The Chase Sapphire Preferred – because bigger isn’t better for everyone

I’ve covered this card’s luxurious older sibling, the Chase Sapphire Reserve, multiple times for a good reason – it’s one of the best travel cards out there. With so much on offer from the Reserve, is the Sapphire Preferred even worth it? Well, with the same 60,000-point intro bonus, and a lower annual fee, it’s more than worth your attention, as Chase’s rewards are some of the best value out there.

Low-cost, low-risk, but low-on-luxury

While it lacks the luxurious perks of the Reserve, the Preferred only costs $95 a year. The reserve will set you back $550. It’s easy to offset that with the $300 travel statement credit, but for less frequent travelers, the Preferred is a safer and simpler option.

It’s got strong earning potential, with 3 x points per dollar on dining, including eligible take out and delivery, and 2 x points per dollar on a broad classification of travel. It even takes some sting out of the already fair annual fee by throwing in a $50 hotel credit for stays booked on Chase’s travel portal. 

Pros:

• Strong 60,000 point intro after spending $4000 in 3 months

• 3 x points per dollar on dining, including takeout and delivery

• 3 x points per dollar on select streaming services

• 2 x points per dollar on any travel

• 5 x points per dollar on travel purchased through Chase

• Points worth 25% more when used on Chase’s travel portal

Cons:

• $95 annual fee

• Lacks luxury perks of the Reserve

• Regular travelers would fair better with the upgrade