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If you've even slightly dipped your toes into the world of point and miles, you surely have heard of the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. It's often referred to as the “best beginner card“. You also might have heard of its older sibling, the Chase Sapphire Reserve®. Both of these cards have great sign-up bonuses, benefits, and travel perks. So how do you decide which to get? We'll compare the two to make your decision easier.
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Chase Sapphire Preferred vs Reserve Welcome Bonus
These two cards offer identical sign-up bonuses, which means they're tied in this category. However, it's worth noting that Ultimate Rewards earned from the bonuses are worth different amounts when redeemed in the Chase TravelSM portal. Points from the Sapphire Reserve can be redeemed at 1.5 cents apiece. Alternately, points from the Sapphire Preferred can be redeemed in the portal at 1.25 cents apiece — 16.67% less value here. If you solely redeem points in the portal, the Sapphire Reserve has a slight edge.
- 5X points on Lyft rides through March 2025
- 5X points on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠
- 3X points on dining at restaurants worldwide
- 3X points on eligible streaming services
- 3X points on online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart, and wholesale clubs)
- 2X points on all other travel
- 1X point per dollar spent on all other purchases
- 10X points on Lyft rides through March 2025
- 10X points on hotels and car rentals purchased through Chase Travel℠
- 10X points on Chase Dining (including prepaid reservations and prepaid takeout purchased through Chase)
- 5X points on airfare purchased through Chase Travel℠
- 3X points on all other travel
- 3X points on dining at restaurants
- 1X points on all other purchases
More importantly, though, both cards' points are worth significantly more when transferred to one of Chase's travel partners and redeemed that way. So in this case, when you transfer to travel partners, the bonuses are worth the same value.
Winner: It's a tie.
Chase Sapphire Preferred vs Reserve: Annual Fee
- Sapphire Preferred: $95
- Sapphire Reserve: $550
You'll notice that these fees are vastly different. This is because of the benefits that come with each card. Additionally, the fees for adding an authorized user (a person who has their own card and can make purchases on your account) are quite different as well:
- Sapphire Preferred: No fee
- Sapphire Reserve: $75 per authorized user
We'll cover benefits for cardholders below — plus how those can offset some of the cost of the annual fee — but this section is purely about the annual fee. And that has a clear winner.
Winner: Chase Sapphire Preferred for a lower annual fee
- Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's over $900 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
- 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.
- Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Travel℠. For example, 75,000 points are worth $937.50 toward travel.
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
- Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2024.
- Member FDIC
- 5X points on Lyft rides through March 2025
- 5X points on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠
- 3X points on dining at restaurants worldwide
- 3X points on eligible streaming services
- 3X points on online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart, and wholesale clubs)
- 2X points on all other travel
- 1X point per dollar spent on all other purchases
Chase Sapphire Preferred vs Reserve: Earning Categories
The Sapphire Preferred earns as follows:
- 5X points on Lyft rides through March 2025
- 5X points on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠
- 3X points on dining at restaurants worldwide
- 3X points on eligible streaming services
- 3X points on online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart, and wholesale clubs)
- 2X points on all other travel
- 1X point per dollar spent on all other purchases
Meanwhile, the Sapphire Reserve earns:
- 10X points on Lyft rides through March 2025
- 10X points on hotels and car rentals purchased through Chase Travel℠
- 10X points on Chase Dining (including prepaid reservations and prepaid takeout purchased through Chase)
- 5X points on airfare purchased through Chase Travel℠
- 3X points on all other travel
- 3X points on dining at restaurants
- 1X points on all other purchases
You'll notice significant overlap in earning categories, but the rates in those categories are quite different. If you're looking for higher earning rates and are willing to accept a higher annual fee to get there, the Sapphire Reserve is it. If you want a lower annual fee and corresponding lower earnings in certain categories, or if you spend with online streaming or online grocery services, then the Sapphire Preferred is right for you.
Winner: Chase Sapphire Reserve for higher earning rates in several categories
- Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $1,125 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
- $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, 75,000 points are worth $1125 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 Pass™ Select and up to $100 application fee credit every four years for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck®
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
- Member FDIC
- 10X points on Lyft rides through March 2025
- 10X points on hotels and car rentals purchased through Chase Travel℠
- 10X points on Chase Dining (including prepaid reservations and prepaid takeout purchased through Chase)
- 5X points on airfare purchased through Chase Travel℠
- 3X points on all other travel
- 3X points on dining at restaurants
- 1X points on all other purchases
Chase Sapphire Preferred vs Reserve: Key Benefits
Transfer partners
Both cards provide access to Chase's transfer partners. Additionally, if you have a no-annual-fee Chase credit card, you can combine your cash back with points on these two cards to access the transfer partners.
Related: Different Ways To Redeem Ultimate Rewards
Travel credits
The Sapphire Preferred offers a $50 annual hotel credit toward hotel bookings made in the Chase Travel portal.
The Sapphire Reserve has significantly larger and easier-to-use travel credits, including an annual $300 travel credit. This applies automatically to your first $300 of travel spending each year, applying broadly to anything that codes as travel. This differs from the Sapphire Preferred hotel credit that only applies to the Chase Travel portal. Note that you won't earn bonus points on travel purchases that are offset by this credit.
Additionally, Sapphire Reserve cardholders can receive a TSA PreCheck, Global Entry, or NEXUS credit every four years. This credit covers up to $100, depending on the application fee for the program you apply for, when you use your card to pay for the application. You'll receive a statement credit for that same amount.
Lounge access and luxury hotel program
Sapphire Reserve cardholders get a complimentary Priority Pass Select membership, which provides access to over 1,300 airport lounges and additional experiences like spas and in-airport nap rooms. Unfortunately, Chase is changing access to these additional Priority Pass benefits. Starting July 1, 2024, cardholders will no longer have access to airport restaurants or cafés.
Thankfully, cardholders get unlimited visits to Chase Sapphire Lounges, of which there are currently three, with seven more in the works. Depending on how often you travel, this could be worth hundreds of dollars in free food and drinks each year.
The Sapphire Reserve also provides access to The Edit, which offers daily breakfast, a $100 on-property benefit, room upgrades (subject to availability), and more when booking through a special website.
Sapphire Preferred cardholders cannot access any of these benefits.
Related: How To Receive Elite Hotel Benefits Without Elite Status
Partner program benefits
Sapphire Preferred cardholders can enjoy a complimentary one-year DoorDash DashPass membership (must enroll by December 31, 2024), bonus points on certain Peloton purchases through March 31, 2025, and a complimentary Instacart+ membership (plus quarterly spending credits) through July 31, 2024.
Meanwhile, Sapphire Reserve cardholders enjoy expanded versions of these perks. On top of a DashPass membership, cardholders get spending credits. The earning rates with Peloton are higher on this card, there are extra spending credits with Instacart — in addition to the Instacart+ membership — and cardholders are eligible for a Lyft Pink membership through March 31, 2025.
Insurance protections
Both cards offer numerous shopping and travel protections. Before focusing on the differences, let's mention the protections where these two cards offer the same benefits:
- Trip cancellation and interruption insurance
- Baggage delay insurance
- Lost luggage reimbursement
- Extended warranty protection
- Travel and emergency assistance
Both cards offer the following types of protections, though coverage amounts are different:
- Auto rental collision damage waiver (CDW): The coverage is primary for both cards. However, Sapphire Preferred cardholders are covered up to the cash cost of many vehicles, and Sapphire Reserve cardholders are covered up to $75,000.
- Roadside assistance: Cardholders can call for help, though Sapphire Preferred pay for all services received. Sapphire Reserve cardholders can be covered for up to $50 per event and up to four events per year. Coverage does not apply to more than one call for the same problem in seven days.
- Trip delay protection: Both cards provide up to $500 of coverage for expenses during travel delays. Sapphire Reserve cardholders receive coverage with a delay of six hours or more, while Sapphire Preferred cardholders need a delay of 12 hours or overnight.
- Travel accident insurance: Sapphire Preferred cardholders receive up to $100,000 of coverage for 24-hour protection and up to $500,000 of coverage when traveling on a common carrier. Conversely, Sapphire Reserve cardholders receive up to $1 million of coverage on a common carrier or up to $100,000 of 24-hour coverage.
- Purchase protection: The Sapphire Preferred covers up to the cost of the item with a maximum of $500 per item and a maximum of $50,000 across the life of the account. Items are covered for up to 120 days from purchase. The Sapphire Reserve has the same 120-day stipulation but covers up to the cost of the item or $10,000 per claim, with a $50,000 maximum per year.
The following protections are only available on the Sapphire Reserve:
- Emergency medical and dental
- Emergency evacuation and transportation
- Travel accident insurance
For more details on these protections, consult the following:
- Everything You Need To Know About Chase Sapphire Reserve® Insurance Benefits
- How To Get Coverage via Chase Sapphire Preferred Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver
- Chase Sapphire Trip Cancellation and Trip Interruption Insurance
Winner: Chase Sapphire Reserve for its extra benefits and insurance protections.
Can You Have Both the Chase Sapphire Preferred and Chase Sapphire Reserve?
You may be thinking, “Why choose? Can't I get both cards?” Unfortunately, you can't.
In 2018, Chase created a rule stating you can't have more than one Sapphire card. Additionally, you can't receive a welcome bonus on either card if you've received a welcome bonus on a Sapphire card any time in the past 48 months — whether you're applying for the same card again or earned a bonus on a different Sapphire card last time.
This specific rule is on top of Chase's other application rules which should be checked before applying for a credit card.
Related: All of the Credit Cards that Earn Chase Ultimate Rewards Points
Bottom Line
After covering the main differences, here are our final thoughts on the Chase Sapphire Preferred vs Reserve.
You should get the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card if you're a semi-regular traveler who has dipped their toes into the points and miles waters. The card offers an excellent sign-up bonus and makes redeeming points simple. Further, there are many benefits that even semi-regular travelers may find useful, which can be enjoyed for a low $95 annual fee.
You should get the Chase Sapphire Reserve® if you're a frequent traveler who can fully maximize all available benefits on your card. Since there are a lot of similar benefits with the Sapphire Preferred, the Sapphire Reserve is a good choice if you're sure you will use every single benefit or maximize the areas where benefits are expanded on the Sapphire Reserve. The $550 annual fee is not small, so you'll need to regularly use the card's earning categories and cardholder benefits to justify this fee. If you travel regularly, use the lounge perks for free meals, and can use a complimentary Global Entry membership, this may be the right card for you.
For more details on these cards, check out our Chase Sapphire Preferred review and Chase Sapphire Reserve review.
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