Points, Miles & Credit Cards

Chase Sapphire Preferred® vs. Chase Sapphire Reserve®

May 2, 2024

4 min read

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The card_name and card_name cards are among the most beloved travel credit cards available.

Which one should you choose?

How the cards compare
card_name	card_name

card_name	card_name
Annual fee
annual_fees	annual_fees
Foreign transaction fees
foreign_transaction_fee	foreign_transaction_fee
Earning rate
Earn 5X points per dollar spent on travel purchased through Chase Travel(SM). Earn 3X points per dollar spent on online grocery purchases (excluding Walmart, Target, and wholesale clubs), dining at restaurants (including eligible delivery services, takeout, and dining out). Earn 3X select streaming services. Earn 2X points per dollar spent on all other eligible travel purchases (like airline tickets and hotel bills). Earn 1X point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.	Earn 5x total points on flights when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually Earn 10x total points on hotels (excluding The Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection) and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on dining at restaurants, including eligible delivery services, takeout, and dining out. Earn 3x points on other travel worldwide after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 1x point per $1 spent on all other purchases.
Welcome offer
bonus_miles_full	bonus_miles_full
Our take
This card packs a lot of value for a relatively low annual fee.	The statement credits that this card offers helps to make the higher annual fee worth it.

Chase Sapphire Preferred vs. Sapphire Reserve: Card benefits compared

Who is Chase Sapphire Reserve right for?

If you want more travel perks, pick the card_name.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve’s annual fee is higher (annual_fees), but it also comes with card perks that are not offered on the Preferred:

A $300 annual travel credit: This credit is automatically applied as a statement credit on the first $300 spent on purchases in the travel category annually.
Credit for an application fee to Global Entry, TSA PreCheck®, or NEXUS: Trusted Traveler programs that offer streamlined security review.
Access to the Sapphire Lounges and a Priority Pass™ Select membership: Chase is growing its network of airport lounges, and the latest ones are truly impressive! (A one-time activation is required for the Priority Pass Select membership.)
Points earning: Earn 3X points on travel and dining purchases.
Chase Travel: Points are worth 50% more in the Chase Travel (SM) portal. (1.5 cents)

Read our review of the Chase Sapphire Reserve card

Learn more about the card_name

Who is Chase Sapphire Preferred best for?

If you want a lower annual fee, pick card_name.

The annual_fees annual fee makes this card more friendly to beginners, but it doesn’t give you airport lounge access, an annual travel credit, or a Trusted Traveler application fee credit. Here’s what you get instead:

10% anniversary boost: For each account anniversary, you’ll earn bonus points equal to 10% of your total purchases made the previous year. So if you spend $20,000 on the card, you’d get an extra 2K points in anniversary boost. (This is why I default to using this card when I don’t have a card that earns bonus points in a particular category.)
$50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit: Earn up to $50 in statement credits each account anniversary year for hotel stays purchased through Chase Travel (SM).
Points earning: Earn 3X points on dining and 2X points on travel
Chase Travel: Points are worth 25% more in the Chase Travel portal. (1.25 cents)

Read our review of the Chase Sapphire Preferred card

Learn more about the card_name

Welcome offers on the Chase Sapphire Preferred and Chase Sapphire Reserve cards

Here is the current welcome offer on each card:

card_name: bonus_miles_full
card_name: bonus_miles_full

What you can do with the welcome offer

This can get you a lot in free travel!

Here are some ideas of what to do with them (based on past Going with Points deals):

One roundtrip, business class ticket to Amsterdam or Paris on KLM or Flying Blue. (Or, two roundtrip economy tickets for the same price!)
Four roundtrip, economy tickets to the Bahamas on JetBlue or United (family trip, anyone?)
Two or three roundtrip, economy tickets to Hawai’i on United (honeymoon idea?)
One roundtrip, economy ticket to Beijing on Air France
Three nights stay at a Hyatt all-inclusive resort in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

Chase Sapphire Preferred vs. Sapphire Reserve - Perks with both cards

To be honest, you can’t go wrong with either option. Regardless of which you choose, both offer:

No foreign transaction fees
Points transfer 1:1 to airline and hotel partners
Travel insurance and protections*: Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Trip Delay Reimbursement, Lost Luggage Reimbursement, Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance

^{*These benefits are available when you use your card. Restrictions, limitations, and exclusions apply. Most benefits are underwritten by unaffiliated insurance companies who are solely responsible for the administration and claims. There are specific time limits and documentation requirements. Once your account is opened, consult the Guide to Benefits, which includes a full explanation of coverages.}

Learn more about the card_name