Amex Gold vs Chase Sapphire Preferred
Last updated July 2026
Amex Gold
The best dining and grocery card in the U.S.
Advantages
- 4x MR points on U.S. supermarkets (up to $25K/yr) and on restaurants worldwide
- 3x MR points on flights booked directly with airlines
- $120 annual dining credit at Grubhub, Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, and more
- $120 annual Uber Cash
- $100 annual Resy credit + $84 annual Dunkin' credit
Drawbacks
- $325 annual fee (raised from $250 in late 2024)
- Credits are fragmented and expire monthly, you'll only capture full value if you use these merchants
- 1x on non-bonus spending; foreign transaction fees are 0% but base rate is weak
Chase Sapphire Preferred
Flexible mid-tier travel card at only $95/yr
Advantages
- Only $95 annual fee
- 3x on dining, 3x on online groceries, 3x on select streaming
- 5x on Chase Travel bookings
- Ultimate Rewards transfer partners include United, Hyatt, and Southwest
- 10% anniversary point bonus after each cardmember year
Drawbacks
- No lounge access or travel credits
- 1x base rate is easy to beat with other cards
- Grocery multiplier is online only, excludes in-store purchases
Amex Gold and Chase Sapphire Preferred are the two most-recommended mid-tier rewards cards in the U.S. Amex Gold is a dining and grocery powerhouse with heavy credits; Sapphire Preferred is a lighter, more travel-focused card at a lower fee. Where you spend decides the winner.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Amex Gold | Chase Sapphire Preferred |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Fee | $325 | $95 |
| Base Rewards Rate | 1x on most spending | 1x on most spending |
| Bonus Categories | 4x dining and U.S. supermarkets; 3x flights | 3x dining + online groceries + streaming; 5x Chase Travel |
| Transfer Partners | 20+ airline and hotel partners | 14 partners including United, Hyatt, Southwest |
| Travel Credits | None, credits are dining/Uber-focused | None |
| Dining/Lifestyle Credits | $120 dining + $120 Uber + $100 Resy + $84 Dunkin' annually | None, perks are travel-focused |
| Insurance Protections | Trip delay, baggage, purchase protection | Trip cancellation, primary rental car, purchase protection |
| Sign-Up Bonus | Typically 60K-100K MR points | Typically 60K-100K UR points |
Too Close to Call
Pick Amex Gold if you'll use the dining credits and spend heavily on food; pick Sapphire Preferred if you want simple travel flexibility at a low fee.
Amex Gold wins on raw earn rate for anyone spending $1,500+/mo on U.S. supermarkets and restaurants, 4x MR beats 3x UR on those categories. But the $325 fee only pencils out if you actually use the fragmented $324 in annual credits. Sapphire Preferred is the safer $95 fee for buyers who won't grind the Amex credit calendar. Match the card to your actual spending, not the aspirational version.
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