How are Chase Sapphire Preferred and Sapphire Reserve different?
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® and Chase Sapphire Reserve® credit cards offer opportunities for cardmembers to enjoy perks and rewards.
We've put together this comparison that may help you decide which card is right for you based on the perks, the cost of the card and your spending habits.
Chase Sapphire Reserve vs. Preferred
Let's review some of the differences between the Chase Sapphire Preferred and Reserve cards.
Sapphire Preferred: Key features
The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card offers several benefits to cardmembers for an annual fee, including:
- Annual travel credit: $50 Annual Chase Travel® Hotel Credit each account anniversary year
- Authorized user fee: None
- Foreign transaction fees: None
- Points transfer: 1:1 point transfer for Chase's hotel and airline partners
- Travel protection benefits: Auto Rental Coverage, Trip Delay Reimbursement, Lost Luggage Reimbursement, Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance, among others*
Sapphire Preferred: Rewards and bonuses
With a sign-up offer, you may find many ways to save up extra points and enjoy travel perks. These are some reasons why Sapphire Preferred can be a great credit card for travel and everyday spending.
- Earn 5x total points on travel purchased through Chase TravelSM, excluding hotel purchases that qualify for the $50 annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit.
- Earn 3x points on dining, including eligible delivery services, takeout and dining out.
- Earn 2x on other travel purchases.
Sapphire Reserve: Key features
The Chase Sapphire Reserve is a premium travel credit card, and card members can enjoy its benefits, perks and rewards program for the card's annual fee.
- Airport lounge access: Priority Pass™ is an ever-growing airport experiences program that provides members with complimentary access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide with up to two guests.
- Foreign transaction fees: None
- Travel protection benefits: Auto Rental Coverage, Trip Delay Reimbursement, Lost Luggage Reimbursement, Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance, among others*
- TSA PreCheck/Global Entry/NEXUS credit: When you use your Chase Sapphire Reserve Card to pay for a TSA PreCheck®, NEXUS or Global Entry application, you can receive a statement credit. This credit can be used once every four years.
Sapphire Reserve: Rewards and bonuses
Chase Sapphire Reserve has a higher annual fee than the Chase Sapphire Preferred card but boasts premium travel perks, which may make it an ideal card for frequent travelers.
- 8x points for travel booked through Chase Travel
- 4x points on flights and hotels booked direct
- 3x points on dining
- 1x points on all other eligible purchases
Chase Sapphire Reserve vs. Preferred – Perks that come with both cards
We've talked a lot about the differences between these cards, but let's review some perks that come with both.
Sign-up bonus
Both cards usually offer sign-up bonuses. Check our pages for the latest sign-up bonuses that the Chase Sapphire Preferred and Chase Sapphire Reserve cards offer. Sign-up bonuses require you to meet a spending requirement usually within the first few months.
Transferrable points to travel partners
Both cards allow you to transfer your points to any of Chase's travel partners at a 1:1 rate. This can help you book hotel stays and airfare for less money. Chase's transfer partners include:
Airline Travel Partners
- Aer Lingus, AerClub
- Air Canada Aeroplan
- British Airways Executive Club
- Emirates Skywards®
- Flying Blue AIR FRANCE KLM
- Iberia Plus
- JetBlue TrueBlue
- Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer
- Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards®
- United MileagePlus®
- Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
Hotel Travel Partners
- IHG® Rewards Club
- Marriott Bonvoy®
- World of Hyatt®
Which card is right for you, Chase Sapphire Preferred or Reserve?
On one hand, the Sapphire Reserve Card can be perfect for frequent travelers who would take advantage of the travel-related perks offered to offset the annual fee. On the other hand, for those who don't travel as much or don't want to pay a higher annual fee, the Sapphire Preferred Card offers great perks combined with a lower annual fee. Both cards usually offer sign-up bonuses and a robust rewards program in Chase Ultimate Rewards.
Does Sapphire Preferred suit you?
Chase Sapphire Preferred offers a sign-up bonus and accelerated points earning for travel, dining out and more. With a lower annual fee and Chase's Ultimate Rewards program, this credit card can be a great option for frequent and not-so-frequent travelers.
Does Sapphire Reserve suit you?
The Chase Sapphire Reserve card may be best suited for frequent travelers who want access to key travel perks. This credit card offers a higher points earning rate for travel and dining out, as well as an annual travel credit. You could also take advantage of other benefits that can enhance your travel experiences, such as Priority Pass™ Select membership.
In conclusion
When deciding which Chase Sapphire card is right for you, may want to compare the benefits and annual fees and choose the card that matches your spending habits and travel needs. You can compare them using our Card Comparison Tool.
Whether you choose the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card or the Chase Sapphire Reserve Card, the rewards and benefits may help you get the most value from your spending.
