Chase Sapphire Showdown: Preferred vs. Reserve

The Chase Sapphire Reserve and the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card are two of today's most widely discussed travel credit cards. Their popularity can be attributed to the valuable Chase Ultimate Rewards program, impressive benefits, and robust travel protections they offer. However, the question remains: which card fits you best?

While Chase Sapphire Reserve benefits boast a higher annual fee and a range of luxurious travel perks, it's essential to recognize that being the premium-tier card doesn't necessarily make it the automatic choice.

Depending on your card spending patterns, travel objectives, and existing credit card portfolio, accessing Sapphire Preferred travel benefits might emerge as the more financially appealing option.

Below, we'll give you a detailed guide to the benefits and perks of both cards to assist you in making an informed decision.

Chase Sapphire Preferred vs. Chase Sapphire Reserve Benefits

To begin with, we will look at a breakdown of the benefits available with each card. Here are the perks you can enjoy if you hold each card.

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card Benefits:

Fees:

• Annual Fee: $95
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None
• Authorized User Fee: $0

Bonus Welcome Offer:

• Earn a bonus of 60,000 points when you spend $4,000 on card purchases within three months of opening your account.

Points Value:

Each point is worth 1.25 cents when they are redeemed against travel purchases through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal.

Points Earning:

• Earn 5x Ultimate rewards points for each dollar spent on travel when booked through the Ultimate Rewards hub.
• Get 5 points per dollar on Lyft rides.
• Enjoy 3 points per dollar on dining at restaurants worldwide, online grocery purchases, and select streaming services.
• Receive 2 points per dollar on all other travel expenses.
• Get 1 point per dollar on all other purchases.

Other Chase Sapphire Preferred Benefits:

• Receive a $50 annual Ultimate Rewards hotel credit.
• Get a 10% boost in points on your card anniversary.
• Includes a DoorDash DashPass subscription.
• Enjoy a six-month complimentary Instacart+ membership and receive up to $15 in Instacart statement credits every three months.
• Receive a $10 monthly statement credit for Gopuff purchases.

Chase Sapphire Reserve Benefits

Fees:

• Annual Fee: $550
• Additional User Fee: $75 per user per year

Bonus Welcome Offer:

Earn 60,000 bonus Chase points after spending $4,000 on card purchases within three months from account opening.

Points Value:

Each card rewards point is worth 1.5 cents when used to make travel purchases through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal.

Points Earning:

• Earn 10 points per dollar on hotel bookings, car rentals, and Chase Dining when purchased through the Ultimate Rewards portal.
• Receive 5x points for each dollar spent on flights booked through the Ultimate Rewards portal.
• Enjoy 3 points per dollar on dining expenses and all other travel purchases.
• Get 1 point per dollar on all other purchases.

Other Chase Sapphire Reserve Benefits:

• Receive a $300 annual travel credit.
• Get credit for a TSA PreCheck or Global Entry application fee (up to $100)
• Includes a complimentary two-year Lyft Pink All Access membership.
• Offers a DoorDash DashPass subscription and $5 in DoorDash credits each month.
• Enjoy a one-year complimentary Instacart+ membership and receive up to $15 monthly statement cre in Instacart statement credits.
• Receive a $10 monthly statement credit for Gopuff purchases.
• Access to Priority Pass Select and Sapphire Lounge airport lounges.

Sapphire Preferred vs. Sapphire Reserve: Which Has the Best Welcome Bonus?

Both Chase cards offer the same welcome bonus of 60,000 points after you spend $4,000 in the initial three months of opening your account.

However, it's important to note that you can only qualify for a welcome bonus on one of these cards if you have not received a bonus from either card in the last 48 months. Additionally, both cards are subject to Chase's 5/24 rule.

Sapphire Reserve vs. Chase Sapphire Preferred Benefits:

The Sapphire Reserve offers a range of premium benefits, including:

• $300 Annual Travel Credit: Use this credit towards eligible travel purchases, including flights, hotels, and car rentals.
• Priority Pass Select Membership: Enjoy access to over 1,400 airport lounges worldwide.
• Global Entry or TSA PreCheck Credit: Get up to $100 reimbursement every four years for application fees.
• Lyft Pink All-Access Membership: Get discounted rides and other perks.
• DoorDash DashPass: Receive $5 in monthly DoorDash credits and a subscription to DashPass.
• Instacart+ Membership: Enjoy free delivery and reduced service fees on Instacart orders.

The Sapphire Preferred offers a more modest set of benefits, including:

• $50 Annual Ultimate Rewards Travel Credit: Use this credit towards travel purchases.
• 10% Anniversary Bonus: Earn an extra 10% on points earned during the year.
• DoorDash DashPass: Receive $5 in monthly DoorDash credits and a subscription to DashPass.
• Instacart+ Membership: Enjoy free delivery and reduced service fees on Instacart orders.

Note: It's important to check the latest information on Chase's website for the most up-to-date benefits and terms. Benefits and offers can change over time.

Chase Preferred Card vs. Chase Sapphire Preferred Travel Benefits and Insurance

Chase Sapphire Preferred Travel Benefits and Insurance

• Rental car insurance: This card provides primary rental car insurance, covering the actual cash value of most rentals
• Roadside assistance: Roadside assistance is available on a pay-per-use basis.
• Trip cancellation insurance: The card offers trip cancellation insurance, covering up to $10,000 per trip.
• Trip delay insurance: In case of trip delays lasting 12 hours or more (or requiring an overnight stay), this card offers trip delay insurance of up to $500 per ticket.
• Baggage delay insurance: During your trip, if your baggage is delayed, you can access up to $100 a day (maximum of five days).
• Lost luggage reimbursement: This card provides lost luggage reimbursement of up to $3,000 per person, with a limit of $500 per person for jewelry, watches, cameras, video recorders, and other electronic equipment.
• Emergency medical and dental: Unfortunately, this card has no coverage for emergency medical and dental expenses.
• Travel accident insurance: You are covered for travel accidents with a benefit of $500,000 for common carrier loss of life.
• Purchase protection: The card offers purchase protection, allowing you to claim up to $500 per incident and up to $50,000 per year for eligible purchases.

Chase Sapphire Reserve Benefits and Insurance for Travel

• Rental car insurance: This card offers primary rental car insurance, covering theft and collision expenses up to $75,000.
• Roadside assistance: You can receive roadside assistance of up to $50 per incident, with a maximum of four incidents per year.
• Trip cancellation insurance: The card provides trip cancellation insurance with coverage of up to $10,000 per person and up to $20,000 per trip.
• Trip delay insurance: If you are facing trip delays lasting six hours or more (or requiring an overnight stay), this card provides trip delay insurance of up to $500 per ticket.
• Baggage delay insurance: During your trip, if your baggage is delayed, you are eligible for up to $100 per day for a maximum of five days.
• Lost luggage reimbursement: The card offers lost luggage reimbursement of up to $3,000 per person, with a cap of $500 per person for items like jewelry, watches, cameras, video recorders, and other electronic equipment.
• Emergency medical and dental: For covered trips, you can receive emergency medical and dental coverage of up to $2,500 (with a $50 deductible) if you become sick or injured.
• Travel accident insurance: You are covered for travel accidents with a benefit of $1,000,000 for common carrier loss of life.
• Purchase protection: This card provides purchase protection, allowing you to claim up to $10,000 per incident and up to $50,000 per year for eligible purchases.

Earning points with the Sapphire Preferred and Sapphire Reserve cards.

One of the differences between the two cards is how many points you can accumulate for different spending categories.

Sapphire Preferred Earning Points

• It accumulates 5 points per dollar spent on travel reservations made through Chase Ultimate Rewards, Lyft rides, and Peloton equipment and accessory purchases of $250 or more (with an upper limit of 25,000 total points.)
• Additionally, it garners 3 points per dollar on dining, online grocery shopping, and select streaming services.
• For eligible travel expenditures, it accrues 2 points per dollar; for all other purchases, it earns 1 point per dollar.

Sapphire Reserve Points Earning:

• The Sapphire Reserve card, on the other hand, earns 10 points per dollar on hotel bookings, car rentals, and Chase Dining made through the Ultimate Rewards portal, Lyft rides, and Peloton purchases of $250 and over (maximum earning limit of 50,000 total points).
• It accumulates 5 points per dollar on flights purchased through the Ultimate Rewards portal and three reward card points for each dollar you spend on dining and general travel expenses.
• For all other purchases, the card accrues 1 point per dollar.

Chase Sapphire Reserve vs Sapphire Preferred – Points Value

When redeeming points through the Ultimate Rewards portal or using Chase Pay Yourself Back, the Sapphire Reserve provides better value. With this card, you'll receive a redemption value of 1.5 cents per point, whereas the Sapphire Preferred offers a slightly lower value of 1.25 cents per point.

Redeeming points with the Sapphire Preferred compared to the Sapphire Reserve offers similar options because both cards earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points. These points can be utilized in various ways.

Transferring them to any of Chase's airline and hotel partners is the most valuable redemption choice, ensuring you maximize their worth. Alternatively, you can use your points to book travel through the Ultimate Rewards portal or employ Chase's Pay Yourself Back feature.

Chase Sapphire Preferred vs. Sapphire Reserve: A Detailed Comparison

To help you decide which card is right for you, here's a detailed comparison of the Chase Sapphire Preferred and Sapphire Reserve:

Key Differences and Considerations:

• Annual Fee: The Sapphire Reserve has a significantly higher annual fee, but it also offers more premium benefits.
• Rewards Rate: The Sapphire Reserve offers higher earning rates on travel and dining categories.
• Points Value: Sapphire Reserve points are generally worth more when redeemed through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal.
• Travel Credits: The Sapphire Reserve offers a higher annual travel credit, making it a better choice for frequent travelers.
• Airport Lounge Access: The Sapphire Reserve provides access to Priority Pass Select lounges, offering additional comfort and convenience.
• Travel Insurance: The Sapphire Reserve offers more comprehensive travel insurance coverage, including higher limits and additional benefits.

Which Card is Right for You?

The best card for you depends on your individual needs and spending habits. If you're a frequent traveler who values premium perks and a higher rewards rate, the Sapphire Reserve is a great option. However, if you're looking for a more affordable card with solid rewards and travel benefits, the Sapphire Preferred may be a better choice.

Additional Tips:

• Maximize Your Rewards: Use your card for everyday purchases to earn points and take advantage of bonus categories.
• Redeem Strategically: Consider transferring your points to airline and hotel partners for maximum value.
• Monitor Your Spending: Be mindful of your spending habits to avoid excessive fees and interest charges.

By understanding the key differences between the Chase Sapphire Preferred and Sapphire Reserve, you can make an informed decision and choose the card that best aligns with your lifestyle and travel goals.

If you can use the annual Chase Sapphire Preferred travel benefits and don't possess another card offering airport lounge access, then the Sapphire Reserve is likely your best bet for extracting maximum value.

However, if you prefer to keep card expenses to a minimum or your travel activities are infrequent, the Sapphire Preferred offers commendable earning rates and redemption choices at a significantly lower annual fee.

Your decision between the two cards hinges on your travel aspirations and spending patterns, but rest assured, either choice is sound.