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The Chase Sapphire credit cards are among the best in the travel rewards realm. And now, Chase is offering new limited-time offers on the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and the Chase Sapphire Reserve®.
Depending on your travel plans, your preferences and your budget, here's how to decide which offer is better for you.
Chase Sapphire Preferred®
- $95 Annual Fee
-
$1,320
Editor's
Bonus EstimateLearn more about how we evaluate points and miles in our monthly evaluation guide.
-
Sign Up Bonus
60,000Chase Ultimate Rewards Points
Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Dollar Equivalent: $1,320 (60,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards Points * 0.022 base)
- 20.99% - 27.99% (Variable) APR
Secure application on issuer’s website
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
- $550 Annual Fee
-
$1,320
Editor's
Bonus EstimateLearn more about how we evaluate points and miles in our monthly evaluation guide.
-
Sign-Up Bonus
60,000Chase Ultimate Rewards Points
Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠. Dollar Equivalent: $1,320 (60,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards Points * 0.022 base)
- 21.99% - 28.99% (Variable) APR
Secure application on issuer’s website
Sapphire Sign-Up Bonuses
When applying through links on Slickdeals Money, you can earn 60,000 bonus points through the Chase Sapphire credit cards. Here's what you can expect from each credit card.
The Sapphire Preferred's 60,000 bonus points are worth $750 in travel because the card offers a 25% value boost on those redemptions. Between the two cards through, the Sapphire Reserve points give you greater value when you book travel through Chase, as they're worth 50% more, giving you a value of $900 — there are very few cards that have offered more value than that upfront.
Chase Sapphire Preferred®
- Our Rating 5/5 How our ratings work
- APR20.99% - 27.99% (Variable)
- Annual Fee$95
-
Sign Up Bonus
60,000Chase Ultimate Rewards Points
Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Dollar Equivalent: $1,320 (60,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards Points * 0.022 base)
The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card is one of the gold standards for earning travel rewards. It has a generous sign-up bonus and you can earn points on travel and dining expenses. The card does have an annual fee, but you can continue earning points through bonus categories and an anniversary points boost.
Overview
The Chase Sapphire Preferred is pretty flexible as it lets you transfer rewards points into miles or points several airlines and hotel programs. You can take advantage of strong transfer partners such as United, Southwest, Singapore Airlines, Virgin Atlantic and Hyatt. Similarly, you can book any reservation you want through the Chase Travel℠ portal. Although the card might not be ideal for the most frequent travelers, it has a built-in upgrade path, so when it’s time to level up your travel rewards game, you won’t have to start from scratch.
Pros
- Points are easily transferable to airlines and hotel partners
- Accelerated earnings on dining, travel & household purchases
- Excellent travel and purchase protections
- No foreign transaction fees
Cons
- Not ideal for the highest spenders
- $95 annual fee
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is one of the gold standards for earning travel rewards. This travel credit card helps users earn points quickly with accelerated rewards in everyday spending categories like travel and dining.
Cardholders enjoy perks like a $50 annual hotel credit, 10% anniversary point boost and access to the Ultimate Rewards Travel portal.
New cardmembers can earn 60,000 bonus points after using their credit card to spend $4,000 within three months of account opening. This bonus is worth $750 in travel reservations booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards, but potentially more when transferred to airline and hotel partners. Read our full review of the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card.
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
- Our Rating 4.5/5 How our ratings work
- APR21.99% - 28.99% (Variable)
- Annual Fee$550
-
Sign-Up Bonus
60,000Chase Ultimate Rewards Points
Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠. Dollar Equivalent: $1,320 (60,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards Points * 0.022 base)
This card features an annual credit for travel purchases, which can offset the annual fee, plus bonus points when you sign up. You'll also get free access to tons of Priority Pass lounges and restaurant options around the world, along with access to the Chase Sapphire Lounge network.
Overview
If you’re looking to elevate your travel experience, look no further than the Chase Sapphire Reserve. When you first get approved, you’ll earn a generous sign-up bonus that can be used for travel-related spending booked through Chase Travel℠. Transfer the points to one of Chase’s airline or hotel partners and they’re potentially worth even more.
Pros
- An array of premium travel perks including access to Priority Pass lounges
- Easy-to-use $300 travel credit that helps offset card's annual fee
- Generous rewards rates for spending
Cons
- High annual fee may be a deterrent for some
- Perks are starting to get stale relative to newer competition
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is among the top premium travel cards available. While this credit card comes with a hefty $550 annual fee, the Sapphire Reserve is packed with travel perks that more than make up for the expense.
Right off the bat, the Chase Sapphire Reserve features a $300 annual travel credit. You also get free access to more than 1,300 Priority Pass lounges and restaurant options in airports around the world. Those lounges usually give you free food and drinks, cleaner bathrooms, fast internet and a comfortable place to sit outside of the ruckus of an airport terminal.
New cardholders can also earn a sign-up bonus of 60,000 points after they spend $4,000 during the first three months of account opening. This Chase Sapphire Reserve bonus is worth $900 in travel redemptions when booking through the Chase Ultimate Rewards travel portal — where each point is worth at least 1.5 cents. Read our full Chase Sapphire Reserve review.
And remember, you can redeem your Ultimate Rewards points for much more than travel. The program also allows you to use your rewards to get cash back, buy gift cards, shop online with certain retailers and purchase Apple products — albeit at lower redemption rates than travel. You can also transfer your points to one of Chase's airline or hotel partners and potentially get even more value.
In both cases, these bonuses match the highest they've been in recent memory.
Which Sapphire Card Should You Choose?
It can be difficult to know which card to choose, especially when both have solid offers like this. So it's important to consider a few things before you make your decision.
Travel Habits
The Chase Sapphire Reserve features a higher annual fee, but over the long haul, it provides a lot more value. In addition to the rewards program, the card also gives you complimentary airport lounge access, a $300 annual travel credit, a fee credit for Global Entry, NEXUS or TSA PreCheck, special rental car privileges with select companies and more. If you travel more than the average person, the Sapphire Reserve can be well worth it.
Winner: Chase Sapphire Reserve for its luxury travel perks and travel credits.
Budget
The Sapphire Reserve does offer more overall value, but it comes at a steep price. You'll pay a $550 annual fee for the card, which is much higher than the $95 you'd pay with the Sapphire Preferred. Of course, if you expect to spend at least $300 in travel every year, that annual credit effectively reduces your yearly outlay to $250. So you'd just need to decide if it's worth paying that much each year for the card's perks.
Winner: Chase Sapphire Preferred for its lower annual fee.
Preferences
Even if you travel a lot and can afford a higher annual fee, you may simply prefer to pay less, even if it means you'll be missing out on certain things. While both cards are excellent for travel hackers who look to maximize the value of their rewards at every turn, the Sapphire Preferred is also a solid choice for folks who are more casual about travel rewards.
Winner: Chase Sapphire Preferred for its overall value relative to the annual fee.
A Couple of Things to Note Before You Apply
You're not eligible for a new sign-up bonus on either Sapphire card if you've earned a sign-up bonus on one of them in the last four years. You also can't have both cards at the same time. So if you've had one of the cards in the recent past and canceled it, you may not be eligible for the higher incentive. And if you already have one of the cards in your wallet, you'll be automatically denied if you submit an application.
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Ben Luthi
Ben Luthi is a personal finance and travel writer and credit card expert. He has a degree in finance from Brigham Young University and worked in financial planning, banking and auto finance before writing full-time for NerdWallet and Student Loan Hero. Ben is now a full-time freelance writer and enjoys traveling and spending time with his two kids. His work has appeared in several publications, including U.S. News & World Report, USA Today, Money, Success and Slickdeals.
