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Chase Sapphire Preferred vs Sapphire Reserve
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.
These two cards earn the same Ultimate Rewards points and transfer to the same airline and hotel partners, so for most people the choice isn’t about which points are better. It’s about whether you’ll use enough of the Reserve’s credits and lounge access to justify paying $700 more a year.
| Feature | Chase Sapphire Preferred® | Chase Sapphire Reserve® |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $95 | $795 |
| Welcome offer | Earn 75,000 bonus points after $5,000 spend in 3 months | Earn 100,000 bonus points after $6,000 spend in 3 months |
| Minimum spend | $5,000 in 3 months | $6,000 in 3 months |
| Est. first-year value* | +$1,130 | +$1,005 |
| Bonus earning | 5x travel · 3x dining · 3x gas | 8x travel · 3x dining |
| Key perks | $100 Hotel Credit · Trip Cancellation Insurance · No Foreign Transaction Fees · Global Entry/TSA PreCheck · DoorDash DashPass · Instacart+ Membership · Primary Rental Car Coverage | Priority Pass Lounge Access · $300 Travel Credit · Global Entry/TSA PreCheck · No Foreign Transaction Fees · Primary Rental Car Coverage |
| Transfer partners | United, Southwest, JetBlue, Air Canada, British Airways, Aer Lingus, Iberia, Air France/KLM, Singapore Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, Hyatt, IHG, Marriott, Wyndham | 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 | 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 Sapphire Preferred if…
- You travel a few times a year and want transferable points without a big fee commitment.
- You’d rather not track a list of narrow statement credits to break even.
- This is your first travel card — it keeps the stakes at $95 while you learn how you actually redeem.
Terms apply. You'll be taken to Chase's official site to apply.
Pick the Sapphire Reserve if…
- You’ll spend $300+ a year on travel anyway, so the annual travel credit is effectively cash.
- You fly often enough that Priority Pass lounge access has real value to you.
- You can name specific credits beyond the travel credit that you’d use without changing your habits.
Terms apply. You'll be taken to Chase's official site to apply.
Start with the easy credit
The Reserve’s $300 travel credit applies to a broad range of travel purchases, so most frequent travelers use it without trying. Subtract it and the real fee comparison is closer to $495 versus $95 — a $400 gap that lounge access and the Reserve’s narrower hotel, dining and event credits have to cover.
Same currency, one exception: Hyatt
Both cards earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points that transfer to the same partners, including United, Southwest, British Airways and Hyatt. Airline transfers are 1:1 from either card. The exception is Hyatt: since October 1, 2026, the Sapphire Preferred transfers to Hyatt at 4:3 (4 Chase points for 3 Hyatt points), while the Reserve keeps 1:1. If Hyatt stays are how you redeem, that’s a real point in the Reserve’s favor; otherwise this decision is mostly about fees and perks.
The quiet factor: 5/24
Both cards fall under Chase’s 5/24 rule. If you’ve opened five or more personal cards in the last 24 months, your application for either is likely to be declined — so it’s worth deciding before you apply for cards elsewhere.
Still not sure? Let your trips decide.
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