What are the main differences between the Chase Sapphire Preferred and Chase Sapphire Reserve?

The biggest differences between these cards are their annual fees and cardholder benefits. The Chase Sapphire Reserve carries a whopping $550 annual fee, while the Sapphire Preferred card's annual fee is just $95. The Reserve card's higher annual fee gets you several perks that are missing from the Preferred card, however, including an up to $300 annual travel credit, up to $100 Global Entry/TSA Precheck credit and more. The Chase Sapphire Reserve also has a higher Ultimate Rewards travel redemption boost — 50 percent compared to the Sapphire Preferred card's 25 percent.

What is the sign-up bonus for the Chase Sapphire Preferred?

The Chase Sapphire Preferred is currently offering a sign-up bonus of 60,000 Ultimate Rewards points after you spend $4,000 in your first three months as a card member. Those points are worth 1 cent apiece when redeemed for cash back or 1.25 cents apiece if you redeem for travel through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal, equal to $750 at the boosted rate.

Can you get priority pass with Chase Sapphire Preferred?

No, the Chase Sapphire Preferred does not offer free Priority Pass airport lounge access. Chase Sapphire Preferred cardholders can still enroll in Priority Pass online through the airport lounge program's official website.

Is the Chase Sapphire Preferred hard to get?

It can be difficult for people with a fair credit score or lower to be approved for this card. However, if you have a good to excellent FICO score, it shouldn’t be too hard to qualify. Check with Bankrate’s CardMatch™ tool to see if you qualify without impacting your credit score.

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card review: The best travel rewards card for under $100?

Snapshot

4.9

Bankrate rating

Bottom line

The Chase Sapphire Preferred is an excellent entry point into the world of travel rewards, offering impressive value, easy redemption options and premium benefits for a modest $95 annual fee.

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Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Rewards rate

2x - 5x

5x on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards® 3x on dining 2x on all other travel purchases, plus more

Annual fee

Intro offer

Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.

Recommended credit

Good to Excellent (670 – 850)

A FICO score/credit score is used to represent the creditworthiness of a person and may be one indicator to the credit type you are eligible for. However, credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card Overview

The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card is one of the best travel credit cards on the market, thanks to its low annual fee, generous rewards structure and various travel protections. Boasting new and improved bonus categories, a $50 annual hotel stay credit through Chase and a 10 percent point match-style anniversary bonus, the Sapphire Preferred should offer excellent value to everyday spenders and rewards experts alike.

And though it lacks some of the robust perks found in more premium travel cards, like travel credits worth hundreds of dollars, the card should be a good fit for travelers looking to earn rewards on their flights and hotel stays without a hefty annual fee.

What are the pros and cons?

Pros

This card does not charge foreign transaction fees, which is beneficial if you travel overseas frequently.
Compared with other travel rewards cards of this caliber, it has a relatively low annual fee of $95.
The card has a 1:1 point transfer ratio and an impressive airline and hotel transfer partner list.
You could get a 25 percent value boost to points redeemed for travel via Chase Ultimate Rewards.

Cons

There are no introductory APR offers on purchases or balance transfers with this card.
It lacks some premium travel perks, such as free checked bags and airport lounge access.

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