Is the Chase Sapphire Preferred Still the Best Travel Card?
KEY POINTS
- The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card offers one of the best welcome bonuses around.
- Booking through the Chase Travel portal earns you 1.25x on your points.
- If you don't mind a higher annual fee, there are better options out there.
For years, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees) has been a go-to option for travelers looking to maximize their spending. With its generous rewards structure, travel protections, and flexible redemption options, it's easy to see why this card has long been a favorite.
But with so many travel credit cards on the market these days, is it still the best option in 2025? Let's break it down.
2025 Award Winner
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= Excellent
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= Fair = Poor
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair = PoorGood/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR N/A
Purchases: N/A
Balance Transfers: N/A
Regular APR
19.99% - 28.24% Variable
Rewards Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining and 2x on all other travel purchases
Annual Fee
$95
Welcome Offer Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
100,000 bonus points
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This card easily justifies the (very reasonable) annual fee with benefits that deliver real value. For a limited time, earn 100,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 in the first 3 months, which we estimate is worth $1,250 in Chase Travel℠ value. Plus, enjoy bonus travel and dining rewards, a $50 annual hotel credit, and 25% more value when booking through Chase Travel. With added travel protections like rental car insurance and trip reimbursement, we think this card is a game-changer for any traveler. Read Full Review
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- Big sign-up bonus
- Travel rewards
- Dining rewards
- Flexible travel points
- Consumer and travel protections
- Annual fee
- Limited-time perks
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- Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
- Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
- Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2027.
- Member FDIC
What makes the Chase Sapphire Preferred so popular?
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card has built its reputation on offering great rewards and flexibility, and it usually boasts one of the leading welcome bonuses. Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. The current bonus is equal to up to $1,250 in Chase Travel℠ value.
You will also earn:
- 5X points on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠
- 3X points on dining, select streaming services, and online groceries
- 2X points on all other travel
- 1X points on other purchases
And redeeming these points is simple. Your points are worth 25% more when booking through the Chase Travel portal. That means 10,000 points equals $125 in travel. But if you can't find what you need there, Chase has over a dozen airline and hotel partners you can transfer your points to at a 1:1 ratio.
Start maximizing your travel points today. Click here to apply for the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card.
How does the Chase Sapphire Preferred compare to other travel cards?
With so many travel credit cards available, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card might not be the best option for your wallet. Here's how some of the competition stacks up:
| Offer | Our Rating | Welcome Offer | Rewards Program | APR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
The Platinum Card® from American Express
Apply Now for The Platinum Card® from American Express
On American Express' Secure Website. Terms apply |
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair = PoorBest for large welcome offer
|
80,000 Membership Rewards® Points Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. | 1X-5X Membership Rewards® Points Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. Earn 1X Membership Rewards® Points on other purchases. Terms and limitations apply. |
Intro: Purchases: N/A Balance Transfers: N/A APR: See Pay Over Time APR |
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
|
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair = Poor |
60,000 bonus points Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. | 5x points on flights and 10x points on hotels and car rentals through Chase Travel℠. Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases. |
Intro: Purchases: N/A Balance Transfers: N/A Regular: 20.24% - 28.74% Variable |
Is the Chase Sapphire Preferred still worth it?
For travelers who want a high-value rewards card with flexibility and strong travel protections, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card remains one of the best choices out there. Between its great welcome bonus, valuable redemption options, and reasonable $95 annual fee, it's an excellent option for occasional and frequent travelers.
However, if you want a more premium experience with perks like airport lounge access and higher point-earning rates, the rates and fees) might be a better fit -- if you're willing to pay the higher annual fee.
Our Research Expert
Jake is a full-time Editorial Strategist for Motley Fool Money. He specializes in product ratings and all things credit cards, and wants to make sure each person has the best card for them.
We're firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. Motley Fool Money does not cover all offers on the market. Motley Fool Money is 100% owned and operated by The Motley Fool. Our knowledgeable team of personal finance editors and analysts are employed by The Motley Fool and held to the same set of publishing standards and editorial integrity while maintaining professional separation from the analysts and editors on other Motley Fool brands. Terms may apply to offers listed on this page.
For rates and fees for the The Platinum Card® from American Express, click here