Why the Chase Sapphire Preferred remains the top travel rewards credit card year after year
Every year, the TPG Awards honor excellence in credit cards, loyalty programs and travel. Please click here to read more about our winner selection process and methodology for the 2024 TPG Awards.
Chase has snagged the award for Best Travel Rewards Credit Card for the seventh year in a row.
A consensus favorite among TPG staffers, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees) is again taking home the title of Best Travel Rewards Credit Card. That's thanks to its low annual fee, ability to earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points, an excellent roster of transfer partners, ease of use and generous travel benefits and protections.
The Sapphire Preferred was my first travel rewards credit card, getting me into the world of points and miles. This card is great for beginners and experts alike and will continue to be in my wallet for years to come.
Let's explore why the Chase Sapphire Preferred is named the top travel rewards card year after year.
Great for beginners
The Chase Sapphire Preferred is the little sibling of the Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see rates and fees), a premium travel rewards card with a $795 annual fee. The Sapphire Reserve has more benefits and perks than the Sapphire Preferred, but the Sapphire Preferred wins on simplicity and ease of use.
Additionally, if you're new to the world of points and miles, the welcome offer on the Chase Sapphire Preferred can jump-start your journey with a nice stash of what we consider the most valuable rewards currency (along with Bilt Rewards Points).
New applicants can earn 75,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 within the first three months of account opening. Based on TPG's April 2025 valuations, this welcome offer is worth $1,538.
Related: Chase Sapphire Preferred vs. Sapphire Reserve: Should you go mid-tier or premium?
Low annual fee
The Chase Sapphire Preferred has a modest $95 annual fee that is comparable to that of its mid-tier travel rewards card competitors.
While you won't get perks like lounge access or travel statement credits, you will get a solid card with excellent earnings rates and useful perks. This annual fee is much more reasonable for those just getting into the world of credit cards with annual fees or those looking to upgrade from a no-annual-fee card to a mid-tier card.
The card also comes with a straightforward annual $50 statement credit for any hotel booked through Chase Travel℠ . If you utilize this credit, the effective annual fee drops to only $45.
Related: The complete guide to credit card annual fees
Valuable bonus categories
While many travel rewards cards have multiple bonus categories, the Sapphire Preferred outshines most. That's because the bonus categories are broad, there are no spending caps and purchases made abroad are eligible for bonus points. The card earns flexible rewards in the form of Chase Ultimate Rewards points.
The Sapphire Preferred earns:
- 5 points per dollar spent on travel booked through Chase Travel
- 5 points per dollar spent on Lyft rides (through Sept. 2027)
- 5 points per dollar spent on Peloton equipment and accessory purchases of $150 or more (with a limit of 25,000 bonus points through Dec. 2027)
- 3 points per dollar spent on dining, select streaming services and online grocery store purchases (excludes Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs)
- 2 points per dollar spent on all other travel not booked through the Chase Travel portal (travel is broadly defined by Chase and includes things such as parking, tolls, ferries and campgrounds)
- 1 point per dollar spent on everything else
These are some of the best earnings rates on the market. While there are a few other cards with higher earnings rates in certain categories, these cards usually carry higher annual fees or are limited by spending caps in select bonus categories.
Whether you're a beginner or an expert, these bonus categories can help you maximize your earnings and get you closer to your next trip.
Related: 6 reasons why the Chase Sapphire Preferred is the perfect card for the average traveler
Flexible redemptions and transfers
The Chase Sapphire Preferred earns Ultimate Rewards points that can be redeemed in several ways.
Points can be redeemed for travel booked through the Chase Travel portal at a value of up to 1.75 cents per point (depending on the specific redemption; see your rewards program agreement for full details), a statement credit at 1 cent per point (at times higher if you use Chase's Pay Yourself Back feature) or gift cards at 1 cent per point.
You can also redeem points by transferring them to partners, our favorite redemption option. Based on TPG's April 2025 valuations, Ultimate Rewards points are worth 2.05 cents each through this redemption route.
Chase has a roster of 14 transfer partners, including 11 airline and three hotel partners. Transferring and redeeming points is relatively easy, making this useful for beginners. Many transfer partners have incredible sweet spot redemptions where you can get outsize value for your points.
My three favorite Chase transfer partners are Air Canada Aeroplan, Southwest Rapid Rewards and World of Hyatt. The latter has gotten me outstanding hotel redemptions worldwide at properties like the Grand Hyatt Barcelona, where I routinely get up to 4 cents per point in value.
Related: When and how to transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points to World of Hyatt
Travel protections and perks
The Chase Sapphire Preferred is loaded with various travel protections and insurances that alone could help justify the annual fee. These include:
- Baggage delay insurance
- Lost luggage reimbursement
- Primary rental car coverage
- Purchase protection and extended warranty protection
- Trip cancellation insurance
- Trip delay insurance
Even if you travel only once or twice a year, these protections can add peace of mind your travel plans go awry. Additionally, the purchase and extended warranty protection can be beneficial for large purchases.
Bottom line
It's clear why TPG staffers (both beginners and experts ourselves) often recommend the Chase Sapphire Preferred. With its valuable earnings rates, useful protections and benefits, access to transfer partners and low annual fee, the Sapphire Preferred is worthy of taking the crown home again as the Best Travel Rewards Credit Card.
To learn more about the card, read our full review of the Chase Sapphire Preferred.
Apply here: Chase Sapphire Preferred
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at American Express's secure site
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| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 5X | New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Valuable dining and food-related credits
- Flexible rewards with airline and hotel transfer partners
- Multiple travel and purchase protections
- No foreign transaction fees
- Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
- Updated! $120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
- New! As an American Express® Gold Card Member, you can enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status. Enjoy benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
- Take advantage of a $100 credit towards eligible charges* at over 1,300 upscale hotels worldwide when you book The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App **. *Eligible charges vary by property. **The Hotel Collection requires a two-night minimum stay.
- Book your travel through the Amex Travel App with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.