Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card vs. Chase Sapphire Reserve®

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.

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Best for signup bonus: Tie

Unfortunately, Chase has returned the Chase Preferred signup bonus to 60,000 points, a far cry from the card’s prior value of 100,000 points. Given the point and redemption bonus differences between the Preferred and the Reserve, both card signup bonuses are now worth precisely the same at $750 in value when redeemed through Chase Ultimate Rewards.

Best for rewards: Tie

Both the Chase Sapphire Preferred and Reserve received updates to their reward earnings, though the Preferred benefits far more than the Reserve with these changes. While it was previously positioned as a travel card, the Preferred’s earning categories have tweaked it toward an everyday spending kind of card, with the addition of online groceries and streaming services categories and a boost to the travel points it already earned.

The Reserve on the other hand leaned further into its travel strengths, offering bigger rewards on travel arrangements made through Chase Ultimate Rewards. As such, the Preferred and Reserve have carved out interesting reward niches for themselves and will suit different consumers based on spending needs.

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.