Chase Sapphire Preferred Card review

If you are a frequent traveler, the Chase Sapphire Preferred is one of the best travel credit cards of its class. A flashy metal card design, lucrative rewards rate, and flexible redemption options make it a powerhouse for long-term value.

What are the pros and cons?

Why you might want the Chase Sapphire Preferred

The Chase Sapphire Preferred is one of the best travel credit cards out there. It offers an outstanding sign-up bonus, decent perks, rewards for ongoing spending and earns valuable Chase Travel℠ points. Here are a few reasons you might consider signing up for the Sapphire Preferred card.

Good sign-up bonus

The Chase Sapphire Preferred is currently offering 60,000 bonus points after $4,000 in purchases in your first three months from account opening. Since points are worth 1.25 cents apiece when redeemed for travel through the Chase Travel℠ portal, 60,000 points come out to $750 in travel redemptions, which should be enough for at least a couple of reasonably priced round-trip flights. And that’s before you add in the rewards you’d earn from spending $4,000.

Along with this one-time sign-up bonus, cardholders also enjoy an ongoing annual bonus of a $50 credit on hotels booked through Chase Travel℠, which alone offsets over half the card’s cost.

You’ll also get a 10% annual bonus based on your total spend each account anniversary year. This means if you spent $50,000 on your Sapphire Preferred during your anniversary year, you’d receive 5,000 bonus points at the end of the year. While this isn’t a massive amount of extra rewards, it could add up for heavy spenders.

Tip: Since Chase allows cardholders within the same household to transfer points to one another’s accounts, you and your spouse can each sign up for a Sapphire Preferred card, collect the sign-up bonuses and combine them.

Earning valuable Ultimate Rewards points

The rewards rate on the Chase Sapphire Preferred is designed with travelers and foodies in mind, offering 5X points on all travel booked through Chase Travel℠ (excluding hotel purchases that qualify for the $50 Anniversary Hotel Credit), 3X points on dining, select streaming services and online grocery shopping, 2X points on other travel purchases and 1X points on general purchases. Given Chase Ultimate Rewards points are some of the most valuable card rewards around, that’s a terrific amount of rewards category variety and includes a great mix of practical everyday categories.

Best of all, the points you earn are worth more than those of the average rewards card. While competing cards from the likes of Chase and Capital One allow you to redeem points or miles for travel through their issuer portal at a value of 1 cent each, the Sapphire Preferred gives you a 25% bonus on points redeemed through the Chase Travel℠ portal, making each point worth 1.25 cents.

Though it may seem like a minute difference, this increased point value can quickly add up. For example, while 50,000 Amex Membership Rewards points are worth $500 when redeemed with American Express Travel, 50,000 Ultimate Rewards points redeemed for travel through Chase Travel with the Sapphire Preferred are worth $625.

Tip: Another valuable way to earn a few extra points is by leveraging Chase’s referral bonus policy. You can earn up to 75,000 Ultimate Rewards points per year by referring a friend for the Sapphire Preferred (15,000 points per approval).

Great mix of redemption options

Redeeming points on your Chase Sapphire Preferred account is easy, and you have several options. On the Chase Travel℠ portal, you can see your current account balance and all the different ways to use your points.

You can redeem Ultimate Rewards points for anything from travel purchases to gift cards. And while the value fluctuates depending on how you redeem your points, this is one of the few travel rewards cards that gets you a minimum of 1 cent per point back on non-travel redemptions like cash back. Many competing travel cards only offer a full 1-cent-per-point value on travel redemptions, limiting point value for cash back, merchandise and gift cards to 0.8 cents per point or less.

Valuable Chase Ultimate Rewards transfer partners

Adding to the Sapphire Preferred card’s flexibility, Chase allows cardholders to transfer their points to several travel partners at a 1:1 ratio. Since many airline and hotel points are worth more than 1 cent per point, you can use this option to stretch your rewards even further. Here are Bankrate’s latest point and mile valuations to give you an idea of this potential value.

While several other rewards programs, including those from American Express and Capital One, also offer the ability to transfer points, Chase may offer travelers the most useful list of partners, including three major U.S. airlines and some valuable airline partners abroad. Other issuers, like Amex, largely feature airlines more suited to international travel.

Pairing the Chase Sapphire Preferred with other Ultimate Rewards cards

Another major advantage of the Chase Sapphire Preferred card is that you can use it with other cards to complete the Chase trifecta and boost your rewards earnings.

For example, the Chase Freedom Flex®* offers 5% cash back on rotating bonus categories that you activate each quarter (up to $1,500 per quarter) and the Chase Freedom Unlimited® offers at least 1.5% cash back on all purchases. All the rewards you earn with these cards, including their sign-up bonuses, can be transferred to the Sapphire Preferred card and redeemed for travel with Chase at a 25 percent higher point value. If you use Freedom Unlimited for general purchases, the Sapphire Preferred for dining, online grocery shopping and travel, and the Freedom Flex for rotating bonus categories, you can easily cover a wide swath of your everyday and special occasion spending.

These Ultimate Rewards cards create one of the most valuable card combinations of any major rewards program, so if you enjoy juggling cards to maximize rewards, Ultimate Rewards may be the program for you.

Why you might want a different card

While the Chase Sapphire Preferred is an outstanding credit card, it may not be a slam dunk for every wallet. Here are a few reasons why you might consider other cards.

More luxurious perks

The Chase Sapphire Preferred does a good job of balancing valuable rewards, benefits and perks with a modest $95 annual fee. But there’s no denying that there are cards that offer higher-end and more luxurious perks.

Cards like the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card and The Platinum Card® from American Express offer substantially more entertainment and travel benefits, albeit at an annual fee that’s hundreds of dollars more.

Somewhat complex rewards structure

For all of the extra value the Chase Sapphire Preferred brings to the table with its flexible Chase Ultimate Rewards points, there is a drawback. The card’s rewards can be tough to keep track of since you’ll have to pay attention to bonus categories, redemption values and how much your points will be worth after you transfer them.

Some cardholders may not want to put in the additional work and research required to maximize the value of this card’s rewards. If that sounds like you, consider a more straightforward rewards card like the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card or Citi Custom Cash® Card.

No TSA PreCheck or Global Entry

The Chase Sapphire Preferred does not offer a credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck. And it’s not only luxury credit cards that offer such a credit – there are a few cards with annual fees under $100 that offer this credit, including the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card (Venture – Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®) and Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card, all of which carry similar annual fees as the Sapphire Preferred. If that’s a benefit you want, you might want to consider one of those cards.

How does the Sapphire Preferred compare to other travel cards?

If you are a frequent traveler trying to maximize your travel rewards, the Chase Sapphire Preferred is one of the best options. However, there are a few other travel cards that compete.

Chase Sapphire Reserve®	Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card	American Express® Gold Card
Rewards rate Earn 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠. Earn 5x total points on flights through Chase Travel℠. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining. Earn 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases.	Rewards rate 5 Miles per dollar on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel 2 Miles per dollar on every purchase, every day	Rewards rate Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. Terms Apply
Welcome bonus Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.	Welcome bonus 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening	Welcome bonus Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
Annual fee $550	Annual fee $95	Annual fee $325
Other things to know $300 annual travel credit Up to $100 Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit 50% bonus on travel rewards redeemed through Chase website Free Lyft Pink membership for one year (activate by 3/31/25) Free DashPass membership for one year (activate by 12/31/27) $5 in DoorDash credits through Dec. 31, 2027 Complimentary Priority Pass Select Membership	Other things to know No foreign transaction fees Redeem miles for any travel purchase (even those made on third-party sites)	Other things to know Up to $120 dining credit ($10 monthly credits toward purchases at participating restaurants, enrollment required) Up to $120 Uber Cash credit ($10 per month, add your Amex Gold to your Uber account and redeem with any Amex card.) Up to $100 experience credit with a two-night minimum stay when you book a hotel through The Hotel Collection with American Express Travel No foreign transaction fees Terms apply

Chase Sapphire Preferred vs. Chase Sapphire Reserve

The Chase Sapphire Reserve is a more luxurious version of the Sapphire Preferred. This card comes packed with travel perks like TSA PreCheck credit, complimentary airport lounges and offers a generous $300 travel credit that you can use cover anything from airfare to baggage fees.

If you spend a lot on travel and believe you’ll use those included luxury perks, the Reserve could be more rewarding despite the $550 annual fee. Not to mention that you get a 50 percent boost on all points redeemed through Chase Travel℠.

See related: Chase Sapphire Preferred vs. Chase Sapphire Reserve

Chase Sapphire Preferred vs. Capital One Venture card

With the Venture card, your miles are only worth 1 cent each when redeemed for travel, which means they won’t take you as far as Sapphire Preferred points. However, the Venture offers a competitive 2X miles on every purchase and 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. This can compensate for the lower miles value depending on your spending habits.

While it doesn’t have as many benefits as the Sapphire Preferred, for people who like to redeem miles on travel, it’s a great option for earning miles on everyday purchases.

See related: Chase Sapphire Preferred Card vs. Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Chase Sapphire Preferred vs. American Express Gold Card

The American Express Gold Card offers one of the best rewards rates you can find on U.S. supermarket and worldwide restaurant purchases, making it a valuable choice for foodies looking to earn travel rewards. It also offers up to a $120 dining credit ($10 credits per month, enrollment required) for select restaurants and other valuable food-centric perks that easily justify its annual fee.

One drawback may be the point value for the card, which is 1:1 for most travel partners while the Chase Sapphire Preferred averages 1.5 points per dollar. However, you can make up for this value with the card’s various annual credits.

Learn More: Who Should Get the Amex Gold?

Who should get the Chase Sapphire Preferred

The Chase Sapphire Preferred is an excellent all-around rewards card, though it especially suits cardholders who:

• Like to have flexible rewards
• Regularly travel and can take advantage of the card’s earning categories
• Wish to pursue or complete the Chase trifecta
• Enjoy maximizing their rewards by transferring points to travel partners
• Want a card that offers robust travel protections

How to use the Chase Sapphire Preferred:

• Use your card for all travel and dining purchases to boost points earning.
• Spend at least $4,000 in the first three months to secure the sign-up bonus.
• Redeem your points for travel – you will get the best rewards rate for Chase Travel℠ portal travel redemptions and transfer partners.
• Pair with another Ultimate Rewards card with bonuses in different spending categories to maximize rewards.
• Use the card when you rent a car to take advantage of its primary car rental coverage.

Is the Chase Sapphire Preferred card right for you?

If you want to supercharge your rewards, the Chase Sapphire Preferred card is great for spearheading that effort. The Sapphire Preferred has a lot of potential value for frequent travelers and rewards are easy to earn and redeem. And though you’ll need to pay an annual fee, the introductory offer alone can offset this cost several times over. If you’re looking for an upgrade in the world of travel rewards, the Sapphire Preferred may be worth a look.

*All information about the Chase Freedom Flex have been collected independently by CreditCards.com and has not been reviewed by the issuer.