Plenty of credits are free money only after a one-time setup: enrolling in the bank’s app, adding the card to a merchant’s account, or picking an airline. Skip that step and the purchase goes through at full price, with no credit and no warning. Activation usually only counts purchases made after it, so do it before you use the credit.
Below is every credit that needs it, grouped by bank, on cards open to new applicants.
American Express
Platinum American Express · fee $895
Add the card to your Uber account first; the Uber Cash is only deposited once it's there.
Add the card to your Uber account first; the December Uber Cash is only deposited once it's there.
Choose your one qualifying airline in the Amex app or website before paying airline fees.
Activate it in the bank’s app or website before using it.
Activate it in the bank’s app or website before using it.
Activate it in the bank’s app or website before using it.
Activate it in the bank’s app or website before using it.
Activate it in the bank’s app or website before using it.
Platinum for Charles Schwab Charles Schwab · American Express · fee $895
Add the card to your Uber account first; the Uber Cash is only deposited once it's there.
Add the card to your Uber account first; the December Uber Cash is only deposited once it's there.
Choose your one qualifying airline in the Amex app or website before paying airline fees.
Activate it in the bank’s app or website before using it.
Activate it in the bank’s app or website before using it.
Activate it in the bank’s app or website before using it.
Activate it in the bank’s app or website before using it.
Activate it in the bank’s app or website before using it.
Platinum for Morgan Stanley Morgan Stanley · American Express · fee $895
Add the card to your Uber account in the Uber app; the Uber Cash then appears there each month.
Add the card to your Uber account in the Uber app; the December bonus is added there as Uber Cash.
Pick your one qualifying airline in the Amex app or website before the fees are charged.
Activate it in the bank’s app or website before using it.
Activate it in the bank’s app or website before using it.
Activate it in the bank’s app or website before using it.
Activate it in the bank’s app or website before using it.
Activate it in the bank’s app or website before using it.
Business Platinum American Express · fee $895
Pick your one qualifying airline in the Amex app or website before the fees are charged.
Enroll in the Amex app or website with your Hilton Honors number.
Activate it in the bank’s app or website before using it.
Enroll in the Dell credit in the Amex app or website; the one enrollment also covers the $1,000 bonus.
Activate it in the bank’s app or website before using it.
Activate it in the bank’s app or website before using it.
Activate it in the bank’s app or website before using it.
Activate it in the bank’s app or website before using it.
Delta SkyMiles Reserve Delta · American Express · fee $650
Activate it in the bank’s app or website before using it.
Activate it in the bank’s app or website before using it.
Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business Delta · American Express · fee $650
Activate it in the bank’s app or website before using it.
Activate it in the bank’s app or website before using it.
Business Gold American Express · fee $375
Activate it in the bank’s app or website before using it.
Activate it in the bank’s app or website before using it.
Activate it in the bank’s app or website before using it.
Delta SkyMiles Platinum Delta · American Express · fee $350
Activate it in the bank’s app or website before using it.
Activate it in the bank’s app or website before using it.
Delta SkyMiles Platinum Business Delta · American Express · fee $350
Activate it in the bank’s app or website before using it.
Activate it in the bank’s app or website before using it.
Gold American Express · fee $325
Activate it in the bank’s app or website before using it.
Add the card to your Uber account first; the Uber Cash is only deposited once it's there.
Activate it in the bank’s app or website before using it.
Activate it in the bank’s app or website before using it.
Add the Uber One offer to your Gold Card in Amex Offers, then buy an annual Uber One plan by Oct 30.
Delta SkyMiles Gold Delta · American Express · fee $150
Once your account is 12 months old, enroll in the rideshare credit in the Amex app or website.
Delta SkyMiles Gold Business Delta · American Express · fee $150
Enroll in the Amex app or website once the card is 12 months old, then pay for rides with it.
Blue Cash Preferred American Express · fee $95
Activate it in the bank’s app or website before using it.
Blue Cash Everyday American Express · fee none
Activate it in the bank’s app or website before using it.
Enroll in the Amex app or website, then subscribe through the card's Home Chef link.
Chase
Sapphire Reserve Chase · fee $795
Activate the benefit once in the Chase app or on Chase's website before buying tickets.
Add the card in the DoorDash app and activate the free DashPass with it, then pay with that card.
Add the card in the DoorDash app and activate the free DashPass with it, then pay with that card.
Activate the benefit once in the Chase app or on Chase's website, then pay for Peloton with the card.
Activate in the Chase app or on Chase's website by 6/22/2027 and link your Apple Account.
Sapphire Reserve Business Chase · fee $795
Add the card in the DoorDash app and activate the free DashPass with it, then pay with that card.
Add the card in the DoorDash app and activate the free DashPass with it, then pay with that card.
United Club United · Chase · fee $695
Opt in to the rideshare benefit each calendar year in the Chase app or on Chase's website.
Opt in to the rideshare benefit each calendar year in the Chase app or on Chase's website.
Activate the free Instacart+ membership with this card on Instacart's Chase United offer page.
Add the card in the DoorDash app and activate DashPass with it by 12/31/2027, then pay with that card.
United Club Business United · Chase · fee $695
Enroll in the rideshare credit in your Chase account each year; credits start the day after you enroll.
Enroll in the rideshare credit in your Chase account each year; credits start the day after you enroll.
Activate the free Instacart+ membership with this card on Instacart's Chase United page; keep it active.
United Quest United · Chase · fee $350
Opt in to the rideshare benefit each calendar year in the Chase app or on Chase's website.
Opt in to the rideshare benefit each calendar year in the Chase app or on Chase's website.
Activate the free Instacart+ membership with this card on Instacart's Chase United offer page.
Add the card in the DoorDash app and activate DashPass with it by 12/31/2027, then pay with that card.
IHG One Rewards Premier Select IHG · Chase · fee $350
Register once through your IHG One Rewards account, linking your United MileagePlus number.
Activate free Instacart+ with this card on Instacart's Chase page; the credit needs Instacart+ active.
Add the card in the DoorDash app and activate the free DashPass; the discount needs DashPass active.
Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business Southwest · Chase · fee $299
Activate the free Instacart+ membership with this card on Instacart's Chase page; keep Instacart+ active.
Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful Marriott Bonvoy · Chase · fee $250
Add this card as your default payment in DoorDash, then tap to activate the free DashPass there.
Activate the free Instacart+ membership with this card on Instacart's Chase page; keep Instacart+ active.
Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Southwest · Chase · fee $229
Activate the free Instacart+ membership with this card on Instacart's Chase page; keep Instacart+ active.
Add this card as your default payment in DoorDash, then tap to activate the free DashPass there.
IHG One Rewards Business IHG · Chase · fee $200
Activate free Instacart+ with this card on Instacart's Chase page; the credit needs Instacart+ active.
Add the card in the DoorDash app and activate the free DashPass; the discount needs DashPass active.
World of Hyatt Business World of Hyatt · Chase · fee $199
Add the card in the DoorDash app and activate the free DashPass; the discount needs DashPass active.
Air Canada Aeroplan Air Canada Aeroplan · Chase · fee $195
Add this card as your default payment in DoorDash, then tap to activate the free DashPass there.
Activate the free Instacart+ membership with this card on Instacart's Chase page; keep Instacart+ active.
United Explorer United · Chase · fee $150
Opt in to the rideshare benefit each calendar year in the Chase app or on Chase's website.
Activate the free Instacart+ membership with this card on Instacart's Chase United offer page.
Add the card in the DoorDash app and activate DashPass with it by 12/31/2027, then pay with that card.
United Business United · Chase · fee $150
Enroll in the rideshare credit in your Chase account each year; credits start the day after you enroll.
Enroll in the rideshare credit in your Chase account each year; credits start the day after you enroll.
Activate the free Instacart+ membership with this card on Instacart's Chase United page; keep it active.
Add the card in the DoorDash app and activate DashPass with it by 12/31/2027, then pay with that card.
IHG One Rewards Premier IHG · Chase · fee $150
Register once through your IHG One Rewards account, linking your United MileagePlus number.
Activate free Instacart+ with this card on Instacart's Chase page; the credit needs Instacart+ active.
Add the card in the DoorDash app and activate the free DashPass; the discount needs DashPass active.
Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Southwest · Chase · fee $149
Activate the free Instacart+ membership with this card on Instacart's Chase page; keep Instacart+ active.
Add this card as your default payment in DoorDash, then tap to activate the free DashPass there.
Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Business Southwest · Chase · fee $149
Add this card as your default payment in DoorDash, then tap to activate the free DashPass there.
Activate the free Instacart+ membership with this card on Instacart's Chase page; keep Instacart+ active.
Disney Inspire Visa Disney · Chase · fee $149
Activate the credit each calendar year on Chase's website, in the Chase app or by phone.
Add the card in the DoorDash app and activate the free DashPass; the discount needs DashPass active.
Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Southwest · Chase · fee $99
Activate the free Instacart+ membership with this card on Instacart's Chase page; keep Instacart+ active.
Add this card as your default payment in DoorDash, then tap to activate the free DashPass there.
Sapphire Preferred Chase · fee $95
Add the card in the DoorDash app and activate the free DashPass with it, then pay with that card.
Activate in the Chase app or on Chase's website by 12/31/2026 and link your Apple Account.
Ink Business Preferred Chase · fee $95
Add the card in the DoorDash app and activate DashPass with it by 12/31/2027, then pay with that card.
British Airways Visa Signature British Airways · Chase · fee $95
Add this card as your default payment in DoorDash, then tap to activate the free DashPass there.
Activate the free Instacart+ membership with this card on Instacart's Chase page; keep Instacart+ active.
Aer Lingus Visa Signature Aer Lingus · Chase · fee $95
Add this card as your default payment in DoorDash, then tap to activate the free DashPass there.
Activate the free Instacart+ membership with this card on Instacart's Chase page; keep Instacart+ active.
Iberia Visa Signature Iberia · Chase · fee $95
Add this card as your default payment in DoorDash, then tap to activate the free DashPass there.
Activate the free Instacart+ membership with this card on Instacart's Chase page; keep Instacart+ active.
World of Hyatt World of Hyatt · Chase · fee $95
Add this card as your default payment in DoorDash, then tap to activate the free DashPass there.
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Marriott Bonvoy · Chase · fee $95
Activate the offer once on Chase's website or by phone (new 2026 cardmembers are enrolled automatically).
Add this card as your default payment in DoorDash, then tap to activate the free DashPass there.
Activate the free Instacart+ membership with this card on Instacart's Chase page; keep Instacart+ active.
Disney Premier Visa Disney · Chase · fee $49
Add the card in the DoorDash app and activate the free DashPass; the discount needs DashPass active.
Activate free Instacart+ with this card on Instacart's Chase page; the credit needs Instacart+ active.
Freedom Unlimited Chase · fee none
Add the card in the DoorDash app and activate DashPass with it by 12/31/2027, then pay with that card.
Freedom Flex Chase · fee none
Add the card in the DoorDash app and activate DashPass with it by 12/31/2027, then pay with that card.
Ink Business Cash Chase · fee none
Activate the free Instacart+ membership with this card on Instacart's Chase Ink offer page.
Ink Business Unlimited Chase · fee none
Activate the free Instacart+ membership with this card on Instacart's Chase Ink offer page.
United Gateway United · Chase · fee none
Add this card as your default payment in DoorDash, then tap to activate the free DashPass there.
Marriott Bonvoy Bold Marriott Bonvoy · Chase · fee none
Add the card in the DoorDash app and activate the free DashPass; the discount needs DashPass active.
Activate free Instacart+ with this card on Instacart's Chase page; the credit needs Instacart+ active.
IHG One Rewards IHG · Chase · fee none
Activate free Instacart+ with this card on Instacart's Chase page; the credit needs Instacart+ active.
Add the card in the DoorDash app and activate the free DashPass; the discount needs DashPass active.
Disney Visa Disney · Chase · fee none
Add the card in the DoorDash app and activate the free DashPass; the discount needs DashPass active.
Activate free Instacart+ with this card on Instacart's Chase page; the credit needs Instacart+ active.
Citi
AAdvantage Executive American Airlines · Citi · fee $695
Enroll in Omni Champion status in the Citi app's Benefits Hub at least 14 days before your stay.
Strata Elite Citi · fee $595
Pick up to 2 brands in the Splurge Credit section of your Citi account (or by phone) before you buy.
AAdvantage Globe American Airlines · Citi · fee $350
Link your card to your Turo account on Turo's Globe page, then book with the physical card number.
Pick up to 2 brands in the Splurge Credit section of your Citi account (or by phone) before you buy.
AAdvantage Platinum Select American Airlines · Citi · fee $99
Link your card to your Turo account on Turo's AAdvantage Platinum page, then book with that card.
Barclays
JetBlue Premier JetBlue · Barclays · fee $499
Enroll through the ClassPass link in your TrueBlue account on JetBlue's website or app.
Cardless
Bilt Palladium Bilt · Cardless · fee $495
When booking a 2+ night hotel on Bilt Travel in the Bilt app or website, opt in to the credit at checkout.
Bilt Obsidian Bilt · Cardless · fee $95
When booking a 2+ night hotel on Bilt Travel in the Bilt app or website, turn the credit on at checkout.
Keep track of what you’ve switched on
In Premium IC (free), every credit that needs activation shows an “Activation required” tag with these same steps. Tap it once you’re done and it turns into “Activated”.
Steps as described by each bank, last checked Oct 18, 2026. Banks sometimes move these settings around in their apps.