Sapphire Preferred vs Sapphire Reserve

By Quy Dinh · Updated Oct 24, 2026

The short answer

Start with the Preferred. At $95 it’s easy to earn back with its $100 hotel credit, and its 3x categories now cover dining, gas, streaming and online groceries. The Reserve costs $700 more for lounges, 8x on Chase Travel and a long list of credits, which pays off only for people who travel often and use most of them.

Both earn the same Ultimate Rewards points with the same 14 transfer partners, and Chase’s current terms don’t stop you from having both.

Pick the Sapphire Preferred if

You’re new to travel cards
You want 3x on gas, streaming and online groceries
You’d rather not keep track of a dozen credits

Pick the Sapphire Reserve if

You fly often and want lounge access
You’ll use the $300 travel credit every year
You book through Chase Travel or stay at The Edit hotels

Side by side

Feature	Sapphire Preferred Chase	Sapphire Reserve Chase
In one line	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.	Strong if you travel often and use Chase Travel, but at $795 it only pays off if you use the $300 travel credit, the lounges and most of the newer credits.
Annual fee	$95	$795
Statement credits	Up to $250 a year in 4 credits	Up to $2,340 a year in 13 credits
How it earns	5x Everything booked through Chase Travel 3x Dining, including takeout and eligible delivery 3x Gas stations and EV charging 3x Vacation homes booked directly with Airbnb, Vrbo and other top brands 3x Select streaming services 3x Online grocery orders 2x All other travel 5x Lyft rides in the Lyft app 1x Everything else	8x Everything booked through Chase Travel, including The Edit hotels 4x Flights booked directly with airlines and hotels booked directly with hotels 3x Dining at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and eligible delivery 5x Lyft rides in the Lyft app 10x Peloton equipment over $150 1x Everything else
Lounge access	None	Priority Pass Select Chase Sapphire Lounge by The Club Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounges and Cafés
Welcome offer	75,000 points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months.	100,000 points after you spend $6,000 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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