Chase Sapphire Preferred vs Chase Sapphire Reserve
Head-to-head comparison of every feature, fee, and perk
At a Glance
Annual Fee
$95
vs
$550
Base Rewards
1x
vs
1x
Sign-Up Bonus
$750
vs
$900
Editor Score
9/10
vs
9/10
Detailed Comparison
| Category wins | 5/6 | 1/6 |
| Fees & APR | ||
| Annual Fee | $95★ Lowest | $550✗ Highest |
| Purchase APR | 21.49% – 28.49% | 22.49% – 29.49% |
| Intro APR (Purchases) | ||
| Intro APR (Balance Transfer) | ||
| Foreign Txn Fee | None★ Lowest | None |
| Balance Transfer Fee | 5% | 5% |
| Rewards | ||
| Rewards Type | Points | Points |
| Base Rewards Rate | 1x★ Highest | 1x |
| Bonus Categories | 5x Travel (Chase) · 3x Dining · 3x Online Groceries | 10x Hotels (Chase) · 5x Flights (Chase) · 3x Dining |
| Sign-Up Bonus | $750 value✗ Lowest | $900 value★ Highest |
| Eligibility | ||
| Credit Score | Excellent (750+) | Excellent (750+) |
| Network | Visa | Visa |
| At a Glance | ||
| Best For | Frequent travelers who dine out often | Frequent luxury travelers |
| Ratings | ||
| User Rating | 4.7 / 5★ Highest | 4.5 / 5✗ Lowest |
| Editor Score | 9 / 10★ Highest | 9 / 10 |
| Apply Now | Apply | Apply |
| Full Review | View details → | View details → |
| Pros & Cons | ||
| Pros |
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| Cons |
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Our Verdict
Same family, different tiers. The Reserve costs $550 but offers Priority Pass lounge access, a $300 travel credit (effectively making it $250), and 10x on Chase dining purchases. The Preferred at $95 is the better starter card with strong 3x dining and 5x Chase travel. If you spend over $5,000/year on travel, the Reserve's perks justify the premium. Otherwise, the Preferred delivers excellent value at a fraction of the cost.
Winner: Chase Sapphire Preferred
Best value for most travelers who don't need lounge access
In-Depth Analysis
The $455 Question: Is the Reserve Worth It?
The Reserve costs $550/year vs the Preferred's $95 — a $455 difference. However, the Reserve includes a $300 annual travel credit that triggers automatically on travel purchases, reducing the effective gap to $155. You're paying that $155 premium for: Priority Pass Select lounge access (worth $429/year), 10x on Chase Dining purchases, 1.5cpp redemption rate (vs 1.25cpp), primary rental car insurance, and premium travel benefits like emergency evacuation. If you visit airport lounges even 3-4 times per year, the Reserve pays for itself.
Earning Rate Deep Dive
Both cards share the same category structure (travel, dining, streaming), but the Reserve adds 10x on dining through Chase and 10x on hotel stays through Chase. The key difference is the portal redemption rate: Reserve holders get 1.5 cents per point through Chase Travel, while Preferred holders get 1.25cpp. On a 100,000-point redemption, that's $1,500 vs $1,250 — the Reserve gets you $250 more. If you primarily transfer to partners (where both get the same value), this difference matters less.
The Product Change Strategy
You can only hold one Sapphire card at a time. The optimal strategy for many is: apply for the Preferred first (easier approval, lower fee), earn the sign-up bonus, and then product-change to the Reserve after year one if you want the premium benefits. This avoids the Reserve's harder approval requirements while still getting you into the ecosystem. You can also downgrade from Reserve to Preferred at any time to save money during years you won't use the premium benefits.
The Verdict for Different Lifestyles
Choose the Preferred if: you travel 1-3 times per year, don't care about lounge access, prefer a lower annual fee, or are new to travel rewards. Choose the Reserve if: you travel 4+ times per year, value airport lounge access, rent cars frequently (primary insurance is huge), spend heavily through Chase's travel portal, or want the absolute best trip delay/cancellation coverage.
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Common Questions
Which is better: Chase Sapphire Preferred or Chase Sapphire Reserve?
It depends on your spending habits. The Chase Sapphire Preferred has a $95 annual fee and earns 1x 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 Chase Sapphire Preferred and Chase Sapphire Reserve?
The Chase Sapphire Preferred has a $95 annual fee while the Chase Sapphire Reserve has a $550 annual fee. The Chase Sapphire Reserve costs $455 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 Chase Sapphire Preferred and Chase Sapphire Reserve?
Both cards are issued by Chase, so check their application rules. Some issuers limit the number of cards you can hold simultaneously or have waiting periods between applications.