It’s amazing to think how much ridesharing has changed the way people get around. Back in the day, you’d need to rely on rental cars or taxis when traveling, while now you can get transportation around the globe within minutes using your smartphone.
Since Uber & Lyft spending is a significant expense for many, I want to write a post about the best credit cards to use for ridesharing, plus some overall tips for maximizing value with Uber & Lyft:
- First I’ll cover the partnerships that exist between credit card issuers and ridesharing companies, which can add significant value
- Then I’ll talk about the partnerships that exist between airline and hotel loyalty programs, and ridesharing companies, which allow you to double dip
- Then I’ll talk about the best credit cards to use for ridesharing in general
In this post:
The best credit card perks with Uber & Lyft
American Express has a useful partnership with Uber, while Chase has a useful partnership with Lyft. These can save you significant amounts of money, and can be a great reason to pick up an eligible card. Arguably this is the single best way to maximize value with ridesharing. Let’s go over what’s offered by these two card issuers.
American Express card benefits with Uber
American Express & Uber have an ongoing partnership, offering an Uber Cash benefit (applicable to rides and Uber Eats purchases in the United States) with select cards (Enrollment required). Specifically:
- American Express Platinum Card® (review) offers an Uber Cash benefit of up to $200 per year — you receive a $15 credit per month, plus a $35 credit in December
- The American Express® Gold Card (review) offers an Uber Cash benefit of up to $120 per year — you receive a $10 credit per month
- An Amex Card must be selected as the payment method for your Uber or Uber Eats transaction to redeem the Amex Uber Cash benefit
Chase card benefits with Lyft
Chase & Lyft have a partnership, offering bonus points for spending with Lyft. Currently this partnership is valid through September 30, 2027, and you can earn the following rewards for spending with Lyft, with no caps:
- The Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card (review) offers 5x points on Lyft rides, plus a $10 monthly Lyft ride credit
- The Sapphire Reserve for Business℠ (review) offers 5x points on Lyft rides, plus a $10 monthly Lyft ride credit
- The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (review) offers 5x points on Lyft rides
- The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card (review) offers 5x points on Lyft rides
- The Ink Business Cash® Credit Card (review) offers 5x points on Lyft rides
- The Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card (review) offers 5x points on Lyft rides
Earn bonus rewards points with Uber & Lyft
In addition to the above partnerships, and in addition to the ability to earn credit card rewards with Uber & Lyft, there are also opportunities to earn airline and hotel points by linking your accounts to these ridesharing companies. Let’s go over what’s possible.
Earn bonus airline & hotel points with Lyft
Lyft has partnerships with Alaska Mileage Plan, Bilt Rewards, and Hilton Honors, so members can earn bonus rewards with their choice of one of those three programs:
- Alaska and Lyft have a partnership for US and Canada rides, offering 3x Mileage Plan miles on airport rides and elevated Lyft rides (Extra Comfort, Black, and Black SUV), and 2x Mileage Plan miles on everyday Lyft rides (Standard, Priority Pickup, and XL)
- Bilt Rewards and Lyft have a partnership for US rides, offering 2x Bilt points on Lyft rides
- Hilton Honors and Lyft have a partnership for US rides, offering 3x Honors points on Lyft rides, on up to $10,000 in spending per year
Personally, I think the Alaska Mileage Plan partnership is the most lucrative, especially if a lot of your Lyft rides are to the airport, or for premium vehicles.
Earn bonus airline & hotel points with Uber
Uber has partnerships with Delta SkyMiles and Marriott Bonvoy, so members can earn bonus rewards with their choice of one of those two programs:
- Delta SkyMiles and Uber have a partnership for US rides, offering 3x SkyMiles on Uber Reserve rides, 2x SkyMiles on Uber XL, Comfort, Black, and Black SUV rides, and 1x SkyMiles on UberX rides to and from the airport, and on Uber Eats restaurant and grocery orders of over $40
- Marriott Bonvoy and Uber have a partnership for US rides, offering 3x Bonvoy points on Uber Premium rides (UberXL, Uber Black, Uber SUV, and Uber Comfort), 2x Bonvoy points on UberX Reserve rides and on Uber Eats restaurant and grocery orders of over $40
The Delta SkyMiles partnership is probably slightly more lucrative than the Marriott Bonvoy partnership, on balance, but it all depends on what your usual Uber activity looks like, and which currencies you value most.
Best credit cards for Uber & Lyft spending
Aside from the special partnerships that American Express and Chase have with ridesharing companies, let’s take a look at the credit cards that generally offer the best rewards on Uber & Lyft rides, whether you’re looking to earn points or cash back. Again, this excludes any limited time bonus earning opportunities with the above cards.
While there are lots of great credit card bonus categories out there, unfortunately there aren’t that many cards offering bonus points on rideshare purchases, outside of the special partnerships highlighted above. At least not nearly as many cards as you’ll find offering bonus points on airfare, hotels, groceries, dining, etc.
Below are my favorites, including both personal and business cards, with the return on spending determined based on my valuation of points. In all cases, the cards offer the equivalent of at least a 3% return on Uber & Lyft purchases.
1. Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
Reward for rideshare spending: Up to 3x Chase Ultimate Rewards points (which I value at 5.1%)
Card annual fee: $95
Foreign transaction fees: none
The Ink Business Preferred offers 3x points on the first $150,000 spent in combined purchases every anniversary year on travel (including ridesharing), shipping purchases, internet, cable, and phone services, and advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines. So within those limits this is the best card for rideshare spending globally.
Learn more about the Ink Preferred.
2. American Express® Green Card
Reward for rideshare spending: 3x Amex Membership Rewards points (which I value at 5.1%)
Card annual fee: $150 (Rates & Fees)
Foreign transaction fees: none
The Amex Green offers 3x points on all travel purchases, and that includes rideshares. That makes it the best personal card for Uber & Lyft spending globally, by my valuation.
Read a review of the Amex Green, and learn more about the Amex Green.
The information and associated card details on this page for the American Express Green Card has been collected independently by OMAAT and has not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
3. Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Reward for rideshare spending: 2x Chase Ultimate Rewards points (which I value at 3.4%)
Card annual fee: $95
Foreign transaction fees: none
The Chase Sapphire Preferred offers 2x points on all travel purchases, and that includes rideshares. This is a great card for Uber & Lyft spending globally.
Read a review of the Chase Sapphire Preferred, and learn more about the Chase Sapphire Preferred.
4. Bilt Palladium Card
Reward for rideshare spending: 2x Bilt Rewards points (which I value at 3.4%)
Card annual fee: $495
Foreign transaction fees: none
The Bilt Palladium Card offers 2x points on all purchases, including rideshare. This makes it a solid card to use for rideshare spending globally, given the lack of foreign transaction fees.
Read a review of the Bilt Palladium Card, apply for the Bilt Palladium Card.
5. Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Reward for rideshare spending: 2x Capital One miles (which I value at 3.4%)
Card annual fee: $395
Foreign transaction fees: none
The Capital One Venture X offers 2x miles on all purchases, so this isn’t even a bonus category, but rather just a very well rounded return on spending. Don’t be alarmed by the annual fee, as the card offers a $300 annual Capital One Travel credit plus 10,000 bonus anniversary miles.
Read a review of the Capital One Venture X, apply for the Capital One Venture X.
6. Capital One Venture X Business
Reward for rideshare spending: 2x Capital One miles (which I value at 3.4%)
Card annual fee: $395
Foreign transaction fees: none
Much like the personal version of the card, the Capital One Venture X Business offers 2x miles on all purchases, so this isn’t even a bonus category, but rather just a very well rounded return on spending.
Read a review of the Capital One Venture X Business, apply for the Capital One Venture X Business.
7. World of Hyatt Credit Card
Reward for rideshare spending: 2x World of Hyatt points (which I value at 3%)
Card annual fee: $95
Foreign transaction fees: none
The World of Hyatt Card offers 2x points on local transit and commuting, including ridesharing, so this card is a great option for Hyatt loyalists. That’s especially true given the benefits to spending on the card, like earning free night awards and spending counting toward status.
Read a review of the World of Hyatt Card.
8. The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express
Reward for rideshare spending: Up to 2x Amex Membership Rewards points (which I value at 3.4%)
Card annual fee: $0 (Rates & Fees)
Foreign transaction fees: 2.7% (Rates & Fees)
The Amex Blue Business Plus offers 2x Amex points on the first $50,000 spent every calendar year (1x points thereafter). The card has foreign transaction fees, so I’d only recommend using it for purchases in the United States.
Read a review of the Amex Blue Business Plus, and learn more about the Amex Blue Business Plus.
9. Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
Reward for rideshare spending: 3% cash back
Card annual fee: $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95. (Rates & Fees)
Foreign transaction fees: 2.7% (Rates & Fees)
The Blue Cash Preferred offers 3% cash back on transit, which includes taxis, ridesharing, parking, tolls, trains, buses, and more. However, with the foreign transaction fees on the card, I’d only recommend using it for purchases in the United States.
Read a review of the Blue Cash Preferred, and learn more about the Blue Cash Preferred.
Bottom line
Many people spend a significant amount annually on ridesharing, so it’s worth making sure that you’re maximizing your rewards for your spending with Uber & Lyft. The partnership that Amex has with Uber, and that Chase has with Lyft, could get you a lot of value. Based on my own situation:
- I use the Chase Sapphire Reserve Card to maximize value with Lyft, as I earn 5x Ultimate Rewards (through September 30, 2027)
- I take advantage of the monthly Amex Platinum Card Uber credits, which save me $200 per year, but then I use the Amex Green Card to actually pay for my Uber trips
What’s your credit card strategy for Uber & Lyft spending?
The following links will direct you to the rates and fees for mentioned American Express Cards. These include: Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express (Rates & Fees), The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express (Rates & Fees), and American Express® Green Card (Rates & Fees).
I think your Amex card needs to be selected as the default payment method to have Amex benefits
One factor that might not impact all, but is worth highlighting is the Amex uber credits only trigger for domestic uber rides. They don’t work internationally, which is odd given Amex markets the platinum card as a premium travel card. The same goes for the Amex Delta Platinum Business Card…ride share credits don’t trigger outside the US.
Although I did notice the new ride share credits on the Chase UA cards DO trigger for international...
One factor that might not impact all, but is worth highlighting is the Amex uber credits only trigger for domestic uber rides. They don’t work internationally, which is odd given Amex markets the platinum card as a premium travel card. The same goes for the Amex Delta Platinum Business Card…ride share credits don’t trigger outside the US.
Although I did notice the new ride share credits on the Chase UA cards DO trigger for international uber rides, good play by Chase.
Chase and Lyft are definitely much more worth it. However Lyft is not nearly as available internationally.
Interesting how the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey tends to get overlooked. I get the downsides, but it's 3x points.
Amex have made life difficult though because I believe their card needs to be the default for the credits to apply, meaning you'd have to switch default payment back and forth every month.
Uber and Lyft should only ever be paid with via gift cards. You can get $400/month from Costco for 20% off uber and Lyft is frequently available at 10-15%
Don't forget that the Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard provides up to $120 Lyft credits annually. You can get a $10 credit each month after taking three eligible rides in the same calendar month.
On a recent trip I was able to use that month's $10 credit on my ride home from CLT on what was my third Lyft ride of the month.
You should probably add that both Delta and United's credit cards have various brand-agnostic monthly credits toward rideshare rides.
Vey helpful, thanks!
Am I correct that neither Uber rewards partner gives points for regular Uber X rides? They have to be scheduled?
@ Beachfan -- Thanks! Yeah, for UberX, it's unfortunately only when reserved in advance, or in the case of Delta, for rides to and from the airport.