If you're on a Galaxy Fold, consider unfolding your phone or viewing it in full screen to best optimize your experience.
There was a time when choosing a winner in Chase Sapphire Reserve® vs. the The Platinum Card® from American Express would have been very hard. But that was a few card iterations (and annual fee increases) ago.
Today, I think there is a clear winner: The Platinum Card® from American Express. Despite the lower annual fee (see rates and fees), I think the Chase Sapphire Reserve® simply doesn't offer the same value potential as Amex's prized pony. I'll break down my reasoning in more detail below.
|
|
Chase Sapphire Reserve® | The Platinum Card® from American Express |
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
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 |
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
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 |
Apply Now for Chase Sapphire Reserve®
On Chase's Secure Website. |
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 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. 60,000 bonus points |
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 |
Rewards Program: 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. 5x points on flights and 10x points on hotels and car rentals through Chase Travel℠. |
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 |
Intro APR: Purchases: N/A Balance Transfers: N/A |
Intro APR: Purchases: n/a Balance Transfers: n/a |
Regular APR: 21.74% - 28.74% Variable |
APR: See Pay Over Time APR |
Annual Fee: $550 |
Annual Fee: $695 |
Highlights:
|
Highlights:
|
Apply Now for Chase Sapphire Reserve®
On Chase's Secure Website. |
Apply Now for The Platinum Card® from American Express
On American Express' Secure Website. Terms apply |
Show More Show Less |
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.
Whether you're into luxury travel cards for the perks or the credits, The Platinum Card® from American Express comes out ahead. For one thing, its perks don't have expiration dates. Many of the Chase Sapphire Reserve®'s partner deals and credits expire this summer or early next year. Plus, there are simply more of them. The Platinum Card® from American Express advertises $1,500 in value. (Terms apply.)
The platinum-hued behemoth also wins out on travel perks. While the Chase card arguably has better travel insurance -- particularly when it comes to primary rental car coverage -- that's the only place it prevails.
Amex's card has better airport lounge access, more travel-related credits (though I'll admit Chase's travel credit is easier to use), hotel status, and CLEAR credits. And I can say, from experience, the Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts program is better than Chase's Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection. Terms apply; enrollment may be required.
There are two cases in which I'd say the Chase Sapphire Reserve® is the better pick:
The Chase Trifecta combines cards from the Chase Freedom, Sapphire, and/or Business Ink lines. So long as you have at least one travel card in the trio, you can pool your Ultimate Rewards and redeem them for free travel. This can be a powerful rewards strategy.
As for point two, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® gets $0.015 per point when you redeem them through the Chase Travel Portal. While you can often get a better value when you transfer your points, the portal is definitely easier (and requires less research). Some folks are happy to trade a lower per-point return for less hassle booking free travel.
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
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 |
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: 18.49% - 27.49% Variable APR *Rates as of December 12, 2024. |
||
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.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
$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 |
||
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.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
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 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. |
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, 18.49% - 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. |
You can really see the differences between the two when you break them down by feature. Let's dive in.
Once upon a time, the Chase Sapphire Reserve®'s travel credit made up for most of its annual fee. That hasn't been the case in a while, however. Now, it'll cost you $550 a year. While that's still less than the $695 you'll pay for The Platinum Card® from American Express (see rates and fees), it's still a lot of value to eke out of a card with soon-to-expire statement credits.
Amex's card may cost more on paper, but it makes it much easier to get your money back through credits and perks. You don't even need to use all of the credits to come out ahead with The Platinum Card® from American Express. If you only used the streaming, hotel, airline, and Uber credits each year, you'd still wind up with $840 in value. Terms apply.
Whichever card you choose, make sure you're using those credits on organic spend (spending you'd be doing either way).
Winner: The Platinum Card® from American Express
Both Chase and Amex welcome bonuses can vary depending on how and when you apply. But both the standard and best-ever bonuses for The Platinum Card® from American Express are significantly better than that of its competitor.
The standard welcome offer for the Chase Sapphire Reserve® is 60,000 bonus points with $4,000 spend in the first 3 months. The best I've ever seen? Just 100,000 points.
The Platinum Card® from American Express has a typical offer of 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points points for $8,000 spend in the first 6 months. Terms apply. But the best I've seen? A whopping 150,000 points for $6,000 spend.
The only aspect that Chase wins out on is less restrictive welcome bonus rules than Amex. American Express has a "once per card per lifetime" rule on welcome bonuses, whereas Chase only makes you wait 48 months between Sapphire family welcome bonuses. However, Chase does have the 5/24 rule to keep in mind.
Winner: The Platinum Card® from American Express
Neither card has any kind of intro APR offer, so everyone loses this category.
Winner: Nobody
Alright, so the purchase rewards category is a little harder to call, and will likely come down to whether you prefer the Chase Ultimate Rewards program or the Amex Membership Rewards program. Each has pros and cons.
As far as earnings go, however, neither is all that remarkable. The Chase Sapphire Reserve® earns:
Your mileage will vary with your Chase Travel experience. (I'm not a fan.) If you exclude the Chase purchases, you're looking at 3x Ultimate Rewards points on travel and dining. While not bad, it's not very much more than you'd earn with the significantly less expensive Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card.
That said, The Platinum Card® from American Express isn't exactly a great card for purchase rewards, either. It earns:
So, again, a big part of the rewards come from issuer travel portal purchases. I like the Amex Travel portal better than the Chase one, personally, but I prefer to book directly, rather than use either. It's nice that I still get 5X Membership Rewards points on flights booked with the airline, and I've gotten some decent rewards from that over the years.
Winner: Chase Sapphire Reserve®
There are a couple cases in which I'd recommend a Chase Sapphire Reserve® over The Platinum Card® from American Express. Outside of those, however, I think our platinum-hued friend is the way to go between these two credit cards.
The Platinum Card® from American Express has better credits, more comprehensive travel perks, and, heck, it's even more attractive. (I have the floral design and it honestly looks even better in person.) If you want a premium travel rewards card it's hard to beat the OG.
On Chase's Secure Website.
On Chase's Secure Website.
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR
Purchases: N/A
Balance Transfers: N/A
Regular APR
21.74% - 28.74% Variable
Rewards 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.
5x points on flights and 10x points on hotels and car rentals through Chase Travel℠.
Annual Fee
$550
Welcome Offer Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
60,000 bonus points
All the perks we've come to expect from a top travel card, including a $300 annual travel credit, airport lounge access, and big bonuses on travel and dining. Points are transferable to airline and hotel partners or worth 50% more if you book through Chase Travel. The annual fee is hefty, but if you can use all its features, this card could be well worth the cost. Read Full Review
On American Express' Secure Website.
Terms apply
On American Express' Secure Website.
Terms apply
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR
Purchases: n/a
Balance Transfers: n/a
APR
See Pay Over Time APR
Rewards 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
Annual Fee
$695
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
This luxury travel card has some of the most prestigious perks you'll find — access to over 1,400 airport lounges, elite status with Hilton and Marriott Bonvoy (enrollment required), and spending credits worth over $1,500 in value every year. Just be ready for the hefty annual fee, which can be offset in the first year with a welcome bonus worth $800 in points. Terms apply. Read Full Review
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.
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.