Chase Sapphire Most well-liked vs. Sapphire Reserve: Do you have to go mid-tier or premium?

The Chase Sapphire Reserve and the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card are two of probably the most talked-about travel credit cards in the marketplace. That is due to the valuable Ultimate Rewards program, top-notch advantages and nice travel protections. However which one is the very best match for you?

You may assume that the Chase Sapphire Reserve — with the next annual payment and extra luxurious advantages — is all the time the higher selection. It’s the higher-tier card, however that will not essentially imply it is your best choice. Relying in your spending habits, journey objectives and current bank card lineup, the Sapphire Most well-liked may very well be the extra engaging possibility on your pockets.

We’ll evaluate the 2 playing cards beneath that can assist you make the very best resolution.

At the moment, the Sapphire Preferred and Sapphire Reserve have an similar welcome bonus of 60,000 factors after you spend $4,000 within the first three months from account opening.

TPG values Chase Final Rewards factors at 2.05 cents every, making these bonuses value $1,230.

However needless to say you are solely eligible for a welcome bonus on certainly one of these playing cards if you have not obtained a bonus from certainly one of them inside the past 48 months. Moreover, each playing cards are topic to Chase’s 5/24 rule, so be sure you’re eligible for each the cardboard and its bonus earlier than making use of.

Winner: Tie. Each playing cards presently have similar welcome bonuses.

Associated: The best time to apply for these Chase cards based on their offer history

The distinction in advantages is the place the Sapphire Reserve shines. With it, you will get a $300 annual travel credit, entry to Chase Lounges and Priority Pass lounges and a Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or Nexus payment credit score of as much as $100 each 4 years.

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Moreover, the Sapphire Reserve comes with a complimentary two-year Lyft Pink All Access membership (activate by Dec. 31, 2024), complimentary DoorDash DashPass subscription for not less than one yr (activate by Dec. 31, 2024) in addition to $5 in DoorDash credit every month, one yr of complimentary Instacart+ (activate by July 31, 2024) and as much as $15 in Instacart statement credits per 30 days by means of July 2024.

Plus, the Sapphire Reserve will get you entry to Chase’s Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection, which incorporates advantages like each day breakfast for 2 and a $100 on-property credit score for every reserving.

Nonetheless, the Sapphire Preferred comes with a handful of advantages. With it, you will get a $50 hotel credit annual Ultimate Rewards hotel credit and an account anniversary points bonus of 10% of the entire purchases you made that yr. You may additionally get a complimentary DoorDash DashPass subscription for not less than one yr (activate by Dec. 31, 2024), six months of complimentary Instacart+ membership (activate by July 31, 2024) and as much as $15 in Instacart assertion credit every quarter by means of July 2024.

Whereas each playing cards include spectacular travel and buy protections, the Sapphire Reserve’s protections are extra substantial. For instance, journey cancellation insurance coverage on the Sapphire Most well-liked covers as much as $10,000 per coated journey, whereas the Sapphire Reserve covers as much as $20,000 per coated journey. The Sapphire Reserve additionally affords elevated protection for rental car insurance, trip delay protection, emergency medical and dental insurance, and buy safety.

Winner: Sapphire Reserve. The journey credit score, airport lounge entry and elevated journey protections are laborious to beat.

Associated: Is the Chase Sapphire Reserve worth the annual fee?

The Sapphire Preferred earns 5 factors per greenback on journey booked by means of Chase Ultimate Rewards, Lyft rides (by means of March 2025) and Peloton equipment and accessory purchases over $150 (with a max earn of 25,000 complete factors, by means of March 2025). It additionally earns three factors per greenback on dining, online grocery and select streaming purchases, in addition to two factors per greenback on eligible journey purchases and one level per greenback on all different purchases.

The Sapphire Reserve, in the meantime, earns 10 factors per greenback on inns, automotive leases and Chase Dining bought by means of the Final Rewards portal, Lyft rides (by means of March 2025) and Peloton tools and accent purchases over $150 (with a max earn of fifty,000 complete factors, by means of March 2025). It earns 5 factors per greenback on flights bought by means of the Final Rewards portal, three factors per greenback on eating and journey purchases and one level per greenback on all different purchases.

Winner: Sapphire Reserve. It earns greater than the Most well-liked in most bonus classes.

Associated: Which purchases count as travel with the Chase Sapphire Preferred and Chase Sapphire Reserve?

Since each the Sapphire Preferred and the Sapphire Reserve earn Chase Ultimate Rewards factors, you will have the identical redemption choices with both card. Your most precious redemption possibility is to switch them to any of Chase’s 14 airline and resort companions for probably the most worth, however it’s also possible to use them to ebook journey by means of the Final Rewards portal or use Chase’s Pay Yourself Back possibility.

Moreover, you’ll be able to redeem your factors for money again or reward playing cards, however you will get a decrease worth out of your factors going this route, so we suggest utilizing your factors for journey when you’ll be able to.

Nevertheless, when you’re redeeming your factors by means of the Final Rewards portal or utilizing Chase Pay Yourself Back, your factors are value extra with the Sapphire Reserve. With it, you will get a worth of 1.5 cents per level, whilst you’ll solely get a worth of 1.25 cents per level with the Sapphire Most well-liked.

Winner: Sapphire Reserve. The upper redemption worth by means of the Final Rewards portal and Pay Your self Again give the Reserve an edge.

Associated: How to redeem Chase Ultimate Rewards for maximum value

Each the Sapphire Preferred and Sapphire Reserve assist you to switch your factors to any of Chase’s 14 journey companions. Among the most precious companions embody Air France-KLM Flying Blue, Air Canada Aeroplan and World of Hyatt.

As a funds traveler, I like transferring my factors to World of Hyatt and stretching them by staying at Category 1 Hyatt properties as a lot as attainable. I additionally often switch my factors to Southwest Rapid Rewards and get nice worth from my factors by making the most of their frequent gross sales.

Winner: Tie. You may get the identical switch choices with both card.

Associated: The complete guide to Chase Ultimate Rewards transfer partners

For those who can make the most of the annual journey credit score and do not have one other card that features airport lounge entry, you will nearly actually get probably the most worth from the Sapphire Reserve. Nevertheless, if you wish to preserve your annual payment prices low or do not journey a lot, the Sapphire Preferred offers you good incomes charges and redemption choices for a a lot decrease annual payment.

Associated: 11 reasons to choose the Sapphire Preferred over the Sapphire Reserve

You probably have the Sapphire Preferred and wish the Sapphire Reserve as an alternative, the very best technique is to first downgrade your Most well-liked to a no-annual-fee Chase card just like the Chase Freedom Unlimited®. You’ll be able to request this by calling the quantity on the again of your card. Then, you’ll be able to apply for the Sapphire Reserve and earn the welcome bonus, so long as you might be underneath Chase’s 5/24 rule and didn’t earn the bonus in your Chase Sapphire Most well-liked lower than 48 months in the past.

Likewise, you’ll be able to downgrade your Reserve to a Most well-liked card by calling the quantity on the again of your card. Nevertheless, you’ll miss out on the welcome bonus on the Most well-liked, so it is higher to downgrade your Reserve to a no-annual-fee card first after which submit a brand new utility for the Most well-liked to earn the welcome bonus so so long as you didn’t earn the welcome bonus on the Sapphire Reserve lower than 48 months prior.

It’s also possible to request a product change from both card to the opposite by calling the quantity on the again of your card. Nevertheless, by going this route, you will forfeit incomes a welcome bonus in your new card.

Associated: 5 reasons to upgrade from the Sapphire Preferred to the Sapphire Reserve

For extra particulars, please see our full reviews of the Chase Sapphire Preferred and Chase Sapphire Reserve.

Apply right here: Chase Sapphire Preferred Card

Apply right here: Chase Sapphire Reserve