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EDITORIAL DISCLOSURE:
Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.

Imagine you’re at an exclusive club. 🪩🕺🏻 ::cue bumping music::

The bouncer (let’s call him Chase) is standing at the door, checking IDs. You walk up, ready to get in, but he glances at a clipboard and shakes his head. “Sorry, you’ve had too many drinks—I mean, credit cards—in the last two years. Come back later.”

That, my friend, is the Chase 5/24 rule in action. If you’ve opened five or more credit cards in the past 24 months, Chase won’t let you grab another one—no matter how good your credit score looks or how convincingly you plead. This rule is the reason you need to be strategic about which cards you apply for first when getting into the world of points and miles.

What Exactly Is the Chase 5/24 Rule?

Simply put: if you’ve opened five or more personal credit cards (from any bank, not just Chase) in the last 24 months, Chase will automatically decline you for their credit cards. Even if you have a perfect credit score. Even if you bake them cookies and write them a heartfelt letter to take you back (not that we know from personal experience or anything 🥲).

This rule is a big deal because Chase has some of the most valuable travel rewards credit cards out there. These cards earn our favorite type of flexible point, Chase Ultimate Rewards, which can be transferred to multiple airlines and hotels for outsized value—including partners like Hyatt and Southwest! (👈 We specifically love those two programs because they’re super easy to use for points and miles beginners, and continue to be a fantastic value for your points even for award travel experts too.)

How to Easily Track Your 5/24 Status

Trying to remember when you opened your last five credit cards can feel like trying to recall every streaming subscription you signed up for during a free trial (oops). But don’t worry—you don’t have to do the math yourself.

There’s a free app called Travel Freely that does all the work for you! Just input your recently opened credit cards into the app, and it will automatically track your 5/24 status, letting you know exactly when you’ll be eligible for your next Chase card. No spreadsheets, no guessing—just a simple way to stay on top of things.

Click here to check out Travel Freely and start tracking your 5/24 status now!

Why You Should Start With Chase

Since Chase has this 5/24 rule in place, the smart move is to apply for Chase cards first before you hit that five-card limit. Once you’ve gotten the Chase cards you want, you can move on to other banks that aren’t as strict about how many cards you’ve opened.

🎒 Think of it like packing for a trip: You put your most important things (passport, phone charger, and snacks, obviously) in your bag first so you don’t run out of space. In the same way, you grab your Chase cards early so you don’t miss out on those incredibly valuable Ultimate Rewards.

Our Favorite Chase Cards to Consider First

If you’re starting your points and miles journey, here are some top Chase cards to prioritize:

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card – This is the go-to beginner card we recommend the MOST, with a great welcome bonus and the ability to transfer points to Hyatt, United, Southwest, and more.
Chase Sapphire Reserve® – If you travel more frequently and want extra perks like lounge access, this one’s a winner. Not our favorite for beginners due to the high annual fee, but if it works for your budget then go for it!
Chase Ink Business Cards – If you have a small business (side hustlers, that means you!), these can help rack up Ultimate Rewards points fast.

Head to our Best Offers Page to check out these Chase offers — by using our links (at no additional cost to you!), you’ll help support all our free content we provide!

*We booked a 4-night girls trip at the adult-only, all-inclusive* *Hyatt Zilara Cap Cana* *entirely on Chase points!*

What If You’re Already Over 5/24?

If you’re already past five credit cards in two years, don’t panic! You can:

Wait it out – Once older cards drop off your 24-month history, you’ll be eligible again. Remember, your Travel Freely app will keep track of this for you!
Check for pre-approved offers – Sometimes Chase will let you bypass the rule if they really want you as a customer. You just may get really lucky and receive a pre-approval notice in your inbox… or mailbox!
Focus on other banks (and their business cards) – There are still great cards from Amex, Capital One, and Citi that don’t have this restriction. But keep in mind, more personal cards will continue to add to your 5/24 count— which is why adding business cards to your strategy will give you more access to great Chase offers down the road!

🪩 Bottom Line

Chase’s 5/24 rule is like that exclusive VIP list—if you don’t plan ahead, you might find yourself stuck outside while all the best travel rewards cards are inside dancing the night away. So if you’re serious about using points to make your bucket list trips actually happen, start with Chase cards first!

👉 Head to our Best Credit Cards page to see the latest Chase offers!

We thank you soooo much for supporting our content by using our links. At no additional cost to you, you’ll help support all our free content we provide just by using our click through links to apply! 🫶

Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.

The Chase 5/24 Rule Explained