SIDE A
A
Chase · Visa
Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
VS.
×
SIDE B
B
Chase · Visa
Chase Sapphire Reserve
FILING
Head-to-Head · Plastic Quarterly
Both Chase Sapphire cards deliver premium travel rewards, but they target different spenders. The Preferred charges $95 annually and offers solid value for casual travelers with bonus categories across dining, groceries, and streaming. The Reserve costs $550 yearly but includes $300 in travel credits, Priority Pass lounge access, and Global Entry reimbursement—effectively reducing the net fee to around $100-150 if you use the benefits. The Reserve's 10x points on Chase Travel and 50% point value boost appeal to frequent travelers, while the Preferred suits those who want strong rewards without heavy annual costs. Your choice depends on whether travel perks justify the significant fee difference.
THE VERDICT
Our ruling.
“Choose the Sapphire Preferred unless you travel frequently and will use Priority Pass and Global Entry credits. For most people, the $95 fee delivers better value. The Reserve only makes sense if you spend heavily on travel, dine out consistently, and will actually redeem those $300 travel and $100 Global Entry credits annually.”
CHOOSE A
Side A is for you if…
- 01You spend less than $20,000 annually on travel and dining combined—the Preferred's $95 fee provides better ROI than the Reserve's $550 charge
- 02You value grocery and streaming rewards, which the Reserve ignores entirely
- 03You're unlikely to use Priority Pass lounges or apply for Global Entry, making the Reserve's premium features worthless
- 04You want strong travel rewards without committing to the highest-tier premium card
CHOOSE B
Side B is for you if…
- 01You travel multiple times yearly and will consistently use the Priority Pass lounge access and $300 automatic travel credit
- 02You spend $1,000+ monthly on dining and travel, where the Reserve's enhanced multipliers ($1,500+ annual value) exceed the fee
- 03You need Global Entry or TSA PreCheck anyway—the $100 credit offsets part of the annual fee
- 04You're optimizing for maximum points when redeeming through Chase Travel, where 50% point value boost beats the Preferred's 25%
THE LEDGER
Side by side.
- ISSUER
- Chase
- Chase
- NETWORK
- Visa
- Visa
- ANNUAL FEE
- $95
- $550
- APR RANGE
- 21.49% – 28.49%
- 22.49% – 29.49%
- INTRO APR (PURCHASES)
- None
- None
- INTRO APR (BALANCE TRANSFERS)
- None
- None
- REWARDS TYPE
- points
- points
- REWARDS RATE
- 1x points on all purchases
- 1x points on all purchases
- SIGN-UP BONUS
- 60,000 points
- 60,000 points
- BONUS VALUE
- $750
- $900
- MIN. CREDIT SCORE
- 700+
- 720+
- FOREIGN TRANSACTION FEE
- None
- None
A HIGHLIGHTS
Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
- —Points worth 25% more when redeemed through Chase Travel
- —Transfer points to 14+ airline and hotel partners
- —$50 annual Chase Travel hotel credit
- —No foreign transaction fees
- —Trip cancellation and interruption insurance
B HIGHLIGHTS
Chase Sapphire Reserve
- —Points worth 50% more when redeemed through Chase Travel
- —$300 annual travel credit applied automatically
- —Priority Pass Select airport lounge access
- —Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit
- —Transfer points to 14+ airline and hotel partners
QUESTIONS · ANSWERS
Frequently filed.
Both offer identical 60,000-point bonuses, so they're a wash on signup value. The question is ongoing annual value. The Reserve only breaks even if you spend enough on bonus categories to earn $450+ in additional points annually (after subtracting the extra $455 in fees and credits).