Ride and Save with the Best Credit Card for Uber in 2021

Ridesharing makes travel a lot more affordable. Yet, the costs of getting around can still rack up. Wouldn’t it be awesome if you could just find the best credit card for Uber and Lyft rides that offer some kind of reward for all that spending?

We think so too!

That’s why we’ve put together this list of the top credit card options for the Uber-reliant among us. These credit cards promise the best rewards, perks, and sign-up bonuses for ridesharing. Plus, they’re great everyday spending cards to boot. 

So, fasten your seatbelts and let’s go!

Affiliate Disclosure

Overview — The Sapphire Reserve is Chase’s flagship card, and for good reason too! Namely, this card will provide outstanding rewards in many spending categories. As such, it’s not the easiest card to qualify for. Nevertheless, if your credit is good enough to get you approved and you don’t mind the slightly higher annual fee, it’s most definitely worth it.

Ridesharing benefits — This particular Chase credit card earns triple points on all travel purchases, including ridesharing. Plus, you’ll earn triple points for dining out and delivery services, so your entire evening could earn you triple points.

Additionally, Lyft rides earn x10 the points. Likewise, the card entitles you to a one-year Lyft Pink membership, which offers preferred pricing, priority pickups, and more.

By the way, Chase credit cards are among top picks for gas credit cards too. 

Other perks — Perhaps this card’s most lucrative feature is the extremely generous welcome bonus of 60,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points.

You’ll receive the points after spending $4,000 within the first three months of opening an account. And, if redeemed correctly, those 60,000 points match $900 in rewards.

Plus, the card automatically reimburses up to $300 of travel purchases every year. That includes gas station and grocery store purchases until December 21, 2021.

Overall, this is the best credit card for Lyft bar none and for ridesharing in general. The added travel benefits, as well as the sign-up bonus, are just the cherry on top, rightfully earning it the top spot on our list.

Pros:

• Outstanding welcome bonus
• x10 rewards points for Lyft rides
• Triple points on travel
• 50% bonus redemption value
• $300 annual travel credit

Cons:

• High credit requirement
• Annual fee

Overview — After pausing applications for the Propel card, Wells Fargo introduced this new cashback card to its lineup, and we couldn’t be more pleased with it. So much so that we’re recommending it as the best card for Uber when it comes to flat-rate cashback.

Therefore, if you’re sick of juggling cards and want to have a good ridesharing card that also rewards general purchasing, Active Cash is your one-card solution.

Simple cashback — To our delight, Wells Fargo’s Active Cash gives you 2% cashback on all purchases. Better yet, there are no category limitations, no spending limits, and no quarterly activations. 

In fact, you can redeem the cashback rewards to cover recent transactions as account credit, gift cards, or even $20 increments at the ATM. 

Generous intro APR — Active Cash offers 0% APR on purchases and balance transfers for a whopping 15 months after opening an account. At the same time, the intro APR applies to balance transfers made up to 120 days from opening an account. 

Moreover, it’s one of the best credit cards for Uber with a $0 annual fee so you don’t have to worry about adding up fees to see whether you earned enough cashback to cover it.

Other perks — You’ll also receive the perks of owning a Visa Signature card, including 24/7 concierge services and access to benefits from luxury destinations around the world. 

Therefore, besides providing excellent loans for home improvements, Wells Fargo has an outstanding Uber card, as well.

Pros:

• Unlimited 2% cashback
• $200 welcome bonus
• No annual fee
• Zero liability protection
• Outstanding introductory APR period

Cons:

• Doesn’t have bonus cashback categories

Overview — Apple took its time coming to an agreement with Goldman Sachs regarding this card. The end result? An amazing card that perfectly fits the Apple ecosystem. 

Hence, if you’re an Apple fan, this is definitely the one for you. Note, though, that an iPhone is required to use this card. 

Ridesharing benefits — When you use this credit card for Uber and Uber Eats purchases; you’ll receive 3% cashback on every dollar you spend. Better yet, with Apple Card’s Daily Cash feature, you don’t have to wait until the end of the billing cycle to get your cashback rewards. 

Other perks — What we also liked about this card were the many benefits it offered; namely, 3% cashback for purchases from Walgreens and Duane Reade made through Apple Pay, in-store T-Mobile purchases made with Apple Pay, and Nike purchases made in US stores or online Apple Pay. 

To our delight, Exxon Mobil gas station purchases are also included — whether you spend on gas or in the convenience stores — as well as Panera purchases made with Apple Pay. All other purchases made with Apple Pay get 2% cashback, and those made with the physical card get 1% cashback. 

All that makes this one of the best credit cards to use for Uber and a great credit card overall if you use Apple Pay a lot.

Pros:

• 3% cashback on Uber and Uber Eats
• Excellent overall cashback rewards
• No annual fee
• No late fees
• Titanium physical card

Cons:

• Best rewards only when using Apple Pay

Overview — American Express is known chiefly for great travel rewards. Yet, this card is something else entirely. Namely, Blue Cash Preferred is an exceptional card for grocery spending and one of the best cards to use for Uber and other transit options. 

Ridesharing benefits — We’re happy to inform you that the AmEx Cash Preferred card gives you 3% cashback on transit spending, which includes rideshares, parking, buses, trains, tolls, and other transportation costs. 

Other perks — The 3% cashback rewards also entail spending at any US gas station. Still, the thing that makes this card so appealing for families is an unparalleled 6% cashback on purchases made in supermarkets. And the 6% cashback on streaming service subscriptions in the US is the icing on the cake.  

The first year has a 0% introductory annual fee, which jumps up to $95 the following year. However, if you spend $3,000 within the first six months of getting the card, you’ll get a neat $300 bonus cashback, which practically pays off the card for three years.

Lastly, if you’re looking to replace the recently discontinued Barclays Uber Visa Card, this one has much better overall rewards.

Pros:

• 3% cashback on all transit
• 6% cashback on groceries
• 6% cashback on streaming subscriptions
• No annual fee first year
• Pay It Plan It® option

Cons:

• Annual fee after the first year
• Minimum $25 cashback redemption

Overview — Citi made this card to be a balance transfer powerhouse, and boy does it deliver. Along the way, it also attached quite a few benefits, which puts this among the best credit cards for most categories, including rideshares.

Ridesharing benefits — This card pretty much does what it says on the package. You’ll get 2% cashback for every dollar spent with no category restrictions and no maximum cashback cap.

Moreover, you can redeem cashback rewards as a statement credit, check, deposit, or even convert the rewards to Citi points.

Other perks — Besides comprehensive cashback rewards, this credit card mainly stands out for an exceptionally long introductory APR on balance transfers. 

So, if you’ve been dragging a big balance around for a while, this card might be ideal for you. Likewise, you probably won’t find a better card for balance transfers when searching for an Uber credit card with rewards.

Note, though, that the introductory APR doesn’t extend to purchases.

Other benefits include identity theft protection, zero liability on unauthorized charges, and 24-hour fraud protection.

Pros:

• 2% cashback on everything
• Flexible redemption options
• Identity theft-protection
• 18-month intro APR on balance transfers
• No cashback rewards cap

Cons:

• No introductory purchase APR

Overview — The AmEx Platinum has some of the best travel benefits of any credit card and an unmatched welcome bonus. Hence, if you’ve got the credit score for this uber credit card and can afford the annual fee, it’s a no-brainer really. 

Ridesharing benefits — Every month, Platinum card members receive $15 in Uber Cash. You can spend Uber Cash via the Uber app on most Uber services, including Uber Eats and rideshares. 

What we also liked was the $20 bonus in December, for a total of $200 in Uber Cash every year. On top of that, cardholders become members of Uber VIP, where available.

Other perks — Right now, the AmEx Platinum card has a 100,000-point welcome bonus when you spend $5,000 within the first six months of setting an account. Additionally, all gas stations and supermarket purchases earn x10 the points for the first six months. 

Depending on how you redeem those points, you could be looking at over $2,000 in rewards from the welcome bonus alone. These rewards place Platinum among the best credit cards for any purpose.

After the initial six months have passed, all flights purchased directly from airlines or AmExTravel.com earn five times the points. Likewise, prepaid hotel stays booked through AmExTravel.com also earn five times the points.

Pros:

• 100,000-point welcome bonus
• $200 annual Uber Cash
• Uber VIP membership
• Airport lounge access
• x10 points on gas and groceries

Cons:

• Needs excellent credit
• $550 annual fee

Overview — This Capital One card rewards you with miles that you can spend on travel. And as a Visa card, it’s accepted in most places that accept credit cards, making it an excellent choice for people who want to use their rewards on overseas travel. 

Ridesharing benefits — Instead of exchanging your miles for travel, you can use them to pay for rideshares. With Capital One’s Purchase Eraser, you can use miles to pay for any travel purchase within 90 days. 

As a result, the Purchase Eraser feature makes this the best credit card for Uber and Lyft for those of us who want flexible rewards.

Other perks — For a limited time, you can earn 100,000 bonus miles if you spend $20,000 on purchases within the first year of getting this card. Likewise, you can earn 50,000 bonus miles for spending just $3,000 in the first three months, which is more easily attainable than the former. 

And to our delight, the miles don’t expire as long as your account is open, and there’s no limit to the number of miles you can earn. 

In addition, you’ll also earn twice the miles for all purchases made with the Capital One Venture Rewards card with no cap. 

Overall, this card is a little more demanding than some other Uber credit cards, but it’s the best deal you’ll get at such a low annual fee.

Pros:

• 100,000-mile welcome bonus
• Double miles on all purchases
• Capital One Purchase Eraser
• No foreign transaction fees
• Transfer miles to other loyalty programs

Cons:

• Needs excellent credit
• Annual fee

Overview — Despite the Chase Freedom Unlimited Uber promotion no longer being available,  the beloved brand replaced it with equally appealing ridesharing benefits. 

Simply put, if you want benefits similar to those of the Chase Sapphire Reserve but don’t meet the credit score requirements, this is the card for you. 

Ridesharing benefits — This is a cashback card, and Chase worked out a special deal with Lyft. In other words, the card provides 5% cashback on all Lyft rides through March 2022. 

Other perks — For starters, you can earn a $200 cashback bonus when you spend $500 on purchases within the first three months of opening the account. 

And albeit it doesn’t explicitly offer discounts for Uber, Chase Freedom Unlimited earns extra cashback in the following categories:

• 5% cashback on travel you purchase through Chase Ultimate Rewards
• 3% cashback on restaurants and dining expenses, including delivery services and takeout
• 3% cashback on purchases from drugstores
• 1.5% cashback on all other categories

Last but not least, it also has a generous introductory 0% APR period of 15 months on purchases. 

So, all things considered, this card provides excellent value for no annual fee.

Pros:

• $200 cashback welcome bonus
• 5% cashback on Lyft rides
• No annual fee
• Long intro APR period
• 5% bonus cashback on travel

Cons:

• Foreign transaction fees
• No bonus rewards for Uber specifically

Whether you like to squeeze the last drop of rewards from your card or just want something for everyday spending, we’ve got you covered!

In fact, there are so many options out there that it almost feels like a waste not to invest some time to find the perfect one. And make no mistake, the right card for your Uber spending is out there waiting.

In this section, we’ll walk you through a few criteria to keep in mind while reading through Uber credit card reviews.

First, Check Your Credit

A credit score is the primary factor that decides what credit cards you have a shot of getting. It makes sense to know where you stand before you start looking for one.

If your credit is not exceptional, that doesn’t mean you should stop looking. There are plenty of cards for people with fair credit.

Nevertheless, if it’s very low (below 500), a secured credit card is probably your only option.

To help you out, we’ve uncovered how Experian grades credit ranges:

• 800–850: exceptional
• 740–799: very good
• 670–739: good
• 580–669: fair
• 300–579: very poor

Also, please note that applying for credit cards may involve a hard credit check; hence, you don’t want to apply randomly without having a good chance of approval.

What Card Is Best for Uber — Cashback or Travel Rewards?

If you’re looking through credit card reviews, it’s almost always to find the card that will reward your spending the most. 

In short, that entails choosing cards that offer either straight cashback or some sort of travel rewards. 

Here’s the gist on both of these:

Cashback Advantages

The great part about getting cashback from your Uber credit card is that you don’t have to worry about learning how to use a point system; usually, you just get some of your money back when you spend it in the right way. 

However, cashback isn’t a discount, per se. How and when you get the cashback depends mostly on the card. For instance, you may have to wait until the end of your billing cycle, or in some cases, even the end of the year to get certain cashback rewards. 

Still, if you’re looking for the best card to replace the Uber Visa card, you’ll probably want a cashback card.

Travel Points Advantages

The benefit of a credit card with miles or points is pretty straightforward: you can get better deals on travel. Yet, unless you travel frequently and want to use the points in the right way, that won’t help much. 

There are some exceptions to this, such as the Capital One Venture Rewards card, which allows you to use miles to pay for certain expenses. Specifically, the Capital One Purchase Eraser uses miles to pay for purchases made in the last 90 days at a rate of one cent per mile, which is pretty fair. 

What Else Do You Need From Your Card?

Chances are you’re not just in the market for a card to pay for Uber rides. In other words, even the best credit card for Uber should also be a decent spending card. Otherwise, you’re creating more of an inconvenience. 

It’s important to learn about all the things you can do with credit cards. Some features you might want to watch out for include:

Rewards for Your Regular Spending

Essentially, if you have to modify your spending behavior to make a card worthwhile, it’s not a good card for you. Try to look for cards that reward what you’re already spending money on or cards that are flexible enough to let you choose how to get rewards, as is the case with the U.S. Bank Cash+ card.

Introductory APR Periods

In every Uber credit card review above, you’ll find information about the card’s introductory APR. If you have a lot of dispersed credit card debt, getting a new card for your Uber spending could also be an opportunity to consolidate it. 

If that’s the case, find a credit card with a long introductory period of low balance-transfer APR. 

Moreover, you may be planning a large purchase soon. 

If so, try to find a card with a long introductory APR period for purchases. That way, you can offset much or all of the interest payments you’d have if you carried the balance on another card.

Annual Fees on Uber Credit Cards

Unless you’re using ridesharing services several times a week, the rewards aren’t likely to be groundbreaking. Therefore, you should approach annual fees with some caution. 

Credit cards with annual fees usually have good ways to make up for them. Still, those rewards often involve spending a considerable amount on categories that you may not usually spend on.

You’re armed with all the information you need to pick out the best card for your Uber and ridesharing needs. Now, you have to put some time into finding it. 

Remember that applying for multiple credit cards can hurt your credit score if these applications require a hard credit check.

However, promotional offers for credit cards change frequently, so you shouldn’t delay. Find the credit card for you from the list above and apply right now to reap all the benefits!