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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.
Guides
Does it make sense to hold both the Chase Sapphire Preferred and Reserve?
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.
July 2, 2026 • 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 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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Quick summary
Recent changes have made it more appealing for travelers to hold both a premium and a mid-tier travel rewards card from the same family.
The mid-tier card now offers enhanced rewards for vacation home rentals, gas, electric vehicle charging and various travel purchases, making it a strong complement to the premium card.
Cardholders can combine points earned across both cards, maximizing earning in select categories and redeeming for premium travel benefits.
The mid-tier card's annual hotel credit can help offset its cost, especially for those with significant vacation rental or travel spending.
What to consider
Eligibility for welcome bonuses depends on prior account history and previously received bonuses; not all applicants will qualify for a new bonus.
Managing two cards requires tracking overlapping benefits and separate credits, which may add complexity for some users.
The premium card remains superior for direct flight and hotel bookings, lounge access and certain redemption options, while the mid-tier card now leads in categories like vacation rentals and gas.
What you'll miss from the article
A detailed comparison of earning and redemption strategies for travelers considering holding both a premium and mid-tier travel rewards card.
Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.
Comments
By commenting, you agree to our Community Guidelines to help create a positive space for conversation. The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser, our partners, or The Points Guy (“TPG”). They have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these parties. All responses are submitted by individual contributors, and neither the bank advertiser, our partners, nor TPG are responsible for ensuring that all posts and/or questions are answered.
For years, most travelers chose one or the other and never seriously considered carrying both. But following the recent Sapphire Preferred refresh, I think there’s never been a stronger case for Sapphire Reserve cardholders to add the Sapphire Preferred to their wallet.
That’s especially true right now. The Sapphire Preferred is offering 75,000 bonus points, earned after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
Here’s why I added the Sapphire Preferred to my wallet despite already holding the Sapphire Reserve — and why other Reserve cardholders may want to consider doing the same.
Can you hold the Sapphire Preferred and the Sapphire Reserve at the same time?
The bigger question isn’t whether you can have both cards — it’s whether you’ll be eligible for a welcome bonus.
According to Chase, welcome offer eligibility depends on several factors, including previously earned bonuses and account history. In practice, if you’ve previously earned a Sapphire Preferred welcome bonus, you may be able to get the Sapphire Preferred again, but you’re unlikely to receive another welcome bonus on that card.
OLEG BRESLAVTSEV/GETTY IMAGES
The same generally applies to the Sapphire Reserve. If you’ve previously earned a Sapphire Reserve welcome bonus and closed the card, you’re unlikely to earn the welcome bonus again.
That doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t get the card — it just means you shouldn’t assume you’ll receive the welcome bonus.
If you want to add a second Sapphire card, you can either apply outright or product change an existing Chase card.
Applying outright is usually preferable if you’re eligible for the welcome bonus, while product changing can make sense for cardholders who are over Chase’s 5/24 limit.
The latter is the route I took.
Why I added the Sapphire Preferred to my wallet
I’ve held the Sapphire Reserve for nearly a decade. I also previously had the Sapphire Preferred, earned a welcome bonus and eventually closed the card.
Last week, I decided to add the Sapphire Preferred back to my wallet.
Because I’m over Chase’s 5/24 limit, applying for a new Sapphire Preferred wasn’t possible. Instead, I product changed my no-annual-fee Chase Slate® (see ) into a Sapphire Preferred knowing I wouldn’t be eligible for a welcome bonus.
I have a four-month Airbnb stay in Madrid later this year, with $7,220 in payments due. Charging those stays to the Sapphire Preferred will earn me 21,660 Chase Ultimate Rewards points worth $444 based on TPG’s June 2026 valuations.
That benefit alone justifies carrying the card in my situation.
That lets you earn at higher rates on categories like vacation rentals and gas while still taking advantage of Sapphire Reserve benefits like lounge access, Points Boost redemptions, the annual travel credit and a more favorable World of Hyatt transfer ratio†.
†The 4:3 transfer ratio is immediate for those who applied for the Sapphire Preferred from June 15; it devalues from 1:1 to 4:3 on Oct. 1 for other cardholders.
Watch out for overlapping benefits
There is some duplication. Both cards earn 3 points per dollar spent on dining, include travel protections and offer access to Chase transfer partners (excluding the World of Hyatt transfer ratio difference).
That’s the position I’m in. I won’t receive a welcome bonus on my Sapphire Preferred, but the annual hotel credit can offset the annual fee. Not to mention, my upcoming Airbnb spending alone should generate hundreds of dollars worth of Ultimate Rewards points.
Advice for existing Sapphire Preferred Card holders
If you’re starting from the opposite position and already have the Sapphire Preferred, I’m less enthusiastic about adding the Sapphire Reserve.
The Reserve’s annual fee is $700 higher, and maximizing its value requires much more effort.
That said, frequent travelers who value lounge access, stronger travel protections and premium redemption options may still find it worthwhile.
A year ago, I probably would have told most Sapphire Reserve cardholders to stick with a single Sapphire card. Today, I think the opposite may be true.
The Sapphire Reserve remains Chase’s flagship travel rewards card, but the Sapphire Preferred has become a much stronger companion. That's thanks to its bonus categories on vacation home rentals, gas, EV charging and general travel purchases.
If you’re eligible for the Sapphire Preferred’s current 75,000-point welcome offer is very generous. But even if you’re not, the card can still be worth carrying if you’ll use the $100 annual hotel credit and spend meaningfully in its strongest bonus categories.
That’s ultimately why I added the Sapphire Preferred back to my wallet — and why I think there’s a stronger case than ever for frequent travelers to carry both cards.
