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I Have the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: Review From a Long-Time User

Review Updated
Lyle Daly
Author: Lyle Daly
Lyle Daly
Lyle Daly
Writer

Lyle Daly is a personal finance writer who specializes in credit cards, travel rewards programs, and banking. His work with Motley Fool Money and The Motley Fool has appeared syndicated in USA Today and Yahoo! Finance. He was born in California but currently lives as a digital nomad with a home base in Colombia.

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Nathan Alderman
Fact Checked: Nathan Alderman
Nathan Alderman
Nathan Alderman
Fact checker

Nathan Alderman has been a full-time Motley Fool employee since 2005, making errors his arch-enemies in a variety of roles including a six-year stint as the dedicated fact-checker for The Motley Fool's premium newsletter services. As Motley Fool Money's Compliance Lead, he makes sure that all the site's information is accurate and up to date, which ensures we always steer readers right and keeps various financial partners happy. A graduate of Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism, Nathan spends his spare time volunteering for civic causes, writing and podcasting for fun, adoring his wife, and wrangling his two very large young children.

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The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is good for cardholders who love to travel and want a credit card that doesn't break the bank. It has a huge welcome offer and some of the best travel points in the business -- and all for a $95 annual fee.

Check out our full review to see why it's one of the most popular travel cards.

Ratings Methodology
Award Icon 2025 Award Winner

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Apply Now for Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

On Chase's Secure Website.

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. 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
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= Fair
= Poor
Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. 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
Credit Score: Circle with letter I in it. Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.
Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Good/Excellent (670-850)
Apply Now for Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

On Chase's Secure Website.

Credit Score Circle with letter I in it. Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.

Good/Excellent (670-850)

Intro APR Circle with letter I in it. N/A

Purchases: N/A

Balance Transfers: N/A

Regular APR

20.74% - 27.74% Variable

Rewards Circle with letter I in it. 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 Circle with letter I in it. Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

60,000 bonus points

  • Bonus travel and dining rewards, along with an annual $50 hotel credit, make this card worth the (very reasonable) annual fee. Chase points are both valuable and easy to use, offering 25% more value for bookings through Chase Travel, which simplifies the experience compared to other travel cards. Not to mention it provides robust travel protections, including primary rental car insurance, trip delay reimbursement, lost luggage reimbursement, and trip cancellation/interruption insurance.

    • Big sign-up bonus
    • Travel rewards
    • Dining rewards
    • Flexible travel points
    • Consumer and travel protections
    • Annual fee
    • Limited-time perks
    • Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 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

Credit card comparison

We recommend comparing options to ensure the card you're selecting is the best fit for you. To make your search easier, here's a short list of standout credit cards.

Offer Our Rating Welcome Offer Rewards Program APR Learn More
Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. 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
Best for cash back on rotating categories 		Discover will match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year. 1% - 5% Cashback Circle with letter I in it. Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.

Intro:

Purchases: 0%, 15 months

Balance Transfers: 0%, 15 months

Regular: 18.49% - 27.49% Variable APR *Rates as of December 12, 2024.

Apply Now for Discover it® Cash Back

On Discover's Secure Website.

Rates & Fees External Link Icon

Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. 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
Best for cash rewards on everyday spending 		$200 cash rewards Circle with letter I in it. Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months. 2% cash rewards Circle with letter I in it. Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases.

Intro: Circle with letter I in it. 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers

Purchases: 0% intro APR, 12 months from account opening

Balance Transfers: 0% intro APR, 12 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers

Regular: 19.24%, 24.24%, or 29.24% Variable APR

Apply Now for Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card

On Wells Fargo's Secure Website.

Rates & Fees External Link Icon

Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars.
4.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. 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
Best for unlimited rewards on purchases 		25,000 points Circle with letter I in it. 25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening - that can be a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases 1.5 points per dollar Circle with letter I in it. Earn unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases, with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees, and your points don't expire as long as your account remains open.

Intro: Circle with letter I in it. 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases. 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the intro APR offer ends, 18.49% - 28.49% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers will apply. A 3% fee for 60 days from account opening, then 4% fee applies to all balance transfers.

Purchases: 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases

Balance Transfers: 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days

Regular: 18.49% - 28.49% (Variable)

Apply Now for Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

On Bank of America's Secure Website.

Chase Sapphire Preferred review

Is the Chase Sapphire Preferred worth it?

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is a bargain for $95. It has a $50 annual hotel credit, which already covers more than half the yearly fee. It can also save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars per year with its travel rewards program.

Author's personal experience
Image of reviewer

I'm a huge fan of the Chase Ultimate Rewards program, and I opened a Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card several years ago to save on travel. It definitely helped with that -- I've used Chase points to cover a four-star hotel stay in Manhattan (at the Thompson Hotel by Hyatt, right next to Central Park) and business-class airfare.

I also really like the customer experience with Chase. The online platform, including its Ultimate Rewards site, are well-designed, and so is the mobile app. I've had credit cards from just about all the major card issuers, and I consider Chase's platform one of the best.

Apply now for the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

What everyone else is saying

Here's a summary of what professional reviews and real-life cardholders think about this Chase card.

What other review sites say

Average review site rating: 4.8 / 5 stars

There's no debate that the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is one of the best travel rewards cards. Other review sites also gave it high marks. In fact, this is the highest average rating I've seen from any card so far. Here are the main perks that reviewers praised with this Chase card:

  • It's excellent for earning points, with a generous sign-up bonus and lots of bonus categories.
  • You can get extra value for your points by transferring them to travel partners. If you want a simpler option, you can redeem them through Chase Travel.
  • It has robust travel insurance protections.
  • You can combine it with the Chase Freedom cards to earn more points. This strategy is known as the Chase Trifecta.

As far as criticisms go, one review mentioned that this card isn't the easiest to use if you want to maximize its value. Multiple reviewers also pointed out that it doesn't have many premium perks. But overall, it's widely considered a top pick, especially as a starter travel card.

Online consensus

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is well-liked on social media, although it's not quite universally praised. It's often recommended for frequent travelers. People especially like its rewards program, welcome offer, and travel protections.

Some social media users pointed out that this card isn't always the slam-dunk choice it's portrayed to be. While its bonus categories are good, there are no annual fee cards with strong bonus categories of their own. They also mentioned that this card is much more valuable when combined with the Chase Freedom cards than it is on its own.

To be clear, online opinions about this Chase card are largely positive. But like any credit card, it's not right for everyone.

Chase Sapphire Preferred features and benefits

Spectacular travel rewards program that can take you anywhere

When you want to book a trip using your travel points, it's nice to have options. This card is part of the Chase Ultimate Rewards program, a huge benefit and a reason this is one of the top travel cards. Through this program, you can transfer your points to over a dozen airline and hotel partners.

This gives you the flexibility to book all kinds of trips. Here are a few examples:

  • Want to practice your Spanish (and eat a whole lot of tapas) in Spain? You could transfer your Chase points to Iberia to book your airfare.
  • Looking to save on a costly hotel stay? If there's a Hyatt where you're going, transfer your Chase points there -- Hyatt hotels are a steal when you book with points.
  • Hoping to visit Paris in the spring? Send those Chase points over to Air France and KLM's Flying Blue program, and you'll be able to book that ticket in miles instead of cash.

These are all ways I've used my own Chase points, and I've saved over $5,000 multiple times on flights and hotel stays. Not only does being able to transfer your points give you flexibility, you can get incredible value.

The Ultimate Rewards program gives you other options, too. Another popular choice is booking travel through Chase's portal and paying in points. You get $0.0125 per point, so 10,000 points are worth $125 this way. But to get the most from Chase points, transfers are the best option. Learn more about how to do that in Motley Fool Money's guide to Chase Ultimate Rewards points.

Big bonus opportunities help you earn points more quickly

If you use this card regularly, you shouldn't have any trouble earning points. For starters, the welcome offer is 60,000 bonus points for spending $4,000 in the first 3 months.

That's one of the most valuable welcome offers, especially considering the low annual fee. It's competitive with what cards that cost $500 or more offer. You could easily use that many points to cover multiple flights or hotel stays.

You'll also be earning bonus points on everyday spending and travel purchases:

  • Whether you go out to eat or place a delivery order, this card earns 3X points per $1 on dining.
  • You earn the same rate of 3X points per $1 for online grocery orders and select streaming services.
  • This card earns 2X points to 5X points per $1 on travel purchases, depending on the type of travel purchase.

Partner benefits that could save you some extra cash

Chase says that the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card offers over $150 in partner value. It's technically true, although I wouldn't get your hopes up about saving that much. Here's a quick look at where all this value is coming from:

  • Complimentary DoorDash DashPass subscription for a minimum of one year when you activate by Dec. 31, 2027 ($96/year value)
  • 5X points per $1 on Peloton equipment and accessory purchases over $150 through March 31, 2025 ($75 value when you purchase a Peloton bike and redeem for cash)

If you like getting food delivered, you'll probably enjoy having this card. The DoorDash benefit is easy to use, plus you'll earn bonus points on purchases with that delivery app. And if you also happen to be buying a Peloton bike, even better.

Travel and purchase coverages in case anything goes wrong

There's nothing like renting a car and hearing that you personally could be on the hook for some absurd sum of money if anything happens to it. If you pay the full rental cost with your Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, and decline the add-on the rental company wants to sell you, you won't need to worry about that.

Since this credit card has an auto rental damage collision waiver, it provides complimentary coverage. It's also primary coverage, meaning you wouldn't even need to file a claim with your own insurance first (many travel cards have secondary coverage that only kicks in after your own insurance is exhausted).

That's one of many complimentary protections. Others include:

  • Trip cancellation/interruption insurance
  • Baggage delay insurance
  • Trip delay reimbursement
  • Travel and emergency assistance services
  • Purchase protection
  • Extended warranty protection

$50 annual hotel savings that could be tricky to use

This card offers up to $50 in statement credits per account year toward hotel stays purchased through Chase Travel. You could look at it like a $50 annual discount on hotels -- but there's a catch.

Chase Travel doesn't always have the best prices. Sometimes it does, or it's equal to what the hotel charges. But sometimes it charges more. This is still a useful benefit, but booking hotels through Chase Travel can be hit or miss.

What could be improved

The benefits are a lot to keep track of

With all that it offers, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card can be a handful. It gives you what seems like a million ways to use your points. Transfer them. Book travel with points in Chase's portal. Get cash back. Shop for Apple products. Those are just some of your options. Don't forget about the card's $50 hotel credit, or the partner benefits with DoorDash and Peloton, either.

Its list of features feels like one of those never-ending infomercials with add-on after add-on. It starts out strong, but you eventually wonder how many of these perks you're actually going to use.

These benefits could be valuable, if you know you'll use them and you don't mind keeping track of everything. Just know that there's a learning curve involved, both in making the most of this card's features and figuring out how to use your points.

It doesn't have many premium perks to upgrade your travel experience

This Chase card is great at helping you pay for your trips, particularly airfare and hotels. But it doesn't have the kind of luxury travel perks that improve your experience along the way.

You won't be getting into any airport lounges with this card. That's understandable for a $95 annual fee, but there are cards in this price range that at least offer a few lounge passes per year. You also won't get silver or gold status with your favorite hotel with this card. And it won't pay for your Global Entry/TSA PreCheck membership, so you can get through airport security faster.

If you were hoping for some high roller perks, you'll need to look at other credit card reviews for travel cards with higher annual fees. But if those don't matter to you, then the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card will probably have everything you need for a reasonable annual fee.

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What to know before applying

Chase Sapphire Preferred credit score

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is intended for people with good credit, or a FICO® Score of at least 670. Keep in mind that your credit score isn't the only thing that matters. Another important factor with this card is Chase's 5/24 rule, an unofficial rule the card issuer has -- it normally denies any applicant who has already opened five or more credit cards in the last 24 months.

Pre-approval process

Chase occasionally has a pre-approval tool on its website, but this isn't always available. When it's available, you can use it to see if you're pre-approved for Chase credit cards, including the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card.

Regular APR

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card has a 20.74% - 27.74% Variable APR. Like most travel cards, it doesn't have a 0% intro APR, so it's not a good choice if you want to carry a balance.

Fees

Here are the fees for the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card:

  • Annual fee: $95
  • Balance transfer fee: Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
  • Cash advance fee: Either $10 or 5% of the amount of each transaction, whichever is greater.
  • Foreign transaction fee: None
  • Returned payment fee: Up to $40

Credit limit

The minimum starting credit limit for the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is $5,000, according to the pricing and terms. Credit limits can be much higher, as they depend on your income and credit score. Some cardholders have reported credit limits of up to $50,000.

Our credit card methodology

At Motley Fool Money, we rate credit cards on a five-star scale (1 = poor, 5 = best). Our rating criteria includes rewards rates, welcome bonuses, fees, and perks like travel credits and 0% intro APR offers to evaluate our ratings.

We combine these factors with an evaluation of brand reputation and customer satisfaction to ensure you're getting the best card recommendations. Learn more about how Motley Fool Money rates credit cards.

FAQs

  • The minimum credit limit for the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is $5,000. Depending on your income and credit score, it's possible to receive a much higher credit limit, with some cardholders reporting limits of over $30,000.

  • Yes, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is made of a metal alloy.

  • Yes, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card can be used anywhere Visa cards are accepted. It also charges no foreign transaction fees for purchases made abroad and/or in a foreign currency.