Chase Sapphire Preferred vs. Sapphire Reserve: Which is better for you?

Each of Chase’s personal Sapphire cards earns valuable Chase Ultimate Rewards points.

While the mid-tier Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees) and premium Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see rates and fees) are in the same family, the two cards diverge in benefits, earning rates and annual fees.

The Sapphire Reserve offers many perks in exchange for a high $795 annual fee. Plus, right now, the Sapphire Reserve is offering the best bonus we’ve seen in the card’s history: Earn 150,000 bonus points after spending $6,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.

Meanwhile, the Sapphire Preferred is a simpler option for $95 a year.

Consider your travel style and your overall points-and-miles strategy before choosing. Let’s compare.

Sapphire Preferred vs. Reserve comparison

Sapphire Preferred vs. Reserve welcome bonus

New applicants for the Sapphire Reserve earn 150,000 bonus points after spending $6,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.

These points are worth $3,075, according to TPG’s May 2026 valuations. It’s the highest offer we’ve seen in the card’s history.

Meanwhile, you can earn 75,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening with the Sapphire Preferred. This is worth $1,538 when considering TPG’s valuations.

You can hold both the Sapphire Reserve and Sapphire Preferred, but there are restrictions that may make some new applicants ineligible for bonus offers.

If you’ve previously earned a bonus on the Sapphire Reserve, you almost certainly won’t be eligible for a second bonus on the Sapphire Reserve. If you previously earned a bonus on a Sapphire Preferred, you almost definitely will be ineligible for a second bonus on the Sapphire Preferred.

It’s important to remember Chase’s 5/24 rule when applying for one of the issuer’s cards.

Winner: Sapphire Reserve. Its offer is much higher than what the Sapphire Preferred provides.

Sapphire Preferred vs. Reserve benefits

The Sapphire Preferred and Sapphire Reserve are separated most distinctly by their benefits. Let’s break down what you can expect.

With the $95 Sapphire Preferred, you’ll receive:

• Anniversary points bonus: 10% each year
• Annual hotel credit: $50 hotel credit when you book through Chase Travel
• DoorDash benefits: Complimentary DoorDash DashPass subscription for at least one year (when you activate by Dec. 31, 2027) and $10 in monthly credits ($120 annually) for non-restaurant purchases (through Dec. 31, 2027)

The $795 Sapphire Reserve provides:

• Apple Music and Apple TV: Up to $288 annually for subscriptions (one-time activation for both services is required; through June 22, 2027)
• DoorDash: Up to $25 in monthly promos plus at least one complimentary year of DashPass (activate by Dec. 31, 2027)
• Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or Nexus: Up to $120 in credits every four years
• Lyft: Up to $120 annually (up to $10 each month; through Sept. 30, 2027; does not apply to Wait & Save, bike or scooter rides)
• OpenTable: Up to $300 annually (split into two up-to-$150 biannual credits) for dining at Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables restaurants (no prepayment, payment or reservation through OpenTable required)
• Peloton subscriptions: Up to $120 annually (up to $10 each month) for Peloton subscriptions through Dec. 31, 2027
• StubHub/Viagogo: Up to $300 annually (activation required; split into two up-to-$150 biannual credits; through Dec. 31, 2027)
• The Edit: Up to $500 annually (split into two up-to-$250 credits that can be used at any time but cannot be combined) for prepaid The Edit bookings (of two nights or more)
• Travel: Up to $300 toward all travel purchases

You can receive extra benefits after spending $75,000 on the Sapphire Reserve in a calendar year, including:

A distinction for many travelers will be the Sapphire Reserve’s lounge access. Chase has eight open Sapphire Lounges and has plans to open at least two more. Plus, the Priority Pass network includes over 1,800 lounges worldwide.

The Sapphire Reserve’s beloved travel credit broadly applies to travel purchases and is automatically applied. Conversely, the Sapphire Preferred’s $50 hotel credit is limited to bookings through Chase Travel.

Both cards come with a suite of travel protections. However, the more premium Sapphire Reserve has broader coverage with certain policies.

Winner: Sapphire Reserve. The more premium card comes with lounge access, a more flexible travel credit and a laundry list of statement credits to maximize.

Related: Is the Sapphire Reserve worth the annual fee?

Earning points with the Sapphire Preferred vs. Reserve

There are notable variations in how the Sapphire Preferred and Sapphire Reserve earn points.

With the Sapphire Preferred, you’ll earn:

• 5 points per dollar spent on all travel booked through Chase Travel, eligible Lyft rides (through Sept. 30, 2027) and eligible Peloton equipment and accessory purchases over $150 (through Dec. 31, 2027)
• 3 points per dollar spent on dining, online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs) and select streaming services
• 2 points per dollar spent on all other travel
• 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases

The Sapphire Reserve earns:

• 10 points per dollar spent on eligible Peloton equipment and accessory purchases over $150 (through Dec. 31, 2027)
• 8 points per dollar spent on all Chase Travel purchases
• 5 points per dollar spent on eligible Lyft rides (through Sept. 30, 2027)
• 4 points per dollar spent on flights and hotels booked directly
• 3 points per dollar spent on dining purchases worldwide
• 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases

The two cards earn at the same rate on Lyft rides and dining.

The Reserve outshines the Preferred on Chase Travel purchases and flights and hotels booked directly, an important consideration for frequent travelers.

In contrast, the Sapphire Preferred earns more on select streaming services and online groceries. Plus, it has a general travel bonus category that the Sapphire Reserve does not.

If you book Airbnb stays, cruises or other general travel (outside of flights or hotels booked directly or through Chase Travel), you’re better off earning 2 points per dollar spent on the Preferred than 1 point per dollar spent on the Reserve.

Winner: Sapphire Reserve. In most categories, it earns more than the Preferred, though the earning difference in the general travel category is worth considering.

Related: Which purchases count as dining with the Sapphire Preferred and Sapphire Reserve?

Redeeming points with the Sapphire Preferred vs. Reserve

Chase’s Points Boost feature lets certain cardholders get more value per point when booking eligible travel through Chase Travel (up to 2 cents per point; the exact value you get depends on which card you have and what you’re booking; check your rewards program agreement for the full details).

• Sapphire Reserve cardholders can get up to 2 cents per point on select hotel and flight bookings made through Chase Travel.
• Sapphire Preferred cardholders can get up to 1.75 cents per point on select flight bookings and 1.5 cents on select hotel bookings.

The base redemption rate for Chase Travel redemptions not eligible for Points Boost on both the Sapphire Preferred and Sapphire Reserve is 1 cent per point.

Holding the Sapphire Reserve unlocks higher potential value through Points Boost than the Sapphire Preferred. However, you’ll have to make a Points Boost-eligible booking with select hotels and flight itineraries to get more than 1 cent per point in value.

You can also redeem your points for cash back or gift cards, but these redemptions typically offer poor value.

Winner: Sapphire Reserve. You could get up to 2 cents per point in value with select Points Boost bookings, which is higher than the Sapphire Preferred’s rate of up to 1.75 cents per point.

Related: Why Chase’s Points Boost is an outstanding (kind of surprising) way to book hotels on points

Transferring points with the Sapphire Preferred vs. Reserve

The best way to get maximum value from your points earned with the Sapphire Preferred or the Sapphire Reserve is to transfer them to one of Chase’s 14 travel partners.

These partners include valuable loyalty programs such as Air Canada Aeroplan, United Airlines MileagePlus and World of Hyatt. When you transfer points, you can make stellar redemptions.

Plus, Chase often offers transfer bonuses that provide even more value for your points when you move them.

Credit cards managing editor Giselle Gomez recently transferred her Chase points to Hyatt for two stays. She used 24,000 points to book three nights at the Hyatt Place Charleston during a holiday weekend, which would’ve cost $200 per night in cash, netting her 2.5 cents per point in value.

Giselle also used 20,000 points at the Hyatt House Scottsdale/Old Town for a two-night stay in a two-bedroom suite that would’ve cost $800, getting 2 cents per point on this redemption.

Winner: Tie. Both cards come with the same transfer options.

Related: How I got a 20X return on my Chase Sapphire Preferred last year

Should I get the Sapphire Preferred or the Sapphire Reserve?

The Sapphire Reserve outperforms the Sapphire Preferred in key earning rates, travel perks and redemption value — but those advantages come with a much higher $795 annual fee.

Before choosing, think carefully about how often you travel and whether you’ll realistically use the Reserve’s many travel and lifestyle credits.

If you value airport lounge access, want top-tier travel protections and can maximize the Reserve’s credits, the Sapphire Reserve will likely deliver more overall value.

If you prefer simplicity, want strong earning rates on everyday spending and don’t want to manage multiple statement credits, the Sapphire Preferred remains one of the best mid-tier travel cards on the market.

Related: Reasons to choose the Sapphire Preferred over the Sapphire Reserve

How to upgrade from the Sapphire Preferred to the Sapphire Reserve

You can upgrade from the Sapphire Preferred to the Sapphire Reserve by calling the number on the back of your card. You can do the same if you want to downgrade your Sapphire Reserve to the Sapphire Preferred.

You have to hold your card for at least 12 months before you can downgrade. However, you won’t be eligible for a welcome offer on your new card if you choose to upgrade or downgrade your existing card.

Related: Reasons to upgrade from Sapphire Preferred to Sapphire Reserve

Bottom line

Both the Sapphire Preferred and the Sapphire Reserve have earned a strong reputation among travelers for their valuable rewards and flexible redemption options.

If you value airport lounge access, can maximize statement credits and appreciate high earning rates, the Sapphire Reserve is the pick for you. Plus, the card is currently providing its best welcome offer ever, making now a great time to apply.

If you’re into simplicity and don’t want to pay a high annual fee, apply for the Sapphire Preferred instead.

To learn more, read our full reviews of the Sapphire Preferred and Sapphire Reserve.

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Apply here: Chase Sapphire Preferred Card

Apply here: Chase Sapphire Reserve

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Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: thepointsguy.com