Chase Pay Yourself Back Q1 categories — is it a good use of your rewards?
Editor's Note
If Chase's Pay Yourself Back hasn't been on your radar in a while, it may be worth brushing up on it.
Not only does this potentially lucrative option expand to a broad list of Chase cards, but some redemption rates are eye-catching.
Chase offers its Pay Yourself Back benefit on some cobranded credit cards, including Southwest Airlines cards, United Airlines cards, the Aeroplan® Credit Card (see rates and fees) and the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card (see rates and fees).
Many of these current offers are valid now through March 31.
Here's everything you need to know about using Chase Pay Yourself Back.
What is Chase Pay Yourself Back?
Pay Yourself Back is a unique redemption option within Chase's Ultimate Rewards program, offering cardmembers an alternative to redeeming points for travel.
The categories have evolved over time, and it's worth checking up on them each quarter to see if it's a good use of your rewards.
In short, the Pay Yourself Back option allows many Chase cardholders to redeem rewards at a value similar to booking travel. This won't typically yield the same maximum value for your Ultimate Rewards points as strategic use of transfer partners can, but it can get pretty close.
And, it could be a good choice if you're looking for a simple redemption or have a pile of points that you cannot immediately use.
Some Chase-cobranded airline cards (and a Marriott card) are also eligible for Pay Yourself Back. The rate at which you can redeem for some categories with these cards' rewards is over the average return you'll likely get when using your rewards to book travel.
Related: The best time to apply for Chase credit cards based on offer history
What purchases are eligible for Pay Yourself Back?
Here are the current categories eligible for Pay Yourself Back:
| Card | Redemption value | Current end date |
|---|---|---|
| Qualifying charities: 1.5 cents per point
Fitness clubs, gym memberships, gas stations and cardholder annual fee: 1.25 cents per point | March 31 |
Qualifying charities: 1.25 cents per point
Fitness clubs, gym memberships and cardholder annual fee: 1.1 cents per point | March 31 | |
| Qualifying charities: 1.25 cents per point | March 31 |
Travel purchases (up to 200,000 points or $2,500 annually) and cardholder annual fee (only purchases made at select merchants within 90 days before the redemption request date are eligible): 1.25 cents per point
Dining at restaurants, gas stations, grocery stores (excluding Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs): 0.8 cents per point | These are persistent categories for 2026 | |
United Airlines personal and business credit cards | Cardholder annual fee: 1.35-1.5 cents per mile (based on which card you have)
United airfare purchases made directly with the airline of at least $50: 1 cent per mile | Ongoing perk |
Southwest Airlines personal and business credit cards | Cardholder annual fee within 90 days of transaction date: 1 cent per point | March 31 |
Travel purchases made directly with airlines or Marriott Bonvoy hotels (up to $750 total per year): 0.8 cent per point | Ongoing perk | |
Disney credit cards | Purchases made at select U.S. Disney locations in Disney Parks and Resorts, Disney store and outlet locations in the U.S., DisneyStore.com, DisneyPlus.com, Hulu.com and Plus.ESPN.com in the past 90 days: 1 Disney Rewards Dollar per dollar
Those with a Disney® Premier Visa® Card (see rates and fees) can redeem Disney Rewards Dollars toward airline purchases in the past 90 days with any airline at the rate of 1 Disney Rewards Dollar per dollar | Ongoing perk |
The information for the J.P. Morgan Reserve, Chase Freedom and Ink Business Premier 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 list of charities for Pay Yourself Back includes:
- American Heart Association
- American Red Cross
- Equal Justice Initiative
- Feeding America
- GLSEN
- Habitat for Humanity
- International Medical Corps
- International Rescue Committee
- Leadership Conference Education Fund
- Make-A-Wish America
- NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund
- National Urban League
- Out and Equal Workplace Advocates
- SAGE
- Thurgood Marshall College Fund
- United Negro College Fund
- UNICEF USA
- United Way
- World Central Kitchen
Let's say you wanted to redeem 10,000 points on your Chase Sapphire Reserve. For most purchases, you'll get a $100 statement credit when redeeming 10,000 points.
But for those same 10,000 points, you'll get a credit of $150 when you redeem them for an eligible charity donation.
Related: How much are Chase Ultimate Rewards points worth?
Requesting a credit
Requesting a credit through Chase's Pay Yourself Back program is relatively straightforward. Log in to your eligible Chase account via the mobile app or desktop and select the "Pay Yourself Back" option in the redemption menu.
Next, you'll see a list of eligible purchases for which you can redeem points. Points can be redeemed for purchases as far back as 90 days.
You can offset the full purchase amount, assuming you have enough points to cover it.
From there, you can confirm the redemption value and amount of points required and then choose to complete the transaction. Your statement credit should post within three business days.
Related: How to use Shop Through Chase to earn more points
Statement credit options on other purchases
Chase has long offered the option to redeem points for a statement credit. To do this, log into your Ultimate Rewards account, hit the drop-down menu and select "Cash Back."
You'll be given an option to enter the amount you'd like to redeem and where you'd like your rewards deposited. All cash-back redemptions are fixed at 1 cent per point, which is a little less than half of TPG's January 2026 valuation of Ultimate Rewards at 2.05 cents per point.
That redemption value is also lower than many of the above Pay Yourself Back options.
Even so, Chase's traditional cash-back option is more generous than what you can expect from some other issuers.
You'll get the same value when redeeming Citi ThankYou points for cash back, but American Express only offers 0.6 cents per point for this option. Capital One comes in last place, with cardholders netting just 0.5 cents per mile when redeeming for cash back.
Related: If I cash out my points and miles, do I have to claim it on my taxes?
Bottom line
Chase's Pay Yourself Back feature provides valuable flexibility for many cardholders.
Ultimately, whether you should redeem your balance in this way depends on how you plan to use your points, how many you currently have and whether or not you'd benefit significantly from the statement credits.
If the categories for the first quarter of 2026 don't work out for you, be sure to check back in for the second quarter to see if you should maximize then.
Related: Supercharge your Chase Ultimate Rewards balance with these top 5 cards
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