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American Express and Chase are two of the best banks in the business, and lucky for consumers, each also offers stellar rewards cards. Two top contenders are The Platinum Card® from American Express and the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees). Come with me as we break down these two cards to see which deserves your attention.
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The Platinum Card® from American Express | Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card |
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.
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.
|
Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5
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.
Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5
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.
|
Apply Now for The Platinum Card® from American Express
On American Express' Secure Website. Terms apply |
|
Credit Rating Requirement:
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)
Good/Excellent (670-850) |
Credit Rating Requirement:
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)
Good/Excellent (670-850) |
Welcome Offer: 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. 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points |
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 |
Rewards Program: 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. 1X-5X Membership Rewards® Points |
Rewards Program: 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 |
Intro APR: Purchases: N/A Balance Transfers: N/A |
Intro APR: N/A Purchases: N/A Balance Transfers: N/A |
APR: See Pay Over Time APR |
Regular APR: 19.99% - 28.24% Variable |
Annual Fee: $695 |
Annual Fee: $95 |
Highlights:
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Highlights:
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Apply Now for The Platinum Card® from American Express
On American Express' Secure Website. Terms apply |
|
Show More
|
Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Trip delay and cancellation insurance and cell phone protection underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company. Extended warranty, purchase protection, car rental insurance, and baggage insurance underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.
The Platinum Card® from American Express is not cheap (more on that later), but it is iconic among travel cards. If you're a serious globetrotter and value perks like hotel status and airport lounge access, you need to consider The Platinum Card® from American Express.
That said, it's not known for being a top contender among rewards cards -- a lot of its value comes from spending credits and other perks, rather than its ability to earn you points on purchases you make every day. That plus the annual fee could be a dealbreaker for a lot of frugal folks.
Folks who are new to travel rewards cards should take a closer look at the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. It has a reasonable annual fee compared to its Amex competitor in this breakdown (more on that below) and solid perks, but best of all, it earns decent rewards on common purchase categories, like dining out.
I have this card, and I use it a lot -- I even put an entire international trip on it recently. And to sweeten the deal, this Chase card even has a boosted welcome bonus right now.
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 |
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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.
|
Discover will match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year. | 1% - 5% Cashback 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: 18.24% - 27.24% Variable APR |
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Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5
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.
|
$200 cash rewards Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months. | 2% cash rewards Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases. |
Intro: 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 |
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Apply Now for Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card
On Bank of America's Secure Website. |
Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars.
4.00/5
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.
|
25,000 points 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 | 1.5-3 points per dollar 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. Earn 3 points per $1 spent on travel purchases booked through the Bank of America Travel Center. |
Intro: 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, 18.24% - 28.24% 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. Balance transfers may not be used to pay any account provided by Bank of America. 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: 18.24% - 28.24% (Variable) |
Apply Now for Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card
On Bank of America's Secure Website. |
Ready for a head-to-head showdown between these two top cards? Here's a closer look at fees, welcome offers, and beyond.
Winner: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
You really can't discuss The Platinum Card® from American Express without breaking down its $695 annual fee (see rates and fees). This is a high-end card, and that fee really drives the point home.
Thankfully, it comes with credits for hotels, digital entertainment (including online news subscriptions and streaming services), and even for a Walmart+ membership (terms apply, enrollment required). The Platinum Card® from American Express offers a lot of value for the right type of consumer. If this one is on your shortlist, be sure to review the long list of perks and credits to make sure you'll actually benefit.
If you want a more straightforward rewards card with some useful perks for travelers, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card might be more your speed. The annual fee is a reasonable $95, and starting right from the welcome offer (more on that below), it should be fairly easy to offset that fee. I'll also discuss the rewards program in more detail further down, but earning higher rates on travel and dining expenses can go a long way toward covering the annual fee.
Plus, Chase has some great partner benefits to take advantage of, like a free year of DoorDash's DashPass, which'll save you a lot of money on delivery fees if takeout is your jam (you have to enroll by Dec. 31, 2027). The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card also comes with primary rental car insurance, which is worth considering if you're frequently behind the wheel of a rented vehicle. Ultimately, I give the prize to the Chase card, because of that far more reasonable annual fee, though.
Winner: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Both of these cards come with generous welcome offers, and in the case of the Chase card, it's got a freshly boosted bonus that's worth capitalizing on. Let's turn our attention to The Platinum Card® from American Express first. If you spend $8,000 in the first 6 months with the card, you'll get 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points Membership Rewards Points (terms apply). That is a lot of money to spend, but six months is a pretty generous timeframe to do it in.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card's current welcome offer (available for a limited time) is 100,000 bonus points in exchange for spending $5,000 in the first 3 months with the card. I'm giving the welcome bonus crown to the Chase card due to that lower spending requirement -- it's a lot more achievable for those of us who aren't high rollers.
Winner: Tie
Well, this is a fairly easy category to adjudicate! Neither The Platinum Card® from American Express nor the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card offers any kind of intro APR for new cardholders. This isn't very surprising, though -- travel cards often don't, and much of their value comes instead from the rewards program and the welcome bonus.
Winner: Tie
Amex's rewards program is a standout, and while you can use Membership Rewards points toward statement credits, gift cards, or paying for purchases, the best way to get the most value from them is through travel bookings. Specifically, you'll want to transfer your points to Amex's travel partners -- do this, and your points could be worth as much as $0.03 apiece.
How much can you earn with The Platinum Card® from American Express? Beyond the welcome bonus, here are your rates:
Surprise, surprise, the Chase Ultimate Rewards program is also one of the best out there, with plenty of devoted fans (including yours truly). And unlike The Platinum Card® from American Express, this Chase card offers earnings in more accessible expenses for a lot of people (for example, you might dine out every week -- but how often do you book plane tickets?):
As you can see, the Chase card offers more ways to earn points. And just like with Amex, you can get more value from your points if you transfer them to travel partners, rather than redeeming them as gift cards or a statement credit.
Honestly? The two rewards programs are both great. If you're choosing a card heavily based on this factor, I recommend checking out both programs to see which partners with airlines and hotels you use often, and use that info to make your decision.
Both of these cards have a ton of devoted fans, and it's easy to see why -- they're at the top of many lists for the best travel cards. Plus, neither charges foreign transaction fees, so either card could be a great international travel companion.
That said, if you're looking for a card that doesn't ding your budget with a big annual fee, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is probably the better fit for you. Plus, it earns Chase Ultimate Rewards points in bonus categories that are easy for many people to maximize.
But if you want access to higher-end travel perks, like airport lounges and higher status with hotel chains, consider The Platinum Card® from American Express. The annual fee makes my eyes water, but as more of a budget traveler (and unrepentant foodie), I'm not really this card's target audience. If you are, you can surely benefit from its many perks.
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The Platinum Card® from American Express | Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card |
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.
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.
|
Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5
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.
Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5
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.
|
Apply Now for The Platinum Card® from American Express
On American Express' Secure Website. Terms apply |
|
Credit Rating Requirement:
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)
Good/Excellent (670-850) |
Credit Rating Requirement:
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)
Good/Excellent (670-850) |
Welcome Offer: 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. 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points |
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 |
Rewards Program: 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. 1X-5X Membership Rewards® Points |
Rewards Program: 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 |
Intro APR: Purchases: N/A Balance Transfers: N/A |
Intro APR: N/A Purchases: N/A Balance Transfers: N/A |
APR: See Pay Over Time APR |
Regular APR: 19.99% - 28.24% Variable |
Annual Fee: $695 |
Annual Fee: $95 |
Highlights:
|
Highlights:
|
Apply Now for The Platinum Card® from American Express
On American Express' Secure Website. Terms apply |
|
Show More
|
Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Trip delay and cancellation insurance and cell phone protection underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company. Extended warranty, purchase protection, car rental insurance, and baggage insurance underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.
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
The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Visa. The Motley Fool recommends Amex.