Is the Sapphire Preferred now the premium Chase card to get?

Two of Chase’s hottest bank cards — the mid-tier Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees) and its premium sibling, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see rates and fees) — are well-loved at TPG attributable to a number of components together with the previous’s affordable $95 annual payment, bonus-earning charges on travel and dining and worthwhile travel protections.

Whereas the Sapphire Reserve has a a lot greater annual payment of $550, it additionally presents luxurious perks and most of the advantages we have come to count on from premium journey playing cards.

That mentioned, the Sapphire Most well-liked nonetheless packs an honest punch. What makes it much more interesting is that it is each an ideal starter journey card and very best for frequent and seasoned vacationers, too.

Let’s check out why the Sapphire Most well-liked may be the following Chase card you need in your pockets (in the event you do not have already got it).

• Sapphire Preferred: Earn 100,000 factors after spending $5,000 on purchases throughout the first three months from account opening.
• Sapphire Reserve: Earn 60,000 factors after spending $5,000 on purchases throughout the first three months from account opening.

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In accordance with TPG’s April 2025 valuations, the Chase Sapphire Most well-liked’s 100,000-point bonus is price $2,050. In the event you select to redeem by way of Chase Travel℠, nevertheless, the identical quantity of factors are price as much as $1,250.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve’s 60,000-point bonus is price $1,230 based on our valuations and might be price as much as $900 if you redeem the factors for journey by way of the Chase Journey or as a press release credit score with the Pay Your self Again function since level redemptions are price 50% extra this fashion.

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In the event you redeem factors for money again exterior of Pay Your self Again, 60,000 factors are price $600.

Associated: 10 best ways to use 100K Chase Ultimate Rewards points

In the event you’ve by no means held a premium card earlier than or are averse to excessive annual charges, it’s possible you’ll be somewhat apprehensive concerning the $550 annual payment for the Sapphire Reserve.

Nonetheless, it is best to know {that a} excessive payment is frequent amongst playing cards of this tier. You’ll be able to successfully recoup a lot of the payment in the event you make the most of all of the added card advantages.

Simply by accounting for the Sapphire Reserve’s $300 annual travel credit alone, the annual payment is already diminished to a extra manageable $250 — but it is nonetheless a $155 premium over the Sapphire Most well-liked.

Whereas the Sapphire Reserve delivers extra credit and perks than the Sapphire Most well-liked, you do should make extra of an effort to maximise these extra perks, which might be a ache if you’d like a card with a less complicated reward incomes and redeeming construction.

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The Sapphire Preferred earns on the following charges:

• 5 factors per greenback spent on journey booked by way of Chase Journey
• 3 factors per greenback spent on dining — in step with the Sapphire Reserve
• 3 factors per greenback spent on choose streaming services
• 3 factors per greenback spent on on-line groceries (excluding Goal, Walmart and wholesale golf equipment)
• 2 factors per greenback spent on journey purchases
• 1 level per greenback spent on different eligible purchases

For its half, the Chase Sapphire Reserve earns:

• 10 factors per greenback spent on Chase Eating booked by way of the Final Rewards portal
• 10 factors per greenback spent on resort and automobile rental purchases by way of Chase Journey
• 5 factors per greenback spent on airline journey booked by way of Chase Journey
• 3 factors per greenback spent on different journey
• 3 factors per greenback spent on eating
• 1 level per greenback spent on different eligible purchases

The extra you intend to spend in these bonus classes, the larger the distinction in rewards. As an example you spend $500 on non-Chase eating and $500 on non-Chase journey (a complete of $1,000) per 30 days on these two bonus classes.

That will deliver your Sapphire Most well-liked earnings to 2,500 factors month-to-month (as much as $50 in worth) versus 3,000 factors with the Reserve (as much as $60).

Total, the extra 1 level earned on common journey purchases with the Sapphire Reserve might not warrant the a lot greater annual payment for some. When you think about that $155 distinction in annual charges (after utilizing the $300 annual travel credit from the Sapphire Reserve), the Sapphire Most well-liked might very effectively come out on prime as the higher alternative for some shoppers.

It is uncommon to discover a mid-tier card with sturdy travel protections. Most playing cards on this vary provide just a few protections, corresponding to secondary auto insurance coverage or baggage insurance coverage.

With the Chase Sapphire Preferred, cardholders get the advantage of as much as $10,000 per coated traveler or $20,000 per journey in journey cancellation insurance coverage, as much as $500 a coated ticket in journey delay insurance coverage, as much as $3,000 in misplaced baggage insurance coverage, as much as $100 a day (as much as 5 days) in baggage delay insurance coverage and main rental automobile insurance coverage.

Secondary automobile rental insurance coverage is extra standard amongst mid-tier playing cards, including much more worth to an already spectacular protection-rich card.

As a mid-tier card, the Sapphire Most well-liked packs a punch with premium-level journey insurance coverage. The advantages right here make the Sapphire Most well-liked extraordinarily enticing, particularly when its annual payment is a lot decrease than the Sapphire Reserve’s.

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The Chase Sapphire Preferred is less complicated to get permitted for than the Chase Sapphire Reserve, too. Now, that does not imply that it is a straightforward course of, particularly in the event you’re trying to get the Sapphire Most well-liked as one among your first credit cards.

Many components play into whether or not or not you may get permitted for any bank card, corresponding to revenue, credit score historical past, credit score rating, age of your credit score accounts and if in case you have a preexisting relationship with the credit score issuer.

When making use of to the extra premium Chase Sapphire Reserve, you may seemingly want a credit score of a minimum of 740. Nonetheless, it has been reported the common individual permitted has a rating of round 750.

It is necessary to notice which you can nonetheless be denied for both card even if in case you have a wonderful credit score rating. Nonetheless, these estimates can provide you a spot to start out. And bear in mind, Chase’s 5/24 rule nonetheless applies, so in the event you’ve opened 5 or extra private bank cards throughout all banks within the final 24 months, you may seemingly obtain a denial in your software.

Associated: Chase’s 5/24 rule: Everything you need to know

The Sapphire Reserve is a wonderful premium card for vacationers who plan to maximise its perks and use its coveted airport lounge access. Nonetheless, the Chase Sapphire Most well-liked Card is a standout within the sea of mid-tier playing cards. Whenever you crunch the numbers, the same advantages and decrease annual payment make it essentially the most enticing Chase card for most individuals.

Plus, because of the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card’s present highest-ever welcome bonus of 100,000 factors after spending $5,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening, it is easy to earn a large stash of Final Rewards factors proper now.

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Apply right here: Chase Sapphire Preferred