Choosing between the American Express® Gold Card and Chase Sapphire Reserve® is not a simple task, as both offer compelling rewards programs and features.
The Amex Gold is a great card for earning points at restaurants, U.S. supermarkets, and flights booked directly with airlines. Cardholders can also enjoy up to $424 in annual credits and nice travel and purchase protections..
The Chase Sapphire Reserve offers premium travel benefits including lounge access, hotel elite status, and multiple statement credits that can offset its $795 annual fee. With bonus earnings on travel and dining purchases plus the ability to transfer points to 14 airline and hotel partners, this card delivers strong value for frequent travelers who can maximize its benefits.
This article will compare each card based on several factors to help you make an informed decision on which card is the best to add to your wallet.
Table of Contents
Overview of Sapphire Reserve vs Amex Gold
- bonus_miles_full
- $300 Annual Travel Credit
- 4x points on Flights and Hotels booked direct.
- Priority Pass Airport Lounge Access
- Trip Delay and Trip Cancellation Insurance
- Primary Rental Car Insurance
- $795 Annual Fee
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- 4x Points at U.S. Supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year, then 1x points)
- 4x Points at Restaurants Worldwide (up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1x points)
- Up to $424 in Annual Credits
- $325 Annual Fee (Rates and Fees)
Welcome Bonus
Chase Sapphire Reserve:
The Chase Sapphire Reserve currently offers the following welcome bonus:
bonus_miles_full
Amex Gold:
The Amex Gold currently offers the following welcome bonus:
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
Welcome Bonus Eligibility
You may not be eligible to receive a welcome offer on the American Express Gold card if you have or have had:
- American Express Gold
- American Express Platinum Card®
- The Platinum Card from American Express Exclusively for Morgan Stanley
- Platinum Card® from American Express for Charles Schwab
- Previous versions of the above cards.
Earning Points
Chase Sapphire Reserve:
The Chase Sapphire Reserve is a powerhouse when it comes to earning rewards points, particularly in the travel and dining categories. Here’s a breakdown of the bonus points you can earn:
- 10x points on Peloton equipment and accessory purchases of $150 or more (through December 31, 2027, maximum 50,000 points).
- 8x points on all purchases through Chase Travel, including The Edit.
- 5x points on Lyft rides (through September 30, 2027).
- 4x points on flights and hotels booked directly.
- 3x points on dining worldwide.
- 1x point on all other purchases.
Amex Gold:
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 worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year (then 1x points).
- 4 points per dollar U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 per calendar year (then 1x points).
- 3 points per dollar on flights booked directly from the airline or booked on AmexTravel.com.
- 2 points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- 1 point per dollar on all other eligible purchases.
Winner:
It depends. Each card has different rewards categories that caters to different spenders. Travelers should use the Sapphire Reserve for maximum points on travel, while foodies should opt for the Amex Gold.
Card Benefits
Chase Sapphire Reserve:
The Chase Sapphire Reserve offers the following benefits:
Annual Credits: The Chase Sapphire Reserve offers up to $300 in automatic statement credits for travel purchases each year. This credit applies to a wide range of travel expenses including flights, hotels, rideshares, parking, and more, making it incredibly easy to use without any registration required.
Hotel Credits: You can earn up to $500 annually in hotel booking credits when you book through The Edit by Chase Travel. These credits are distributed as $250 every six months and require minimum two-night stays with pay-now bookings at luxury properties.
Dining Credits: The card provides up to $300 yearly in dining statement credits at select restaurants in major cities. You receive $150 credits twice per year, though the participating restaurant list is limited to specific establishments in key metropolitan areas.
Entertainment Credits: You’ll get up to $300 in annual credits for concert and event tickets through StubHub and Viagogo. The credits are split into $150 amounts every six months, making it easy to cover entertainment expenses for shows and sporting events.
DoorDash Benefits: Cardholders receive up to $300 in annual DoorDash credits plus a complimentary DashPass membership worth up to $120 per year. The monthly credits include $5 for restaurant orders and two $10 credits for groceries and retail purchases.
Apple Services: You can get complimentary Apple TV+ and Apple Music subscriptions valued at up to $250 annually. This benefit covers both streaming services and remains active through June 2027 with proper activation.
Lyft Credits: The card offers up to $120 in annual Lyft credits distributed as $10 monthly credits. These credits apply to various ride types, including Standard, Extra Comfort, XL, Black, and Black SUV options.
Lounge Access: Cardholders enjoy Priority Pass membership with access to over 1,700 lounges worldwide, plus two complimentary guests per visit. You’ll also get unlimited access to Chase Sapphire Lounges and select Air Canada Maple Leaf lounges when flying Star Alliance airlines.
IHG Status: You automatically receive IHG One Rewards Platinum elite status through December 2027. This status includes 60% bonus points on stays, complimentary room upgrades when available, early check-in, and late checkout privileges.
Enhanced Benefits: After spending $75,000 annually, you unlock additional perks including IHG Diamond status, Southwest A-List status, a $500 Southwest flight credit, and $250 in credits for The Shops at Chase marketplace.
Global Entry / TSA PreCheck / Nexus Credit: Receive an application fee credit of up to $120 every four years for either TSA PreCheck (expedited airport security), Global Entry (expedited airport security and customs), or NEXUS (expedited crossing between the US and Canada)for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck®. These trusted traveler programs can save you time and hassle at the airport.
Travel Benefits
No Foreign Transaction Fees: You’ll save money on every purchase while traveling internationally since this card doesn’t add the typical 3% surcharge that many other cards impose.
Trip Delay Insurance: When your trip is significantly delayed due to covered reasons like equipment failures or severe weather, this protection reimburses you for reasonable expenses including lodging, meals, toiletries, and medication. The coverage activates when you pay for travel with your card and extends to family members on the same itinerary, though you’ll need to seek reimbursement from the travel carrier first.
Trip Cancellation & Interruption Insurance: This protection reimburses you for non-refundable, prepaid travel expenses if you need to cancel before departure or cut your trip short due to covered situations like severe illness or weather events. Coverage activates when you pay for your trip with the card, but it’s important to note that reimbursement only applies for specific covered reasons rather than any cancellation.
Primary Rental Car Insurance: When you rent a car and pay with this card, you’ll receive comprehensive coverage including damage and theft protection. Simply decline the rental company’s collision damage waiver and charge the entire rental to your card to activate coverage. This insurance covers damage, theft, and valid loss-of-use charges worldwide.
Lost Luggage Reimbursement: Your checked luggage gets extra protection against loss, theft, or damage beyond the basic compensation offered by carriers when you pay for travel with this card.
Baggage Delay Insurance: Missing luggage doesn’t have to derail your trip – this coverage steps in to reimburse you for essential purchases when your checked bags are delayed by airlines, trains, or other carriers. You can grab the necessities you need, from a fresh outfit to personal care items, while waiting for your bags to arrive.
Roadside Dispatch: Get access to 24/7 emergency roadside assistance for situations like dead batteries, flat tires, fuel delivery, and mechanical breakdowns. While you’ll need to pay for the actual service provided, having access to reliable help when stranded can be invaluable.
Purchase Benefits
120-Day Purchase Protection: Get 120 days of protection against damage, theft, and even loss of your purchases – one of the longest windows available. This premium coverage automatically applies when you pay with your card.
Extended Warranty Protection: Your purchases gain an extra year of warranty protection when bought with this card, extending manufacturer warranties of three years or less without the inflated prices of store warranty plans.
Return Protection allows cardholders to receive a refund for purchased items within a certain timeframe for items that merchants may not accept for return.
American Express Gold:
The American Express Gold card offers the following benefits for its cardholders:
$120 Dining 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, and Five Guys. Enrollment is required.
$120 in Uber Cash: Get up to $10 monthly Uber Cash for U.S. Uber Eats orders and rides when you add your American Express Gold Card as a payment method. Your Uber Cash can be redeemed using any American Express card.
$100 Resy Credit: Get up to $50 semi-annually in statement credits after you pay with the Amex Gold to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. Enrollment is required.
$84 Dunkin’ Credit: You can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations.
Up to $100 in Hotel Credits: Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. Eligible charges vary by property.
No Foreign Transaction Fees (rates & fees): The Amex Gold’s lack of foreign transaction fees makes it an ideal choice for international purchases, especially considering you can earn 4 points per dollar at global restaurants (on the first $50,000 spent per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar).
Travel and Purchase Benefits
Trip Delay Insurance: When your trip is significantly delayed due to covered reasons like equipment failures or severe weather, this protection reimburses you for reasonable expenses including lodging, meals, toiletries, and medication. The coverage activates when you pay for travel with your card and extends to family members on the same itinerary, though you’ll need to seek reimbursement from the travel carrier first.*
Baggage Insurance Plan covers your baggage if it is lost, damaged, or stolen and you purchase your ticket with this card.*
Secondary Rental Car Insurance: This card provides backup protection for rental car damage or theft when you charge the full rental to your card.*
Extended Warranty Protection: When you purchase items with your credit card, you’ll get an extra year of warranty coverage on eligible items that have original manufacturer warranties of up to five years. This valuable perk means you can protect expensive electronics and appliances that come with longer manufacturer warranties without paying extra for store protection plans*
Return Protection allows cardholders to receive a refund for purchased items within a certain timeframe for items that merchants may not accept for return.*
ShopRunner Membership: As a cardholder, you’ll enjoy a complimentary ShopRunner membership, which provides free 2-day shipping and free returns at over 100 participating online retailers. This benefit can help frequent online shoppers save on shipping costs and streamline the return process.
Amex Offers: As an American Express cardholder, you can access Amex Offers. These targeted, limited-time promotions provide discounts or bonus points on purchases with select merchants. Offers are added to your card, and you’ll receive either a percentage or dollar amount back as a statement credit when you meet the offer terms. While offers vary and may not always align with your spending habits, this perk can be valuable when an offer matches your preferences.
* Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions, and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details.
*(Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/
Winner:
It depends. For frequent travelers, the Sapphire Reserve is a better option because of its Priority Pass airport lounge access and better travel protections.
For less frequent travelers, the Amex Gold’s dining and Uber Cash credits may be more useful.
Annual Fee
Chase Sapphire Reserve:
The Chase Sapphire Reserve carries a hefty $795 annual fee, making it one of the most expensive premium travel cards on the market. However, the card offers numerous benefits that can help offset this cost, including a $300 annual travel credit, up to $500 in hotel credits, $300 in dining credits, $300 in entertainment credits, DoorDash benefits, Apple subscription benefits, and comprehensive lounge access.
If you maximize these perks, you can potentially receive over $2,000 in annual value, making the effective cost much more reasonable for frequent travelers.
American Express Gold:
The American Express Gold has a $325 annual fee (rates and fees), which is offset by up to $424 in annual credits, trip and purchase protections, and extra points on dining, flights, and U.S. supermarkets.
Winner:
This depends on how often you visit airport lounges. The Chase Sapphire Reserve could be a better value for frequent travelers, but its annual credits don’t fully offset its annual fee. The Amex Gold’s annual fee could be fully offset with all of the credits that are offered on the card, but it requires additional work.
Redeeming Points
Chase Sapphire Reserve:
When you’re looking to maximize your Chase Ultimate Rewards points from the Sapphire Reserve, your best strategy is transferring points to Chase’s 14 airline and hotel partners at a 1:1 ratio. This approach consistently delivers the highest value, especially for international flights and premium bookings.
The airline partners span multiple alliances, giving you extensive routing options. You can transfer to British Airways Executive Club for short-haul regional flights, Air Canada Aeroplan for excellent North American and international availability, or Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer for premium Asian routes. Other valuable partners include Air France-KLM Flying Blue, United MileagePlus for domestic travel, Southwest Rapid Rewards for no-blackout flights, Virgin Atlantic Flying Club for competitive transatlantic business class, and Emirates Skywards for their premium Middle East network.
For hotels, you have three solid options. World of Hyatt consistently offers excellent redemption values, especially at luxury properties where cash rates exceed $400-500 per night. IHG One Rewards covers a massive global network with reasonable rates, while Marriott Bonvoy provides the largest hotel portfolio worldwide.
Chase’s travel portal has become less attractive since recent changes. While Chase markets redemptions “up to 2 cents per point,” this enhanced rate only applies to premium airfare and luxury hotels through The Edit collection. For everyday economy flights and standard hotels, you’ll get just 1 cent per point after October 2027 – a significant decrease from the previous consistent 1.5 cents per point.
The enhanced portal rates primarily benefit high-spending travelers booking expensive premium cabins and luxury properties, making partner transfers the smarter choice for most people.
Ultimate Rewards Transfer Partners [1 to 1]
|
||
|---|---|---|
Aer Lingus
|
Air Canada Aeroplan
|
|
Air France/KLM
|
British Airways
|
|
Emirates
|
Hyatt Hotels
|
|
Iberia
|
IHG Hotels
|
|
JetBlue
|
Marriott
|
|
Singapore
|
Southwest
|
|
United
|
Virgin Atlantic
|
|
Amex Gold:
American Express Membership Rewards points are a versatile and valuable currency for travelers. The program offers numerous redemption options, with transfers to airline partners being the most lucrative way to use your points.
Amex partners with 18 airlines and 3 hotel chains, allowing you to access a wide range of travel possibilities. Some of the best redemptions include booking business class flights to Europe through Air France-KLM Flying Blue for as low as 50,000 miles one-way. Virgin Atlantic’s Flying Club offers excellent value for Delta One flights to Europe at 50,000 points, significantly less than booking directly through Delta.
For those planning a trip to Asia, transferring to ANA Mileage Club can yield incredible value. Round-trip business class flights from the West Coast to Tokyo can be booked for just 90,000 miles. Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer is another great option, especially for their renowned long-haul flights like New York to Singapore.
Domestic travelers can benefit from transferring to British Airways Executive Club for short-haul American and Alaska Airlines flights, with awards starting at just 8,250 Avios for distances up to 650 miles.
While transferring to airline partners typically offers the best value, Amex also allows direct redemptions for flights through their travel portal. However, this option generally provides lower value at 1 cent per point.
To maximize your Membership Rewards, focus on high-value airline transfers for premium cabin international flights. With strategic planning, you can unlock extraordinary travel experiences and significant savings on your next adventure.
Membership Rewards Transfer Partners [1 to 1]
|
|
|---|---|
|
Aer Lingus Avios
|
AeroMexico [1 to 1.6]
|
|
Air Canada Aeroplan
|
Air France/KLM Flying Blue
|
ANA
|
Avianca LifeMiles
|
|
British Airways Avios
|
Cathay Pacific Asia Miles
|
Delta SkyMiles
|
El Al [1,000 to 20]
|
|
Emirates
|
Etihad Guest
|
Hawaiian Airlines
|
Iberia Avios
|
|
JetBlue [250 to 200]
|
Qantas
|
Qatar Airways
|
Singapore KrisFlyer
|
|
Virgin Atlantic
|
Choice
|
|
Marriott Bonvoy
|
Hilton Honors [1 to 2]
|
Winner:
Tie. The Sapphire Reserve is a better option if you want to redeem points for travel at 1.5 cents per point and Chase Ultimate Rewards offers better options for using points for hotels via World of Hyatt.
American Express Membership Rewards has higher valued airline partners like ANA and Avianca LifeMiles as transfer options.
The Verdict
Both the Amex Gold and Chase Sapphire Reserve are great options to add to your wallet and could complement each other, with the Sapphire Reserve for travel benefits and the Amex Gold for restaurants and U.S. supermarkets.
If you have to pick one, I would recommend the Sapphire Reserve for frequent travelers and the Amex Gold for people who spend a lot of money at restaurants and supermarkets.
Which card are you going to choose?
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- 4x Points at U.S. Supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year, then 1x points)
- 4x Points at Restaurants Worldwide (up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1x points)
- Up to $424 in Annual Credits
- $325 Annual Fee (Rates and Fees)
- bonus_miles_full
- $300 Annual Travel Credit
- 4x points on Flights and Hotels booked direct.
- Priority Pass Airport Lounge Access
- Trip Delay and Trip Cancellation Insurance
- Primary Rental Car Insurance
- $795 Annual Fee
