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Advertiser disclosure
The Points Guy believes that credit cards can transform lives, helping you leverage everyday spending for cash back or travel experiences that might otherwise be out of reach. That's why we publish a variety of editorial content and card comparisons: to help you find a great card to turn your goals into reality.
Our site may earn compensation when a customer clicks on a link, when an application is approved, or when an account is opened with our partners, and this may impact how or where these products appear. While we don't cover all available credit cards, our editorial team creates and maintains all of the analysis of these cards, and our content is not influenced nor subject to review by any credit card company, bank or partner prior to (or after) publication. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.
Reviews
Chase Sapphire Preferred Card review: A top travel and dining card
Madison Blancaflor is the managing editor for TPG's content operations team. She focuses on helping TPG's broader editorial team bring news, features and advice to readers. She has nearly six years of experience covering the credit cards and travel industries.
Compliance associate Paige Balcom joined TPG in 2022 and has spent her time working in the credit card industry reviewing content across sites such as CNET, CreditCards.com and Bankrate. She has used her knowledge to train new writers and other compliance members on the intricacies of compliance across multiple brands and partners.
Matt Moffitt is a contributing editor and expert in getting the most out of credit cards and points (he carries at least 25 cards in his wallet at any given time). Originally from Sydney, Australia, he won the Green Card Lottery and lived in Austin, Texas for 10 years before relocating to Spain in 2025.
also contributed to this story
December 16, 2025 • 9 min read
The cards we feature here are from partners who compensate us when you are approved through our site, and this may impact how or where these products appear. We don't cover all available credit cards, but our analysis, reviews, and opinions are entirely from our editorial team. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.
Editorial note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers.
Quick summary
A popular travel rewards card offers valuable points, flexible benefits and strong travel protections.
Ideal for both frequent and beginner travelers, it provides perks like hotel credits, anniversary bonuses and complimentary food delivery membership.
Points can be redeemed for travel bookings with no blackout dates or transferred to airline and hotel partners for maximum value.
The card is often recommended as a starter option for those looking to move beyond cash-back products.
What to consider
Eligibility for the welcome bonus is subject to strict rules, including limits on the number of recent card openings across all banks.
A modest annual fee applies, and the card does not include airport lounge access.
Some redemption options, such as cash back or gift cards, offer lower value than transferring points to travel partners.
What you'll miss from the article
A detailed comparison of how this product stacks up against similar travel rewards cards, including pros, cons and unique features.
Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
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Reviews from cardholders
4.7
(19 reviews)
TPG subscribers who are also cardholders of this card have rated it 4.7 out of 5.In March 2025, The Points Guy surveyed our newsletter subscribers. TPG averaged and presented cardholder responses to 7 questions on a 5-point scale. Responses are based on individual cardholder's product details, and therefore cannot be verified for accuracy. User ratings are unedited and do not reflect TPG's own reviews of these cards. The ratings and reviews are not provided or commissioned by The Points Guy. Responses have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by banks, issuers, credit card companies, or The Points Guy, and are not responsible for its accuracy or responses. You can view our full review guidelines here.
1
0%
2
0%
3
5.3%
4
21.1%
5
73.7%
84% of cardholders recommend this card
Ratings by benefit
Customer service
4.3
Additional perks
3.9
Rewards
4.3
Welcome bonus
4.4
March 11, 2025 | Cardholder since 2019|
Would not recommend
Good points card
I like the card but tend to use an airline more often. I do accumulate a fair amount of points but have only transferred them once.
March 11, 2025 | Cardholder since 2020|
Would recommend
Chase reserve Review
Easy to earn points, Like rebate for travel expenses, flight reservations easy to use
March 11, 2025 | Cardholder since 2022|
Would recommend
Flexibility across Chase cards
I really enjoy the flexibility of points use across my different Chase cards. It’s very easy to collect points on purchases that are earning higher points on different chase cards and then pull them together when I want to use them. Also, I have a Hyatt card and I can move my points from any Chase card to a Hyatt card for room purchases
March 10, 2025 | Cardholder since 2015|
Would recommend
It’s A Gem of a card
It’s easy to redeem and transfer points and excellent travel services
March 10, 2025 | Cardholder since 2022|
Would recommend
Generating Points!
I typically transfer my points to Hyatt and have enjoyed many free nights.
The (see rates and fees) is one of the most popular travel rewards credit cards. It’s an excellent choice for those who want more value from their travels but don’t need lounge access. This is one of our favorite cards to recommend to people who love travel. Card rating*: ⭐⭐⭐⭐½
*Card rating is based on the opinion of TPG’s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.
At TPG, one of the most common questions we get asked is, “Which travel credit card should I start with?”
We almost universally recommend the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card because it earns valuable points, offers useful benefits and has a low, reasonable $95 annual fee.
Designed for frequent and casual travelers, it’s an especially good choice for beginner and intermediate travelers. Many of us started our journey into points and miles with this card.
TPG recommends a credit score of at least 670 to qualify for this card; however, it’s not unheard of for someone to be approved with a lower score.
Here’s what you need to know about the Sapphire Preferred if you’re thinking about adding it to your wallet.
Chase Sapphire Preferred pros and cons
Pros
Cons
Part of valuable Chase Ultimate Rewards ecosystem
Bonus points on travel and dining
Premium travel protections
Useful annual hotel credit
Anniversary bonus points
Has an annual fee
No lounge access
Chase Sapphire Preferred welcome offer
New holders can earn 75,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
If you transfer your points to one of Chase’s airline or hotel partners, the value of this bonus is up to $1,538, according to our December 2025 valuations.
THE POINTS GUY
Be sure that you are under Chase’s 5/24 rule to be eligible for the welcome bonus. That means you haven’t opened five or more personal credit cards across all banks in the last two years.
Chase lets you hold multiple Sapphire cards, but earning a welcome bonus is strict and often limited to once per card. You’ll see a pop-up during the application telling you upfront whether you’re eligible for the bonus.
In addition to the welcome bonus, there are many appealing perks to being a holder.
You’ll receive a statement credit of up to $50 on hotel stays booked through Chase Travel℠ upon opening the card and on each account anniversary thereafter. (It’s automatically applied to your account each year when you make an eligible charge. Note, however, that the $50 credit does not earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points.)
CHASE
Cardholders also enjoy a 10% anniversary points bonus each year. This bonus is based on your total spending during the account anniversary year at a rate of 1 point for each $10 spent. So, if you spend $30,000 on your card during your cardholder year, you’ll receive 3,000 bonus points at the end of the year.
You’ll also get at least one year of complimentary DoorDash DashPass membership, which includes free delivery and reduced service fees on eligible purchases (activate by Dec. 31, 2027). This is a valuable benefit if you already use DoorDash.
Sapphire Preferred Card holders with an activated DashPass membership can get $10 each month toward nonrestaurant purchases on DoorDash, which is a great way to save on a quick convenience store purchase.
DOORDASH
Finally, the Sapphire Preferred is an ideal choice for travel bookings, such as flights, hotels and cruises. That’s because it comes with comprehensive travel protections, including:
The has a lucrative earning structure that is easy to maximize. You'll earn:
5 points per dollar spent on travel booked through Chase Travel (excluding the $50 hotel credit)
5 points per dollar spent on Lyft purchases (through Sept. 30, 2027)
5 points per dollar spent on Peloton equipment and accessory purchases of $150 or more (through Dec. 31, 2027, with a limit of 25,000 bonus points)
3 points per dollar spent on dining, select streaming services and online grocery store purchases*
2 points per dollar spent on all other travel not booked through Chase Travel
1 point per dollar spent on everything else
*The elevated earning rate for online grocery store purchases excludes Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs.
DEJAN MARJANOVIC/GETTY IMAGES
Those are some of the highest earning rates available, especially since you’re earning valuable Chase Ultimate Rewards points. That said, there are cards out there that earn more points per dollar spent on dining and groceries.
Redeeming points with the Chase Sapphire Preferred
When you redeem the points you’ve earned with the , you’ll see how the card shines.
The best alternative to transferring to partners (explained in the next section) is to use your points to book flights, accommodations and car rentals through Chase Travel — all at a rate of up to 1.75 cents per point, depending on the specific redemption (see your rewards program agreement for full details).
That means you don’t need to worry about blackout dates or finding award space; you’ll always have the option to book travel using your points. As long as a seat on a flight or a hotel room is available, you can pay for it with your points.
WESTEND61/GETTY IMAGES
You can also redeem your points for cash back or gift cards (at a rate of 1 cent per point) or for a slightly higher value when you take advantage of Chase’s Pay Yourself Back option.
However, these redemption options are less valuable than transferring your points to Chase’s travel partners, so we recommend avoiding them whenever possible.
Chase frequently runs transfer bonus promotions where you can get up to 50% more points or miles when you convert your points.
IMPRESSION MOXCHE BY SECRETS/HYATT
For example, TPG contributing editor Matt Moffitt regularly transfers points to Hyatt, booking hotels in Europe for as few as 3,500 points per night during the summer.
Using transfer partners for aspirational travel is a solid way to maximize your Ultimate Rewards points and get value from your spending.
Which cards compete with the Chase Sapphire Preferred?
The is hard to beat, but it’s worth comparing it to other cards:
If you prefer Capital One: The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is your best bet if you're interested in a Capital One-affiliated card. It offers a simpler earning structure for the same $95 annual fee. However, Capital One miles are worth slightly less than Chase points, according to TPG’s December 2025 valuations. Learn more in our full review of the Venture Rewards.
If you prefer American Express: The American Express® Green Card offers a high earning rate on travel, dining and transit. An annual up to $209 Clear Plus credit each calendar year more than offsets its higher $150 annual fee. Plus, Amex has more transfer partners than Chase and offers more frequent transfer bonuses. Learn more in our full review of the Amex Green.
If you want more perks: The (see rates and fees) offers higher earning rates on select travel purchases and elevated perks like airport lounge access and an annual travel credit for a higher $795 annual fee. Learn more in our full review of the Sapphire Reserve.
The information for the American Express Green Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
If you’re ready to level up from your cash-back or no-annual-fee credit card, an excellent card to apply for is the . It’s still regarded as one of the best rewards credit cards since its debut over 15 years ago. It earns the most valuable points available, and it’s flexible enough to meet the rewards goals of both frequent and beginner travelers alike.
