Why the Amex Gold and Chase Sapphire Preferred make a great pairing
I've held the $325-per-year American Express® Gold Card (see rates and fees) and $95-per-year Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees) for a couple of years, giving me plenty of time to see how well they work together.
Both of these cards are very popular choices among credit card enthusiasts, since they offer compelling benefits and access to valuable transferable rewards programs. You've probably seen plenty of content debating which card is better for your wallet, but you can get a lot out of pairing these cards.
Here are five reasons why the Sapphire Preferred and Amex Gold complement each other well.
Boost your earnings
One of the biggest reasons I like carrying both cards is that they complement each other's earning rates. By using each card where it performs best, I earn more points on the purchases I make most often.
Use the Amex Gold at grocery stores
The Amex Gold is my default card for grocery shopping. It earns 4 points per dollar spent at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 each calendar year, then 1 point per dollar spent), while the Sapphire Preferred only earns bonus points (3 points per dollar spent) on online grocery purchases.
Neither card offers bonus rewards at wholesale clubs, Walmart or Target, but for in-store grocery shopping, the Amex Gold is the clear winner.
Use the Gold for flights and the Sapphire Preferred for other travel
When I travel, I split my spending between the two cards. I use the Amex Gold to book flights directly with airlines, since that's where it offers a stronger earning rate (3 points per dollar spent; can also book via amextravel.com or the Amex Travel App™).
For almost everything else, I reach for the Sapphire Preferred. It earns 3 points per dollar on vacation rentals* and 2 points per dollar on most other travel purchases. That makes it my go-to card for hotels, trains, camping and general travel expenses.
*With Airbnb, Vrbo, Plum Guide, HomeAway, Homestay.com and Vacasa
Use the Gold at restaurants and the Sapphire Preferred at bars
The Amex Gold is my go-to card for restaurants, earning 4 points per dollar spent on dining worldwide (on up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar spent).
Bars are the exception. I learned this after paying for drinks and food at a bar with my Gold, only to discover a few days later that the purchase had earned just 1 point per dollar spent because it didn't code as a restaurant.
Since then, I've always used my Sapphire Preferred at bars, since Chase consistently codes those purchases as dining. I also recommend using it for food delivery and takeout outside the U.S., where the Amex Gold's dining bonus doesn't apply.
Save on food delivery
The Sapphire Preferred offers a complimentary DoorDash DashPass subscription upon activation (through Dec. 31, 2027).
Meanwhile, the Amex Gold offers up to $10 in monthly statement credits at eligible dining merchants, including Grubhub (up to $120 annually; enrollment required).
Since Grubhub+ costs $9.99 per month, you can use your Amex Gold's up to $10 monthly dining statement credit to cover your membership. This is how I use my monthly credit.
I order food delivery often, so this is the strategy I use with my Sapphire Preferred and Amex Gold.
Unlock more airline and hotel partners
Chase and American Express share many of their transfer partners, including Air Canada Aeroplan, Air France-KLM Flying Blue, British Airways Club and Marriott Bonvoy.
However, they both have partners that the other does not. Some notable options that Chase offers that Amex does not include:
- Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards
- United Airlines MileagePlus
- World of Hyatt (note that changes are in progress for World of Hyatt's transfer ratio with the Sapphire Preferred)
Meanwhile, Amex Gold cardmembers can transfer their points to these key partners that Chase lacks:
I'm a big advocate for diversifying your rewards programs, since you may find the same award ticket for significantly cheaper through a partner airline.
If you only have an Ultimate Rewards card or a Membership Rewards card, you'll miss out on a meaningful number of transfer partners. By holding both the Amex Gold and Sapphire Preferred, you'll have access to all the partners both programs offer.
Stack the cards' perks
Both the Amex Gold and Sapphire Preferred offer several perks that can be combined to save more money in your everyday life and while traveling.
The Amex Gold's statement credits mostly offset everyday spending, including up to $7 per month (up to $84 annually) for U.S. Dunkin' Donuts and up to $10 in Uber Cash per month† (up to $120 annually; enrollment required).
The Sapphire Preferred offers a complimentary Apple TV subscription for one year (activate by Dec. 31). Beyond this, its notable perks revolve more around travel. It offers stronger travel protections than the Amex Gold, up to $100 each year for hotel bookings made through Chase Travel and up to $120 for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or Nexus (every four years).
Of course, it's important to make sure you're already spending on these services. Otherwise, you're spending money you wouldn't otherwise spend just to justify carrying both cards, which isn't a strategy I recommend.
If you're already spending a lot on dining, travel and ride-hailing services, these two cards can save you a lot of money when paired together.
†Uber Cash will only be deposited into one Uber account when you add the Amex Gold as a payment method and redeem with any Amex card.
Earn two welcome bonuses
One of the biggest advantages of opening both cards is the opportunity to earn two valuable welcome bonuses, provided you're eligible for each.
Amex and Chase generally only let you earn one welcome bonus per lifetime on the Amex Gold and Sapphire Preferred, so this opportunity is most valuable if you've never held either card before.
Currently, Amex Gold applicants can find out their offer and see if they are eligible for as high as 100,000 bonus points after spending $8,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership. (Welcome offers vary, and you may not be eligible for an offer.)
Meanwhile, Sapphire Preferred cardholders can earn 100,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
According to TPG's July 2026 valuations, these welcome offers are worth up to $2,000 and $2,050, respectively.
When this combination might not be right
While I think these cards work exceptionally well together, they won't be the right fit for everyone. Here are a few situations where I'd consider a different strategy:
- You don't want to pay a combined $420 in annual fees.
- You don't frequently spend at U.S. Dunkin' Donuts or the Amex Gold's eligible dining credit merchants.
- You already have a different Membership Rewards or Ultimate Rewards card, such as the American Express Platinum Card® or Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see rates and fees).
- You want a card pairing with simpler earning rates and benefits.
- You're at or over Chase's 5/24 rule.
Bottom line
It's very easy to find arguments in favor of having either the Amex Gold or the Sapphire Preferred, but there are also strong reasons for holding both cards at the same time. I've had both the Gold and the Sapphire Preferred in my wallet for a while, and each serves its own purpose.
Between complementary earning rates, access to more transfer partners and unique perks that the other card doesn't offer, the Amex Gold and Sapphire Preferred make a compelling case as a pair. The Amex Gold shines for everyday use, while the Sapphire Preferred is stronger for travel.
To learn more, check out our full reviews of the Amex Gold and Sapphire Preferred.
Apply here: American Express Gold Card
Apply here: Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
For rates and fees of the Amex Gold, please click here.