Good news for Chase cardholders: Pay Yourself Back is still alive in 2026, with updated bonus categories now in place for the first quarter of the year.
Chase originally launched Pay Yourself Back in 2020 as a way to use Ultimate Rewards points for statement credits when travel was on hold. Since then, Chase has kept the feature around — but the “bonus” categories have shifted (and shrunk) over time. Today, it’s best viewed as a rotating perk: check the categories each quarter and use it when it fits your spending.
Pay Yourself Back Categories (Q1 2026)
For the current set of categories, the key date to know is March 31, 2026 (for the gas/gym/annual fee redemptions on Sapphire Reserve). Select charities last longer. More on that below.
Updated Categories for Sapphire Reserve Cardholders
Through March 31, 2026, Sapphire Reserve cardholders can redeem points at 1.25 cents per point (a 25% bonus vs. cash back at 1 cent per point) for statement credits in these categories:
- Gas Stations – 1.25¢ per point (through 3/31/26)
- Fitness Clubs & Gym Memberships – 1.25¢ per point (through 3/31/26)
- Annual Fee – 1.25¢ per point (through 3/31/26)
Select charities are the best deal for Sapphire Reserve users: redemptions are worth 1.5 cents per point (a 50% bonus) through December 31, 2026.
Updated Categories for Sapphire Preferred Cardholders
Chase is also offering Pay Yourself Back bonus redemptions on the Sapphire Preferred. Based on what’s currently showing in the Ultimate Rewards portal, these are the active promotions:
- Fitness clubs & gym memberships – 10% more points value (valid through March 31, 2026)
- Annual membership fee – 10% more points value
- Select charities – 25% more points value
In plain English, that means your points are worth about 1.10¢ each for the 10% categories and about 1.25¢ each for select charities (instead of the usual 1.00¢ per point when redeeming for a statement credit).
Chase Freedom & Ink Cards
For the Freedom family (Freedom Flex, Freedom Unlimited, and the original Freedom) and most Ink Ultimate Rewards cards, the only Pay Yourself Back bonus category currently showing is:
- Select charities – 25% more points value (your points are worth about 1.25¢ each toward eligible donations)
In other words, unlike the Sapphire cards, Freedom and Ink cardholders typically won’t see the extra categories like gyms or annual fees — but the charity boost can still be a solid redemption if you were planning to donate anyway.
Eligible Charities for Pay Yourself Back
- American Heart Association
- American Red Cross
- Equal Justice Initiative
- Feeding America
- GLSEN
- Habitat for Humanity
- International Medical Corps
- International Rescue Committee
- Leadership Conference Education Fund
- Make-A-Wish America
- NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund
- National Urban League
- Out & Equal Workplace Advocates
- SAGE
- Thurgood Marshall College Fund
- United Negro College Fund
- UNICEF USA
- United Way
- World Central Kitchen
Why It Matters
Pay Yourself Back is a solid “Plan B” redemption:
- If you were going to pay cash for something anyway, using points at 1.25¢–1.5¢ each can beat the standard 1¢ per point cash-out option.
- It’s also one of the simplest ways to turn points into real savings without booking travel.
How Pay Yourself Back Works
It’s straightforward:
- Log into your Chase account (app or desktop) and go to Ultimate Rewards.
- Select Pay Yourself Back.
- You’ll see eligible purchases from the past 90 days — choose the ones you want to “erase” with points.
- Confirm the redemption and Chase applies a statement credit.
Maximize Your Points
If you’re chasing the absolute highest value, transferring Ultimate Rewards to travel partners (like Hyatt, United, etc.) can still be the best option. But if you want a quick, simple redemption — or you’re sitting on a pile of points without immediate travel plans — Pay Yourself Back is an easy win.
Final Thought
The program is still worth paying attention to, but it’s no longer the “everything and the kitchen sink” version we saw years ago. For 2026, the sweet spot is clear: Sapphire Reserve cardholders get the most value (especially for charity redemptions), while other Ultimate Rewards cards mainly benefit if you’re planning to donate anyway.
For more details, you can access Pay Yourself Back through the Chase mobile app or via Pay Yourself Back.
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