Chase Sapphire Preferred vs Chase Sapphire Reserve
Last updated July 2026
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
Chase Sapphire Reserve
Premium travel card with the strongest transfer partners
Advantages
- $300 annual travel credit auto-applies to any travel purchase (easiest premium credit to use)
- Priority Pass Select + access to newly-opened Chase Sapphire Lounges
- 3x on dining and general travel; 5x on flights and 10x on hotels/cars via Chase Travel
- Points transfer to Chase's 14 partners including United, Hyatt, and Southwest
- Points worth 1.5c each when redeemed through Chase Travel portal
Drawbacks
- $550 annual fee ($795 as of the 2025 refresh), still steep
- No Centurion lounge access
- Priority Pass restaurants no longer included (removed in 2019)
Chase Sapphire Preferred and Chase Sapphire Reserve both play in rewards credit cards, but they're aimed at different buyers. Chase Sapphire Preferred is built for newer travel points users spending $2K-$4K/mo who want flexibility without a premium fee. Chase Sapphire Reserve is built for travelers who want the strongest transfer partners for domestic redemptions. Which one fits depends on which of those descriptions sounds more like you.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Chase Sapphire Preferred | Chase Sapphire Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Fee | $95 | $795 (2025 refresh) |
| Base Rewards Rate | 1x on most spending | 1x on most spending |
| Bonus Categories | 3x dining, 3x online groceries, 3x streaming, 5x Chase Travel | 3x dining + travel; 5x flights, 10x hotels/cars via Chase Travel |
| Sign-Up Bonus | Typically 60K-100K points after minimum spend | Typically 60K-100K UR points |
| Transfer Partners | 14 partners including United, Hyatt, Southwest, Air Canada | 14 partners including United, Hyatt, Southwest |
| Annual Travel Credit | None | $300 easy annual travel credit + Chase Travel credits |
| Lounge Access | None | Priority Pass Select + Chase Sapphire Lounges |
| Insurance Protections | Trip cancellation, primary rental car, purchase protection | Trip cancellation, primary rental car, delay |
Too Close to Call
Chase Sapphire Preferred and Chase Sapphire Reserve land roughly even overall; the right pick depends on which of their strengths matters more to you.
Chase Sapphire Preferred's standout strength: Only $95 annual fee. Chase Sapphire Reserve's standout strength: $300 annual travel credit auto-applies to any travel purchase (easiest premium credit to use). Neither dominates across the board, and both have well-known weak spots. Chase Sapphire Preferred's biggest drawback: No lounge access or premium travel benefits. Chase Sapphire Reserve's biggest drawback: $550 annual fee ($795 as of the 2025 refresh), still steep. Pick the one whose strengths line up with what you actually need.
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