How to Track Your Chase 5/24 Status (& Why You Should)

The big banks each have their own rules for determining who is (and isn't) eligible for a new credit card that goes well beyond the usual credit check.
With American Express, you're only eligible for a big bonus on each card once per lifetime – and even that rule is getting more restrictive . Citi limits bonus earning to once every 48 months, per card, and the same with Capital One. When it comes to Chase, there's no eligibility rule more infamous than the bank's 5/24 rule . 
In short, Chase won't approve you for a new card if you've opened five or more credit cards in the past 24 months with any bank. Not just Chase. This rule is a big reason why we recommend getting started with Chase before moving on to cards from other banks. For most travelers with just one or two cards in their wallet, the Chase 5/24 rule isn't something to be concerned about. But if you're looking to build up a points and miles fortune, you'll need to be a bit strategic with which cards you apply for…and when. 
Here's why the Chase 5/24 rule matters, and a few of our favorite tips and tricks for tracking your own 5/24 status. 
Read next: Everything You Need to Know About the Chase 5/24 Rule
 
Should You Care About the Chase 5/24 Rule? 
Sure, there are plenty of ways to keep earning points beyond a big welcome offer … but nothing's quite as quick. Simply sign up for a new card, meet the minimum spending requirement, and bam: You've got a big stash of points or miles ready to fuel your next vacation.
OK, but if the 5/24 rule only applies to Chase cards, what's the big deal – can't you just open a card from another bank instead? The answer is yes, you can. But in the process, you'd be forgoing some of the best travel rewards cards on the market.
Chase not only has a stable of its own Ultimate Rewards-earning cards but also offers co-branded cards from major travel companies like United , IHG , Hyatt , Southwest , and more. By disregarding Chase's 5/24 rule – at least at the start – you'd potentially be missing out on some of the best cards and the big bonus offers that come with them. 
Take the bank's flagship Sapphire Cards for example – right now, Chase is offering a big bonus on both cards: 

*chase sapphire preferred* : bonus_miles_full
*chase sapphire reserve* : bonus_miles_full

These are two awesome cards with great bonus offers, being able to track your 5/24 count and stay eligible for new Chase cards is an important component to using points and miles to travel more for less. Understanding this rule can help you strategically plan your credit card applications, especially if you're aiming for specific Chase cards that offer valuable rewards or benefits. 
But remember: Credit cards are serious business. As tempting (and efficient) as a big sign-up bonus may be, no amount of points or miles is worth digging yourself into debt. If you can't afford to pay off every cent charged to a new card immediately, Chase's 5/24 rule shouldn't even be a consideration right now. 
Related reading: The Best Balance Transfer Credit Cards for Eliminating Debt
 
How to Track Your 5/24 Status
Now that we've covered the basics of Chase's 5/24 rule and why it makes sense to keep an eye on it, let's discuss how to track your own status.
For some, keeping track will be easy – if you open one or two cards a year, you've got nothing to worry about. For others who are really invested in earning and redeeming points and miles, it gets a bit more complicated … and unless your memory is like a steel trap, that's where using additional tools and resources comes in. 
 
Travel Freely
Over the years, the best tool I have found to keep track of my 5/24 status is a service called Travel Freely . It allows you to track the credit cards you have opened and closed and comes up with an automated 5/24 number. It also alerts you to annual fee due dates and provides guidance on when it's the right time to apply for a new card .
 

 
Best of all, the service is completely free to use and doesn't track any sensitive financial information. It simply works off of the day in which you open and close a new card account.
Of course, this data is only as good as you make it. It does require staying on top of the dates you've opened and closed credit cards, but the service makes that very easy to do. Any time you add, product change , or close a card just put the dates in Travel Freely and it will do the rest of the work for you. 
Read our full review: Travel Freely: The Best Way to Keep Credit Cards Organized
 
Annual Credit Report
Another great option for staying on top of things is to use a service like Credit Karma , or even Experian to get a big-picture look at your credit.
Either service should show you a list of all your open credit accounts and when they were opened. From here, you should be able to calculate which ones will count toward your 5/24 status. Although, Travel Freely will do that math automatically.
You can also access a free copy of your credit report every 12 months from each credit reporting company at AnnualCreditReport.com . This will not only give you an idea of your 5/24 status but is also a great way to monitor any instances of identity theft and ensure your credit report is accurate. 
 
Build a Spreadsheet
Some people are better with Microsoft Excel and Google Sheets than others. If that's you, maybe you'll find it best to keep track of all your accounts on a spreadsheet. 
Like using Travel Freely or another tool, the data will only be as good as you make it. If you want to track your card signups this way you'll need to be sure to enter details for all your credit card accounts. Remember to include information such as the open date and when you earned the bonus (if possible). It's also a good idea to have a column for any changes to your account like a downgrade or if you end up closing it.
 
Bottom Line
If you understand the restrictions of the Chase 5/24 rule, you should be able to navigate it without much issue. The key here is having a system to keep track of it all.
With tools like Travel Freely, staying on top of your accounts doesn't have to be a chore.