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Get Free DashPass with Chase Cards in 2026: 5 Best Options Compared
September 27, 2026
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The content on this page is accurate as of the posting date; however, some of the offers mentioned may have expired or changed.
What's New in 2026
The Chase and DoorDash partnership has seen meaningful updates heading into 2026:
- Activation deadlines vary by card: Chase has extended most DashPass benefit activation windows through December 31, 2027. The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is the exception: its current deadline, per Chase's own benefits page, runs through December 31, 2029.
- Updated monthly DoorDash credits: Several Chase cards now include monthly DoorDash credits that reset each month, in addition to the complimentary DashPass membership. Credit amounts vary by card; see the Chase Sapphire Reserve® section below for the current figure, or check your card's benefits guide or the Kudos Explore Tool for current details.
- DashPass now covers Caviar orders, too: Because Caviar is owned by DoorDash, your DashPass benefits extend to Caviar orders, a nice bonus if you use the platform for higher-end delivery options.
- Pay with your Chase card directly: To ensure your DashPass discount applies on each order, use your eligible Chase card as your payment method, not a linked digital wallet like Apple Pay or Google Pay.
Why DashPass Matters: The Real Savings Breakdown
DashPass is DoorDash's subscription service that normally runs $9.99/month ($119.88/year if paid monthly), or a discounted annual-plan rate if you prepay for the year. Subscribers get:
- $0 delivery fees on orders over $12 from thousands of participating restaurants and stores
- Reduced service fees on eligible orders
- 5% back in DoorDash credits on pickup orders
The math: If you order DoorDash twice a month, delivery and service fees add up fast. A complimentary DashPass membership eliminates that cost entirely, and for frequent users (four or more orders per month), total annual savings can easily reach $400 or more. For many cardholders, free DashPass alone meaningfully offsets the cost of carrying the card. That's the lens we used to evaluate every card on this list.
The 5 Best Chase Cards for Free DashPass at a Glance
Not all Chase cards deliver DashPass at the same level. Here's a quick-reference comparison before we dig into each card:
- Chase Sapphire Reserve®
- Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
- United℠ Explorer Card
- IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card
- Chase Freedom Unlimited®
[[ CARD_LIST * {"ids": ["510", "509", "2406", "502", "497"]} ]]
DashPass membership is complimentary through December 31, 2027, or for at least 12 months from your activation date, whichever is longer, for the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, United℠ Explorer Card, IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card, and Chase Freedom Unlimited®. The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card's current deadline runs through December 31, 2029. After the free period, DashPass auto-renews at $9.99/month unless you cancel. Monthly DoorDash credits vary by card; see your card's benefits guide for current amounts.
Chase Sapphire Reserve®: The Premium Pick
✅ Best if you:
- Order DoorDash or Caviar frequently across restaurant and non-restaurant categories
- Already have, or are considering, a premium travel rewards card
- Want both the free membership and monthly credits to maximize per-order savings
❌ Skip if you:
- Use DoorDash infrequently and won't extract value from monthly credits
- Prefer a no-annual-fee product
[[ SINGLE_CARD * {"id": "510", "isExpanded": "false", "bestForCategoryId": "15", "bestForText": "Frequent Travelers", "headerHint": "High-Value Perks"} ]]
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® carries a $795 annual fee. On top of the complimentary DashPass membership, cardholders get up to $25/month in DoorDash credits: a $5 credit for restaurant orders plus two separate $10 credits for eligible non-restaurant purchases, such as groceries. That's up to $300/year. Credits reset monthly, don't carry over, and only apply when you pay with the card directly rather than a digital wallet like Apple Pay or Google Pay. Authorized users get the same DashPass and credit benefits.
Points are not earned until after the first $300 is spent annually on travel purchases. The first $300 goes toward the $300 Annual Travel Credit.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: The Balanced Pick
✅ Best if you:
- Want complimentary DashPass and occasional DoorDash credits
- Prefer a travel rewards card at a lower cost of entry
- Are newer to Chase's ecosystem and building toward a long-term points strategy
[[ SINGLE_CARD * {"id": "509", "isExpanded": "false", "bestForCategoryId": "15", "bestForText": "Frequent Travelers", "headerHint": "Exceptional Travel Value"} ]]
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card ($95 annual fee) includes a complimentary DashPass membership (about $120/year value) plus up to $10 off per month on groceries and daily essentials ordered through DoorDash. Chase's current benefits page lists an activation deadline of December 31, 2029 for this card, later than the December 31, 2027 deadline that applies to most other Chase DashPass cards.
United℠ Explorer Card: The Co-Branded Pick
✅ Best if you:
- Fly United two or more times per year
- Want DashPass paired with airline perks rather than paying for a separate card
- Don't need monthly DoorDash credits, just the free membership
[[ SINGLE_CARD * {"id": "2406", "isExpanded": "false", "bestForCategoryId": "15", "bestForText": "Frequent Travelers", "headerHint": "Priority Boarding"} ]]
Like most Chase co-branded cards, the United℠ Explorer Card offers 12 months of free DashPass if you enroll by December 31, 2027, available only if you've never used a Chase DashPass benefit before.
IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card: The Hotel Pick
✅ Best if you:
- Stay at IHG properties regularly
- Want free DashPass bundled with hotel rewards
- Already have a separate travel or cash-back card for everyday spending
[[ SINGLE_CARD * {"id": "502", "isExpanded": "true", "bestForCategoryId": "52", "bestForText": "Frequent Travelers", "headerHint" : "Excellent Travel Choice" } ]]
Like most Chase co-branded cards, the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card offers 12 months of free DashPass if you enroll by December 31, 2027, available only if you've never used a Chase DashPass benefit before.
Chase Freedom Unlimited®: The No-Annual-Fee Pick
✅ Best if you:
- Want free DashPass without paying an annual fee
- Are newer to Chase credit cards and looking for a starter option
- Prefer straightforward cash-back rewards over travel points
[[ SINGLE_CARD * {"id": "497", "isExpanded": "false", "bestForCategoryId": "15", "bestForText": "Cash Back Seekers", "headerHint": "Fantastic Cash Back Card"} ]]
The Chase Freedom Unlimited® offers 6 months of free DashPass (increased from a previous 3-month trial) if you enroll by December 31, 2027 and have never used a Chase DashPass benefit before. After the 6 months end, DashPass auto-renews at the then-current monthly rate unless you cancel.
How to Activate Your Chase DashPass Benefit
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Once approved for an eligible card, activation takes just a few minutes:
- Open the DoorDash app (or go to doordash.com) and log into your account, or create one if you're new.
- Go to Account, then DashPass (or look for a DashPass banner on the home screen).
- Add your eligible Chase card as a payment method. You'll see a prompt to activate your Chase DashPass benefit automatically.
Your membership activates within minutes. Set a calendar reminder before your free period ends so you can decide whether to continue at the regular subscription rate or cancel before the auto-renewal kicks in. The free period runs 12 months for the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, United℠ Explorer Card, and IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card, and 6 months for the Chase Freedom Unlimited®.
The same activation process applies for Caviar: just add your eligible Chase card as the payment method in the Caviar app.
Should You Apply?
Not sure which card (or whether any card) makes sense? Work through these questions:
Do you currently pay for DashPass or regularly pay delivery fees?
- Yes: Any card on this list will save you money; move to the next question.
- No: Consider whether free delivery would change how often you order.
Do you travel at least a couple of times per year?
- Yes: The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or Chase Sapphire Reserve® likely makes the most sense.
- No: Consider the Chase Freedom Unlimited® or IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card if you stay in hotels.
Do you fly United regularly?
- Yes: The United℠ Explorer Card may be the most efficient single card for your wallet.
Will you use monthly DoorDash credits consistently?
- Yes: The Chase Sapphire Reserve® or Preferred® offer the best ongoing value.
- No: Any card's free membership still covers the subscription cost on its own.
A note on credit: The Sapphire cards are generally designed for applicants with good to excellent credit, while the Freedom Unlimited® may be accessible with good credit. Kudos' credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application. Check the Kudos Explore Tool for personalized approval odds based on your credit profile.
Chase also applies a general guideline, sometimes called the 5/24 rule, where applications from consumers who have opened five or more new credit card accounts in the past 24 months may not be approved. If you're near that threshold, consider timing your application carefully.
FAQ & Bottom Line
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the Chase and DoorDash benefit expire?
For the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, United℠ Explorer Card, IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card, and Chase Freedom Unlimited®, the activation deadline runs through December 31, 2027. If you activate after December 31, 2026, you'll receive at least 12 months of free DashPass from your activation date (6 months for the Freedom Unlimited®). The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card's current deadline runs through December 31, 2029.
Do I need to pay with my Chase card on every order?
You need your Chase card linked to your DoorDash account to maintain the benefit. For per-order fee savings to apply, use your eligible Chase card as the payment method, not a linked digital wallet.
Can I stack DashPass across multiple Chase cards?
No. Only one complimentary DashPass membership can be active per DoorDash account at a time, even if you hold multiple eligible Chase cards.
What happens when my complimentary period ends?
DashPass auto-renews at $9.99/month. Set a reminder before your benefit period ends so you can cancel if needed.
Does DashPass work for grocery and convenience orders?
Yes. DashPass reduces delivery and service fees on eligible orders from restaurants, grocery stores, convenience stores, and other participating merchants, including Caviar orders.
Can I share DashPass with family?
DoorDash's Family Plan feature allows you to extend DashPass benefits to people in the same household. Each person needs their own DoorDash account, and the eligible Chase card must be used for orders.
Do authorized users get DashPass?
This varies by card. On the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, authorized users get the same DashPass and credit benefits. Check your specific card's benefits guide or the Kudos Explore Tool for current details on other cards.
Bottom Line
Free DashPass is one of the most immediately tangible credit card perks available in 2026. The right card depends on how often you order and what else you want out of a rewards card:
- Chase Sapphire Reserve®: best for DoorDash power users who also travel frequently, with up to $25/month in added DoorDash credits
- Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: best for travelers who want solid DashPass coverage, including a monthly grocery credit, at a lower price point, now with an activation deadline through December 31, 2029
- Chase Freedom Unlimited®: best for no-annual-fee access to 6 months of free DashPass
- United℠ Explorer Card: best for United flyers who want DashPass bundled with airline perks
- IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card: best for IHG loyalists who want DashPass as a complementary benefit
Activate your DashPass benefit promptly after approval, and use the Kudos app to track all your card perks so you never let a monthly credit go to waste.
The content on this page is accurate as of the posting date; however, some of the offers mentioned may have expired or changed. Always verify current card benefits in your card's benefits guide.
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Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are those of Kudos 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.
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