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Amex Gold vs Chase Sapphire Preferred
Offers last updated October 26, 2026. Disclosure: We may earn a referral bonus if you apply through links on this page; it never changes our analysis. Terms apply. Not financial advice.
The Gold is built to earn on the two things most households spend on every week — restaurants and U.S. supermarkets. The Sapphire Preferred earns well on travel and dining at a much lower fee and carries the stronger travel-insurance package. Your grocery bill and your tolerance for monthly credits usually decide it.
| Feature | American Express® Gold Card | Chase Sapphire Preferred® |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $325 | $95 |
| Welcome offer | Earn as high as 100,000 MR® points after $8,000 spend in 6 months | Earn 75,000 bonus points after $5,000 spend in 3 months |
| Minimum spend | $8,000 in 6 months | $5,000 in 3 months |
| Est. first-year value* | +$1,415 | +$1,130 |
| Bonus earning | 4x dining · 4x U.S. groceries · 3x travel | 5x travel · 3x dining · 3x gas |
| Key perks | $120 Uber Cash Annually · $120 Dining Credit · No Foreign Transaction Fees | $100 Hotel Credit · Trip Cancellation Insurance · No Foreign Transaction Fees · Global Entry/TSA PreCheck · DoorDash DashPass · Instacart+ Membership · Primary Rental Car Coverage |
| Transfer partners | Delta, JetBlue, Air Canada, British Airways, Aer Lingus, Iberia, Air France/KLM, Virgin Atlantic, ANA, Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Qantas, Qatar Airways, Emirates, Avianca, Aeromexico, Hilton, Marriott, Choice, Leading Hotels of the World | United, Southwest, JetBlue, Air Canada, British Airways, Aer Lingus, Iberia, Air France/KLM, Singapore Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, Hyatt, IHG, Marriott, Wyndham |
| Typical credit needed | Good / Excellent | Good / Excellent |
*Estimated welcome-bonus value plus dollar-denominated credits, minus the annual fee. Point values are estimates; your results depend on how you redeem.
Pick the Amex Gold if…
- Dining and U.S. supermarkets are your two biggest spending categories.
- You already use Uber or Uber Eats and restaurant delivery, so the monthly credits don’t change your habits.
- You want Membership Rewards points for partners like ANA, Singapore Airlines or Delta.
Terms apply. See Rates & Fees for the American Express® Gold Card. You'll be taken to American Express's official site to apply.
Pick the Sapphire Preferred if…
- You want a low $95 fee and don’t want to manage monthly credits.
- Trip protections matter to you — primary rental car coverage and trip cancellation/delay coverage.
- You value Chase partners like Hyatt, United and Southwest.
Terms apply. You'll be taken to Chase's official site to apply.
The fee gap is $230
The Gold costs $230 more per year. Its dining and Uber Cash credits can cover that — but they’re issued monthly, so they only count if you use them month after month. If you’d realistically capture half of them, run the comparison on half.
Where the Gold pulls ahead
At 4x on restaurants and U.S. supermarkets, the Gold earns meaningfully more on everyday food spend than the Sapphire Preferred, which earns 1x at most grocery stores. A household spending a few hundred dollars a month on groceries can see a real difference in points by year-end.
Where the Preferred pulls ahead
The Sapphire Preferred’s insurance package is the stronger of the two for travel — primary rental car coverage in particular can replace the counter coverage you’d otherwise buy. For people who travel a few times a year, that protection is worth more than a higher grocery multiplier.
Still not sure? Let your trips decide.
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