Who should (and shouldn’t) get the Chase Sapphire Preferred?
Editor's Note
Quick summary
Choosing the right travel rewards credit card can be a tricky proposition. The sheer volume of options can seem overwhelming, but it's a critical decision when you are seeking to maximize your everyday purchases and unlock valuable rewards like free hotel stays and award flights.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees) is among our most recommended credit cards, especially for travel beginners. Today, we'll take a look at who should (and shouldn't) apply for it.
Card overview
Let's start with a quick review of the key, ongoing benefits of the Chase Sapphire Preferred:
- $50 yearly hotel credit when reserving your stay through the Chase Travel portal
- 10% bonus points annually (based on spending)
- No foreign transaction fees
- Primary car rental coverage, saving you from filing a claim with your own insurance company when your rental car is damaged
- Trip delay and cancellation insurance
- Baggage delay insurance
You'll also get some great earning rates on the card:
- 5 points per dollar on travel booked through the Chase Travel portal
- 5 points per dollar on Peloton equipment and accessory purchases of $150 or more — with a limit of 25,000 points — through December 2027
- 5 points per dollar on Lyft purchases through September 2027
- 3 points per dollar on dining, select streaming services and online grocery store purchases (excludes Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs)
- 2 points per dollar on all travel not booked through the Chase Travel portal
- 1 point per dollar on everything else
This comes at a relatively low price: the card's annual fee is just $95.
Related: How to maximize your rewards earning with the Chase Sapphire Preferred
Who should get the Sapphire Preferred
After considering the card's benefits, it's time to decide whether the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card makes sense. Here are some reasons you may want to add this card to your wallet:
You're looking for your first card with an annual fee
Many beginners think they need to avoid cards with annual fees completely. But if you've already started with one of our favorite cards without an annual fee and are ready to take your next step in the points and miles world, the Sapphire Preferred is a great option.
You have the Chase Freedom Flex or Chase Freedom Unlimited
You're also a great candidate for this card if you already have the Chase Freedom Flex® (see rates and fees) or Chase Freedom Unlimited® (see rates and fees). Combining the Sapphire Preferred with one (or both) of these cards is one of the best ways to maximize your points.
The Ultimate Rewards program lets you freely transfer points between your participating cards. As a result, the points on the two Freedom cards that would usually only be redeemable for cash back can be sent to your Sapphire Preferred account, instantly increasing their value.
You'll get at least 1.25 cents of value per point when you book travel through the Chase Travel portal, but you can expand that even more by using one of the program's valuable transfer partners.
You're a small-business owner with the Ink Business Cash Credit Card or Ink Business Unlimited Credit Card
If you're a business owner with the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card (see rates and fees) or Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card (see rates and fees), you can utilize the same strategy outlined above. While you should keep business and personal expenses separate, you can combine your business and personal rewards.
Here's what you'll find at the bottom of the "Combine Points" page when you're logged in to the Ultimate Rewards site:
Combine points with other Chase credit cards with Ultimate Rewards
You can move your points, but only to another Chase card with Ultimate Rewards belonging to you or one member of your household or owner of the company, as applicable.
As a result, you can apply for the Chase Sapphire Preferred as an Ink Business Cash cardholder and then transfer the rewards from your small-business account to the Sapphire Preferred.
You don't currently have a card that earns Ultimate Rewards points
The Ultimate Rewards program can be incredibly lucrative if you know how to redeem your points for maximum value.
If you don't currently have a card that participates in the program, the Chase Sapphire Preferred is a great one to get started. As noted above, the card carries a valuable sign-up bonus, lucrative earning rates and several added perks for a minimal annual fee.
Related: The power of the Chase Trifecta: Sapphire Reserve, Ink Preferred and Freedom Unlimited
Who shouldn't get the Sapphire Preferred
While many travelers should apply for the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card, certain types of travelers shouldn't go for the card. Here are some reasons the card may not be for you.
You currently have the Chase Sapphire Reserve Card
The credit card world was turned upside down when the Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see rates and fees) was introduced in August 2016. It comes with a much higher $550 annual fee and a slew of premium travel benefits.
However, a downside to having the Sapphire Reserve is that it prevents you from being eligible for the Chase Sapphire Preferred.
You've received a sign-up bonus from any Sapphire card in the last 48 months
When Chase decided to prevent current Sapphire Reserve cardholders from signing up for the Sapphire Preferred (and vice versa), restrictions were added for how often you can earn a sign-up bonus from a Sapphire credit card. You can't earn a sign-up bonus on the Sapphire Preferred card if you earned one from any Sapphire card in the prior 48 months.
As a result, if you recently took home a bonus on a Sapphire card, be sure to wait at least four years before applying for the Chase Sapphire Preferred.
Related: Chase Sapphire Preferred vs. Chase Sapphire Reserve
You've applied for 5 or more cards from any issuer in the last 24 months
The final type of individual who shouldn't apply for the Sapphire Preferred is someone affected by the notorious Chase 5/24 rule. If you're unfamiliar, Chase will typically deny your application if you've opened five or more new credit cards in the last 24 months (hence the "5/24" moniker).
Note that the 5/24's unpublished rule even includes accounts on which you're an authorized user. If you currently have five or more new credit cards on your credit report, avoiding applying for the Sapphire Preferred.
Bottom line
The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card is a fantastic option for exploring travel rewards more deeply. It provides many opportunities to redeem points for valuable rewards that go far beyond those offered by simpler, fixed-value cards.
That said, it isn't the best option for everyone, so consider your unique situation to determine whether the card makes sense for your wallet.
To learn more, read our full review of the Chase Sapphire Preferred.
Apply here: Chase Sapphire Preferred