Comparisons
Chase Sapphire Preferred vs. Reserve: Which Is Worth It?
An in-depth comparison of Chase's two flagship travel cards. We break down the math to show which card delivers more value for your spending.
Michael TorresJanuary 25, 2026Updated Mar 20268 min read
Chase's two Sapphire cards are both excellent — but they serve different travelers. The Preferred costs $95/year and delivers solid value. The Reserve costs $550 but includes a $300 travel credit that brings the effective cost to $250. Here's how to choose the right one.
Annual Fee Comparison
Preferred: $95/year. Reserve: $550/year, but the $300 travel credit (automatically applied to travel purchases) brings the effective cost to $250 for anyone who travels at all. The $155 gap between 'effective fees' is the key number to remember.
Rewards Rates
- Preferred: 5x Chase Travel, 3x dining, 3x streaming, 2x other travel
- Reserve: 10x Chase Travel hotels, 5x Chase Travel flights, 3x dining, 1x everything else
- Reserve wins for heavy Chase Travel portal users; Preferred wins for organic travel spending
Side-by-side comparison
Point Value
Preferred points are worth 1.25 cents each via Chase Travel. Reserve points are worth 1.5 cents each — 20% more. On a 60,000-point sign-up bonus: Preferred gets you $750; Reserve gets you $900. The Reserve also gets 50% more value on all ongoing redemptions.
The Reserve Math
If you redeem 100,000 points per year via Chase Travel, the 50% more value translates to: Preferred = $1,250 vs Reserve = $1,500. That $250 extra value almost exactly covers the $155 effective fee difference — meaning the Reserve is essentially free for heavy point redeemers.
Which Card Should You Get?
- Choose Preferred if: You travel occasionally, prefer lower commitment, or are new to premium cards
- Choose Reserve if: You travel 4+ times/year, frequently use the Chase Travel portal, can use airport lounges, or want 50% more point value
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