As Business Insider's correspondent covering all things credit cards, I'm often a resource for friends and family members looking for a new credit card.
I usually recommend the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (rates and fees) because it's one of the most well-rounded travel credit cards you can get for less than $100 a year in annual fees.
Chase issues many of the best credit cards available in the U.S., and the Chase Sapphire Preferred is one of its all-stars. This card includes some of the best travel insurance available and earns valuable bonus points on many common expenses including travel, restaurants, online groceries, and Netflix.
This guide explains all of these benefits in greater detail so you can decide if the Chase Sapphire Preferred makes sense for you.
Apply for a Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
$95
N/A
19.99% - 28.24% Variable
Earn 60,000 bonus points
Good to Excellent
- High intro bonus offer starts you off with lots of points
- Strong travel coverage
- Doesn't offer a Global Entry/TSA PreCheck application fee credit
If you're new to travel rewards credit cards or just don't want to pay hundreds in annual fees, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is a smart choice. It earns bonus points on a wide variety of travel and dining purchases and offers strong travel and purchase coverage, including primary car rental insurance.
- Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
- Earn up to $50 in statement credits each account anniversary year for hotel stays through Chase Travel℠
- 10% anniversary points boost - each account anniversary you'll earn bonus points equal to 10% of your total purchases made the previous year.
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
- Complimentary DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees & lower service fees for a min. of one year when you activate by 12/31/27. Plus, a $10 promo each month on non-restaurant orders.
- Member FDIC
Overview
The Chase Sapphire Preferred is one of the best travel credit cards for the average person because it earns generously on everyday expenses and doesn't charge foreign transaction fees.
But this card's most valuable benefit is its many travel insurance protections, which include trip cancellation and interruption insurance plus primary car rental coverage (unless you're a NY state resident, in which case you get secondary coverage).
If that sounds like a bunch of gibberish, here's what it really means: If someone dents my rental car while it's in my possession, I can file a claim through Chase instead of using my personal car insurance company. If my bags are lost or delayed by an airline, I can buy basic necessities like toothpaste or extra socks and get reimbursed for the money I spend.
And if my flight is delayed overnight or for more than 12 hours, these benefits will cover up to $500 per ticket in unexpected expenses, such as meals and a hotel room, for myself and any travel companions whose tickets were purchased on my credit card.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred also includes a $50 annual credit for hotels booked through the points and miles valuations.
Welcome Bonus
If you apply for the Chase Sapphire Preferred right now, you have the chance to earn a welcome bonus offer of 60,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
This welcome offer is worth $1,080 in travel, based on Business Insider's valuations, when you transfer your points to airline and hotel partners, which we'll explain in more detail below.
Pro tip: You aren't eligible for this welcome bonus offer if you currently have any of the Chase Sapphire credit cards, or if you've earned a welcome bonus from a Chase Sapphire card in the past 48 months.
Earning Points
All Chase Sapphire Preferred cardholders earn points at the following rates per dollar spent:
- 5 points per dollar on all travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, excluding hotel purchases that qualify for the $50 annual credit
- 3 points on dining including eligible delivery services, takeout, and dining out
- 3 points on select streaming services
- 3 points on online grocery purchases excluding Target, Walmart, and wholesale clubs
- 2 points on eligible travel booked outside of Chase Travel℠
- 1 point per dollar on all other expenses
Redeeming Points for Travel
I like pairing the Chase Sapphire Preferred with a cash-back card from Chase like the Chase Freedom Flex® .
Both cards earn Ultimate Rewards, but they have different bonus categories. I can transfer the points from my Chase Freedom Flex to my Chase Sapphire Preferred for additional value, essentially doubling my stash of rewards.
Book Through Chase Travel and Pay With Chase Points
Chase Ultimate Rewards® points are worth 1 cent apiece when redeemed through Chase Travel℠. But Chase Sapphire Preferred cardholders get a 25% redemption value bonus, so my rewards are worth 1.25 cents apiece when I combine my stash before booking travel through Chase.
When to Book Directly vs. Booking Through A Portal
You've probably heard of third-party online travel agencies (OTAs) like Expedia or Travelocity (and now Chase Travel℠), and it can be tempting to book deals through these sites because they seem to offer good deals.
However, our travel experts typically recommend booking directly through the hotel or airline since changes or cancellations are trickier if you don't make a direct booking. Most hotel chains also won't let you earn credit toward elite status if you book through an OTA.
That being said, there's a time and place to use the Chase Travel℠ portal. I typically recommend booking through the portal to use up travel credit, such as the $50 annual hotel credit for stays booked through Chase.
Transfer Chase Points to Airlines and Hotels
Transferring Ultimate Rewards to Chase partners usually helps you get the most value out of your points. Chase has 14 different airline and hotel partners, and points transfer at a 1:1 ratio, meaning 1 Chase point equals 1 point or mile in the following programs:
Chase Transfer Partners
- Aer Lingus AerClub
- Air Canada Aeroplan
- Air France-KLM Flying Blue
- British Airways Executive Club
- Emirates Skywards
- Iberia Plus
- JetBlue TrueBlue
- Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer
- Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards
- United MileagePlus
- Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
- IHG Rewards Club
- Marriott Bonvoy
- World of Hyatt
Redeem Points for Non-Travel
There are plenty of non-travel options for redeeming your Chase points such as cash back, Chase Pay Yourself Back, gift cards, and directly for Amazon, Apple, and PayPal purchases. I never recommend doing so because these redemptions are worth far less per point than travel purchases.
If you want to use your rewards for these merchants, I recommend paying for your purchase with the Chase Sapphire Preferred, then redeeming your points toward a statement credit at 1 cent apiece.
How to Keep Your Chase Ultimate Rewards Points
You'll lose all the points in your account if you close this credit card. So, if you plan to cancel your Chase Sapphire Preferred, make sure you first redeem your rewards, combine them with rewards on another partner credit card in the Chase family, or transfer them to a no-annual-fee credit cards, but the peace of mind I get from trip cancellation insurance and primary rental car coverage is worth far more than $95 a year to me.
Interest Rate (APR)
The Chase Sapphire Preferred has a 19.99% - 28.24% Variable APR. I always recommend paying off your full statement balance every month, and never charging more to your credit card than you can afford. The interest rate on this card is no exception: Your debt will add up very quickly if you carry a balance at this rate of interest.
No Foreign Transaction Fees
The Chase Sapphire Preferred does not charge any foreign transaction fees when you shop outside the U.S. Foreign transaction fees typically cost an additional 3% to 5% on top of your purchase, and I've saved hundreds of dollars over the years by only using credit cards that don't charge these fees.
Fees for Late Payment, Balance Transfers, Cash Advances, and Returned Payments
As with most other credit cards, you'll have to pay fees for credit card balance transfers, cash advances, late payments, and returned payments.
Alternatives
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
$550
N/A
20.24% - 28.74% Variable
Earn 60,000 bonus points
Good to Excellent
- Annual travel credit can effectively shave $300 off the annual fee if you use it
- Strong travel insurance
- Strong bonus rewards on travel and dining
- Very high annual fee
If you're new to rewards credit cards you may want to start elsewhere, but if you know you want to earn Chase points and you spend a lot on travel and dining, the Sapphire Reserve is one of the most rewarding options.
Chase Sapphire Reserve- Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- $300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
- Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
- Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $900 toward travel.
- 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
- Access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority PassTM Select and up to $120 application fee credit every four years for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck®
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Coverage, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
- Member FDIC
The Chase Sapphire Reserve (rates and fees) is the Chase Sapphire Preferred's "big sibling" and one of the best premium travel credit cards available, with a $550 annual fee that covers a slew of luxury benefits.
The Chase Sapphire Reserve comes with up to a $300 annual travel credit and access to more than 1,500 airport lounges through Priority Pass and the Chase Sapphire Lounge network. Cardholders can redeem Ultimate Rewards through the Chase travel portal at a value of 1.5 cents apiece, compared to the 1.25 cents apiece for Chase Sapphire Preferred.
Chase Sapphire Reserve cardholders earn 5 points on flights and 10 total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually, 3 points on other travel and dining, and 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases. They also get top-tier travel insurance that's even more comprehensive than that of the Chase Sapphire Preferred.
American Express® Gold Card
$325
N/A
See Pay Over Time APR
Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases on your new card in your first six months of Card Membership
Good to Excellent
- Great rewards for dining and for shopping at U.S. supermarkets
- Monthly statement credit for eligible dining purchases recoups some of the annual fee
- Underwhelming welcome bonus
Foodies and travelers alike will appreciate the American Express Gold's generous welcome bonus and Membership Rewards points earning. Its Uber Cash credits are useful for rides and Uber Eats, and monthly dining credits with participating merchants like GrubHub and Seamless are easy to use.
Amex Gold Card- Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made at restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
The Amex Gold Card is a good option for people who spend a lot of money each month on groceries, restaurants, and travel and can stomach an annual fee of $325.
Cardholders earn 4 Membership Rewards® points on purchases at restaurants worldwide (on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1 point), 4 points at US supermarkets (on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1 point), 3 points on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com, 2 points on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com, and 1 point on all other eligible purchases
You'll also get extra perks at Amex Hotel Collection properties when booked through Amex; secondary car rental insurance; trip delay insurance; baggage insurance; extended warranty; purchase protection; and up to $120 in Uber Cash each year (up to $10 per month) after adding the card as a method of payment in your Uber account.
Amex Gold Card cardholders can also enroll for additional benefits, including annual credits toward select restaurants. Finally, new cardholders can earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases on your new card in your first six months of card membership.
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
The Capital One Venture Rewards Card is very similar to the Chase Sapphire Preferred, and it may be a better fit for people who want a simpler rewards structure since Capital One miles are very easy to use.
New cardholders can earn a welcome bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening.
The Capital One Venture Rewards Card has an annual fee of $95, and earns a flat rate of 2 miles per dollar on most purchases. Cardholders also earn 5 miles per dollar on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.
Why You Should Trust Us
We compared the Chase Sapphire Preferred to similar travel rewards credit cards and assessed its merit based on various factors, including:
- Ease of use — Does the card make it easy to earn and redeem rewards? Are there multiple options for using points?
- Rewards earning potential — Are there broad bonus categories that are useful to a wide range of customers, and are any of them capped at a certain amount of spending?
- Annual fee — Is the annual fee worth paying based on the card's rewards and benefits?
- Benefits — How do the card's perks, especially travel benefits, stack up against similar cards?
Read more about how we rate credit cards.
FAQs
Who is eligible for the Chase Sapphire Preferred?
Anyone may be eligible for the Chase Sapphire Preferred, but we recommend the Chase Sapphire Preferred for those with credit scores in the good to excellent range. However, Chase only allows you to have one Sapphire card at a time, so you won't be approved for this card regardless of your credit history if you already have the card or its sibling, the Chase Sapphire Reserve.
Is the Chase Sapphire Preferred worth the annual fee?
The Chase Sapphire Preferred's $95 annual fee is worth it for most people who travel at least once a year. The annual fee might seem intimidating if you've only had no-annual-fee credit cards in the past. But you can make the most of this card by taking advantage of the $50 annual credit for hotels booked through Chase, plus generous rewards on dining, online groceries, and travel purchases.
Can I transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards® points to other loyalty programs?
Yes, Chase has more than a dozen airline and hotel transfer partners including Marriott, United, and Southwest.
Does the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card have a welcome bonus?
Yes, the Chase Sapphire Preferred has a welcome bonus for new cardholders: 60,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
Does the Chase Sapphire Preferred cover TSA PreCheck or Global Entry?
No, the Chase Sapphire Preferred doesn't come with a TSA PreCheck® or Global Entry credit. However, its sibling, the Chase Sapphire Reserve, does offer this feature. You can find more options in our guide to the best credit cards with Global Entry and TSA Precheck credits.
Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Trip Delay Insurance, Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance, and Cell Phone Protection Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company. Global Assist Hotline Card Members are responsible for the costs charged by third-party service providers. If approved and coordinated by Premium Global Assist Hotline, emergency medical transportation assistance may be provided at no cost. In any other circumstance, Card Members may be responsible for the costs charged by third-party service providers. Extended Warranty, Purchase Protection, and Baggage Insurance Plan Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss & Damage Insurance Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
***Terms, conditions, and exclusions apply. Refer to your Guide to Benefits for more details. Travel Accident Insurance is not guaranteed, it depends on the level of benefits you get at application.
For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the benefits may be provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.
