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If you’re planning a big vacation or trip, it’s a smart idea to sign up for a travel rewards credit card. You’ll earn valuable rewards and even get access to benefits like complimentary rental car insurance and baggage coverage. But with so many credit cards out there, finding the right one for you can be overwhelming.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is one of the most popular travel rewards cards available now. Because it offers 5X points on Lyft rides and travel booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards; 3X points on eligible dining, select streaming services, and online grocery purchases; 2X points on travel; and 1X points per $1 on all other eligible purchases and a large sign-up bonus, it’s a great card for regular travelers.
In this Chase Sapphire Preferred review, you'll find out how the card works, what benefits you can expect, and how to make the most out of one of the most recommended rewards cards in the world.
Our #1 Travel Card
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Current Offer
Earn 60,000 points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months
Annual Fee
$95
Rewards Rate
5X points on Lyft rides and travel booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards; 3X points on eligible dining, select streaming services, and online grocery purchases; 2X points on travel; and 1X points per $1 on all other eligible purchases
Benefits
- Earn 60,000 points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months
- 5X points on Lyft rides and travel booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards
- 25% more value when redeeming rewards for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards
- 10% anniversary point bonus each year
- $50 annual credit on hotel stays booked through Ultimate Rewards
- Premium travel protection benefits
Drawbacks
- Has annual fee
- Typically need to spend thousands to reap rewards
- Earn 60,000 points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months
- 5X points on Lyft rides and travel booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards; 3X points on eligible dining, select streaming services, and online grocery purchases; 2X points on travel; and 1X points per $1 on all other eligible purchases
Who should get the Chase Sapphire Preferred?
The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card is perfect for you if you travel at least a couple of times per year and enjoy spending on travel purchases, eating out, online grocery orders, and streaming services. To qualify for the card, you’ll need a credit score that is good to excellent. With that in mind, it may not be the best choice for those just starting out and who have limited credit histories.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred does have an annual fee of $95, so consider your spending habits before signing up. As with any rewards card, you'll want to make sure the rewards are valuable enough to justify the annual fee. For instance, if you don't spend much annually on travel, dining, online groceries, or streaming services, it may be more challenging to earn the rewards you'd need to offset the annual fee. In that case, opting for one of the best no annual fee credit cards would make more sense for you.
Card Basics
| Card type | Travel |
| Card issuer | Chase |
| Credit card network | Visa |
| Annual fee | $95 |
| Intro bonus | Earn 60,000 points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months |
| Reward rate | 5X points on Lyft rides and travel booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards; 3X points on eligible dining, select streaming services, and online grocery purchases; 2X points on travel; and 1X points per $1 on all other eligible purchases |
| Recommended credit score | Excellent, Good |
| Foreign transaction fee | None |
Chase Sapphire Preferred benefits and perks
The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card offers several valuable card benefits and perks, including:
- A killer sign-up bonus: You can earn 60,000 points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months. Redeem those points through the Chase Ultimate Rewards program, and that bonus is worth $750.
- Amazing earnings: With this card, you'll earn 5X points on Lyft rides and travel booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards; 3X points on eligible dining, select streaming services, and online grocery purchases; 2X points on travel; and 1X points per $1 on all other eligible purchases.
- Additional points value: Your points are worth 25% more when redeemed for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards.
- Statement credit for hotel stays: Enjoy up to $50 in statement credits each account anniversary year for hotel stays purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards. This by itself can help offset the annual fee.
- Account anniversary bonus: Each account anniversary, earn bonus points equal to 10% of your total purchases from the previous year. For example, if you spend $25,000 on purchases the previous year, you'll receive 2,500 bonus points on your account anniversary.
- Points for sharing with friends: If you refer a friend and they’re approved for the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, you’ll earn 20,000 bonus points. You can get up to 100,000 bonus points a year through referrals.
- Valuable travel benefits: The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card offers complimentary insurance coverage, such as trip delay reimbursement, baggage delay insurance, trip cancellation insurance, trip interruption insurance, and primary auto rental collision damage waivers.
- Shopping protections: With the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, eligible purchases are covered for up to 120 days from damage or theft, and eligible purchases will have their warranties extended by up to one year.
- Access to unique experiences: As a cardholder, you qualify for the Chase Preferred Experience, a program that gives you access to exclusive Chase Sapphire events and experiences, such as concerts or restaurant tastings.
- No foreign transaction fees: The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card has no foreign transaction fees, making it a great choice for international travelers. And, because it’s a Visa, it’s more likely to be accepted by retailers than other card networks.
- DoorDash benefits: As a cardholder, you'll have to ability to opt in to free DashPass subscription benefits. With DashPass, you'll pay zero delivery fees and reduced service fees on eligible orders over $12. A DashPass subscription normally costs $9.99 per month.
- Instacart benefits: Receive six free months of Instacart+ and $15 per quarter in statement credits toward Instacart purchases. You must join Instacart+ with your eligible card to receive these benefits.
Drawbacks of this card
- Annual fee: The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card does have an annual fee. While the benefits and perks can offset this cost for many people, the fee may make it less desirable for some. If you would like to earn Chase Rewards without the annual fee consider the Chase Freedom Unlimited® card. You can compare the Chase Freedom Unlimited® vs. Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and see which better fits your spending habits.
- Requires spending to be worthwhile: For the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card to be most beneficial, you'll need to be someone who spends a few thousand dollars per year on dining purchases and travel expenses.
- No premium benefits: If you're looking for high-end travel benefits — such as Priority Pass lounge access, TSA PreCheck/Global Entry fee reimbursement, or an annual travel credit — then a card like The Platinum Card® from American Express would be a better fit for you. You can weigh the luxury travel benefits against the higher annual fee of the Amex Platinum vs. Chase Sapphire Preferred cards and see which better fits your needs.
Earning & redeeming Chase Ultimate Rewards points
The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card offers significant value with its rewards. By using the card strategically, you can maximize its value.
Potential earnings in years one and two
Here's a look how your Ultimate Rewards points can add up with the Chase Sapphire Preferred. To calculate these values, we used a point valuation of 1.25 based on the value you can get for your rewards by booking travel through the Chase travel portal.
Remember, this is an estimation. The actual value will be determined by how much you spend and in which categories you spend.
Year one earnings: $1,413.75
Year two earnings: $663.75
These values are based on the FinanceBuzz Credit Card Rewards Valuation Model which takes a look at points earned via spending, the sign-up bonus, and the annual fee. The spending bonuses factored into the final values assume the average cardmember isn't going to make all their grocery purchases online, but that they could turn the majority of their travel spending to the Chase travel portal because of the increased earning rate. The value of this card will be even further increased if you take advantage of the DoorDash benefits.
Best ways to earn
| Category | Rewards Rate |
| Lyft rides and travel booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards |
5X |
| Eligible dining, delivery, takeout, select streaming services, and online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart, and wholesale clubs) | 3X |
| Travel (not booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards) | 2X |
| All other eligible purchases | 1X |
When using your Chase Sapphire Preferred Card, you’ll earn 2X points on travel (not booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards) and 3X points on eligible dining, delivery, takeout, select streaming services, and online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart, and wholesale clubs). Dining out can include restaurants, fast food, and even delivery services. The travel category includes some expenses you might not consider, such as:
- Airfare
- Hotels
- Car rentals
- Taxis
- Toll roads
- Parking garages
- Travel agencies
To get the most rewards, use the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card whenever you travel, dine out, order online groceries, or pay for streaming services. However, it likely makes sense to use another credit card to pay for other transactions — such as gas or in-store groceries — that offers more rewards for your purchases.
For example, the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express allows you to earn 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (for first $6,000 per year, after that 1%) and on select U.S. streaming services, 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations and on eligible transit, and 1% cash back on other eligible purchases. (Cash back is received in the form of a statement credit.) Keeping at least two credit cards in your wallet helps you to get the most bang for your buck.
Maximizing your redemptions
| Redemption Method | Value |
| Statement credits | 1 cent |
| Chase Ultimate Rewards | 1.25 cents |
Points are generally worth 1 cent each, but if you redeem through the Chase Ultimate Rewards program, they’re worth 1.25 cents each because you get a 25% bonus. If you’re trying to maximize value, it makes sense to go through the Chase Ultimate Rewards program rather than redeeming points in other ways, such as statement credits. You can book hotel stays, flights, cruises, and even car rentals with the program.
To offset the annual fee when redeeming your points through the Chase Ultimate Rewards program, you’d have to spend at least $1,520 at the 5X-point level, about $2,533 at the 3X-point level, $3,800 at the 2X-point level, and $7,600 at the 1X-point level.
Booking travel through the Chase Ultimate Rewards Program is easy. Just log in to your account and search for the travel arrangements you want to make. You’ll have the option of booking your travel using your accumulated points.
Chase transfer partners
While the Chase Ultimate Rewards program is probably the easiest way to redeem your points, there’s another redemption method that can provide even more value: point transfers. With this approach, you transfer points to a frequent traveler program, such as Marriott Bonvoy or United MileagePlus. Depending on the program and the availability of airfare or hotel stays, you could redeem your points for as much as 1.6 cents each.
Chase has a number of hotel partners and airline partners. Current Chase travel partners include the following airline loyalty programs:
- Aer Lingus AerClub
- Air Canada Aeroplan
- British Airways Executive Club
- Emirates Skywards
- Flying Blue Air France KLM
- Iberia Plus
- JetBlue TrueBlue
- Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer
- Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards
- United MileagePlus
- Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
And the following hotel loyalty programs are also Chase transfer partners:
Chase Sapphire Preferred FAQs
Is the Chase Sapphire Preferred worth it?
If you’re a traveler who spends a decent amount on hotels, airfare, and dining out each year, the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card is well worth the annual fee. It provides substantial rewards and useful travel benefits that will enhance your experience.
If you'd consider yourself a frequent traveler who wants to take it up a notch in terms of benefits, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® may be a better choice for you. Both Chase Sapphire cards offer a serious amount of value if you're able to maximize the perks but one might be a better fit for you than the other. So you'll want to learn about the differences between the Chase Sapphire Preferred vs. Chase Sapphire Reserve.
Alternatively, if you find your budget is more heavily weighted towards spending at supermarkets and gas stations, the Citi Premier® Card offers a wider range of bonus categories that can rack up valuable Citi ThankYou Rewards points quickly. You can see how the Citi Premier vs. Chase Sapphire Preferred cards compare and see which best fits your spending habits.
What is the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card made of?
If you’re looking for a card that stands out, the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card may be for you. Similar to the Chase Sapphire Reserve, it’s a metal card, rather than plastic, which looks impressive and has weight to it.
What does your credit score need to be for a Chase Sapphire Preferred?
To be eligible for the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card, make sure you have good to excellent credit. When you’re ready to apply for the Sapphire Preferred, be prepared to submit your personal information, like your name, address, Social Security number, and income.
Are there limits to how many Ultimate Rewards points I can earn?
No, there are no limits to how many points you can earn. Even if you spend your money exclusively in the travel and dining categories, you’ll continue to earn points.
Do my Chase Ultimate Rewards points expire?
Your Ultimate Rewards points never expire as long as you keep your Chase account open. You only lose your points if you close your account. If you know you know you are going to be closing account, the best thing to do is transfer your unused rewards to a different Chase credit card or to a loyalty account with one of the Chase transfer partners.
What is the Chase 5/24 rule?
The Chase 5/24 rule is not an official rule that has been announced by Chase, but its existence and enforcement has been well-established by card applicants and credit card experts. This unofficial rule prevents you from qualifying for a new Chase credit card if you've recently opened too many other cards. Specifically, you'll likely be denied for a new Chase card if you've opened five or more credit cards within the past 24 months.
Does the Chase Sapphire Preferred get you into airport lounges?
No, the Chase Sapphire Preferred does not come with complimentary lounge access. You may want to consider the Chase Sapphire Reserve if lounge access is important to you. The Sapphire Reserve comes with Priority Pass membership.
Alternatively, you might consider a card like the American Express® Green Card, which comes with a $100 LoungeBuddy credit. Understanding how the perks between the Amex Green Card vs. Chase Sapphire Preferred cards compare can be very helpful in deciding which card to choose.
Does the Chase Sapphire Preferred offer an introductory APR on purchases?
The Chase Sapphire Preferred does not offer an introductory APR on purchases. If you are interested in an introductory APR, consider the Chase Freedom Flex℠ card.
The Freedom Flex offers 0% intro APR on purchases for 15 months, then a 19.49% to 28.24% (variable) APR after that. If you need to finance a large purchase, this card will give you plenty of time to do so. You can compare the Chase Sapphire Preferred vs. Chase Freedom Flex cards directly and see which one – or maybe both – better fits your needs.
Other credit cards to consider
While the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card is a favorite among people using travel cards, it’s not necessarily right for everyone. You might want to also explore the travel cards available from other credit card issuers.
If you spend a decent amount on travel and restaurant purchases each month, you may also want to consider the American Express® Gold Card. While the Amex Gold card has a higher $250 annual fee, it also comes with a $120 dining credit and $120 Uber credit (enrollment required). It also has great rewards earning potential: 4X Membership Rewards points at U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 per year, after that 1X) and at restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., 3X on flights booked directly with airlines or on Amextravel.com, and 1X on all other eligible purchases.
You can compare the Chase Sapphire Preferred vs. Amex Gold cards side-by-side and see which better fits your spending habits.
Another strong option to consider is the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card which rewards cardholders for all purchases made with the card, not just travel and dining. The Venture Rewards Credit Card may not be as powerful as the Chase Sapphire Preferred, but it is also generally less complex and may be a great fit for beginners to the travel rewards hobby. It also offers a TSA PreCheck or Global Entry fee reimbursement, which the Sapphire Preferred does not.
Comparing the Capital One Venture vs. Chase Sapphire Preferred cards directly can help you see which one is right for you.
Our #1 Travel Card
Why We Like It
Earn 60,000 points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months
See how these cards compare:
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American Express® Gold Card
- Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards points after you make $4,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of card membership
- Rose gold is back! Choose your color.
- $120 in dining credits
- $120 in Uber Cash
- No foreign transaction fee
- $250 annual fee. Terms apply.
- Select benefits require enrollment.
- See rates and fees
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Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
- Earn a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening
- 2X miles on every purchase, every day
- Up to $100 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® credit
- No foreign transaction fees
- 20.24% - 28.24% (variable) purchase APR
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