American Express Platinum vs Chase Sapphire Preferred
Last updated July 2026
American Express Platinum
The premium travel card built on lounges and credits
Advantages
- Best lounge access in the industry: Centurion, Delta Sky Club (when flying Delta), Priority Pass, Plaza Premium, and more
- Over $1,500 in annual credits: $200 airline, $200 hotel, $300 Equinox, $240 digital entertainment, $200 Uber, and others
- 5x Membership Rewards points on flights booked through Amex Travel and prepaid hotels
- Free Global Entry / TSA PreCheck credit every 4 years
- Access to Fine Hotels + Resorts with premium hotel perks
Drawbacks
- $695 annual fee, the credits are only valuable if you'd spend the money anyway
- Only 1x base rate on non-bonus spending
- Credits are fragmented across many merchants (Uber, Saks, Equinox, etc.)
Chase Sapphire Preferred
The classic $95 travel card for points beginners
Advantages
- Only $95 annual fee
- 3x on dining, 3x on online groceries, 5x on Chase Travel bookings
- Points transfer to 14 airline/hotel partners including United, Hyatt, and Air Canada
- 10% anniversary point bonus after each cardmember year
- Strong sign-up bonuses (often 60,000-100,000 points)
Drawbacks
- No lounge access or premium travel benefits
- 1x base rate on most spending is easy to beat with other cards
- No annual travel credit
American Express Platinum and Chase Sapphire Preferred both play in rewards credit cards, but they're aimed at different buyers. American Express Platinum is built for frequent premium travelers who will use Centurion lounges and fragmented credits. Chase Sapphire Preferred is built for newer travel points users spending $2K-$4K/mo who want flexibility without a premium fee. Which one fits depends on which of those descriptions sounds more like you.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | American Express Platinum | Chase Sapphire Preferred |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Fee | $695 | $95 |
| Base Rewards Rate | 1x on most spending | 1x on most spending |
| Bonus Categories | 5x flights + prepaid hotels via Amex Travel | 3x dining, 3x online groceries, 3x streaming, 5x Chase Travel |
| Sign-Up Bonus | Typically 80K-175K MR points after minimum spend | Typically 60K-100K points after minimum spend |
| Transfer Partners | 20+ airline and hotel partners | 14 partners including United, Hyatt, Southwest, Air Canada |
| Annual Travel Credit | $200 airline + $200 hotel + $200 Uber + more | None |
| Lounge Access | Centurion + Delta Sky Club + Priority Pass + Plaza Premium | None |
| Insurance Protections | Trip delay, cancellation, secondary rental car | Trip cancellation, primary rental car, purchase protection |
Too Close to Call
American Express Platinum and Chase Sapphire Preferred land roughly even overall; the right pick depends on which of their strengths matters more to you.
American Express Platinum's standout strength: Best lounge access in the industry: Centurion, Delta Sky Club (when flying Delta), Priority Pass, Plaza Premium, and more. Chase Sapphire Preferred's standout strength: Only $95 annual fee. Neither dominates across the board, and both have well-known weak spots. American Express Platinum's biggest drawback: $695 annual fee, the credits are only valuable if you'd spend the money anyway. Chase Sapphire Preferred's biggest drawback: No lounge access or premium travel benefits. Pick the one whose strengths line up with what you actually need.
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