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With the growing popularity of rideshare services around the world, including Uber and Lyft, more travelers are looking for ways to maximize their credit card rewards on transit purchases.
Luckily, many of the top travel rewards cards feature earning bonuses not just for rideshare services, but also in broader travel categories that include rideshares. That means consumers can expect to earn multiple points per dollar or several percentage points in cash back on rideshare purchases if they use the right card.
When choosing the right rewards credit card for your needs, you should also take into account other, more significant factors, such as a high sign-up bonus, a reasonable annual fee, and lucrative everyday earning opportunities.
With that in mind, here are six of the best credit cards for rideshares and their other benefits.
We’re focused here on the rewards and perks that come with each card. These cards won’t be worth it if you’re paying interest or late fees. When using a credit card, it’s important to pay your balance in full each month, make payments on time, and only spend what you can afford to pay.
Best premium card for Uber credits: Platinum Card® from American Express
Why use it for rideshares: Although it does not earn bonus points on rideshares, the Platinum Card does offer cardmembers up to $200 per year in Uber Cash credits**. You’ll receive $15 in Uber Cash each month, except for December, when you get $35.
Welcome bonus offer: Earn 60,000 points after your spend at least $5,000 in your first 3 months of account opening.
Annual fee: $550
Other benefits: Though the annual fee is high, this premium rewards card is packed with perks, such as:
Up to $200 in airline fee credits** each calendar yearUp to $200 in credits per year toward prepaid hotel bookings through Amex Fine Hotels and Resorts or The Hotel CollectionUp to $240 in annual credits (up to $20 per month) toward eligible digital subscriptions such as Hulu, Disney+, ESPN+, and Peacock**$189 per year in credits for CLEAR® membership**Up to $100 in Saks credits each calendar year**Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee creditAirport lounge access (Priority Pass**, Centurion lounges, and more)Amex Fine Hotels and Resorts (benefits at exclusive luxury properties)Cell phone protection
Read more: American Express Platinum Card review
Best middle-of-the-road card for Uber credits: American Express® Gold Card
Why use it for rideshares: This card offers monthly Uber Cash similar to the The Platinum Card® from American Express — but for a dramatically lower annual fee. You’ll receive $10 in Uber Cash each month** (up to $120 per calendar year, and the Gold Card needs to be added to the Uber app to receive the Uber Cash benefit).
The card doesn’t earn bonus points for rideshares — you’ll get just 1 point per dollar. Insider estimates Amex points value to be 1.8 cents each, so you’ll still get an effective 1.8% return for your transit expense.
Welcome bonus offer: You’ll earn American Express® Gold Card.
Annual fee: American Express® Gold Card
Other benefits: This card comes with a handful of other valuable perks that justify its annual fee, such as:
Up to $10 in dining credits each month** (up to $120 per year) for spending with Grubhub, Seamless, The Cheesecake Factory, Ruth’s Chris Steak House (through August 1, 2022), Boxed (through August 1, 2022), and participating Shake Shack locationsThe Hotel Collection (property credits and upgrades)Solid travel insurancePurchase protectionDiscounts and bonuses through Amex Offers**
Read more: Amex Gold Card review
Best card for Lyft spending: Chase Sapphire Reserve®
Why use it for rideshares: The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is an all-round top earner thanks to the fact that it racks up 3 points per dollar on dining and travel, including rideshare services like Uber. But it’s even better for Lyft: Through March 2025, the card earns 10 points per dollar on Lyft rides — equal to a 18% return on your spending, per Insider’s valuations of Chase Ultimate Rewards points.
Plus, the card offers up to $300 in statement credits toward travel purchases each year (including rideshares).
Welcome bonus offer: You’ll earn Chase Sapphire Reserve®.
Annual fee: Chase Sapphire Reserve®
Other benefits: The points you earn with this card are transferable to several airline and hotel partners, such as Hyatt, United Airlines, Southwest, and many more. They are also worth 1.5 cents apiece when redeemed for travel directly through the Ultimate Rewards portal.
You’ll also receive benefits such as:
Access to Chase Sapphire Lounges by The Club (when open)Access to Reserved by Sapphire restaurant reservations Priority Pass Select airport lounge membershipGlobal Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS application fee creditTop-tier travel insurance
Read more: Chase Sapphire Reserve review
Best small-business card for Lyft spending: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
Why use it for rideshares: Like the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, this card earns 3 points per dollar on travel purchases, including rideshares. But through March 2025, you’ll earn 5 points per dollar on Lyft rides. Because Insider values Chase points at 1.8 cents each, this equates to a 9% return for your spending.
Welcome bonus offer: You’ll earn Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card.
Annual fee: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
Other benefits: This is one of the best small-business cards on the market thanks to perks such as:
Cell phone protectionPrimary car rental insurance (when renting for business purposes)Trip cancellation/interruption insuranceExtended warrantyPurchase protectionTravel and emergency assistance servicesRoadside dispatchNo foreign transaction fees
Read more: Ink Business Preferred credit card review
Best no annual fee credit card for rideshare expenses: U.S. Bank Cash+™ Visa Signature® Card
Why use it for rideshares: U.S. Bank Cash+™ Visa Signature® Card cardholders can opt to earn 5% cash back on their first $2,000 in purchases in two categories of choice each quarter, including ground transportation like rideshares.
Welcome bonus offer: You’ll receive a U.S. Bank Cash+™ Visa Signature® Card.
Annual fee: U.S. Bank Cash+™ Visa Signature® Card
Other benefits: The 5% categories other than ground transportation include things like cell phone providers, department stores, electronics stores, movie theaters, gyms, furniture stores, fast food restaurants, and TV, internet and streaming services.
This card also offers 2% back on gas, restaurants, or grocery stores with no spending caps. All other purchases earn 1% back that can be redeemed either as statement credits or as deposits into your U.S. Bank account.
Read more: U.S. Bank Cash Plus card review
Best starter travel credit card for rideshare expenses: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Why use it for rideshares: Like the Chase Sapphire Reserve® and Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card’s bonus travel category is quite broad and includes rideshares so that cardholders can earn 2x points per dollar on purchases with services like Uber and Lyft. Through March 2025, you’ll earn 5 points per dollar for Lyft purchases.
Welcome bonus offer: Earn 60,000 points.
Annual fee: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Other benefits: The card also offers:
Up to $50 in annual statement credits toward hotel stays booked through Chase$10 per month in Gopuff credit through December 202310% annual points bonus Excellent travel insurance
Read more: Chase Sapphire Preferred Credit Card review
World and World Elite Mastercards offer Lyft credits
Mastercard World and World Elite credit cards provide a $5 Lyft credit each calendar month. The only requirement is that you take at least three Lyft rides per month.
Examples of cards that qualify for this benefit are:
Chase Freedom Flex℠Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®Citi Premier® CardIHG® Rewards Premier Credit CardAAdvantage® Aviator® Red Mastercard®
The ability to earn up to $60 per year from a World Elite Mastercard is pretty great — especially considering some of them don’t incur an annual fee.
Read more: Everything you need to know about Mastercard World Elite benefits
Credit cards for Uber and Lyft — Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the best credit card for rideshare expenses?
The best credit card for rideshare expenses isn’t necessarily the best credit card for you.
In terms of money-saving potential, the The Platinum Card® from American Express will give you the biggest discount on your rides with its monthly Uber Cash credit worth up to $15 per month (and $35 in December). That’s a potential $200 in free rides each year.
However, the card comes with a lofty The Platinum Card® from American Express annual fee. If you’re not going to use the card’s other benefits (including $1,000+ in annual credits), consider instead a card like the the U.S. Bank Cash+™ Visa Signature® Card, a U.S. Bank Cash+™ Visa Signature® Card-annual-fee card which has the potential to earn 5% cash back on rideshare services like Uber and Lyft.
Do Uber and Lyft have credit cards?
Uber and Lyft do not have proprietary credit cards. Uber briefly issued a credit card with Barclays, but it has since been discontinued.
Are the best cards for rideshare expenses also the best cards for food delivery?
If you order food delivery through Uber with any regularity, you’ll find that credit cards with Uber-specific credits and spending bonuses are also the best credit cards to use for your dining habits. If you order directly from the restaurant, however, be sure to read our guide to the best credit cards for dining and restaurant takeout.
Do rideshares count as travel for credit cards?
Each bank has its own persnickety algorithm for coding the purchases you make with your credit card. Most often, however, you’ll find that purchases through popular services like Uber and Lyft do qualify as travel.