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What is Chase’s Pay Yourself Back feature?

Use your Chase Ultimate Reward points for other redemption options aside from travel.

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Kliment Dukovski
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Chase’s Pay Yourself Back feature allows cardmembers to redeem Chase Ultimate points for statement credits in select categories of purchases. The cool thing about this feature is that you can use your points to pay for purchases and earn points for that purchase as if you paid it with money.

The Pay Yourself Back feature was first introduced in May 2020 with the two Chase Sapphire cards. As of October 2020, the two Freedom cards can also use this feature — although only for donations.

How does Chase’s Pay Yourself Back feature work?

To use the Pay Yourself Back feature, you must first log in to your online Chase account. After that:

  1. Go to the Chase Ultimate Rewards menu.
  2. Select Pay Yourself Back.
  3. Select the purchases from your last 90 days where you want to use points. Click Continue.
  4. Select whether you want to pay the entire purchase with points or a portion of it.
  5. Click Confirm & Submit.

Expect to get your statement credit within three business days.

What Chase cards offer Pay Yourself Back?

As of 2021, only the two types of Ultimate Rewards credit cards let you use the Pay Yourself Back feature. But each card type offers a different value for point redemption differently. Here’s how it looks:

Chase Sapphire cards

Both the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and the Chase Sapphire Reserve® have the highest value on point redemptions in select new categories. However, these categories may not last forever.

  • Categories. Grocery, dining (including delivery and takeout), home improvement stores (such as Home Depot or Lowes) and contributions to eligible charities.
  • Redemption value. The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card comes with a 25% higher value and the Chase Sapphire Reserve® with 50% higher value.
  • Timing. Eligible categories are available through September 30th, 2021.

Chase Freedom cards

The two Freedom cards only get a one redemption option within the Pay Yourself Back program.

  • Categories. Contributions to eligible charities.
  • Redemption value. Points are worth 25% more.
  • Timing. No end date.

What does 25% and 50% redemption mean?

This means that you can redeem 10,000 points with your Chase Sapphire Reserve® card for a $150 purchase. If you redeem 10,000 points for cash, you get $100. Redeeming points with the Pay Yourself Back feature is a way better deal.

The 25% higher redemption means that 10,000 points are worth $125 in eligible Pay Yourself Back redemption.

Which charities are eligible for donations through the Pay Yourself Back feature?

You can donate your points to:

  • American Red Cross
  • Equal Justice Initiative
  • Feeding America
  • Habitat for Humanity
  • International Medical Corporation
  • Leadership Education Fund
  • NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund
  • National Urban League
  • Thurgood Marshall College Fund
  • United Negro College Fund
  • United Way
  • World Central Kitchen

Compare Chase credit cards

Using the Pay Yourself Back feature is useful with an Ultimate Rewards credit card. But if this type of card doesn’t align with your needs, other Chase credit cards could be a better option.

Name Product Filter values Rewards Purchase APR Annual fee
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
5x points on Lyft, 2x points on travel and dining and 1x points on all other purchases
15.99% to 22.99% variable
$95
Apply now
View details

Up to $1,250 signup bonus

 Earn a massive signup bonus of 100,000 points with this popular travel card. That's worth up to $1,250!
Chase Freedom Flex℠
Chase Freedom Flex℠
5% cash back on up to $1,500 combined in quarterly categories you activate, 5% on Chase travel purchased through Ultimate Rewards®, 3% on dining and drugstores, and 1% on all other purchases
0% intro for the first 15 months (then 14.99% to 23.74% variable)
$0
Apply now
View details
Get up to 5% cashback in rotating and newly added everyday categories. The refreshed Freedom Flex card has lots of earning potential.
Chase Freedom Unlimited®
Chase Freedom Unlimited®
5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase, 5% on Lyft, 3% on dining and drugstores and 1.5% on all other purchases
0% intro for the first 15 months (then 14.99% to 23.74% variable)
$0
Apply now
View details
This solid 1.5% cashback card gets even better with the addition of up to 5% back in categories like travel, drug stores and dining.
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Bottom line

Chase’s Pay Yourself Back feature is useful for spending your points when you can’t use them on travel purchases. The only downside is that the Freedom cards can only use this feature for charitable donations and not on groceries and dining like the Chase Sapphire cards. If the Chase cards aren’t right for you, compare other rewards credit cards.

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