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Unlike similar cards from American Express or Capital One, Chase’s policy only allows you to hold one Sapphire card, making the choice between the Sapphire Preferred and the Chase Sapphire Reserve® essential. Here's a detailed look at each card's benefits to help you make the best decision.
Annual Fees and Core Benefits
The Sapphire Preferred is the more budget-friendly option, with a $95 annual fee, while the Sapphire Reserve carries a heftier price tag at $550 per year. However, with the right use of benefits, both cards can offer significant value.
Sapphire Preferred: This card comes with a $50 hotel credit for bookings made through the Chase Travel portal, effectively lowering the annual fee to $45 for regular travelers.
Sapphire Reserve: The Sapphire Reserve’s $300 travel credit applies to a wide range of travel purchases, not just those made through the Chase Travel portal, effectively reducing the annual fee quite a bit for frequent travelers. This flexibility makes it one of the most accessible travel credits in the market.
Spending Multipliers and Points Potential
Both cards offer strong points-earning potential, but they’re geared toward slightly different spending habits.
5x points on travel through the Chase TravelSM portal
3x on dining, select streaming, and online groceries (excluding Target, Walmart, and wholesale clubs)
2x on other travel purchases outside the Chase portal
1x on all other purchases
10x points on hotels and car rentals booked through Chase after the travel credit is used
10x on Lyft rides through March 2025
5x on flights booked through Chase after the travel credit is used
3x on other travel and dining
1x on all other purchases
The Sapphire Reserve’s multipliers make it especially rewarding for high spenders on travel and dining, whereas the Sapphire Preferred provides more versatile points earnings across a range of everyday categories.
Lounge Access and Travel Perks
One of the standout features of the Sapphire Reserve is its lounge access, a benefit that isn’t available with the Sapphire Preferred.
Sapphire Reserve: Comes with Priority Pass Select, granting access to over 1,500 lounges worldwide. Additionally, cardholders can enjoy access to Sapphire Lounges located in select U.S. airports, a perk that adds even more value for frequent travelers. The Priority Pass membership included with the Sapphire Reserve also covers Priority Pass restaurants at airports, a benefit not available on most cards offering similar lounge access.
Sapphire Preferred: This card doesn’t offer any lounge access, but it’s still competitive among lower annual fee travel cards.
Boosted Points Value with Chase Ultimate Rewards
When redeeming points through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal, both cards offer boosts that make points more valuable.
Sapphire Preferred: Offers a 25% boost, so 100,000 points are worth $1,250 when redeemed through Chase Ultimate Rewards.
Sapphire Reserve: This card gives a 50% boost, making 100,000 points worth $1,500 through the same portal. For travelers who regularly book flights and hotels through Chase, this feature alone can justify the Reserve’s higher annual fee.
For cardholders interested in maximizing point value, the Sapphire Reserve’s increased redemption value can be especially compelling. However, transferring points to Chase’s travel partners can yield even higher returns with both cards, often exceeding two to three cents per point.
Insurance Benefits
Travel insurance is often an overlooked credit card benefit, and the Sapphire Reserve stands out in this category as well.
Sapphire Preferred: Provides trip delay reimbursement of up to $500 per ticket after a 12-hour delay.
Sapphire Reserve: Covers trip delay reimbursement of up to $500 per ticket after just a 6-hour delay, along with additional coverage options that make it one of the top cards for travel protection.
These differences make the Sapphire Reserve a solid choice for those wanting comprehensive travel coverage, particularly frequent flyers.
Final Verdict: Which Card Should You Choose?
Choosing between the Sapphire Preferred and Sapphire Reserve depends on your travel habits, spending patterns, and budget. The Sapphire Reserve offers premium perks like lounge access and higher points multipliers, ideal for frequent travelers who value luxury and added flexibility. However, if you’re looking for a lower annual fee, strong points earnings across everyday categories, and easy-to-use perks, the Sapphire Preferred is an excellent choice.
Both cards are offering elevated welcome bonuses, making this the perfect time to apply for the one that best suits your travel and spending needs.
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