Frequent Uber or Lyft user? These are the best credit cards for you
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with current card details.
Whether you’re a fan of it or not, there’s no denying that the sharing economy has created a bevy of new options for consumers.
Airbnb is a prime example, allowing you to enjoy a more local experience at your destination – even in new, fast-growing markets. The sharing economy also has transformed transportation in many cities around the world, with ride-hailing services Uber and Lyft providing a convenient alternative to traditional methods.
As ride-share apps continue to rise in popularity, they've has become a common bonus category for both travel credit cards and cash-back credit cards. Use this guide to make sure you’re using the right credit card to maximize your earnings on each trip.
Overview of the best cards for Uber and Lyft
Card | Earn rates and benefits | Annual fee | Value* |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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. | 20 cents. |
| Chase Sapphire Preferred Card | 5 points per dollar on Lyft rides through March 31, 2025. | $95. | 10 cents. |
| Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Card | Unlimited 10% cash back on Uber and Uber Eats, plus complimentary Uber One membership, through Nov. 14, 2024. | $95. | 10 cents. |
| Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Card | Unlimited 10% cash back on Uber and Uber Eats, plus complimentary Uber One membership, through Nov. 14, 2024. | $0. | 10 cents. |
| American Express® Green Card | 3 points per dollar on transit, including ride-share services. | $150 (see rates and fees). | 6 cents. |
| 5% cash back on Lyft rides through March 31, 2025.
1.5% cash back on all other purchases, including Uber. | $0. | 5 cents on Lyft.
1.5 cents on Uber. | |
| Alaska Airlines Visa® credit card | 2 miles per dollar on ride-sharing. | $75 ($95 after March 1, 2023). | 3.6 cents. |
| Citi® Double Cash Card | 2 points per dollar on all purchases (1 point when you buy, plus 1 point per dollar when paying your bill). | $0. | 3.4 cents. |
| Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express | 3% cash back on transit, including ride-hailing services.
Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit. | $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95 (see rates and fees). | 3 cents. |
| Apple Card | 3% Apple Cash on Uber and Uber eats. | $0. | 3 cents. |
| The Platinum® Card from American Express | 1 point per dollar on ride-hailing services (note that the card also offers monthly Uber Cash). | $695 (see rates and fees). | 2 cents. |
* Valuations are based on TPG's latest calculations and are not provided by the credit card issuers.
The information for the Amex Green Card ,Capital One Savor Cash Rewards, 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.
Card details of the best cards for Uber and Lyft
Chase Sapphire Reserve
Annual fee: $550.
Rewards on ride-shares: 10 points per dollar on Lyft purchases; 3 points per dollar on travel, which includes Uber.
Why it’s great for Lyft and Uber: 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 in annual travel credits. Because Chase considers ride-share services to be a travel expense, you can also potentially get up to $300 off your rides every year. Chase automatically reimburses you in statement credits for your travel credits.
Finally, Chase Sapphire Reserve cardholders get a complimentary Lyft Pink All Access membership. This grants members benefits like priority pickups, free cancelations 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-shares: The Sapphire Preferred offers 5 points per dollar on Lyft rides through March 31, 2025 (3 points in addition to the 2 points earned on all travel).
Why it’s great for ride-shares: While it's got a lower earning rate than the Sapphire Reserved (and no travel credit), the Preferred could be your card of choice if you prefer not to pay a steep annual fee or juggle lots of other benefits.
For more details, read our full review of the Chase Sapphire Preferred.
Apply here: Chase Sapphire Preferred
Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Card
Annual fee: $95.
Rewards on ride-shares: The Savor offers unlimited 10% cash back on Uber and Uber Eats, plus complimentary Uber One membership, through Nov. 14, 2024.
Why it’s great for ride-shares: If you're willing to pay a modest annual fee, the Savor offers great ride-sharing benefits along with 4% back on dining, entertainment and popular streaming services, plus 3% back at grocery stores.
For more details, read our full review of the Capital One Savor card.
Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Card
Annual fee: $0.
Rewards on ride-shares: Just like the Savor, the SavorOne offers unlimited 10% cash back on Uber and Uber Eats, plus complimentary Uber One membership, through Nov. 14, 2024.
Why it’s great for ride-shares: For Capital One fans who don't like paying an annual fee, this card offers solid value and benefits, along with unlimited 3% cash back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services and at grocery stores.
For more details, read our full review of the SavorOne card.
Apply here: Capital One SavorOne
American Express Green Card
Annual fee: $150 (see rates and fees).
Rewards for ride-shares: 3 points per dollar on transit, including ride-share apps like Lyft and Uber.
Why it’s great for ride-shares: When Amex relaunched its iconic Amex Green Card, it added expanded bonus categories to the benefits list — including 3 points per dollar on transit. Lyft and Uber purchases both fall under that transit. The card earns Membership Rewards points, which TPG values at 2 cents each. That means you’re getting a 6% return on all of your ride-share spending.
For more details, read our full review of the Amex Green Card.
Chase Freedom Unlimited
Annual fee: $0.
Rewards on ride-shares: For no annual fee, the Freedom Unlimited offers 5% cash back on Lyft rides through March 31, 2025, along with 1.5% cash-back on all other purchases, which includes Uber and other ride-sharing apps.
Why it’s great for ride-shares: The Freedom Unlimited is the card for you if you prefer cash back over points and miles (and enjoy not paying an annual fee).
For more details, read our full review of the Chase Freedom Unlimited.
Apply here: Chase Freedom Unlimited
Alaska Airlines Visa® credit card
Annual fee: $75 ($95 after March 1, 2023).
Rewards for ride-shares: 2 miles per dollar ride-sharing
Why it’s great for ride-shares: Alaska Airlines miles are the most highly-valued airline miles on TPG's monthly 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-shares: 2% back on every purchase (1% when you buy and 1% when you pay your bill).
Why it’s great for ride-shares: The Citi Double Cash offers up to 2% across every purchase, including Lyft and Uber purchases. This is the highest-earning, flat-rate cash-back card on the market, and it’s a common choice for those who want a straightforward way to earn rewards across every purchase. Now, you can also convert your Double Cash rewards into ThankYou points when you also have an eligible ThankYou credit card from Citi, such as the Citi Premier® Card.
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-shares: 3% on transit, including ride-share apps like Lyft and Uber.
Why it’s great for ride-shares: 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 card option to use on your ride-share expenses. Cash back is received in the form of rewards dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit.
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-shares: 3% cash back on Uber and Uber Eats.
Why it’s great for ride-shares: 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-shares: 1 point per dollar on ride-share purchases, plus various benefits (see below).
Why it’s great for ride-shares: 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). That is broken down as $15 to use each month, plus a $20 bonus in December ($35 total for that month).
To get the credits, you just 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.
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 as opposed to 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 UberRUSH, family profiles or scheduled 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 just 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 rideshares an integral part of modern travel, there's no reason to think card issuers won't continue offering benefits and partnerships with your app of choice. 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.
For rates and fees of the Amex Platinum Card, please click here.
For rates and fees of the Amex Green Card, please click here.
For rates and fees of the Amex Blue Cash Preferred card, please click here.
Additional reporting by Ryan Wilcox and Ryan Smith.
Updated 1/18/23
