Chase Sapphire Preferred vs. Amex Gold

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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!

Sapphire Preferred vs. Amex Gold Overview

Best Starter Travel Card
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
  • bonus_miles_full
  • 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

Click Here to Learn How to Apply

Welcome Bonus

The Chase Sapphire Preferred currently offers the following welcome bonus:

bonus_miles_full

The Amex Gold currently offers the following welcome bonus:

bonus_miles_full

Winner: It’s a tie.

Both cards have similar welcome bonuses and spending requirements.

Chase Sapphire Preferred vs Amex Gold Card

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:

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 Chase 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. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.)

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 Amex 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 Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card 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.

Chase Ultimate Rewards Transfer Partners [1 to 1]
Aer Lingus Aer Lingus Air Canada Air Canada Aeroplan
British Airways British Airways Emirates logo Emirates
Air France Air France/KLM World of Hyatt Hyatt Hotels
Iberia logo Iberia IHG Hotels IHG Hotels
JetBlue JetBlue Marriott Hotels Marriott
Singapore Airlines Singapore Southwest Airlines Southwest
United Airlines logo United Virgin Atlantic logo Virgin Atlantic

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.

American Express Logo Membership Rewards Transfer Partners [1 to 1]
Aer Lingus Aer Lingus Avios AEROMEXICO LOGO AeroMexico [1 to 1.6]
Air Canada Air Canada Aeroplan Air France Air France/KLM Flying Blue
ANA ANA Avianca Avianca LifeMiles
British Airways British Airways Avios Cathay Pacific Cathay Pacific Asia Miles
Delta Air Lines Delta SkyMiles El Al El Al [1,000 to 20]
Emirates logo Emirates Etihad Etihad Guest
Hawaiian Airlines logo Hawaiian Airlines Iberia logo Iberia Avios
JetBlue JetBlue [250 to 200] Qantas Logo Qantas
Singapore Airlines Singapore KrisFlyer Virgin Atlantic logo Virgin Atlantic
Choice Logo Choice Hilton Hotels Hilton Honors [1 to 2]
Marriott Hotels Marriott Bonvoy

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.

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