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Credit Cards

Amex Membership Rewards vs. Chase Ultimate Rewards: Which flexible travel points are more valuable?

It's hard to go wrong with either program because both provide a variety of redemptions and partner with many of the best airlines and hotels.

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The offer mentioned below for the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card and Chase Sapphire Reserve® is no longer available.

Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.

American Express and Chase both have incredible travel rewards programs that offer a wide variety of redemptions and exceptional value. Both programs let you use points for statement credits, gift cards, travel bookings and transfers to travel partners.

Although the redemption options are similar, there are key differences when you look under the hood. If you aren't sure which points make more sense for your travel goals, CNBC Select has the details on where each of these programs shine.

Amex points vs. Chase points

Cards that earn Amex points or Chase points

There are a variety of cards that earn flexible Amex points and Chase points. Premium

cards have higher annual fees but tend to offset that extra cost with generous annual statement credit offers and luxury perks like airport lounge access. For a less frequent traveler, a mid-tier card can provide many of the same redemption options and valuable travel protections for a much lower cost.

Premium cards

American Express Platinum Card®

CNBC Select Rating
5.0

On the American Express site

CNBC Select Rating
5.0

On the American Express site

Spotlight

The Amex Platinum Card provides access to Amex Centurion Lounges, Delta Sky Clubs® , Lufthansa Lounges, Escape Lounges and more. (Enrollment required)

Credit score

Good to Excellent

Regular APR

See Pay Over Time APR

Annual fee

$895

Welcome bonus

You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® points

See rates and fees, terms apply. Read our Amex Platinum Card review. The American Express Platinum Card® Welcome Offer: To view your personalized offer, you must first submit an application. If approved, you will: (1) receive your Welcome Offer details, (2) have the option to accept the Card with that offer, (3) be required to spend $12,000 on eligible purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership, and (4) earn Membership Rewards® points. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. If you're approved and accept your offer, a credit check may be conducted, which could impact your credit score. Terms apply.

The American Express Platinum Card® is a premium card loaded with annual statement credits, entertainment benefits, extensive airport lounge access, elite status perks and more. (Enrollment required for select benefits mentioned)

  • Access to 1,550+ airport lounges, including Priority Pass™ Select lounges (enrollment required) and Amex Centurion lounges
  • Statement credit offers worth up to twice what the annual fee costs
  • Elite status perks for hotels and rental cars (Enrollment required for select benefits mentioned)
  • High annual fee
  • Many statement credit offers are complicated and are earned in increments or limited to specific purchases

Highlights

Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.

  • You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $12,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you're approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you're approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted. 
  • Get more for your travels with 5X Membership Rewards® points on all flights and prepaid hotel bookings through American Express Travel®, including Fine Hotels + Resorts® and The Hotel Collection bookings. You earn 5X points on flights purchased directly from airlines or through American Express Travel® on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year. 
  • With over 1,550 airport lounges - more than any other credit card company on the market* - enjoy the benefits of the Global Lounge Collection®, over $850 of annual value, with access to Centurion Lounges, 10 complimentary Delta Sky Club® visits when flying on an eligible Delta flight (subject to visit limitations), Priority Pass Select membership (enrollment required), and other select partner lounges.* As of 07/2025. 
  • $200 Uber Cash + $120 Uber One Credit: With the Platinum Card® you can receive $15 in Uber Cash each month plus a bonus $20 in December when you add your Platinum Card® to your Uber account to use on rides and orders in the U.S when you select an Amex Card for your transaction. Plus, when you use the Platinum Card® to pay for an auto-renewing Uber One membership, you can get up to $120 in statement credits each calendar year. Terms apply. 
  • $300 Digital Entertainment Credit: Experience the latest shows, news and recipes. Get up to $25 in statement credits each month when you use your Platinum Card® for eligible purchases on Disney+, a Disney+ bundle, ESPN streaming services, Hulu, The New York Times, Paramount+, Peacock, The Wall Street Journal, YouTube Premium, and YouTube TV when you purchase directly from one or more of the providers. Enrollment required. 
  • $600 Hotel Credit: Get up to $300 in statement credits semi-annually on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection* bookings through American Express Travel® using the Platinum Card®. *The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay. 
  • $400 Resy Credit + Platinum Nights by Resy: Get up to $100 in statement credits each quarter when you use the Platinum Card® to make eligible purchases with Resy, including dining purchases at U.S. Resy restaurants. Enrollment required. Plus, with Platinum Nights by Resy, you can get special access to reservations on select nights at participating in demand Resy restaurants with the Platinum Card®. Simply add your eligible Card to your Resy profile to book and discover Platinum Nights reservations near you.
  • $209 CLEAR+ Credit: CLEAR+ helps get you to your gate faster by using your face to verify you are you at 55+ airports nationwide. You can cover the cost of a CLEAR+ Membership* with up to $209 in statement credits per calendar year after you pay for CLEAR+ with your Platinum Card®. *Excluding any applicable taxes and fees. Subject to auto-renewal. 
  • $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees, such as checked bags and in-flight refreshments, are charged by the airline to the Platinum Card® Account. American Express relies on airlines to submit the correct information on airline transactions to identify incidental fee purchases. If you do not see a credit for a qualifying incidental purchase on your eligible Card after 8 weeks, simply call the number on the back of your Card. Qualifying airlines are subject to change. See terms & conditions for more details. 
  • Start your vacation sooner, and keep it going longer. When you book Fine Hotels + Resorts® through American Express Travel®, enjoy noon check-in, when available, and guaranteed 4PM check-out. 
  • $300 lululemon Credit: Enjoy up to $75 in statement credits each quarter when you use the Platinum Card® for eligible purchases at U.S. lululemon retail stores (excluding outlets) and lululemon.com. That's up to $300 in statement credits each calendar year. Enrollment required. 
  • $155 Walmart+ Credit: Receive a statement credit* for one monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) after you pay for Walmart+ each month with the Platinum Card®.* Up to $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. Plus Ups not eligible. 
  • Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7. 
  • $895 annual fee. 
  • Terms Apply.
  • See Rates & Fees

Balance transfer fee

N/A

Foreign transaction fee

None

Mid-tier cards

American Express® Gold Card

CNBC Select Rating
5.0

On the American Express site

CNBC Select Rating
5.0

On the American Express site

Spotlight

The Amex Gold Card offers over $400 in statement credits every year.

Credit score

Good to Excellent

Regular APR

See Pay Over Time APR

Annual fee

$325

Welcome bonus

You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points

See rates and fees, terms apply. Read our American Express® Gold Card review. The American Express Gold® Card Welcome Offer: To view your personalized offer, you must first submit an application. If approved, you will: (1) receive your Welcome Offer details, (2) have the option to accept the Card with that offer, (3) be required to spend $8,000 on eligible purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership, and (4) earn Membership Rewards® points. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. If you're approved and accept your offer, a credit check may be conducted, which could impact your credit score. Terms apply.

The American Express Gold Card is great for earning valuable Membership Rewards® points at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets.

  • You can earn $400+ in dining and rideshare credits every year (Enrollment required for select benefits mentioned)
  • Exceptionally rewarding for eligible restaurant and U.S. supermarket purchases
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • Larger annual fee
  • Credits are more complicated, you earn them monthly or semi-annually

Highlights

Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.

  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you're approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you're approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted. 
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App. 
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines. 
  • Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com. 
  • Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
  • Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You'll know upfront exactly how much you'll pay. 
  • Updated! $120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required. 
  • $84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment required. 
  • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction. 
  • New! As an American Express® Gold Card Member, you can enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status. Enjoy benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
  • Take advantage of a $100 credit towards eligible charges* at over 1,300 upscale hotels worldwide when you book The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App **. *Eligible charges vary by property. **The Hotel Collection requires a two-night minimum stay.
  • Book your travel through the Amex Travel App with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
  • Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
  • Terms Apply.
  • See Rates & Fees

Foreign transaction fee

None

American Express® Green Card

CNBC Select Rating
5.0

Information has been collected independently by CNBC Select

CNBC Select Rating
5.0

Information has been collected independently by CNBC Select

Credit score

Good to Excellent

Regular APR

See Pay Over Time APR

Annual fee

$150

Welcome bonus

Earn 40,000 Membership Rewards® Points

The American Express® Green Card is geared toward those who frequently travel and eat out often, but don't want to shell out on a premium card.

  • Up to $199 credit for a CLEAR® Plus membership each year (subject to auto-renewal)
  • Earns flexible rewards you can transfer to 20+ airline and hotel loyalty programs
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • $150 annual fee
  • No ongoing non-travel statement credit offers

Rewards

  • 3X Membership Rewards® points on travel, transit purchases, and on eligible purchases at restaurants worldwide (including takeout and delivery in the U.S.)
  • 1X Membership Rewards® points on all other eligible purchases

Foreign transaction fee

None

Business cards

On the American Express site

CNBC Select Rating
4.8

On the American Express site

Credit score

Excellent

Regular APR

16.74% - 28.49% Variable; APRs will not exceed 29.99%

Annual fee

$0

Welcome bonus

Earn 15,000 Membership Rewards® points

The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express is a great option if you're starting a business because it's affordable, earns flexible travel rewards and offers an intro-APR on purchases for a year.

  • Valuable intro-APR offer for purchases for 12 months
  • Earns flexible rewards you can transfer to 20+ airline and hotel loyalty programs
  • No annual fee
  • Bonus rewards for purchases are capped
  • Few useful travel insurance benefits

Highlights

Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.

  • Earn 15,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on the Card within your first 3 months of Card Membership.
  • 0.0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months from the date of account opening, then a variable rate, 16.74% - 28.49%, based on your creditworthiness and other factors at account opening. APR will not exceed 29.99%
  • Earn 2X points on everyday business purchases such as office supplies or client dinners. 2X applies to the first $50,000 in purchases per year, 1 point per dollar thereafter. Terms and limitations apply.
  • You've got the power to spend above your credit limit* with Expanded Buying Power. *The amount you can spend above your credit limit is flexible, so it adapts with your use of the Card, your payment history, credit record, financial resources known to us, and other factors. Just remember, the amount you can spend with Expanded Buying Power is not unlimited.
  • No Annual Fee
  • Terms Apply.
  • See Rates & Fees

Balance transfer fee

N/A

Foreign transaction fee

2.7% of each transaction after conversion to US dollars.

On the American Express site

CNBC Select Rating
4.8

On the American Express site

Credit score

Excellent

Regular APR

17.74% - 28.49% variable

Annual fee

$375

Welcome bonus

You may be eligible for as high as 200,000 Membership Rewards® Points

See rates and fees, terms apply. Read our Amex Business Gold review. American Express® Business Gold Card Welcome Offer: To view your personalized offer, you must first submit an application. If approved, you will: (1) receive your Welcome Offer details, (2) have the option to accept the Card with that offer, (3) be required to spend $15,000 on eligible purchases within the first 3 months of Card Membership, and (4) earn Membership Rewards® points. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. If you're approved and accept your offer, a credit check may be conducted, which could impact your credit score. Terms apply.

The American Express Business Gold Card maximizes spending with flexible bonus reward categories based on where your business spends the most.

  • Earn up to $545 in credits every year for eligible business purchases
  • Generous bonus rewards categories with high spending caps
  • Earns flexible rewards you can transfer to 20 airline and hotel loyalty programs
  • High annual fee
  • Statement credit offers are earned on a monthly basis and only apply to specific purchases

Highlights

Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.

  • As High As 200,000 points. Find Out Your Offer. You may be eligible for as high as 200,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $15,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points on the top two eligible categories where your business spends the most each month from 6 eligible categories. While your top 2 categories may change, you will earn 4X points on the first $150,000 in combined purchases from these categories each calendar year (then 1X thereafter). Only the top 2 categories each billing cycle will count towards the $150,000 cap.
  • Earn up to $20 in statement credits monthly after you use the Business Gold Card for eligible U.S. purchases at FedEx (through 10/01/2026), Grubhub, and Office Supply Stores. This can be an annual savings of up to $240. Enrollment required. 
  • Enroll and get up to $300 in statement credits per calendar year on U.S. purchases of ChatGPT Business* on the Business Gold Card. *Subject to auto-renewal. 
  • Enroll and get up to $150 in statement credits per calendar year for U.S. purchases with Squarespace. Subscription purchases subject to auto-renewal. 
  • Get up to a $12.95** statement credit back each month after you pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) with your Business Gold Card. **Up to $12.95 plus applicable taxes on one membership fee. 
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights and prepaid hotels booked on AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™. 
  • The Business Gold Card comes in three metal designs: Gold, Rose Gold and White Gold. Make your selection when you apply on Americanexpress.com.
  • Terms Apply
  • See Rates & Fees

Balance transfer fee

N/A

Foreign transaction fee

None

No-annual-fee cards

There are no consumer credit cards with no annual fee that earn transferrable Amex points or Chase points and are open to new applicants.

However, Chase allows you to combine Ultimate Rewards points. So you can move the points you earn with a no-annual-fee card like the Chase Freedom Unlimited® (see rates and fees) or Ink Business Cash® Credit Card (see rates and fees) to a card that allows transfers. While this requires two Chase credit cards, the points you earn through the no annual fee card are now much more valuable than before.

Chase Freedom Unlimited®

CNBC Select Rating
5.0
CNBC Select Rating
5.0

Spotlight

New cardholders receive a 0% intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers.

Credit score

Good to Excellent670–850

Regular APR

18.24% - 27.74% variable

Annual fee

$0

Welcome bonus

Earn $200 cash back

See rates and fees. Terms apply. Member FDIC.

Read our Chase Freedom Unlimited® review.

The Chase Freedom Unlimited® is a no-annual-fee card that earns generous cash-back on everyday purchases and a lucrative welcome bonus.

  • Users get a high rewards rate and strong welcome bonus
  • Purchases and balance transfers get long intro APR
  • No annual fee
  • Travelers face a foreign transaction fee
  • Few rewarding ongoing benefits

Highlights

Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.

  • Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening
  • Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase TravelSM, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 1.5% on all other purchases.
  • No minimum to redeem for cash back. You can use points to redeem for cash through an account statement credit or an electronic deposit into an eligible Chase account located in the United States!
  • Enjoy 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 18.24% - 27.74%.
  • No annual fee – You won't have to pay an annual fee for all the great features that come with your Freedom Unlimited® card
  • Keep tabs on your credit health, Chase Credit Journey helps you monitor your credit with free access to your latest score, alerts, and more.
  • Member FDIC

Balance transfer fee

Intro fee of either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater, in the first 60 days. After that, either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.

Foreign transaction fee

3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars

On Chase's site

CNBC Select Rating
5.0

On Chase's site

Credit score

Good to Excellent670–850

Regular APR

16.74% - 24.74% variable

Annual fee

$0

Welcome bonus

Earn $750 bonus cash back

See rates and fees. Terms apply.

The Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card is a flat-rate cash-back card with a strong intro-APR offer for purchases.

  • Intro APR for purchases
  • Valuable welcome bonus
  • No annual fee
  • You can't transfer rewards to travel partners without pairing it with another Chase card
  • Has a foreign transaction fee

Highlights

Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.

  • Earn $750 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
  • Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase made for your business
  • No Annual Fee
  • Redeem rewards for cash back, gift cards, travel and more through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
  • Earn rewards faster with employee cards at no additional cost. Set individual spending limits for greater control.
  • Round-the-clock monitoring for unusual credit card purchases
  • With Zero Liability you won't be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
  • 0% introductory APR for 12 months on purchases
  • Earn 5% total cash back on Lyft rides through 9/30/27.
  • Member FDIC

Balance transfer fee

Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater

Foreign transaction fee

3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars

Which points are easier to earn?

In general, American Express cards tend to have larger welcome bonuses, especially if you're eligible for a lucrative targeted offer. However, these bonuses usually require you to hit a big spending minimum in order to earn, which can be $6,000 to $8,000 for personal cards and well into the five figures for business cards.

Outside of the American Express® Business Gold Card and American Express® Gold Card (which both feature strong bonus spending categories), many Amex Membership Rewards® cards have subpar rewards rates for the annual fees they charge. For example, the American Express Platinum Card® only earns 1X points on purchases outside of certain travel booked through AmexTravel.com. So it's not a rewarding option for your spending, even though it has a $895 annual fee (see rates and fees).

With Chase, even the most rewarding limited-time offers typically have reasonable minimum spending requirements, which makes them more approachable. Chase also has several cards with lower annual fees (or no annual fees) that provide additional rewards in popular categories such as dining, drugstores, office supply stores, travel and more.

Winner: Tie. If you can meet the spending requirement for the biggest Amex welcome offers, you'll find it incredibly easy to stock up on Membership Rewards points. However, Chase has a stronger suite of affordable cards with solid bonus spending categories.

Which has more transfer partners?

American Express Membership Rewards points transfer to 21 airline and hotel programs, including:

  • Aer Lingus AerClub
  • Aeromexico Premier
  • Air Canada Aeroplan
  • Air France/KLM Flying Blue
  • ANA Mileage Club
  • Avianca LifeMiles
  • British Airways Executive Club
  • Cathay Pacific Asia Miles
  • Choice Privileges
  • Delta SkyMiles
  • Emirates Skywards
  • Etihad Guest
  • Hawaiian Airlines HawaiianMiles
  • Hilton Honors
  • Iberia Plus
  • JetBlue TrueBlue
  • Marriott Bonvoy
  • Singapore KrisFlyer
  • Qantas Frequent Flyer
  • Qatar Airways Privilege Club
  • Virgin Atlantic Flying Club

Chase Ultimate Rewards transfer to 14 airline and hotel programs at a 1:1 ratio, including:

  • Aer Lingus AerClub
  • Air France/KLM Flying Blue
  • British Airways Executive Club
  • Emirates Skywards
  • Iberia Plus
  • JetBlue TrueBlue
  • Marriott Bonvoy
  • Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer 
  • Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards
  • United MileagePlus
  • Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
  • Air Canada Aeroplan
  • IHG One Rewards Club
  • World of Hyatt

Winner: Amex Membership Rewards

Domestic flight redemptions

You can use Membership Rewards points and Ultimate Rewards points to book flights with the big three domestic airlines — Delta, American and United — but you may have to jump through some hoops by transferring points to the appropriate international airline loyalty program first.

For example, Amex doesn't allow you to use Membership Rewards to directly book flights on American Airlines. However, you can transfer your Amex points to Qantas Frequent Flyer, which has a partnership with American Airlines, and then book any American Airlines award flights they have available.

One drawback to this method is that you'll have access to far fewer domestic flight choices, and if you need to make changes after you've booked, things can get hairy (to say the least). Directly transferring your points to a domestic airline can sometimes be best, and that's where Chase as an edge over Amex.

Chase points transfer at a 1:1 ratio to United, Southwest Airlines and JetBlue. Amex lets you transfer points to Delta and Hawaiian Airlines at a 1:1 ratio, and to JetBlue at a 5:4 ratio. Amex also charges an excise tax on transfers to domestic airlines. Chase does not.

United and Delta are comparable for domestic travel, and the better option probably comes down to if you live in a hub city. Chase has a better transfer ratio to JetBlue, and Southwest Airlines serves far more domestic locations than Hawaiian Airlines.

While this is a close call, Ultimate Rewards points are likely to be most useful for most people.

Winner: Chase Ultimate Rewards (barely)

International flight redemptions

The best way to get the most value for your points is to use them to book international award flights in business or first class.

Most of the best programs for booking international award flights with Chase also partner with Amex. You can transfer points from both programs at a 1:1 ratio to Flying Blue (Air France/KLM), Emirates Skywards, Air Canada Aeroplan, Virgin Atlantic Flying Club, British Airways Executive Club and Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer.

Amex does have several key partners that Chase lacks. Through ANA Mileage Club, you can book business-class flights on Star Alliance airlines from the U.S. to Europe for 100,000 miles round-trip plus taxes and fees, which is nearly what you would pay for a one-way business-class flight with other programs. Avianca is also a Star Alliance partner and is a good program for booking business- or first-class awards because it doesn't add fuel surcharges to awards, which means you'll pay fewer fees.

American Express is known for issuing many of the best premium cards, so it makes sense it excels at luxury points redemptions.

Winner: Amex Membership Rewards

Hotel redemptions

Both Chase Ultimate Rewards and Amex Membership Rewards transfer to Marriott Bonvoy at a 1:1 ratio. Chase also lets you transfer points to IHG One Rewards Club and World of Hyatt at 1:1 ratios. Amex, on the other hand, partners with Choice Privileges (1:1 transfer ratio) and Hilton Honors (1:2 transfer ratio).

The standout among these hotel programs is World of Hyatt, which has the best transfer ration with Chase. While most hotel loyalty programs offer less value than a typical airline frequent flyer program, World of Hyatt is an exception. Most hotels (and airlines) dynamically price awards based on demand or cost, but Hyatt still has an award chart.

Outside of all-inclusive resorts, top-tier Hyatt hotels cost 35,000 to 45,000 points a night. For context, the most exclusive Hilton properties can cost 2X to 3X as many points per night, even with Amex's 1:2 transfer ratio. Plus, Hyatt's award chart offers a certain level of consistency, whereas other programs can inflate prices without notice.

The drawback of Hyatt is it's a smaller chain with around 1,300 locations compared to IHG, Marriott and Hilton, which all have 6,000+ locations worldwide. This is where Chase Travel℠ comes to the rescue.

Most hotel points are worth around 0.5 to 0.7 cents per point when you use them for an award night. However, when you use Chase points to pay for hotels you book through Chase TravelSM, you receive 1.25 cents per point with the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees) and Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card (see rates and fees) and 1.5 cents per point with the Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see rates and fees). That means it's usually cheaper to book hotels through Chase Travel℠ than to transfer points to a hotel loyalty program (Hyatt is the exception).

For example, at the time of writing, we found a standard queen-bed room at the Glenn Hotel in Atlanta for 48,000 Marriott points or $265 for one night. The exact room on the same night would cost $279 if you booked through Chase Travel℠ but you could redeem 18,600 or 22,320 Chase points to pay for it, depending on if you're getting 1.25 or 1.5 cents per point. Even though Chase points don't transfer to Hilton Honors or Choice Privileges, you can book those brands through Chase Travel℠ and receive the same value per point.

Amex doesn't offer comparable value or flexibility because you only receive 0.7 cents per point for most AmexTravel.com prepaid hotel reservations.

Winner: Chase Ultimate Rewards

Travel portal bookings

With the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card, your points are worth 25% more when you book through Chase Travel. That means each point is worth 1.25 cents in travel, including hotels, flights, rental cars, cruises and more. If you have the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, your points are worth 50% more (1.5 cents each).

Since Chase allows you to transfer points between Ultimate Rewards accounts, this benefit can apply to the points you earn with other Chase credit cards.

The value you receive when you book through Amex Travel is the same regardless of what card or cards you have. You'll receive at most, one cent per point in value, and you only hit that level when using points for flights booked through Amex Travel. Otherwise, you get 0.7 cents for hotels, rental cars and other bookings.

Chase is the clear winner for using points to book travel through the card issuer's travel site.

Winner: Chase Ultimate Rewards

Cash back redemptions

You can redeem Chase Ultimate Rewards points for one cent each as cash back, either as an account statement credit or electronic deposit. You get the same value for gift card redemptions, and Chase frequently has sales offering 10% to 15% off gift card redemptions.

Amex Membership Rewards points are worth 0.6 cents each for statement credits. You can redeem Amex points for up to one cent per point for select gift cards, however, and the value is typically between 0.5 to 0.85 cents per point for most brands.

If you like the peace of mind of having an option to cash out your points, Chase Ultimate Rewards points are a better choice.

Winner: Chase Ultimate Rewards

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Bottom line

Chase Ultimate Rewards and American Express Membership Rewards are two of the top flexible travel rewards programs. Both have multiple cards you can open to earn points and provide flexibility in how you redeem your rewards. But they each have strengths and weaknesses.

There are more low-cost cards that earn Chase points, and the redemptions can be simpler. Amex has a stronger array of premium cards, and Amex points can be more valuable because you have more options for booking ultra-valuable international business- and first-class award flights. In short, Chase points have a higher floor, and Amex points have a higher ceiling.

Why trust CNBC Select?

At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money. Every credit card story is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors. While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics.

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For rates and fees of the American Express Platinum Card®, click here.

For rates and fees of the American Express® Gold Card, click here.

For rates and fees of The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express, click here.

For rates and fees of the American Express® Business Gold Card, click here.

Editorial Note: Opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Select editorial staff’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any third party.
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