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Chase Sapphire Preferred vs. Sapphire Reserve: Reserve Dethroned
Chase Sapphire Preferred vs. Sapphire Reserve: Reserve Dethroned
For casual and heavy travelers alike, the Chase Sapphire Preferred is a better all-around package.Many or all of the products on this page are from partners who compensate us when you click to or take an action on their website, but this does not influence our evaluations or ratings. Our opinions are our own.
Updated · 4 min read Written by Managing Editor + more + more Edited by Managing Editor + more + more Co-written by + more + more SOME CARD INFO MAY BE OUTDATEDThis page includes information about these cards, currently unavailable on NerdWallet. The information has been collected by NerdWallet and has not been provided or reviewed by the card issuer.
For frequent travelers, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® packs plenty of value with its high rewards rate, top-notch benefits and welcome offer, even with its annual fee of $795. The card debuted in 2016 to much fanfare; Chase even ran out of the metal credit cards when supply couldn’t keep up with demand. Chase Sapphire Reserve® $795 For years, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® was actually a surprisingly more cost-effective choice than its $95-annual-fee sibling, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. That’s because the card’s generous credits and perks outweighed the fee for many. Chase Sapphire Reserve® $95 Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card But now — thanks to a refresh of the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and a major overhaul of the Chase Sapphire Reserve® that included an annual fee increase (it jumped from $450 to $550 in 2020 and then to $795 in 2025) — the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card emerges the victor for many cardholders. Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card Chase Sapphire Reserve® $795 Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card Here’s why there's a new winner.How the cards compare
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Apply now Apply nowon Chase's website
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
Apply now Apply nowon Chase's website
Annual fee
Sign-up bonus
Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Earn 125,000 bonus points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Earn 125,000 bonus points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.Rewards
5 points per $1 spent on all travel booked through Chase. 3 points per $1 spent on dining (including eligible delivery services and takeout). 3 points per $1 spent on select streaming services. 3 points per $1 spent on online grocery purchases (not including Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs). 2 points per $1 spent on travel not booked through Chase. 1 point per $1 spent on other purchases. Through September 2027: 5 points per $1 spent on Lyft. 8 points per $1 spent on travel bookings purchased through Chase's travel portal, including flights, hotels, rental cars, cruises, activities and tours. 4 points per $1 spent on bookings made directly with an airline or hotel. 3 points per $1 spent at restaurants, including eligible food delivery. 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases. Through Sept. 2027: 5 points per $1 spent on Lyft (plus a $10 monthly Lyft credit). Through Sept. 2027:Other benefits
A $50 annual credit on hotel stays booked through Chase. Each account anniversary, cardmembers will earn bonus points equal to 10% of total purchases made the previous year. 1:1 transfer partners, including United, Southwest, JetBlue, Marriott and Hyatt. $300 annual credit, automatically applied to travel spending. 1:1 transfer partners (same as the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card). Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card Access to more than 1,000 airport lounges worldwide through Priority Pass Select. Application credit every four years for TSA PreCheck, Global Entry or NEXUS application fees charged to your card. Access to “Reserved by Sapphire” restaurant-booking feature. Up to $500 in credit for The Edit, Chase’s high-end hotel portal, in the form of two $250 credits a year. Up to $300 in credit at restaurants in the Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables program. You get this as two separate credits of $150 in each half of the year. Up to $300 in statement credit for StubHub, in the form of two $150 credits a year. Up to $250 toward Apple TV+ and Apple Music subscriptions. Up to $120 in credit toward Peloton membership, available at $10 a month. Plus you earn 10 points per dollar on eligible Peloton purchases. Complimentary IHG One Rewards Platinum Elite Status through Dec. 31, 2027. If you spend $75,000 or more on the card each year, you’ll also get a $500 credit for Southwest Airlines flights booked through Chase, Southwest A-List status, IHG One Rewards Diamond Elite Status and a $250 credit for purchases through The Shops at Chase.Learn more
Full list of benefits of the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card list of benefits Making the most of the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card Making the most Full list of benefits of the Chase Sapphire Reserve® list of benefits Making the most of the Chase Sapphire Reserve® Making the mostStill not sure?
Read Review Read ReviewWhy the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card wins for most
Chase Sapphire Preferred® CardMore rewarding across a broader swath of spending, with a kicker
While the Chase Sapphire Reserve® boasts a few eye-popping reward rates (largely for spending through Chase), the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card earns more for popular everyday spending categories: Chase Sapphire Reserve® Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card 3 points per $1 spent on dining (including eligible delivery services and takeout). 3 points per $1 spent on select streaming services. 3 points per $1 spent on online grocery purchases (not including Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs). The Chase Sapphire Reserve® earns the same 3 points per $1 spent on most dining, but all streaming and grocery purchases will earn just 1 point per $1 spent. Chase Sapphire Reserve® The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card also offers an interesting and potentially lucrative anniversary bonus each year that isn't found on the Chase Sapphire Reserve®. Each account anniversary, cardmembers will earn bonus points equal to 10% of total purchases made the previous year. That means $25,000 in spending will earn an additional 2,500 bonus points. Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card Chase Sapphire Reserve® » MORE: Chase Ultimate Rewards®: How to earn and use them » MORE:Adding authorized users won't cost anything
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® charges a $195 annual fee for each authorized user you add to the account. This isn’t unusual for luxury cards, but it changes the math if you’re looking to share the account with one or more people. Chase Sapphire Reserve® The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card doesn’t charge for adding authorized users. Chase Sapphire Preferred® CardLower annual fee
If you're unsure whether you'll use most of the benefits or credits that come with the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, or you know you won't, it simply isn't worth the $795 annual fee — despite its superior ongoing rewards. The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card will likely be a more cost-effective option, especially because it has the same 1:1 transfer partners as the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, a generous welcome offer, and an annual fee that is a staggering $700 cheaper than its counterpart. Chase Sapphire Reserve® $795 Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card Chase Sapphire Reserve® Nerdy PerspectivePreferred or Reserve?
"I’m enthusiastically team Preferred. Compared to the Reserve, it has similar travel protections and stronger rewards for a much lower annual fee. If you travel through airports with a Chase Lounge or prefer to book travel through Chase’s portal, the Reserve is a great option. But since I don’t, the Preferred works better for me." "I’m enthusiastically team Preferred. Compared to the Reserve, it has similar travel protections and stronger rewards for a much lower annual fee. If you travel through airports with a Chase Lounge or prefer to book travel through Chase’s portal, the Reserve is a great option. But since I don’t, the Preferred works better for me." "I'm a sucker for airport lounges, so I always see the Reserve as more valuable than the Preferred. Even though the annual fee is far higher, the annual travel statement credit makes it a lot easier to justify. Plus, I get huge value out of the higher redemption rate from the Reserve in the Chase travel portal. While transfer partners are great, sometimes it's easier to just book things like rental cars directly through Chase, where my Reserve makes that redemption far more valuable." "I'm a sucker for airport lounges, so I always see the Reserve as more valuable than the Preferred. Even though the annual fee is far higher, the annual travel statement credit makes it a lot easier to justify. Plus, I get huge value out of the higher redemption rate from the Reserve in the Chase travel portal. While transfer partners are great, sometimes it's easier to just book things like rental cars directly through Chase, where my Reserve makes that redemption far more valuable." "Over the long haul, the Preferred wins for me. Yes, the Reserve has the easy-to-use travel credit and superior perks, and I did derive a lot of value from the card when I had it. But after a couple of years, I grew weary of the hefty annual fee, which has only increased over time. The Preferred offers a gracious plenty for me in terms of value, for a much more palatable fee. Its ongoing rewards also match up better with my spending." "Over the long haul, the Preferred wins for me. Yes, the Reserve has the easy-to-use travel credit and superior perks, and I did derive a lot of value from the card when I had it. But after a couple of years, I grew weary of the hefty annual fee, which has only increased over time. The Preferred offers a gracious plenty for me in terms of value, for a much more palatable fee. Its ongoing rewards also match up better with my spending." "The answer is 'it depends.' I keep the Preferred to combine rewards from my other Chase cards and access travel partners with my Chase Ultimate Rewards. Since I have another premium travel card, the benefits on the Reserve become redundant, whereas the lower annual fee on the Preferred is easy to make up for by tactically transferring points to partners for travel redemptions." "The answer is 'it depends.' I keep the Preferred to combine rewards from my other Chase cards and access travel partners with my Chase Ultimate Rewards. Since I have another premium travel card, the benefits on the Reserve become redundant, whereas the lower annual fee on the Preferred is easy to make up for by tactically transferring points to partners for travel redemptions." "I’m enthusiastically team Preferred. Compared to the Reserve, it has similar travel protections and stronger rewards for a much lower annual fee. If you travel through airports with a Chase Lounge or prefer to book travel through Chase’s portal, the Reserve is a great option. But since I don’t, the Preferred works better for me." "I’m enthusiastically team Preferred. Compared to the Reserve, it has similar travel protections and stronger rewards for a much lower annual fee. If you travel through airports with a Chase Lounge or prefer to book travel through Chase’s portal, the Reserve is a great option. But since I don’t, the Preferred works better for me." "I'm a sucker for airport lounges, so I always see the Reserve as more valuable than the Preferred. Even though the annual fee is far higher, the annual travel statement credit makes it a lot easier to justify. Plus, I get huge value out of the higher redemption rate from the Reserve in the Chase travel portal. While transfer partners are great, sometimes it's easier to just book things like rental cars directly through Chase, where my Reserve makes that redemption far more valuable." "I'm a sucker for airport lounges, so I always see the Reserve as more valuable than the Preferred. Even though the annual fee is far higher, the annual travel statement credit makes it a lot easier to justify. Plus, I get huge value out of the higher redemption rate from the Reserve in the Chase travel portal. While transfer partners are great, sometimes it's easier to just book things like rental cars directly through Chase, where my Reserve makes that redemption far more valuable." "Over the long haul, the Preferred wins for me. Yes, the Reserve has the easy-to-use travel credit and superior perks, and I did derive a lot of value from the card when I had it. But after a couple of years, I grew weary of the hefty annual fee, which has only increased over time. The Preferred offers a gracious plenty for me in terms of value, for a much more palatable fee. Its ongoing rewards also match up better with my spending." "Over the long haul, the Preferred wins for me. Yes, the Reserve has the easy-to-use travel credit and superior perks, and I did derive a lot of value from the card when I had it. But after a couple of years, I grew weary of the hefty annual fee, which has only increased over time. The Preferred offers a gracious plenty for me in terms of value, for a much more palatable fee. Its ongoing rewards also match up better with my spending." "The answer is 'it depends.' I keep the Preferred to combine rewards from my other Chase cards and access travel partners with my Chase Ultimate Rewards. Since I have another premium travel card, the benefits on the Reserve become redundant, whereas the lower annual fee on the Preferred is easy to make up for by tactically transferring points to partners for travel redemptions." "The answer is 'it depends.' I keep the Preferred to combine rewards from my other Chase cards and access travel partners with my Chase Ultimate Rewards. Since I have another premium travel card, the benefits on the Reserve become redundant, whereas the lower annual fee on the Preferred is easy to make up for by tactically transferring points to partners for travel redemptions." "I’m enthusiastically team Preferred. Compared to the Reserve, it has similar travel protections and stronger rewards for a much lower annual fee. If you travel through airports with a Chase Lounge or prefer to book travel through Chase’s portal, the Reserve is a great option. But since I don’t, the Preferred works better for me." "I’m enthusiastically team Preferred. Compared to the Reserve, it has similar travel protections and stronger rewards for a much lower annual fee. If you travel through airports with a Chase Lounge or prefer to book travel through Chase’s portal, the Reserve is a great option. But since I don’t, the Preferred works better for me." "I'm a sucker for airport lounges, so I always see the Reserve as more valuable than the Preferred. Even though the annual fee is far higher, the annual travel statement credit makes it a lot easier to justify. Plus, I get huge value out of the higher redemption rate from the Reserve in the Chase travel portal. While transfer partners are great, sometimes it's easier to just book things like rental cars directly through Chase, where my Reserve makes that redemption far more valuable." "I'm a sucker for airport lounges, so I always see the Reserve as more valuable than the Preferred. Even though the annual fee is far higher, the annual travel statement credit makes it a lot easier to justify. Plus, I get huge value out of the higher redemption rate from the Reserve in the Chase travel portal. While transfer partners are great, sometimes it's easier to just book things like rental cars directly through Chase, where my Reserve makes that redemption far more valuable." "Over the long haul, the Preferred wins for me. Yes, the Reserve has the easy-to-use travel credit and superior perks, and I did derive a lot of value from the card when I had it. But after a couple of years, I grew weary of the hefty annual fee, which has only increased over time. The Preferred offers a gracious plenty for me in terms of value, for a much more palatable fee. Its ongoing rewards also match up better with my spending." "Over the long haul, the Preferred wins for me. Yes, the Reserve has the easy-to-use travel credit and superior perks, and I did derive a lot of value from the card when I had it. But after a couple of years, I grew weary of the hefty annual fee, which has only increased over time. The Preferred offers a gracious plenty for me in terms of value, for a much more palatable fee. Its ongoing rewards also match up better with my spending." "The answer is 'it depends.' I keep the Preferred to combine rewards from my other Chase cards and access travel partners with my Chase Ultimate Rewards. Since I have another premium travel card, the benefits on the Reserve become redundant, whereas the lower annual fee on the Preferred is easy to make up for by tactically transferring points to partners for travel redemptions." "The answer is 'it depends.' I keep the Preferred to combine rewards from my other Chase cards and access travel partners with my Chase Ultimate Rewards. Since I have another premium travel card, the benefits on the Reserve become redundant, whereas the lower annual fee on the Preferred is easy to make up for by tactically transferring points to partners for travel redemptions."Why you might want the Chase Sapphire Reserve® instead
Chase Sapphire Reserve® » MORE: Best Chase transfer partners (and which ones to avoid) » MORE$300 annual travel credit
Chase automatically applies this credit to any travel purchases you make with your card — including airlines, hotels, timeshares, campground fees and ferries, among other categories — effectively canceling out a large portion of its annual fee. Once you factor in the $300 easy-to-use credit, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® has an effective annual fee of $495. Still not cheap, but more palatable, and that's before factoring in the card's plethora of perks and additional benefits. Chase Sapphire Reserve® » MORE: Advanced tips for redeeming Chase Ultimate Rewards® » MORE:Lounge access and other top-tier benefits
With the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, you get Priority Pass Select access to more than 1,000 airport lounges worldwide. That means you can relax in a comfy armchair before your flight and take advantage of free snacks and drinks. Chase Sapphire Reserve® cardholders also have access to Chase's Sapphire Lounge locations in select airports. Chase Sapphire Reserve® Chase Sapphire Reserve® The card offers reimbursement every four years for the application fee Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or NEXUS, which can let you sail through customs or security lines on your next trip. The Chase Sapphire Reserve® also comes with yearly credits from various travel, dining and shopping merchants that add up to thousands of dollars in value per year. While these credits can help chip away at the annual fee, keeping track of and using them will require work and won’t be worth it for some cardholders. Chase Sapphire Reserve® The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card lacks these travel perks. Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card » MORE: Several Chase cards offering more rewards on Lyft rides » MORE:Points are potentially worth more for travel through Chase
Both cards offer rewards with plenty of versatility, allowing you to transfer points to some airlines and hotels — such as British Airways, United and Hyatt — at a 1:1 ratio: Full list of Chase transfer partners Airlines Airlines Aer Lingus (1:1 ratio). Air Canada (1:1 ratio). Air France-KLM (1:1 ratio). British Airways (1:1 ratio). Iberia (1:1 ratio). JetBlue (1:1 ratio). Singapore (1:1 ratio). Southwest (1:1 ratio). United (1:1 ratio). Virgin Atlantic (1:1 ratio). Hotels Hotels Hyatt (1:1 ratio). IHG (1:1 ratio). Marriott (1:1 ratio). Wyndham (1:1 ratio). Plus, prior to the sweeping changes Chase made to its redemption policy in 2025, if you booked travel through Chase you’d earn 1.5 cents per point on the Chase Sapphire Reserve® — compared with 1.25 cents per point on the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. This still applies for customers who had the Chase Sapphire Reserve® or applied for it before June 23, 2025. Those cardholders can continue to redeem their points earned before Oct. 26, 2025, at the prior 1.5 cents per point, until Oct. 26, 2027. Chase Sapphire Reserve® Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card Chase Sapphire Reserve® However, if you apply for the Chase Sapphire Reserve® on or after June 23, 2025, you can redeem points for up to 2 cents apiece only on rotating flights and hotel stay offers with Chase’s new Points Boost redemption feature. All other point redemptions for travel via Chase that are not eligible for Points Boost are worth 1 cent each. The Points Boost system will take full effect for all cardholders beginning Oct. 26, 2027. Chase Sapphire Reserve® Note that the Points Boost redemption system also applies to the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, and it'll phase in similarly. For new cardholders, points earned with the card are worth up to 1.5 cents each for hotels and flights with select airlines, and up to 1.75 cents each for premium cabin tickets on select airlines booked through Chase. On all bookings not eligible for Points Boost, you get a value of 1 cent per point. Chase Sapphire Preferred® CardWhich card should you get?
With its generous welcome bonus, solid rewards in many everyday spending categories, anniversary bonus rebate, $50 annual hotel credit and double-digit annual fee, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card packs a powerful punch, even for frequent travelers. Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card That said, for those who spend frequently through Chase, value benefits like lounge access, and would make use of its “coupon book”-style credits, the long-term winner could be the Chase Sapphire Reserve®. Chase Sapphire Reserve® Article sources NerdWallet writers are subject matter authorities who use primary, trustworthy sources to inform their work, including peer-reviewed studies, government websites, academic research and interviews with industry experts. All content is fact-checked for accuracy, timeliness and relevance. You can learn more about NerdWallet's high standards for journalism by reading our editorial guidelines. About the authors Claire Tsosie Claire Tsosie is a managing editor for NerdWallet's travel team. Her work has been featured by Forbes, USA Today and The Associated Press. See full bio. Erin Hurd Erin is a former writer and assigning editor on the NerdWallet Content team who now heads NerdWallet's travel business. She's a credit card and travel rewards expert at NerdWallet, based in Baltimore, Maryland. Her work has been featured in Yahoo, Nasdaq, TheStreet, International Living, the Daily Reckoning, Personal Finance and FinanceBuzz. Previously the director of strategic growth at a large financial publishing company, Erin is passionate about harnessing the power of credit card and loyalty rewards to travel the world. When she's not writing, she's planning the next adventure for her family of four using points and miles. Twitter: @ErinHurd1. See full bio. Limited Time Only: Earn $1,000 Toward Travel! Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card Travel For a limited time, the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is offering new cardholders an especially rich bonus: Enjoy $250 to use on Capital One Travel in your first cardholder year, plus earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening - that’s equal to $1,000 in travel! Read full reviewFind the right credit card for you.
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