two categories you choose.
Earn 3X to 4X on Uber with no annual fee
If you want uncapped rewards on Uber purchases, there are several options for earning an unlimited 3X or 4X.
The Wells Fargo Autograph® Card earns 3X points on a huge list of purchases, including travel, transit, gas stations, restaurants, streaming services and phone plans. So, it can be much more than just your go-to card for rideshares.
The points you earn can be redeemed for cash back or transferred to any of Wells Fargo’s travel partners. (Having the option to transfer to hotel and airline loyalty programs is a feature usually reserved for travel credit cards with an annual fee.) It also features an intro APR offer and an easy-to-earn welcome bonus.
That’s a lot of value packed into a no-annual-fee travel credit card. If I could only have one credit card and wanted to earn the most with Uber, this is the card I’d get.
The Citi Strata℠ Card is another solid travel credit card that also has no annual fee. It’s comparable to the Autograph card because it earns 3X points at supermarkets, gas stations and EV charging, transit and on a category of your choice. You’ll earn Citi ThankYou® Points with this card, which also transfer to travel partners.
However, the transfer ratios for Strata cardholders are reduced compared to what you get with premium Citi ThankYou cards. The Wells Fargo Autograph has the same transfer ratios as Wells Fargo travel cards with annual fees.
If you prefer to earn cash-back rewards, the U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card earns 4X points on travel, including Uber. It’s marketed as a travel credit card and has solid travel perks, but you can’t transfer the rewards to travel programs. You can redeem these points for up to 1 cent each for statement credits, travel and more, so its rewards are essentially the same as earning cash back.
There’s also the Apple Card, which earns 3% cash back on Uber if you pay with Apple Pay and offers a six-month free trial of Uber One. If you already have this card, that’s an easy-to-miss way to maximize your return on Uber rides.
Apple Card
Information about the Apple Card has been collected independently by Select and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of the card prior to publication.
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Rewards
3% cash back on goods or services purchased directly from Apple (including Apple retail stores, the Apple online store, the App Store, iTunes, Apple Music and other Apple-owned properties) on Uber and UberEats, at Walgreens and Duane Reade stores, on the Walgreens app and on Walgreens.com, in T-Mobile stores, at Nike, at Exxon and Mobil stations and at Panera Bread, 2% cash back on Apple Pay purchases and 1% cash back on all other purchases
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Welcome bonus
None
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Annual fee
$0
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Intro APR
None
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Regular APR
19.24% to 29.49% variable
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Balance transfer fee
None
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Foreign transaction fee
None
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Credit needed
N/A
Terms apply.
Pros
- No annual fee
- 3% cash back on goods or services purchased directly from Apple, on Uber and UberEats, at Walgreens and Duane Reade stores, on the Walgreens app and on Walgreens.com and in T-Mobile stores and at Nike
- No fee charged on purchases made outside the U.S.
Cons
- Apple Pay isn’t accepted everywhere
- Purchases with the physical card only earn 1% cash back
- No special financing offers or welcome bonus
Review the cards you currently have
Before you apply for a new card, take a look at the cards you currently have. You may be able to earn more rewards just by switching the card you currently use to pay for Uber or other rideshare services.
Another consideration is: What rewards do you already have? If you’ve accumulated a large stash of Amex Membership Rewards® points or Chase Ultimate Rewards® points, then it may make sense to apply for a card that will add to those balances, even if it’s slightly less rewarding than other top Uber credit cards.
If you already have other Amex cards, the American Express® Green Card could be a good option. It earns 3X points on transit (which includes Uber), travel and restaurants. There’s also the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees), a popular travel credit card that earns 2X points on travel (including rideshares, taxis, etc.) and 3X points on dining, gas and EV charging, vacation home rentals, online groceries and select streaming services.
If you already have a cash-back card like the Chase Freedom Unlimited® (see rates and fees), the Chase Sapphire Preferred is even more appealing because you can combine your rewards. That means you can transform your cash-back into transferable travel points.
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