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If you’re new to travel rewards credit cards or just don’t want to pay hundreds in annual fees, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is a smart choice. It earns bonus points on a wide variety of travel and dining purchases and offers strong travel and purchase coverage, including primary car rental insurance. Plus, the card now has an elevated bonus of 80,000 points. That’s worth Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, based on Insider’s valuations.
Review: Is the Chase Sapphire Preferred the best credit card for you?
A longtime favorite of travelers, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is great if you’re looking to earn rewards points to redeem for flights, hotel stays, cruises, rental cars, and other travel adventures. But even if you’re not ready to start traveling again just yet, it’s a valuable option for earning bonus rewards, and you can use points for lots of non-travel redemptions, too.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is one of the best travel cards with an annual fee under $100, and its welcome bonus offer is 80,000 points. Beyond its rewards, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card comes with some of the best travel coverage available, including trip cancellation and interruption insurance and primary car rental insurance.
There are even more reasons to consider the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card with the announcement of improved benefits and earning rates, including a $50 annual credit for hotels booked through the Chase Travel Portal, a 10% anniversary points bonus, and up to 5 points per dollar in popular spending categories.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is the less-premium sibling of the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, which has a Chase Sapphire Reserve® annual fee compared to a Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card annual fee on the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. The Chase Sapphire Reserve® earns more points on certain travel purchases and comes with up to a $300 annual travel credit and perks like airport lounge access, so it’s better suited to those who frequently travel.
If you’re interested in both Sapphire cards but you’re on the fence about paying a high annual fee, it makes more sense to apply for the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. It’s got a (much) bigger welcome bonus and many of the same travel and shopping perks — and later, if you find yourself traveling more, you could always request an upgrade to the Sapphire Reserve.
We’re focused here on the rewards and perks that come with each card. These cards won’t be worth it if you’re paying interest or late fees. When using a credit card, it’s important to pay your balance in full each month, make payments on time, and only spend what you can afford to pay.
How to earn points with the Chase Sapphire Preferred
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card members earn points at the following rates:
5x points on all travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards3x points on dining, including eligible delivery services, takeout, and dining out3x points on select streaming services3x points on online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart, and wholesale clubs)2x points on all other eligible travel purchases
All other purchases earn 1 point per dollar.
If you’re not sure if a purchase will qualify for bonus points, check out our guide to which purchases count in the new Chase Sapphire bonus categories for a full rundown.
How to use Chase Ultimate Rewards points
Chase Ultimate Rewards points are worth 1 cent each by default when redeemed through the Chase Travel Portal. With the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, you get 25% more value, or 1.25 cents per point.
Redeem Chase points for travel
You can redeem Ultimate Rewards points for flights, hotels, rental cars, and more through the Chase Travel Portal at the 1.25-cent rate with no limits or blackout dates. The redemption system searches many airline and hotel brands, with a similar feel and layout to major discount travel websites.
However, if you want to get even more value per point, you can transfer to Chase’s airline and hotel transfer partners at a 1:1 ratio. That means 1 Chase point equals 1 point or mile in these programs:
Chase Ultimate Rewards transfer partners
Aer LingusAir Canada AeroplanAir France-KLMBritish AirwaysIberiaEmiratesHyatt (World of Hyatt)IHG RewardsJetBlueMarriott BonvoySingapore AirlinesSouthwestUnitedVirgin Atlantic
You generally get the best value per point by transferring to airlines and booking premium travel, like a first-class flight or a hotel stay that would cost hundreds of dollars. Also, keep in mind that many transfer partner airlines are members of alliances that give you additional partner airline choices.
Insider’s points and miles valuations peg Chase Ultimate Rewards points as worth, on average, 1.8 cents apiece. This is in large part due to the ability to transfer points to partners and get outsized value on flight and hotel redemptions.
When you get a good deal, you can book a domestic round-trip flight for 25,000 points. With British Airways, you can book short-haul flights on partner American Airlines for even fewer points. Southwest also offers many great deals with no checked baggage fees for your first two bags.
If you earn the 60,000 points on the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, you’ll have more than enough for a round-trip award flight to Europe — and depending on the partner you redeem with, you could have points left over to jumpstart your next trip.
Redeem Chase points for other purchases
At the beginning of the pandemic, Chase added limited-time benefits to give you more high-value options for using your Ultimate Rewards points while travel is on hold:
Cash back: Cash in your points at a rate of 1 cent each toward a statement credit or direct deposit to your bank accountChase Dining: Use points for takeout and dining experiences at a rate of 1.25 cents apiece Gift cards: Your points are worth 1 cent each toward gift cards from popular merchants Apple, PayPal, and Amazon purchases: Use points directly for Apple (1 cent each), PayPal (0.8 cents each), or Amazon (0.8 cents each) purchases; the latter two options aren’t a good value — you’re better off paying for your purchase with the card, then redeeming points at 1 cent apiece toward a statement credit
Chase Sapphire Preferred benefits and features
This card gives you more than just valuable points. The Sapphire Preferred includes many additional benefits that come in handy when traveling and shopping at home, online, or anywhere your travels take you.
When you’re traveling outside of the US, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card does not charge any foreign transaction fees. Foreign transaction fees are typically 3% to 5% of your purchase, so they can quickly add up if you don’t take the right card on your trips abroad.
Annual hotel credit
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card now offers up to $50 in annual statement credits toward hotel purchases made through the Chase Ultimate Rewards travel portal. New cardholders can start earning the credit immediately, while existing cardholders will be eligible after their next account anniversary.
Maximizing this credit is an easy way to shave up to $50 off the card’s Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card annual fee — making your net out-of-pocket cost each year just $45.
10% anniversary point bonus
Each year on your account anniversary, you’ll receive a points bonus equal to 10% of all purchases made in the previous year.
For example, if you spent $25,000 on the card in an anniversary year, you’d receive a bonus of 2,500 points.
Primary car rental insurance
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card card includes primary car rental insurance for damage due to theft or collision, which means it kicks in before your own car insurance and allows you to confidently pass up the extra charge of a car rental agency’s own insurance whenever you rent a vehicle and pay with the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (note that it doesn’t include liability insurance).
Most cars and countries are included, but check the terms and conditions for specific exclusions.
Trip interruption/cancellation insurance
If you’ve paid for an eligible trip with the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and it’s cut short or canceled for a covered reason like illness or severe weather, you can be reimbursed up to $10,000 per person and $20,000 per trip for pre-paid, non-refundable travel expenses.
Trip delay insurance
When you use your Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card to pay for your fare, you can get reimbursed up to $500 per ticket for hotel rooms, food, toiletries, clothes, or other reasonable expenses when your flight is delayed overnight or by 12 hours or more.
Baggage delay insurance
If you’ve paid for your travel with the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and your bags are delayed for six hours or more, you could be reimbursed for essential purchases (like clothing and toiletries) up to $100 per day for up to five days.
Lost luggage reimbursement
If the carrier damages or loses your bags, you and your immediate family members could be covered for up to $3,000 per passenger as long as you’ve paid for your tickets with the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card.
Extended warranty
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card extends the time period of a US manufacturer’s warranty on eligible items by an additional year, on warranties of three years or less when you pay with your card.
Purchase protection
If an eligible item you’ve bought with the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is damaged or stolen within 120 days of purchase, you could be eligible for up to $500 in reimbursement per claim, and up to $50,000 per account.
Travel and emergency assistance services
If you’re traveling away from home and run into a problem, you can get help with medical and legal referrals or other emergency assistance. This service is free for Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card cardholders, but any third-party costs are your responsibility.
Travel accident insurance
When you pay for your air, bus, cruise, or train transportation with the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, you’re eligible for accidental death or dismemberment coverage of up to $500,000.
Roadside dispatch
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card cardholders can contact the roadside dispatch hotline for help with arranging services like towing and flat tire repair for a set fee.
DoorDash DashPass
With the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, you can receive a complimentary DashPass membership (for waived delivery fees on qualifying orders) through December 31, 2024. Enrollment is required to receive this perk.
Instacart benefits
Through July 31, 2024, Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card cardholders can enroll for a complimentary six months of Instacart+ membership, which comes with free delivery on orders of $35+ and reduced service fees. If you don’t plan to keep the membership open beyond six months, be sure to set a calendar reminder to cancel, otherwise it will automatically renew for another year (currently $99) once your free six months is up.
With the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, you can now also earn up to $15 per quarter in statement credits toward Instacart purchases (activation required). If you maximize this benefit each quarter, it’s worth up to $60 per year — which makes up for much of the card’s annual fee.
Gopuff credit
Through December 31, 2023, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card offers $10 per month in Gopuff credits when you add your card as the default payment method in the Gopuff app. Gopuff is a service that offers speedy delivery of everyday items like food, alcohol, electronics, and medicine.
Cardholders receive the credit automatically when they make an eligible purchase with Gopuff. There’s a minimum order amount of $10, and a flat $2.95 delivery fee per order.
Chase Sapphire Preferred fees and costs
It is easy to see how you can get $100 or more in value from this card every year, but it isn’t free. The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card charges a Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card annual fee. However, you can use the card for international purchases without worrying about extra charges, because it doesn’t add foreign transaction fees.
Like most other credit cards, you’ll pay interest if you carry a balance, and there are fees for balance transfers, cash advances, late payments, and returned payments.
Comparison: Chase Sapphire Preferred vs other Chase credit cards
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
Chase Freedom Unlimited®
Annual fee
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
Chase Freedom Unlimited®
Rewards rate
5x points on Lyft rides through March 2025
5x points on all travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards
3x points on dining, including eligible delivery services, takeout, and dining out
3x points on select streaming services
3x points on online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart, and wholesale clubs)
2x points on other travel
1 point per dollar on everything else
10x points on Lyft rides through March 2025
10x points on Chase Dining purchases through Chase Ultimate Rewards
10x points on hotel stays and car rentals purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards
5x points on air travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards
3x points on other travel (after earning the $300 travel credit) and dining
1 point per dollar on everything else
5% cash back (5x points) on Lyft rides through March 2025
5% cash back (5x points) on travel booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards
3% back (3x points) on dining and drugstore purchases
1.5% back (1.5x points) on everything else
Welcome bonus offer
80,000 points
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
$200 after spending $500 in the first three months from account opening
Card benefits
10% anniversary point bonus
Primary car rental insurance
Trip interruption/cancellation
Trip delay insurance
Baggage delay insurance
Lost luggage reimbursement
Extended warranty
Purchase protection
No foreign transaction fees
Access to Chase Sapphire Lounges by The Club (when open)
Access to Reserved by Sapphire restaurant reservations
Priority Pass Select airport lounge membership
Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS application fee credit
Primary car rental insurance
Complimentary elite status with Avis, National, and Silvercar car rental agencies
Trip interruption/cancellation
Trip delay insurance
Baggage delay insurance
Lost luggage reimbursement
Extended warranty
Purchase protection
Travel and emergency assistance services
Travel accident insurance
Roadside assistance
Emergency evacuation and transportation
Emergency medical and dental benefit
No foreign transaction fees
Secondary car rental insurance
Trip interruption/cancellation
Extended warranty
Purchase protection
Statement credits
Up to $50 in statement credits toward hotel stays booked through Chase
Complimentary DoorDash DashPass membership through December 31, 2024
$10 per month in Gopuff credit through December 2023
Six-month complimentary Instacart+ membership (activate by July 31, 2024)
Up to $15 per quarter in Instacart credits through July 2024
Up to $300 in statement credits each cardmember year toward travel purchases
$5 monthly DoorDash in-app credit from April 2022 to December 2024
Complimentary DoorDash DashPass membership through December 31, 2024
$10 per month in Gopuff credit through December 2023
One-year complimentary Instacart+ membership (activate by July 31, 2024)
Up to $15 per month in Instacart credits through July 2024
$10 per month in Gopuff credit through December 2023
Three-month complimentary DoorDash DashPass membership (activate by December 31, 2024)
Three-month complimentary Instacart+ membership (activate by July 31, 2024)
Up to $10 per quarter in Instacart credits through July 2024
Review
Chase Sapphire Reserve card review
Chase Freedom Unlimited card review
Chase Sapphire Preferred vs other travel cards
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
American Express® Gold Card
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Annual fee
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
American Express® Gold Card
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Rewards rate
5x points on Lyft rides through March 2025
5x points on all travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards
3x points on dining, including eligible delivery services, takeout, and dining out
3x points on select streaming services
3x points on online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart, and wholesale clubs)
2x points on other travel
1 point per dollar on everything else
4x points at U.S. supermarkets* and at restaurants
3x points on flights booked directly with airlines or through Amex Travel
1x points on all other eligible purchases
5x miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
5x miles when booking on Turo (offer ends May 16, 2023)
2x miles on all other purchases
Welcome bonus offer
80,000 points
60,000 points after you spend at least $4,000 in your first 6 months of account opening
Earn 60,000 bonus miles once you spend $3,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening
Card benefits
10% anniversary point bonus
Primary car rental insurance
Trip interruption/cancellation
Trip delay insurance
Baggage delay insurance
Lost luggage reimbursement
Extended warranty
Purchase protection
Travel and emergency assistance services
Travel accident insurance
Roadside dispatch
No foreign transaction fees
Perks at Amex Hotel Collection properties (when booked through Amex)
Secondary car rental insurance
Trip delay insurance
Baggage insurance
Extended warranty
Purchase protection
Up to $10 in Uber Cash** each month (up to $120 per calendar year)
No foreign transaction fees
Secondary car rental insurance
Travel accident insurance
Extended warranty
No foreign transaction fees
Statement credits
Up to $50 in statement credits toward hotel stays booked through Chase
Complimentary DoorDash DashPass membership through December 31, 2024
$10 per month in Gopuff credit through December 2023
Six-month complimentary Instacart+ membership (activate by July 31, 2024)
Up to $15 per quarter in Instacart credits through July 2024
Up to $10 in dining credits each month (up to $120 per year)***
Global Entry/TSA PreCheck application fee credit
Review
American Express Gold Card review
Capital One Venture card review
*The American Express® Gold Card earns 4x points on the first $25,000 spent at U.S. supermarkets each calendar year, then 1 point per dollar
***the American Express® Gold Card offers up to $10 in dining credits each month when you use your card at Grubhub, Seamless, The Cheesecake Factory, Ruth’s Chris Steak House (through August 1, 2022), Boxed (through August 1, 2022), and participating Shake Shack locations. Enrollment required.
Chase Sapphire Preferred frequently asked questions (FAQ)
What credit score do you need for the Chase Sapphire Preferred?
Most people who are approved for the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card have a credit score in the good to excellent range. As with other travel rewards credit cards, it will be hard to get approved if you have a limited credit history or are rebuilding your credit score.
If you’re new to credit, check out our list of the best starter credit cards and best cards for fair or average credit that can help you improve your credit score with responsible use.
Who is eligible for the Chase Sapphire Preferred card?
Chase only allows you to have one Sapphire card at a time, so if you already have the card (or its sibling, the Chase Sapphire Reserve®), you won’t be approved.
You also aren’t eligible if you’ve earned the bonus on any Sapphire card in the past 48 months, or have opened five or more cards (from any bank) in the past 24 months. The latter restriction is known as the Chase 5/24 rule, and it applies to most Chase cards.
Is the Chase Sapphire Preferred worth it?
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card annual fee on the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card might seem intimidating if you’ve only had no-annual-fee cards in the past. It’s definitely worth it in the first year because the value of the welcome bonus far exceeds the cost.
Beyond that, you’ll want to evaluate your spending habits and if they align with the card’s bonus categories. You’ll also need to consider if you can use perks like up to $50 in annual hotel credit (which effectively reduces your net annual cost to $45) and top-notch travel insurance benefits, which can also translate to significant savings.
The ability to transfer points to travel partners (which you don’t get if you only have a no-annual-fee Chase card) can get you outsized value for your points, too — but if that’s not a perk you’ll use, you may be better off with a different card.
Does the Chase Sapphire Preferred charge for authorized users?
It’s free to add authorized users to your Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. They’ll get their own card, but any points earned from their spending will belong to the primary cardholder.
Keep in mind any transactions made by your authorized users are your responsibility, so only add folks you trust.
What is the credit limit for the Chase Sapphire Preferred card?
Because the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is a Visa Signature card, the minimum credit limit is usually $5,000. Many people get approved for credit limits that are higher than that.
Can you upgrade or downgrade the Chase Sapphire Preferred card?
If you’ve had your Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card for at least a year and decide it’s not a good fit for you, you can call Chase and ask to product change to a different personal Ultimate Rewards earning card. For example, if you find yourself traveling more often and want perks like Priority Pass airport lounge access, you could ask for an upgrade to the Chase Sapphire Reserve®.
Or, on the other hand, if you find that paying the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card’s annual fee isn’t worth it for you, you could request a downgrade to the no-annual-fee Chase Freedom Flex℠ or Chase Freedom Unlimited®. You’ll lose the ability to transfer rewards to partners or redeem them for 1.25 cents each for travel booked through Chase, but you’ll still keep any Ultimate Rewards points you already have in your account.
Keep in mind if you upgrade or downgrade, you won’t be eligible to earn the welcome bonus on the card you switch to.
Do points from the Chase Sapphire Preferred expire?
As long as your Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is open and in good standing, your Ultimate Rewards points will not expire.
However, if you close your card, you’ll lose all the points in your account — so be sure to redeem them or transfer them to an airline or hotel partner before you cancel.
Does the Chase Sapphire Preferred cover TSA PreCheck or Global Entry?
No, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card doesn’t come with a TSA PreCheck or Global Entry credit. However, its sibling, the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, does offer this feature. You can find more options in our guide to the best credit cards with Global Entry and TSA PreCheck credits.
Is the Chase Sapphire Preferred made of metal?
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and the Chase Sapphire Reserve® are both metal cards. Both cards weigh around 13 grams — a bit lighter than other popular metal cards like the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card and The Platinum Card® from American Express.
How do you dispose of a metal card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred?
Unlike plastic credit cards that you can cut in half with scissors or put through a shredder, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is very difficult to destroy.
Typically, when you receive a replacement card, Chase will include a postage-paid envelope so you can mail the old metal card back for disposal (you can also call and request one). Alternately, you can just keep your old card and file it away.