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The main difference between the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and the Chase Sapphire Reserve® is that the former is a mid-tier card with a $95 annual fee and fewer perks, while the latter costs $550 annually and comes with premium perks like $300 annual travel credit, Priority Pass lounge access, higher points value when redeemed for travel purchases and more.
60,000 points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months, a value of up to $750 through Chase Ultimate Rewards. Plus up to $50 statement credit towards groceries.
50,000 points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months
Rewards
Rewards
5x points on Lyft, 2x points on up to $1,000 on groceries until April 30, 2021, 2x points on travel and dining and 1x points on all other purchases
10x points on Lyft rides, 3x points on dining and travel after earning your $300 travel credit and 1x points on all other purchases
Purchase APR
Purchase APR
15.99% to 22.99% variable
16.99% to 23.99% variable
Annual fee
Annual fee
$95
$550
Balance transfer APR
Balance transfer APR
15.99% to 22.99% variable
16.99% to 23.99% variable
Cash advance
Cash advance
APR:
24.99%
variable
Fee:
$10
or
5%
of the transaction, whichever is greater
APR:
24.99%
variable
Fee:
$10
or
5%
of the transaction, whichever is greater
Best for Signup bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
In its latest batch of card updates, Chase updated the signup bonus of the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card to 60,000. It’s old value of 60,000 was slightly higher than the Chase Sapphire Reserve®‘s 50,000 bonus, but both cards were tied in value when it came to redeeming through the Chase Travel Portal. This is no longer the case.
Now, the Sapphire Preferred‘s buff signup bonus results in a value of up to $1,000 when redeemed through the travel portal or on the Pay Yourself Back feature. Plus, you earn up to $50 statement credit to cover your grocery purchases. The Sapphire Reserve still rests at its old signup bonus value of up to $750, leaving the Sapphire Preferred the clear winner in this category.
Best for rewards: Chase Sapphire Reserve®
The Sapphire Reserve earns 3x points on travel and dining purchases and 10x points on Lyft rides until March 2022. What’s more, once we add the 50% higher value on travel redemption through the Chase portal, your 3x and 10x points are actually worth 4.5x and 15x. To see why the Sapphire Reserve is the better card for earning rewards, check out the table below.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
Travel and dining
$5,000
$5,000
Lyft
$1,800
$1,800
Everything else
$10,000
$10,000
Total spent
$16,800
$16,800
Total points earned
35,800
49,800
Points value at the Ultimate Rewards portal
$447
$747
Best for annual fee: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
With an annual fee of $95, the Sapphire Preferred is the cheaper card. But you get what you pay for. Paying a lower annual fee means you get to earn fewer points on your purchases and you get to use fewer perks.
This isn’t a bad thing, though. Especially if you travel on a tight budget.
Best for additional perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®
Both the Sapphire Preferred and the Sapphire Reserve are top picks for the Chase trifecta combination because they let you transfer points to partners in a 1:1 ratio, and because your points are worth more at the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal.
But travelers who want to squeeze the best out of their card should definitely go with the Sapphire Reserve. For example, with the Sapphire Reserve, you get $300 annual travel credit, Priority Pass lounge access, Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit, and benefits at the Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection. None of these perks are available for the Sapphire Preferred.
Who should get Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card?
Travelers looking to maximize their Chase Ultimate Rewards points without burning a hole in their pocket should consider the Sapphire Preferred card. This card pairs well with the Chase Freedom Flex℠ and Freedom Unlimited, and you can get a solid value on travel redemption.
Who should get Chase Sapphire Reserve®?
Travelers looking for the best value and premium perks should consider the Sapphire Reserve. It also pairs well with the two Freedom cards, and you can get the highest value on travel redemption when you combine points between cards. Plus you get a host of valuable benefits and features.
Compare Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card vs. Chase Sapphire Reserve®
We update our data regularly, but information can change between updates. Confirm details with the provider you're interested in before making a decision.
Kliment Dukovski is a credit cards writer. He's written over 600 articles to help readers find and compare the best credit cards. Kliment has also written on money transfers, home loans and more. Previously, he ghostwrote guides and articles on foreign exchange, stock market trading and cryptocurrencies.
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