Chase Sapphire Preferred vs. Reserve: Which Is Best?
Compare the Chase Sapphire Preferred vs. Reserve to discover which travel card fits your budget based on annual fees, luxury perks, and point valuations.
Important: This content is for education and general information, not financial advice. Offers, fees, and terms can change—verify details on issuer sites before applying.
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TL;DR
- Preferred is usually the best “default”: Low annual fee, solid earning, strong flexibility with transfer partners.
- Reserve only wins if you actually use the perks: The fee is high, so the math hinges on credits + lounge value + travel frequency.
- Points can be “worth more” on Reserve in the portal: Preferred gets 1.25¢/pt; Reserve can reach higher values via portal boosts (when available).
- If you’re unsure: Start with Preferred. You can product-change later once your travel pattern is real, not aspirational.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Sapphire Preferred | Sapphire Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $95 | $795 |
| Foreign transaction fees | No | No |
| Portal redemption baseline | ~1.25¢/point | Higher potential; “Points Boost” may apply on select bookings |
| Transfer partners | 1:1 transfers (same partner ecosystem) | 1:1 transfers (same partner ecosystem) |
| Travel credit | — | ~$300 annual travel credit |
| Lounge access | — | Priority Pass Select (value depends on use) |
Table of Contents (click for details)
- Comparing the Chase Sapphire Preferred vs. Reserve: An Overview
- Evaluating the Chase Ultimate Rewards Point Value Comparison
- Is the Chase Sapphire Reserve Annual Fee Worth It?
- Travel Perks: Priority Pass Select vs. Basic Travel Protections
- The Best Credit Card for International Travel and No Foreign Transaction Fees
- Final Verdict: Which Sapphire Card Fits Your Spending Habits?
- FAQ
- Sources
Comparing the Chase Sapphire Preferred vs. Reserve: An Overview
Choosing between the Chase Sapphire Preferred and the Reserve feels a bit like deciding between a reliable sedan and a luxury SUV.
Both will get you where you need to go, but the experience along the way differs dramatically. The right choice depends entirely on how you travel and spend.
The Sapphire Preferred carries a $95 annual fee. The Reserve recently saw a major refresh that raised its annual fee to $795. That’s a huge gap—so you’re not picking “which is better,” you’re picking “which one you’ll actually use.”
Both cards earn Ultimate Rewards points, don’t charge foreign transaction fees, and can be powerful for travelers who redeem strategically.
The differences show up in how fast you earn points, how much those points can be worth in the portal, and what protections/perks you get while traveling.
Beelinger rule of thumb: Premium cards are only “worth it” when the benefits are automatic for your lifestyle—meaning you’d use them anyway, without forcing it.
Sapphire Preferred 60,000 Point Sign-Up Bonus and Entry Costs
The Sapphire Preferred’s welcome offer is often framed around 60,000 points after meeting the minimum spending requirement.For many people, the bigger win is the ongoing value: the $95 annual fee is low enough that you don’t need to “chase credits” to break even.
The earning structure is straightforward and practical for everyday life. The card also offers a 10% anniversary points bonus based on total annual spend, which quietly adds extra points for people who put real, consistent spend on the card.
The High-Tier Structure of the Chase Sapphire Reserve
The Reserve operates in a different league. As noted by The Points Guy, the refresh introduced new credits/benefits alongside the higher fee.
The welcome bonus has also been positioned higher at times (your draft references 125,000 points after $6,000 spend).
The Reserve is usually justified on two pillars: (1) you extract meaningful credit value every year, and (2) you benefit from premium travel experience (lounges, protections, etc.).
If either pillar is weak, the Reserve becomes a very expensive “nice to have.”
Evaluating the Chase Ultimate Rewards Point Value Comparison
Ultimate Rewards can be extremely valuable—but only if you redeem with intention.
Two people can redeem the same number of points and get dramatically different value depending on the method.
Redeeming Points through the Chase Travel Portal
The portal is the simplest redemption path: book travel like a normal site, then pay with points. The value you receive is card-dependent.
Preferred cardholders typically get 1.25¢ per point in the portal.
The Reserve can offer higher portal value, especially through “Points Boost” style mechanics.
Your draft references Upgraded Points noting potential boosts (e.g., up to 2¢ on select flights and up to 1.5¢ on select hotels when available).
If you consistently redeem via boosted portal deals, that can materially tilt the math toward Reserve.
Maximizing Value with 1:1 Transfer Partners
Transfer partners are where points can become “vacation money.” Both cards offer 1:1 transfers to major airline and hotel partners (e.g., United, Southwest, Hyatt, British Airways).
The partner list and transfer ratios are typically the same—you’re not “locked out” of premium redemptions with Preferred.
The main Reserve advantage here is accumulation speed (you earn points faster on eligible categories), not transfer access.
If you’re already optimized and you travel enough to rack up points quickly, Reserve can accelerate your timeline to premium redemptions.
Is the Chase Sapphire Reserve Annual Fee Worth It?
A $795 annual fee requires a serious reality check. The correct way to evaluate it is by calculating your effective annual fee after credits you will reliably use.
The $300 Annual Travel Credit Offset
The Reserve includes a $300 annual travel credit that typically applies automatically to qualifying travel purchases. If you spend $300+ annually on travel categories, you should treat that credit as near-cash.
After that credit, your effective fee is roughly $495—still high, but more realistic to compare against what you’d pay elsewhere for lounges, protections, and redemption value.
Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, and NEXUS Credits
The Reserve can cover application fees for Global Entry / TSA PreCheck / NEXUS on a cadence (typically every 4 years). This is not “monthly value,” but it does reduce travel friction.
If you value time and smooth airport days, this perk matters more than the dollar amount.
Be careful with “theoretical value.” If you don’t travel most years, credits and lounge access become a spreadsheet win, not a real-life win.
Only count benefits you’ll use with almost zero effort.
Travel Perks: Priority Pass Select vs. Basic Travel Protections
Airport Lounge Access and Luxury Benefits
Priority Pass Select is a headline Reserve benefit: lounge access can meaningfully improve travel (quiet space, wifi, snacks/meals).
For frequent flyers, this can be the perk that makes the Reserve feel “worth it” without overthinking.
Preferred does not include lounge access. If you rarely have long layovers or you don’t care about airport comfort, this may not matter.
If you travel enough that airports become a recurring stress point, lounge access becomes a quality-of-life multiplier.
Trip Delay, Cancellation, and Primary Rental Car Insurance
Both cards offer travel protections, but the Reserve typically provides a more premium suite.
One of the most practical differentiators: rental car coverage.
The Reserve is commonly positioned with primary rental car insurance (meaning it can pay before your personal policy in covered scenarios),
while the Preferred is often framed as secondary. Primary coverage can reduce claim friction and keep issues off your personal auto policy.
Always verify current terms in the benefits guide before relying on it.
The Best Credit Card for International Travel and No Foreign Transaction Fees
Both Sapphire cards waive foreign transaction fees, making them strong candidates for international travel.
The choice is about whether Reserve’s premium travel experience and protections match your real usage.
If you travel internationally often, lounge access and stronger travel protections can reduce pain points that don’t show up in a points spreadsheet
(missed connections, delays, and the general chaos of airports).
If you travel internationally once a year (or less), Preferred often delivers the best “value per dollar paid.”
Final Verdict: Which Sapphire Card Fits Your Spending Habits?
Choose the Sapphire Preferred if you want a high-value travel card with a low annual fee and you don’t want to manage a stack of credits.
It’s a strong default option for most people building wealth and trying to keep money decisions simple.
Choose the Sapphire Reserve if you travel frequently and will actually use the annual travel credit, lounge access, and premium protections—without forcing it.
If those benefits are automatic in your life, Reserve can be a net-positive card even with the high fee.
If you’re uncertain, start with Preferred. You can always upgrade later once you’ve proven your travel frequency and redemption habits.
The best card is the one you use consistently, pay in full every month, and extract value from without stress.
Want to know which card fits your actual spending?
Use your real last-90-days spending to see if premium perks pay you back—or just drain you slowly.
FAQ
Is the Sapphire Reserve’s $795 annual fee really worth it?
It can be, but only if you reliably use the major credits (like the travel credit) and you travel enough to benefit from lounge access and premium protections.
If you won’t use those perks most years, the effective cost stays high and Preferred usually wins.
Do both cards let you transfer points to airline and hotel partners?
Yes—both cards are positioned for 1:1 transfers to the Ultimate Rewards partner ecosystem. The bigger difference is how quickly you earn points and
what portal redemption value you can get with each card.
Which card is better for international travel?
Both have no foreign transaction fees. Reserve is typically better if you travel frequently (lounges + stronger protections can reduce travel stress),
while Preferred is often better for occasional international travelers who want strong value without a premium fee.
What’s the safest way to use rewards cards while building wealth?
Pay balances in full every month, avoid carrying interest, and don’t overspend to “earn points.”
The fastest way to lose value is to pay interest that outweighs your rewards.
Sources & Further Reading