Both the Chase Sapphire Preferred(R) Card and the Chase Sapphire Reserve(R) are favorites of travel rewards enthusiasts and for good reason as the cards have a long list of attributes designed to appeal to those on the go. Both cards earn elevated rewards on travel and dining as well as a slew of travel and purchase protections, but the difference between what the two offers is reflected in their annual fees. The Chase Sapphire Preferred(R) Card comes with a annual_fees annual fee and the premium Chase Sapphire Reserve(R) has a annual_fees annual fee, but each card comes with perks that can make their annual price tags well worth the cost. Here’s what you’ll get with each one.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® benefits
Those who spend a fair chunk of their budget on dining and travel will appreciate the Sapphire Preferred’s generous rewards rate of five points per dollar spent on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠; three points on dining (including takeout and delivery), select streaming purchases and online grocery store purchases (excluding Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs); two points per dollar on travel; and one point per dollar on everything else. But beyond the rewards rate, here’s what else the card offers:
- No foreign transaction fees. You won’t pay any additional surcharges when spending internationally.
- A $50 hotel credit. This credit is valid each year for stays booked through Chase Travel.
- A signup_reward bonus points welcome offer. New cardholders can earn signup_reward bonus points after you spend signup_bonus_spend_amount on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
- A 25% boost to your points value for travel bookings. Use your rewards to book travel through Chase Travel and each point will be worth 25% more.
- Rewards can be transferred to Chase’s travel partners. You can make a 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs including British Airways Executive Club, Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards, Marriott Rewards, and World of Hyatt.
- Primary auto rental insurance. Decline the rental company’s collision insurance and charge the entire rental cost to your card and receive primary coverage for most rental cars in the U.S. and abroad.
- Trip protections. Trips paid for with the card receive trip cancellation and interruption insurance up to $10,000 per person and $20,000 per trip for prepaid, non-refundable travel expenses, trip delay reimbursement if your common carrier is delayed 12 hours or more up to $500 per person, and access to travel and emergency assistance services.
- Baggage protections. The card offers baggage delay insurance of up to $100 per day if your baggage is delayed six hours or more, and lost luggage reimbursement if your luggage is lost or damaged up to $3,000 per person.
- Purchase protections. Your new purchases are covered for 120 days against damage or theft up to $500 per claim and $50,000 per account. Plus, eligible items with warranties of three years or less can have the manufacturer’s warranty extended up to an additional year.
- DoorDash subscription. Get complimentary access to DashPass, which includes membership for both DoorDash and Caviar, for a minimum of one year when you activate by Dec. 31, 2027.
- Bonus rewards with Lyft. Earn a total of five points per $1 on Lyft rides through September 2027. You’ll earn three bonus points in addition to the two points per dollar you already earn on travel.
- Bonus rewards with Peloton. Earn five points per dollar on Peloton equipment and accessory purchases over $150 with a max earn of 25,000 total points now through Dec. 31, 2027.
Chase Sapphire Reserve(R) benefits
As a premium credit card, the Chase Sapphire Reserve(R) comes with many of the same benefits as the Chase Sapphire Preferred(R) Card, plus some valuable extras. The Chase Sapphire Reserve(R) earns higher rewards of 8X points per dollar on Chase Travel purchases, 4X points on flights and hotels booked direct, 3X points on dining worldwide, and 1X point on all other purchases. Cardholders also recieve a $300 annual travel credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
Here’s what else it offers:
- $300 annual travel credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year
- $500 annual credit for The Edit– a Chase Travel℠ collection of over 1,100 hand-picked hotels and resorts (split into two $250 biannual credits)
- $300 annual dining credit and primetime reservations at Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables (split into two $150 biannual credits)
- Points Boost redemption program, which lets users redeem points for 2X for select flights and hotel stays
- Complimentary IHG One Rewards Platinum Elite Status
- $120 Global Entry, TSA Precheck or Nexus credit every four years
- Access to the Chase Sapphire Lounge by The Club network of airport lounges
- Priority Pass Select airport lounge membership
- Complimentary access to Reserve Travel Designers for help with travel planning
- $250 in credits annually for subscriptions to Apple TV+ and Apple Music
- $300 annual StubHub credit (split into two $150 biannual credits; activation required)
- $120 in annual Lyft in-app credits, up to $10 monthly, plus 5x total points on eligible Lyft rides
- $300 annually in monthly DoorDash promos and complimentary DashPass membership
- Up to $120 in annual statement credits toward Peloton memberships
- Comprehensive travel insurance benefits
Several other cardholder benefits can be unlocked with $75,000 in annual spending on the card, including:
- IHG One Rewards Diamond Elite Status
- Southwest Airlines® A-List Status
- $500 Southwest Airlines credit when booked through Chase Travel
- $250 credit to The Shops at Chase
Comparing Chase Sapphire Reserve(R) vs. Chase Sapphire Preferred®
When comparing the two cards it’s easy to see that both the Chase Sapphire Reserve(R) and the Chase Sapphire Preferred(R) Card have a lot to offer travelers. Both cards earn strong rewards on travel and dining and come with some of the most robust travel protections and insurance you’ll find on any travel credit card, including primary rental car insurance, a rarity on a card with a sub-$100 price point. Plus, both cards transfer at a 1:1 rate to a long list of travel transfer partners, which can be an excellent way to maximize the value of your rewards.
But in exchange for a much higher annual fee, the Sapphire Reserve® comes with several additional benefits you won’t find on the Sapphire Preferred® including airport lounge access, a $300 annual travel credit, a trusted traveler credit, special car rental privileges and some additional coverages including roadside assistance and emergency medical and dental coverage, and more. There are additional ancillary benefits too that could also add up to some savings, particularly those who can take advantage of the the numerous annual credits.
Choosing the right card for you
Choosing which one of these two cards is right for you will come down to travel habits and personal preference. Those who travel frequently enough to make the most out of the $300 annual travel credit, airport lounge access, trusted traveler credit, and numerous other credits will likely find that the Sapphire Reserve’s annual fee is worth it, since those benefits can effectively reduce the cost of owning the card. But those who only travel occasionally or who don’t care about lounge access will likely fare best with the Sapphire Preferred® card and its significantly lower annual fee.
➤ SEE MORE:Is the Chase Sapphire Reserve® annual fee worth it?
Frequently asked questions
Do the Chase Sapphire Cards have foreign transaction fees?
Neither the Chase Sapphire Preferred(R) Card nor the Chase Sapphire Reserve(R) have foreign transaction fees so you can use either one for international spending without incurring a surcharge.
What is the annual fee for Chase Sapphire Preferred(R) Card and Reserve®?
The Chase Sapphire Preferred(R) Card has a $95 annual fee and the Chase Sapphire Reserve(R) has a annual_fees annual fee.
Can I combine the Ultimate Rewards points I’ve earned from both the Sapphire Preferred® and Sapphire Reserve® cards?
Ultimate Rewards can be pooled between cards, so if you own another Ultimate Rewards-earning card like the Chase Freedom Flex(SM) or Chase Freedom Unlimited(R) all of your earnings can be pooled into one account.
Can you have a Chase Sapphire Preferred(R) Card and a Reserve®?
No, you cannot be the primary account holder for the Chase Sapphire Preferred(R) Card and the Chase Sapphire Reserve(R) card at the same time. The card terms for each state that if you currently hold one of the cards, you aren’t eligible for to be the primary account holder of another Sapphire card even if it’s a different type of Sapphire account.
