Chase Sapphire Preferred vs. Sapphire Reserve
Reserve costs $700 more a year than Preferred. It gives that back only if you use its credits (travel, dining, The Edit hotels) and lounge access. Otherwise Preferred earns similar points for far less.
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How this page was made: it’s built from each provider’s own terms, rate and fee pages and from regulator sources, all listed at the bottom. We haven’t opened these accounts or products to test them, and we don’t give scores. Every rate shows the day we checked it. Our methodology.
Quick answer
Short answer: Sapphire Preferred costs $95 a year and offered 75,000 points after $5,000 in 3 months on Nov 10, 2026. Sapphire Reserve costs $795 and offered 100,000 points after $6,000. Reserve adds a $300 travel credit, up to $300 in dining credits, up to $500 for The Edit hotel stays and lounge access. Choose Reserve only if you’ll use those.
Last updated Rates checked Nov 10, 2026
Key facts at a glance
| Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card | Chase Sapphire Reserve | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $95 annual fee as of Nov 10, 2026 | $795 annual fee; $195 per authorized user as of Nov 10, 2026 |
| Welcome bonus | 75,000 points after $5,000 in purchases in the first 3 months as of Nov 10, 2026 | 100,000 points after $6,000 in purchases in the first 3 months as of Nov 10, 2026 |
| Chase Travel | 5x | 8x |
| Flights and hotels booked direct | 2x (other travel) | 4x |
| Dining | 3x | 3x |
We read both Chase card pages and their pricing and terms pages on Nov 10, 2026. We don’t assign a dollar value to Chase points. Links go directly to Chase with no affiliate tracking.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card vs Chase Sapphire Reserve: side-by-side
| Sapphire Preferred | Sapphire Reserve | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $95 annual fee as of Nov 10, 2026 | $795 annual fee; $195 per authorized user as of Nov 10, 2026 |
| Welcome bonus | 75,000 points after $5,000 in purchases in the first 3 months as of Nov 10, 2026 | 100,000 points after $6,000 in purchases in the first 3 months as of Nov 10, 2026 |
| Chase Travel | 5x | 8x |
| Flights and hotels booked direct | 2x (other travel) | 4x |
| Dining | 3x | 3x |
| Other categories | 3x gas, EV charging, select streaming, online grocery (exclusions apply) | Not listed |
| Everything else | 1x | 1x |
| Main credits | Up to $100 a year for hotels via Chase Travel | $300 travel credit; up to $300 dining credit ($150 per half-year); up to $500 for The Edit stays ($250 per booking) |
| Airport lounges | Not listed | Chase Sapphire Lounges and 1,300+ Priority Pass lounges, up to two guests |
| Global Entry/TSA PreCheck/NEXUS credit | Up to $120 every four years | Up to $120 every four years |
| Purchase APR | 19.49%–27.74% APR (variable) as of Nov 10, 2026 | 19.74%–28.24% APR (variable) as of Nov 10, 2026 |
| Foreign transaction fee | No foreign transaction fee as of Nov 10, 2026 | No foreign transaction fee as of Nov 10, 2026 |
What are the pros and cons?
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: pros
- $95 annual fee
- 3x on dining, gas, streaming and online grocery
- Low bar for the bonus ($5,000)
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: cons
- No lounge access
- Lower Chase Travel earn rate
Chase Sapphire Reserve: pros
- 8x on Chase Travel; 4x on flights and hotels booked direct
- $300 travel credit plus dining and hotel credits
- Lounge access with guests
Chase Sapphire Reserve: cons
- $795 annual fee plus $195 per authorized user
- Several credits come in half-year or per-booking pieces
- Higher bonus spend ($6,000)
Which should you choose: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or Chase Sapphire Reserve?
Subtract only the credits you’re sure to use from Reserve’s $795. If the $300 travel credit is all you’d use, Reserve effectively costs $495, still $400 more than Preferred, and needs lounge visits or heavy travel spending to justify it. If you’d use the travel, dining and The Edit credits in full, Reserve can come out ahead.
Choose Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card if…
- You want a travel card at a modest fee
- Much of your spending is dining, gas, streaming or online groceries
Choose Chase Sapphire Reserve if…
- You’ll use the $300 travel credit and the dining and hotel credits
- You fly often and want lounge access for you and guests
Who should skip this
- You carry a balance. Both APRs are 19% or more; see 0% APR cards.
- You rarely travel. A cash back card may return more.
Frequently asked questions
How much more does Reserve cost?
Which has the bigger bonus?
Do both waive foreign transaction fees?
Can I have both cards?
Do you earn money if I apply?
Sources
Every source below was opened and read for this page (rates last checked Nov 10, 2026). Providers’ own pages are labeled with the provider’s name; regulator pages are labeled with the agency. Rates and terms change often, so confirm on the provider’s site before you apply.
- Chase: Sapphire Preferred card page (creditcards.chase.com, checked Nov 10, 2026)
- Chase: Sapphire Preferred pricing & terms (sites.chase.com, checked Nov 10, 2026)
- Chase: Sapphire Reserve card page (creditcards.chase.com, checked Nov 10, 2026)
- Chase: Sapphire Reserve pricing & terms (sites.chase.com, checked Nov 10, 2026)
Related
Chase Sapphire Preferred vs. Capital One Venture
Both cards cost $95 a year and offered 75,000-point or -mile bonuses on Nov 10, 2026. The difference is how you earn: Sapphire Preferred rewards categories, Venture pays 2X on everything.
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Travel cards earn points or miles instead of cash, and most charge an annual fee. We read each issuer’s page on Nov 10, 2026 and list the bonus, fee, earn rates and credits exactly as published.