The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and American Express® Gold Card are two popular options that many people consider. While both credit cards offer solid rewards and benefits, some key differences set them apart.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred is a versatile card that’s perfect for frequent travelers and general spenders. With benefits like travel insurance, bonus points on travel, streaming, and grocery purchases, it’s no wonder this card has become a favorite among many.
On the other hand, the American Express Gold Card also comes with a few travel benefits of its own, but it mainly caters to foodies, offering higher bonus points on dining and groceries. It’s a great option for those who love to indulge in dining out and cooking at home.
In this blog, we’ll explore the Chase Sapphire Preferred and American Express Gold Card in-depth, comparing their rewards, benefits, fees, and more. By the end, you’ll have a better understanding of which card might be the right fit for you. Let’s dive in!
Full Reviews: Chase Sapphire Preferred and American Express Gold
Sapphire Preferred vs. Amex Gold Overview
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- 5x Points on Travel Booked Via Chase
- 3x Points on Dining and Eligible Delivery Services
- 2x Points on All Other Travel Purchases
- 10% Anniversary Points Boost
- Trip Delay and Trip Cancellation Insurance
- Primary Rental Car Insurance
- $95 Annual Fee
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- 4x Points at U.S. Supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1 point per dollar)
- 4x Points at Restaurants (including takeout and delivery in the U.S.).
- Up to $120 Uber Cash Credit (Add your Gold Card to your Uber account, and each month automatically get $10 in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S.)
- $120 Dining Credit (up to $10 in monthly statement credits at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Milk Bar, & select Shake Shacks)
- $250 Annual Fee (Rates and Fees)
Welcome Bonus
The Chase Sapphire Preferred currently offers the following welcome bonus:
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The Amex Gold currently offers the following welcome bonus:
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Winner: It’s a tie.
Both cards have similar welcome bonuses and spending requirements.
Earning Points
The Chase Sapphire Preferred earns Ultimate Rewards points and offers bonus points on spending in several categories:
- 5 points per dollar on travel booked through the Chase travel portal;
- 5 points per dollar on Lyft purchases (through March 2025);
- 5 points per dollar on Peloton equipment and accessory purchases of $250 or more (through March 2025, with a limit of 25,000 bonus points);
- 3 points per dollar on dining, including eligible delivery services, takeout, and dining out;
- 3 points per dollar on online grocery store purchases (excludes Target, Walmart, and wholesale clubs);
- 3 points per dollar on select streaming services, including Netflix, Disney+, Spotify, Youtube TV, Pandora, Apple Music, SiriusXM, Sling, Vudu, Fubo TV, Hulu, and ESPN+;
- 2 points per dollar on all travel not booked through the Chase travel portal; and
- 1 point per dollar on all other eligible spending.
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The Amex Gold earns Membership Rewards points and offers some very nice points multipliers to help you earn a lot of points:
- 4 points per dollar on dining at restaurants (including takeout and food delivery in the U.S.).
- 4 points per dollar on up to $25,000 in purchases at U.S. supermarkets per calendar year (then 1 point per dollar).
- 3 points per dollar on flights booked directly from the airline or through the Amex Travel.
- 1 point per dollar on all other eligible purchases.
Winner: Amex Gold.
Although the Sapphire Preferred offers points in more categories, it’s very hard to beat 4x points at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets.
Card Benefits
The Sapphire Preferred offers nice benefits, including:
- Receive 25% more value on points redeemed for travel through the Chase Ultimate Rewards® portal.
- $50 annual credit on hotel stays purchased through Ultimate Rewards.
- 10% Points Bonus for each Cardmember anniversary.
- A complimentary one-year subscription to DashPass by DoorDash when you enroll by December 31, 2024.
- Trip cancellation and interruption insurance (up to $10,000 per person and $20,000 per trip).
- Primary car rental insurance.
- Lost luggage reimbursement (up to $3,000 per passenger)
- Baggage delay insurance (up to $100 per day for five days).
- Trip delay insurance (up to $500 per ticket for a delay longer than 12 hours or overnight).
- Extended warranty.
- 120 days purchase protection (up to $500 per claim and $50,000 per year).
- No foreign transaction fees.
- Free 6-month membership to Instacart+ (activate by July 31, 2024).
The American Express Gold Card offers the following benefits for its cardholders:
- Up to $120 annual dining statement credit: Earn up to $10 in monthly statement credits when you pay with the Amex Gold Card at participating dining partners, including Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Milk Bar, and select Shake Shack locations. Enrollment is required.
- Up to $120 in annual Uber Cash: Earn up to $10 in Uber Cash monthly for Uber Eats and Uber rides in the U.S. when you enroll and add the card to the Uber app.
- Up to $100 in hotel credits: Cardmembers who use their card to book a stay of two nights or more through Amex’s The Hotel Collection receive a $100 on-site credit for qualifying activities.
- Trip delay insurance ($300 for a delay of more than 12 hours)*
- Lost luggage reimbursement*
- No foreign transaction fees
- Secondary rental car insurance*
- Return protection*
- Purchase protection*
- Extended warranty
* Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions, and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details.
Winner: It depends.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred offers better travel protections than the Amex Gold, plus one year of DashPass.
But the Amex Gold offers up to $240 monthly credits to offset its annual fee.
Annual Fee
The Chase Sapphire Preferred comes with an annual fee of $95.
While some users might be initially deterred by this cost, it’s important to consider the value and benefits that come with the card.
The rewards points, travel benefits, and purchase protections can help offset the cost of the annual fee for frequent travelers.
The American Express Gold has a $250 annual fee (rates and fees), which is offset by the $240 in credits, trip and purchase protections, and extra points on dining, flights, and U.S. supermarkets.
Winner: Chase Sapphire Preferred
The Sapphire Preferred has a much lower annual fee, making it a more affordable choice for those who are looking to maximize their rewards while keeping costs low.
Redeeming Points
The earns Ultimate Rewards points, one of the most flexible points currencies.
You can use your points to book flights, hotel stays, and even rent a car through Chase Travel — all at a fixed rate of 1.25 cents per point. For example, 100,000 points are equivalent to $1,250 towards travel.
You can unlock even more value than 1.25 cents per point by transferring rewards to Chase airline and hotel partners.
Ultimate Rewards Transfer Partners [1 to 1]
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Aer Lingus
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Air Canada Aeroplan
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British Airways
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Emirates
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Air France/KLM
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Hyatt Hotels
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Iberia
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IHG Hotels
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JetBlue
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Marriott
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Singapore
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Southwest
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United
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Virgin Atlantic
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The American Express Gold Card earns Membership Rewards points.
American Express Membership Rewards is a popular rewards program that offers a variety of redemption options, including travel, merchandise, gift cards, and more.
However, to get the most value out of your rewards, it’s important to use them strategically.
One of the best ways to use Amex Membership Rewards is through transfer partners.
The program partners with over 20 airline and hotel partners, including ANA, Air Canada Aeroplan, Iberia Avios, and Avianca LifeMiles.
By transferring your points to these partners, you can often get more value per point and enjoy a wider range of redemption options.
Membership Rewards Transfer Partners [1 to 1]
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Aer Lingus Avios
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AeroMexico [1 to 1.6]
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Air Canada Aeroplan
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Air France/KLM Flying Blue
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ANA
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Avianca LifeMiles
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British Airways Avios
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Cathay Pacific Asia Miles
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Delta SkyMiles
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El Al [1,000 to 20]
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Emirates
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Etihad Guest
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Hawaiian Airlines
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Iberia Avios
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JetBlue [250 to 200]
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Qantas
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Qatar Airways
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Singapore KrisFlyer
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Virgin Atlantic
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Choice
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Marriott Bonvoy
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Hilton Honors [1 to 2]
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Winner: American Express Gold Card.
Both Ultimate Rewards and Membership Rewards offer nice transfer options, but I love Amex’s ability to transfer to ANA, which offers great value in business class for Star Alliance airlines.
However, if you are looking to redeem points for hotels, Chase Ultimate Rewards is the best option by transferring points to World of Hyatt.
The Verdict
Both the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and American Express® Gold Card offer unique advantages that cater to different types of spenders.
Overall, if you spend a lot on dining and groceries and can take advantage of the Amex Gold’s credits, it may be the better option for you.
However, if you prioritize travel and want more flexibility with your rewards, the Chase Sapphire Preferred may be the better choice.
For rates and fees of the American Express® Gold Card, please click here.
