Gold vs Sapphire Preferred
By Quy Dinh · Updated Oct 24, 2026
The short answer
If food is your biggest spending, the Gold: 4x at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets beats the Preferred’s 3x, and its food and Uber credits can cover the $325 fee. If you want one card for dining, gas, streaming and travel at $95, the Preferred.
Plenty of people end up with both: the Gold for food, the Preferred for everything else.
Pick the Gold if
- You spend a lot at restaurants and supermarkets
- You’d use the Uber, Grubhub, Resy and Dunkin’ credits
- You like Amex’s airline partners, like Delta and Air Canada
Pick the Sapphire Preferred if
- You want a lower fee
- You spend on gas, streaming and online groceries too
- You like Chase’s partners, like United, Southwest and World of Hyatt
Side by side
| Feature |  American Express |  Chase |
|---|---|---|
| In one line | One of the best cards for people who spend most on food: 4x at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets, with up to $424 a year in food and Uber credits against a $325 fee. | One of the best first travel cards: $95 a year, a $100 hotel credit, 3x on dining and everyday categories, and points that transfer to airlines and hotels. |
| Annual fee | $325 | $95 |
| Statement credits | Up to $520 a year in 5 credits | Up to $250 a year in 4 credits |
| How it earns |
|
|
| Lounge access | None | None |
| Welcome offer | As high as 100,000 points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 6 months. Amex tells you your exact offer after you apply, before you accept the card. | 75,000 points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months. |
| Counts toward Chase 5/24 | Yes | Yes |
Credits are counted at their full cash value; see each card’s page for how each one works and which need activation. Offers change; the bank’s page has the current one.
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