Chase
Chase Sapphire Preferred
Strong welcome offer for a low annual fee
- Annual fee
- $95
- Welcome offer
- ~$1,537.50
- Annual benefits value
- $125
- Est. 1st-year value
- $1,662.50
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Our review
The Chase Sapphire Preferred is one of the most popular flexible travel rewards cards available, and it serves as the entry point into the Chase Ultimate Rewards ecosystem for many cardholders. With a modest annual fee, it delivers strong earning on travel and dining plus access to the same valuable transfer partners as its premium sibling.
It ranks highly in our travel category because it offers an excellent balance of cost and capability. For a low annual fee, cardholders get meaningful bonus categories, a large welcome bonus, and the ability to transfer points to airline and hotel partners, which is unusual at this price point.
The card earns elevated rewards on travel booked through Chase, on dining, on select streaming, and on online grocery purchases, and it earns bonus rewards on other travel. Points can be redeemed for travel through Chase Travel at an elevated value or transferred to partners for potentially higher value.
We like this card because it captures most of what makes Chase Ultimate Rewards valuable without the high fee or the coupon-book complexity of the Reserve. It is a versatile, low-maintenance travel card that fits a wide range of spenders.
This card is best suited for travelers who want flexible travel rewards and point transfers without paying a premium annual fee. Cardholders who need airport lounge access or extensive statement credits will find those only on the higher-tier Reserve.
Why we like it
- A low annual fee paired with strong bonus categories across travel and dining makes it easy to get value from everyday spending.
- Access to the full set of Chase transfer partners, so points can be moved to airline and hotel loyalty programs for potentially outsized redemptions.
- An elevated redemption value when booking travel through Chase Travel, which stretches points further than a straight cash-back card.
- A small annual hotel credit for stays booked through Chase Travel and a points bonus tied to your anniversary spending, which add incremental value.
- No foreign transaction fees, which makes it a reliable travel companion abroad.
Who it's best for
- Travelers who want flexible travel rewards and transfer partners at a low annual fee.
- People new to points and miles who want a versatile card without a coupon book of credits to manage.
- Cardholders anchoring a Chase Ultimate Rewards strategy who do not need premium lounge access.
Welcome bonus
The Chase Sapphire Preferred typically offers a strong welcome bonus of Ultimate Rewards points after you meet a minimum spending requirement within the first few months. The exact amount and spend requirement change from time to time, so confirm the current offer and its estimated value shown above.
As with other Sapphire products, Chase eligibility rules can prevent you from earning the bonus if you have received a Sapphire bonus recently.
Using your rewards
Points can be redeemed for travel through Chase Travel at an elevated value, transferred to partners, or taken as cash back and other options. For most travelers, transferring to partners or booking travel through Chase provides the best value.
The card can transfer to the same Chase partners as the rest of the Ultimate Rewards lineup, including World of Hyatt, Marriott Bonvoy, IHG One Rewards, Wyndham Rewards, United MileagePlus, Southwest Rapid Rewards, JetBlue TrueBlue, Air Canada Aeroplan, Air France-KLM Flying Blue, British Airways Club, Iberia Plus, Aer Lingus AerClub, Virgin Atlantic Flying Club, and Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer.
Note that some partner transfer ratios can differ from the premium Reserve card, so confirm the current ratio for a specific partner before you transfer.
Airport lounge access
No. The Chase Sapphire Preferred does not include airport lounge access. Travelers who want lounge access should look at the Chase Sapphire Reserve instead.
Foreign transaction fees
The Chase Sapphire Preferred charges no foreign transaction fees, so it is well suited to international purchases and travel abroad.
Major credits & annual benefits
An annual hotel credit for stays booked through Chase Travel, subject to the terms shown above.
A points bonus credited around your account anniversary, calculated as a percentage of the prior year of purchases, which adds a small amount of ongoing value.
The card does not carry the broad statement-credit package found on the premium Sapphire cards, so review the current benefit details rather than assuming premium travel credits are included.
Insurance & protections
The card generally includes travel protections such as trip cancellation and interruption coverage and select rental car coverage, along with purchase protections.
These benefits typically require paying with the card and are subject to limits, exclusions, and claim procedures. Review the current benefit guide before relying on any coverage.
Fees & tradeoffs
The annual fee is low, which makes the card easy to justify for most travelers. The main tradeoff is that it lacks the lounge access and large statement credits found on the Reserve.
Cardholders who spend heavily on travel and want premium perks may eventually outgrow it, but for many people the Preferred offers the better value per dollar.
Final verdict
The Chase Sapphire Preferred is one of the best-value travel rewards cards for the money. Between the welcome bonus, flexible points, and low annual fee, most travelers can come out ahead, and the estimated first-year value shown above reflects that.
Frequent flyers who want lounge access and are willing to pay a premium fee should consider the Reserve instead, but for everyone else the Preferred is an easy recommendation.
Card details change often. Verify current rates, fees, welcome offers, credits, and benefit terms with the issuer before applying.
Is this card worth it for you?
Check the benefits you’d realistically use and see your personalized total value below. This is a personal estimate — actual value depends on your spending. Verify terms with the issuer.
- Selected benefits
- $340
- Welcome offer
- $1,537.50
- Annual fee
- −$95
- Estimated first-year net
- +$1,782.50
Welcome offer
Welcome offer value
Earn 75,000 points after $4,000 in spend within 3 months
$1,537.50
Spend requirements apply. Verify current offer with the issuer. How we calculate this
Benefits & credits
Total benefits & credits value
Estimated annual value of all tracked perks
$220
| Benefit | Frequency | Est. annual value |
|---|---|---|
$100 Annual Hotel Credit Up to $100 statement credit for hotel stays booked through Chase Travel. Resets on cardmember anniversary. | Annual | $100 |
$10/mo DoorDash Credit Complimentary DashPass membership through Dec 31, 2027, plus one $10 monthly promo credit on eligible non-restaurant (grocery/retail) DoorDash orders. | Monthly | $120 |
$120 Global Entry/TSA PreCheck Credit Up to $120 statement credit every four years toward a Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS application fee. | One-time | $120 |
10% Anniversary Points Bonus Earn 10% more points on your total purchases from the previous cardmember year, credited on your account anniversary. Value varies based on spending. | Annual | $0 |
Earning rates
Who it's for
Consider it if
- Strong welcome offer for a low annual fee
- Transfer partners unlock outsized travel value
- Great beginner travel card
Maybe skip it if
- Fewer statement credits than premium cards
Fees & details
- Annual fee
- $95
- Foreign transaction fee
- None
- Card network
- Visa Signature
- Recommended credit
- Good to Excellent (690+)
- Rewards currency
- Chase Ultimate Rewards
- Last updated
- 2026-07-25
Details are estimates and may be out of date. View issuer terms. Verify all rates, fees, and offers with the issuer before applying.
How it compares
| Annual fee | $95 | $895 | $895 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Welcome offer | ~$1,537.50 | ~$3,000 | ~$3,000 |
| Est. 1st-year value | $1,662.50 | $5,160.40 | $4,684 |
| Annual benefits value | $125 | $2,160.40 | $1,684 |
| Editor rating | 5.0 / 5 | 5.0 / 5 | 5.0 / 5 |
| Points earning structure |
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| Transfer partners | |||
| Lounge access | |||
| No foreign txn fee | |||
| Recommended credit | Good to Excellent (690+) | Good to Excellent (690+) | Good to Excellent (690+) |
