Barclays Arrival Premier vs Chase Sapphire Reserve
Head-to-head comparison of every feature, fee, and perk
At a Glance
Annual Fee
$150 (waived first year)
vs
$550
Base Rewards
2x
vs
1x
Sign-Up Bonus
$750
vs
$900
Editor Score
7/10
vs
9/10
Detailed Comparison
| Category wins | 3/6 | 3/6 |
| Fees & APR | ||
| Annual Fee | $150 (waived first year)★ Lowest | $550✗ Highest |
| Purchase APR | 19.99% – 27.99% | 22.49% – 29.49% |
| Intro APR (Purchases) | ||
| Intro APR (Balance Transfer) | ||
| Foreign Txn Fee | None★ Lowest | None |
| Balance Transfer Fee | 3% | 5% |
| Rewards | ||
| Rewards Type | Miles | Points |
| Base Rewards Rate | 2x★ Highest | 1x✗ Lowest |
| Bonus Categories | 10x Hotels (Chase) · 5x Flights (Chase) · 3x Dining | |
| Sign-Up Bonus | $750 value✗ Lowest | $900 value★ Highest |
| Eligibility | ||
| Credit Score | Good (670-749) | Excellent (750+) |
| Network | Visa | Visa |
| At a Glance | ||
| Best For | Simple travel rewards without tracking categories | Frequent luxury travelers |
| Ratings | ||
| User Rating | 4.1 / 5✗ Lowest | 4.5 / 5★ Highest |
| Editor Score | 7 / 10✗ Lowest | 9 / 10★ Highest |
| Apply Now | Apply | Apply |
| Full Review | View details → | View details → |
| Pros & Cons | ||
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| Cons |
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Our verdict: Too close to call
The Barclays Arrival Premier ($150/year) and the Chase Sapphire Reserve ($550/year) compete on different axes. The Barclays Arrival Premier uses a flat 2x base rate, while the Chase Sapphire Reserve leads with 10x on Hotels (Chase). The Chase Sapphire Reserve costs $400 more per year, so you need at least $400 in incremental rewards to justify it over the Barclays Arrival Premier. At typical spend levels this breaks even somewhere between $12,000 and $24,000 in bonus-category purchases annually. Our model scores these cards effectively even (3-3). Pick the Barclays Arrival Premier if you prefer its base earning structure; pick the Chase Sapphire Reserve if you spend heavily on hotels (chase).
Too close to call — pick based on your primary spending category
Dimension-by-dimension
| Dimension | Barclays Arrival Premier | Chase Sapphire Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Fee | $150/year | $550/year |
| Base Reward Rate | 2x on everything | 1x on everything |
| Top Bonus Category | None | 10x on Hotels (Chase) |
| Sign-Up Bonus | 75,000 miles after spending $3,000 in 3 months | 60,000 points after spending $4,000 in 3 months |
| Lounge Access | No | Yes |
| Credit Score Required | good | excellent |
Green checkmark indicates the card that leans stronger on that dimension. Our scoring model evaluates these quantitatively — your specific needs may shift the answer.
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Common Questions
Which is better: Barclays Arrival Premier or Chase Sapphire Reserve?
It depends on your spending habits. The Barclays Arrival Premier has a $150 annual fee and earns 2x base rewards. The Chase Sapphire Reserve has a $550 annual fee and earns 1x base rewards. Compare their bonus categories above to see which aligns better with your spending.
What is the annual fee difference between Barclays Arrival Premier and Chase Sapphire Reserve?
The Barclays Arrival Premier has a $150 annual fee while the Chase Sapphire Reserve has a $550 annual fee. The Chase Sapphire Reserve costs $400 more per year, so it needs to deliver that much extra value in rewards and perks to justify the difference.
Can I have both the Barclays Arrival Premier and Chase Sapphire Reserve?
Yes, since these cards are from different issuers (Barclays and Chase), you can hold both. Many people pair cards from different banks to maximize bonus category coverage across all their spending.