Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card Review 2025: Still the Best Travel Credit Card?

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card Review 2025

In the crowded field of travel rewards cards, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® has long been a standout. In this Chase Sapphire Preferred® review 2025, we take an editorial deep dive into what makes this $95-annual-fee card unique, how it stacks up against competitors like the Sapphire Reserve, Amex Gold, Capital One Venture, and Wells Fargo Autograph, and whether it’s the best travel credit card 2025 has to offer. We’ll explore who should consider it, its robust rewards and perks, and strategies for getting maximum value—including the best ways to use Chase Ultimate Rewards® points. Read on to see if the Sapphire Preferred® deserves a spot in your wallet this year.

Introduction: What Makes the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card Unique?

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card strikes an exceptional balance of rewards, benefits, and cost that few cards can match. It’s often lauded as the perfect travel card for beginners and seasoned points enthusiasts alike. What makes it unique? For starters, it offers premium-level perks and robust travel rewards at a moderate annual fee. Cardholders earn elevated points on popular spending categories and enjoy travel protections typically seen on cards with much higher fees.

How does it compare to key competitors? The Sapphire Preferred® sits just below Chase’s ultra-premium Sapphire Reserve, offering many of the Reserve’s strengths (like flexible points and travel insurance) without the hefty $550 fee. Versus the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, the Preferred® lacks luxury perks like airport lounge access and a $300 annual travel credit, but it costs far less. Compared to the American Express® Gold Card, the Sapphire Preferred® offers broader travel insurance and more flexible point redemption (thanks to Chase’s 1.25× bonus when redeeming through Chase Travel℠ and its transfer partners), though the Amex Gold comes out ahead on rewards for U.S. supermarkets and dining with its 4X points. Against the flat-rate Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card, the Sapphire Preferred® delivers higher rewards in specific categories and more valuable transfer partners, whereas the Venture’s 2X miles on everything appeals for simplicity. And if you consider the no-annual-fee Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card, the Sapphire Preferred®’s value really shines: both earn bonus points on travel, dining, and streaming, but the Sapphire Preferred®’s points are part of Chase Ultimate Rewards®—a far more potent and flexible rewards ecosystem.

Who is the target audience? This card is tailor-made for travelers, foodies, and savvy points maximizers. If you love dining out, traveling for work or pleasure, and want to turn everyday spending into free or discounted trips, the Sapphire Preferred® is aimed at you. It’s also a favorite for those dipping their toes into travel hacking—people who want premium rewards and perks without paying a premium card fee. Whether you’re a young professional planning your first big trip abroad, a family that enjoys dining and road trips, or an enthusiast eyeing business class flights via points, the Sapphire Preferred® provides tremendous value and a gateway into the world of top-tier travel rewards.

Key Takeaways

• Excellent Rewards for Travel & Dining: Earn 5X points on travel booked through Chase Travel℠, 3X on dining (including restaurants, takeout, and eligible delivery), 3X on select streaming services, 3X on online grocery purchases, 2X on other travel, and 1X on everything else. This versatile rewards structure targets big spending areas for travelers and food lovers.

• Valuable Welcome Bonus: A generous welcome bonus (currently 60,000 points) after meeting minimum spend, which is worth $750 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Travel℠ (at a 1.25× bonus). This bonus is one of the richest in its class and can kickstart your rewards journey.

• Flexible, High-Value Points: Points are Chase Ultimate Rewards®, considered among the most valuable loyalty points. You can redeem them through Chase Travel℠ at a 25% bonus (making each point worth 1.25×), or transfer points at a 1:1 ratio to top airline and hotel partners for potentially outsized value. Knowing how to redeem Chase Sapphire Preferred® points effectively—like transferring to partners such as United, Southwest, or Hyatt—can yield far more than 1.25¢ per point.

• Travel Perks & Protections: Despite a moderate $95 fee, the card packs in perks often seen on premium cards: trip cancellation/interruption insurance (up to $10,000 per trip), primary rental car insurance, trip delay reimbursement (up to $500 per ticket for 12+ hour delays), baggage delay insurance ($100 a day), purchase protection (120 days, up to $10,000 per claim), an annual $50 hotel credit (on hotel bookings made through Chase Travel℠), and no foreign transaction fees. These benefits provide peace of mind and real savings for travelers.

• Moderate Annual Fee, Big Value: With a $95 annual fee, the Sapphire Preferred® is affordable for the value it delivers. The $50 hotel credit alone can offset over half the fee each year, effectively bringing your net cost to $45 if you utilize it. When paired with the rewards and protections, the card easily pays for itself for most cardholders.

• Pairs With Other Chase Cards: The Sapphire Preferred® is the cornerstone of the “Chase Trifecta.” You can pair it with no-annual-fee cards like the Chase Freedom Unlimited® (1.5X on general purchases) or Chase Freedom Flex℠ (5X rotating categories) – even business cards like Chase Ink®. Funnel all those points into your Sapphire Preferred® to leverage the 1.25× bonus when redeeming through Chase Travel℠ or to transfer to travel partners. This strategy lets you earn bonus rewards on every purchase category and maximize Chase Ultimate Rewards® value.

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Overview

Rewards Structure:
The Sapphire Preferred®’s rewards are optimized for travelers and diners. In 2025, its earning scheme is one of the most well-rounded in the industry:

• 5X points on travel booked through Chase Travel℠: Whenever you book flights, hotels, or car rentals via Chase Travel℠, you’ll earn 5 points per dollar. (Note: hotel bookings that use the $50 annual credit earn 5X on the portion beyond the credit.) This is a great incentive to use Chase Travel℠ for your trips, though frequent hotel guests should weigh this against booking directly to retain elite benefits.

• 2X points on all other travel purchases: This covers travel spending outside Chase Travel℠: flights, hotels, taxis, rideshares, trains, tolls, parking, cruises, etc. Essentially, if it codes as travel, you get double points. This 2X is the baseline that made the Sapphire Preferred® famous years ago, and it’s still a solid return for general travel spend (on par or better than many rivals).

• 3X points on dining: You’ll earn triple points at restaurants worldwide, including sit-down dining, fast food, cafes, bars, takeout, and even eligible food delivery services like DoorDash or Uber Eats. Foodies and frequent travelers who dine out will rack up points quickly. Notably, 3X on dining is competitive: it matches the Sapphire Reserve’s dining rate and only trails the Amex Gold’s 4X (but that card has a higher fee).

• 3X points on select streaming services: Popular streaming subscriptions (think Netflix, Spotify, Hulu, etc.) earn 3X points. It’s a nice touch for modern life—your binge-watching habit is actually rewarding you back.

• 3X points on online grocery purchases: Grocery delivery or online grocery orders (excluding big superstores like Walmart/Target and wholesale clubs) also earn triple points. If you use services like Instacart or order groceries from your local supermarket’s website, you’re in luck. This is a newer category that broadens the card’s appeal to households.

• 1X point on all other purchases: Every card swipe earns at least 1 point per dollar, so nothing goes unrewarded. While 1X is standard, if you have a Chase Freedom Unlimited®, you might use that for 1.5X on “other” purchases and reserve the Sapphire Preferred® for the bonus categories.

Annual Fee:
$95 per year. This fee is very competitive given the breadth of rewards and benefits. For context, $95 is standard for mid-tier travel cards (the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is also $95, Wells Fargo Autograph℠ is $0, and Amex Gold is $250). The Sapphire Preferred®’s fee is low enough that one or two reward redemptions can easily outweigh it. Plus, as mentioned, the $50 hotel credit (each account anniversary year) effectively lowers the cost of ownership. If you travel at least once a year and can use that credit, you’re really looking at an effective ~$45 net fee for all the card’s value.

Key Benefits and Perks:
Beyond earning points, the Sapphire Preferred® truly shines in the perks department, punching above its weight class:

• Travel Insurance & Protections: When you pay for travel with your Sapphire Preferred®, you get a safety net. Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance covers up to $10,000 per person (max $20k per trip) of non-refundable expenses if your trip is derailed by covered reasons (illness, severe weather, etc.). Trip Delay Reimbursement covers up to $500 per ticket for costs like hotels and meals if your trip is delayed 12+ hours or overnight. Baggage Delay Insurance reimburses essentials (clothes, toiletries) up to $100 a day after a 6+ hour baggage delay (up to 5 days). There’s also Lost Luggage Reimbursement up to $3,000 per passenger if your bags are lost or damaged. These protections mean your vacations and trips have a financial backstop—a huge relief if something goes wrong. Few cards at $95 offer this level of coverage.

• Primary Rental Car Insurance: Rent a car and decline the rental agency’s collision damage waiver—your Sapphire Preferred® has you covered for theft and damage. And unlike many cards that offer secondary coverage, Chase provides primary auto rental coverage, meaning it kicks in without needing to involve your personal auto insurance. This applies to most rentals in the U.S. and abroad, saving you money at the rental counter and providing peace of mind on your road trips.

• Purchase Protection and Extended Warranty: New purchases are protected against damage or theft for 120 days, up to $10,000 per claim (and $50,000 per account). Plus, eligible items with a U.S. manufacturer’s warranty of 3 years or less get an extra year of warranty coverage courtesy of Chase. Whether you buy a new smartphone or a fancy espresso machine, you can feel safer knowing Chase has your back if things go wrong.

• $50 Annual Hotel Credit: Each cardmember year, you get up to $50 in statement credits for hotel bookings made through Chase Travel℠. Simply book a hotel (pay with your Sapphire Preferred®) and the first $50 will automatically be credited back on your statement. This essentially hands you $50 every year for travel—an easy perk that most cardholders can use, whether for a staycation or as part of a longer trip.

• DashPass Membership & Partner Perks: Chase has partnered with services to add more value. As of 2025, Sapphire Preferred® cardholders get at least 12 months of free DoorDash DashPass membership (activate by 12/31/2027) which waives delivery fees and reduces service fees on food deliveries. Additionally, monthly DoorDash credits or discounts have been offered (currently, a $10 off grocery/retail order each month for Sapphire Preferred®). These perks can save frequent users hundreds per year. Chase also had Instacart benefits (now expired) and ongoing Peloton partnership offers (5X points on Peloton equipment purchases through March 2025, up to a cap)—reflecting how the Sapphire Preferred® keeps adding trendy lifestyle perks.

• No Foreign Transaction Fees: As a travel card, it rightfully charges 0% foreign transaction fees. Use it abroad freely and you won’t incur the typical 3% surcharge that many non-travel cards have. Combine that with Visa’s broad international acceptance, and it’s an ideal companion for overseas travel.

APR and Fees:
The card’s regular APR is variable (roughly in the ~20.49%–27.49% range, depending on your creditworthiness). Like most reward cards, it’s best to pay your balance in full monthly to avoid interest. There is no foreign transaction fee, and balance transfer or cash advance fees are standard (but ideally, you’re not using this card for those purposes). In short, the costs are straightforward: $95 a year and otherwise only what you incur by carrying a balance or using cash advances.

In summary, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® overview highlights a card that offers premium rewards and protections at a relatively low cost. It’s a travel credit card that can turn your everyday spending into memorable experiences, without a laundry list of restrictive terms or an eye-popping annual fee.

Welcome Bonus & Earning Potential

Current Welcome Bonus:
The Sapphire Preferred®’s sign-up bonus is a major draw. Currently, new cardmembers can earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months. Hitting that $4,000 (~$1,334 per month) unlocks a windfall of points. For perspective, 60,000 Chase points are worth $750 in travel when used through Chase Travel℠ (thanks to the 25% bonus). If you transfer those points to an airline or hotel partner and redeem strategically, they could be worth $1,000+ (for example, 60k points could cover two round-trip domestic flights or several nights at a nice Hyatt hotel).

How Does It Stack Up?
Many competitor cards offer welcome bonuses, but Sapphire Preferred® consistently ranks among the top:

• The pricier Chase Sapphire Reserve® also typically offers 60,000 points for a similar spend, but since those points are identical Ultimate Rewards®, Preferred® essentially gives you the same initial haul for a fraction of the fee.

• The Amex Gold Card often has a welcome bonus around 60,000 Membership Rewards® points (sometimes higher if targeted), which is comparable in points number. However, Amex’s points require transfer savvy to match the value (since Amex has no travel portal bonus; their 60k points are generally $600 toward travel via Amex, whereas Chase’s 60k is $750 via portal).

• The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card tends to feature a bonus like 75,000 miles for $4,000 spend. Seventy-five thousand miles may sound more, but Capital One miles are effectively 1 cent each toward travel, making that worth $750—about on par with Chase’s $750 value for 60k. Both are excellent, though Chase points have more upside if transferred.

• The Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card, being a no-annual-fee card, has a smaller bonus (often around 20,000 points for $1k spend, which is $200). It’s decent for a no-fee card, but nowhere near the Sapphire Preferred®’s lucrative welcome offer.

Chase occasionally sweetens the Sapphire Preferred® bonus (we’ve seen limited-time offers of 80k or even 100k points in the past), but even at 60k it’s one of the richest bonuses in the mid-tier card category. This bonus alone can justify getting the card if you have a big trip in mind.

Earning Potential:
Beyond the one-time welcome boost, the Sapphire Preferred® holds long-term value through its rewards on spending. Let’s break down how much an average cardholder might earn in a year:

Consider a moderate user: you spend $1,000 a month on the card, allocated as $300 dining, $200 travel, $100 on streaming/grocery, and $400 on other stuff. Here’s what you’d earn in points annually:

• Dining: ($300 × 3X × 12 months) = 10,800 points

• Travel: ($200 × 2X × 12) = 4,800 points (assuming travel outside Chase Travel℠; if booked through Chase Travel℠ at 5X, it’d be higher)

• Streaming/Online Grocery: ($100 × 3X × 12) = 3,600 points

• Other: ($400 × 1X × 12) = 4,800 points

Total = 24,000 points from spending. That’s on top of the 60,000 welcome points in year one, but even without the intro bonus in later years, 24k points is worth $300 in travel via Chase (or potentially more via transfers). If your spending or travel is higher, the points pile up faster. For example, travelers who put $5,000 of flights/hotels a year through Chase Travel℠ would net 25k points just from those bookings (at 5X), in addition to points on dining and daily purchases.

Don’t forget the 10% anniversary bonus: Each account anniversary, Chase awards bonus points equal to 10% of your total purchases from the previous year. Spend $25,000 in a year, and you get an extra 2,500 points bonus. It’s like a little loyalty dividend—not huge, but a nice extra worth ~$25 in travel value in this case (and more if transferred wisely).

When you tally it up, an average spender could easily amass 30,000+ points each year with the Sapphire Preferred® (worth $375+ in travel through Chase), more than offsetting the $95 fee. Heavy travelers and diners can earn substantially more. And if you leverage multiple Chase cards (Freedom, Ink, etc.), the combined earning potential skyrockets—since you’d earn at higher rates on various categories and pool the points under Sapphire Preferred®.

By following these strategies, you’ll ensure you’re earning the maximum points possible and squeezing the most value when you redeem.

Competitor Comparisons

How does the Sapphire Preferred® fare against its notable rivals? We’ve touched on it, but let’s do a head-to-head overview. Each of these cards has its own strengths, so the “best” choice depends on your needs. Below we compare Chase Sapphire Preferred® vs. Chase Sapphire Reserve®, Amex Gold, Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card, and Wells Fargo Autograph℠ to help you understand the differences:

Chase Sapphire Preferred® vs. Chase Sapphire Reserve®

The Sapphire Reserve® is the Preferred®’s big brother—a premium card for serious travelers:

• Annual Fee: The Sapphire Reserve® charges a hefty $550 per year versus $95 for Preferred®. However, the Reserve comes with a $300 annual travel credit that automatically reimburses your first $300 in travel purchases each year. If you travel enough to use that, it effectively brings the net cost down to $250. You’re still paying significantly more for Reserve, but its extras might justify it for frequent travelers.

• Rewards: Both cards earn Ultimate Rewards® points. Reserve® gives 3X on all travel and dining (flatly, with no portal requirement), whereas Preferred® gives 2X on travel (or 5X when booked through Chase Travel℠) and 3X on dining. Interestingly, on dining they’re equal (3X each). On travel, if you’re booking outside Chase Travel℠, Reserve® earns 3X versus 2X on Preferred®; but if you’re willing to book through Chase Travel℠, Preferred®’s 5X can actually out-earn the Reserve® for those specific bookings (Reserve® offers 5X on flights and 10X on hotels/car rentals via Chase Travel℠, so it still has an edge for portal users especially on hotels).

• Point Value: With Sapphire Reserve®, your points are worth 1.5¢ each in the Chase travel portal, a 50% bonus (versus 1.25¢ with Preferred®). So, for example, the same 60,000-point bonus could be worth $900 in travel with Reserve®, instead of $750 with Preferred®. Reserve® basically boosts your redemption power, great for those who stockpile lots of points.

• Perks: Here’s where Reserve® shines. It includes a Priority Pass Select membership for unlimited airport lounge access—a big perk for frequent flyers needing a quiet lounge and free refreshments during layovers. It also offers an application fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck (worth up to $120 every 4 years), so you can speed through airport security/immigration. Both cards have similar travel insurance benefits (in fact, trip cancellation/interruption and delay coverage are about the same; Reserve® might have slightly higher coverage limits in some cases, but both are excellent). Reserve® also has some luxury perks like concierge service and higher reimbursement on purchases—both extend warranty by 1 year and similar purchase protection.

• Who Should Choose Which? If you travel very frequently, value lounge access, and can utilize the $300 travel credit every year, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® might be worth the steep fee—you’ll enjoy VIP perks and a higher point value. However, for most travelers, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® hits the sweet spot: you get the core benefits and earn the same great points for a fraction of the cost. Many people start with the Preferred® because Chase doesn’t allow you to have both Sapphire cards simultaneously; you can always upgrade to Reserve® later if your travel lifestyle ramps up. Bottom line: Preferred® offers ~80% of the value of Reserve® at ~20% of the fee, making it the better deal for the majority of users who don’t absolutely need luxury perks.

Chase Sapphire Preferred® vs. American Express Gold Card

The Amex Gold Card is another popular mid-tier card, known for its rewards on food. Here’s how it compares:

• Annual Fee & Credits: Amex Gold’s annual fee is $250—much higher than Sapphire Preferred®’s $95. However, Gold comes with up to $240 in annual dining and Uber credits (up to $10 monthly in statement credits for select dining services like Grubhub/Seamless, Cheesecake Factory, etc., and $10 monthly in Uber Cash for rides or Uber Eats). If you max those out, you offset $240 of the fee, effectively bringing your net cost to just $10. But that assumes you will use those credits every month without fail, which can require behavior change or could go to waste if you forget. Sapphire Preferred®, in contrast, has a lower fee to begin with and its $50 hotel credit is easy to use in one go.

• Rewards Earn Rate: Amex Gold is a powerhouse for food-related spending: it earns 4X Membership Rewards® points at restaurants worldwide, and 4X at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25k per year, then 1X). It also gives 3X on flights (booked directly with airlines or via Amex Travel). So if groceries or dining are your largest expenses, Amex Gold can net more points (4X vs. 3X on Sapphire Preferred®’s dining, and Sapphire Preferred® doesn’t bonus general groceries aside from online grocery orders). For travel, Gold’s 3X on airfare is solid, but Sapphire Preferred®’s 2X on all travel (and 5X on Chase Travel℠ bookings) might earn more if your travel spend is varied (hotels, tours, etc., not just flights).

• Point Value & Redemption: Both Chase Ultimate Rewards® and Amex Membership Rewards® are elite flexible currencies with many transfer partners. However, they have differences. Chase UR points can be used at a guaranteed rate via Chase Travel℠ (1.25× with Preferred®), whereas Amex MR points generally don’t have a portal boost (they’re roughly 1¢ if used for travel via Amex’s Pay with Points, unless you have the Amex Platinum with its rebate perk on certain redemptions). So to get great value from Amex points, you pretty much plan to transfer to airline/hotel partners (which Amex has plenty of, often overlapping with Chase’s partners plus some unique ones). That’s fine for experienced users, but Chase offers a bit more beginner-friendly flexibility. In short, Chase Sapphire Preferred® points are a bit easier for the average cardholder to redeem at high value, whereas Amex Gold’s points can be equally valuable but may require more strategy.

• Benefits and Protections: Amex Gold is oriented around dining and grocery, so its perks are mostly those credits for food and Uber. It doesn’t come with lounge access (that’s Amex Platinum territory) and notably, it lacks the full suite of travel insurance that Sapphire Preferred® has. However, Amex has improved some of its cards’ protections: Gold now includes trip delay insurance (up to $300 per trip for delays over 12 hours for round-trip flights paid with the card), baggage insurance (up to $500 for lost or damaged baggage), and secondary rental car coverage. Chase Sapphire Preferred® still has the edge with higher coverage limits and primary car insurance. Also, Amex Gold has no foreign transaction fees and is widely accepted globally, though acceptance can be spottier than Visa in some countries or small establishments.

• Who Wins? It depends on your spending habits. Choose Chase Sapphire Preferred® if you want a lower fee, strong travel protections, and easier-to-use points for travel. It’s better for a broad travel and dining combo, and for those who want to occasionally book travel through Chase Travel℠ for simplicity. Choose Amex Gold if you spend heavily on dining out and U.S. groceries—the 4X earning in those categories is unparalleled, and you don’t mind dealing with credits to offset the fee. Hardcore foodies or large families (with big supermarket bills) might find the Gold’s rewards pay off more despite the fee. Many points enthusiasts actually carry both cards, using Gold for groceries/dining and Sapphire Preferred® for travel and to diversify points—but if you pick just one, consider whether food or travel perks matter more.

Chase Sapphire Preferred® vs. Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is often compared to the Sapphire Preferred® as they both have $95 fees and travel-focused rewards, but their style is different:

• Rewards Structure:
  Venture is a simpler, flat-rate card: it earns 2X miles on every purchase, regardless of category (plus a bonus 5X on hotels and rental cars booked via the Capital One Travel portal). The beauty is in its simplicity—no thinking about bonus categories; you always get 2X. Sapphire Preferred®, on the other hand, can earn more than 2X in its favored categories (3X on dining, etc.) but only 1X on other purchases. If your spending is heavily concentrated in travel and dining, Sapphire Preferred® will likely earn more rewards. If your spending is all over the place (and you don’t want or have a second card to cover miscellaneous purchases), Venture’s 2X on everything might yield a higher total.

• Point Value & Usage:
  Capital One “miles” are flexible but in a different way than Chase Ultimate Rewards®. With Venture, your primary options are to redeem miles as a statement credit for travel purchases (known as “Purchase Eraser”) at a fixed 1¢ per mile rate, or use miles to book travel through Capital One’s portal (also 1¢ value). That’s straightforward—10,000 miles = $100 toward travel. In 2018, Capital One added the ability to transfer miles to airline and hotel partners, making Venture more competitive with Chase/Amex. However, not all transfers are 1:1 and the partner list, while improving, isn’t as extensive or valuable as Chase’s (though they do have gems like Air Canada Aeroplan, Emirates, etc.). Chase’s points, meanwhile, get the 1.25× bonus when redeemed through Chase Travel℠ and have highly regarded partners like United, Southwest, Hyatt, Marriott, and more. If you’re not into the complexity of transfer partners, Venture’s fixed-value approach is refreshingly easy (just pay for travel on your card, then erase it with miles). But if you are into maximizing, Chase’s ecosystem can produce bigger wins (like that Hyatt redemption that yields 2–3 cents per point value).

• Benefits:
  Both cards waive foreign transaction fees and both offer some travel insurance, but Sapphire Preferred®’s coverage is more comprehensive. Capital One Venture now includes travel accident insurance, lost luggage reimbursement, secondary rental car insurance, and trip cancellation/interruption coverage (recently added, covering up to a certain amount). It also offers an application fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck (worth up to $120 every 4 years), which Sapphire Preferred® does not. If you haven’t gotten PreCheck or Global Entry yet, that’s a $120 value that makes travel smoother. Chase Sapphire Preferred® cardholders would need to get that benefit elsewhere (often a premium card or some travel loyalty programs).

• Welcome Bonus:
  Venture’s typical bonus—around 75k miles (roughly $750 value)—is on par with Sapphire Preferred®’s roughly 60k points ($750 via Chase Travel℠ value). So no big difference there, aside from how you use them.

• Who Should Get Which? If you want simplicity and a solid return on all spending with minimal effort, the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is attractive. It’s great for someone who doesn’t want multiple cards or to keep track of categories—swipe it for everything, earn 2X everywhere, and wipe out travel costs as you go. If you value maximizing every point and want deeper travel perks, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® wins. It provides more for the dedicated traveler: the earning power in specific categories, the elevated redemption value, and better insurance protections. Also consider the ecosystem: Chase’s card pairings and transfer partners versus Capital One’s. For many, the ability to build a “Chase trifecta” and the superior partner redemptions tip the scales in favor of Sapphire Preferred®.

Chase Sapphire Preferred® vs. Wells Fargo Autograph℠

The Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Visa is a newer entrant (with no annual fee) that offers surprising rewards, making it a compelling alternative for fee-averse users:

• Annual Fee:
  Autograph℠ has $0 annual fee. That’s its biggest advantage—you pay nothing to hold the card, ever. In contrast, Sapphire Preferred®’s $95/year means you need to utilize benefits and rewards to come out ahead. So if you simply refuse to pay for a credit card, Autograph℠ is an appealing pick.

• Rewards:
  Autograph℠ actually mirrors a lot of travel/dining categories: it earns 3X points on travel, dining, gas stations, transit, popular streaming, and phone plans, and 1X on other purchases. That covers a wide swath of spending with triple points, which is very impressive for a no-fee card. In fact, in some everyday categories (gas, transit, phone bills) it outdoes Sapphire Preferred® (which doesn’t offer bonus gas or phone rewards unless paired with other cards). However, the point value and ecosystem are where differences emerge.

• Point Value & Redemption:
  Wells Fargo’s rewards program doesn’t have the transferable points or travel portal uplift that Chase’s has. Autograph℠ points are generally worth a fixed 1¢ each when redeemed for cash back, travel, gift cards, etc. So 3X means a 3% return in those categories—good for a no-fee card. But there’s no way to get, say, 2 cents per point by clever redemptions; you won’t be transferring Autograph℠ points to airline miles for first-class flights. In contrast, while Sapphire Preferred®’s points start at 1¢ baseline, you can readily get 1.25¢ via Chase Travel℠ or much more via transfers. This means serious rewards seekers can squeeze a lot more value from Sapphire Preferred® points.

• Benefits:
  As a no-annual-fee product, Wells Fargo Autograph℠ has more limited perks. It does offer some useful ones like cell phone protection (up to $600 for phone damage or theft, if you pay your monthly bill with the card, minus a $25 deductible)—a rare benefit that even Sapphire Preferred® doesn’t offer. It also has secondary rental car collision coverage and travel/emergency assistance, but it lacks trip cancellation insurance or trip delay coverage. Basically, you get some peace of mind, but not the comprehensive travel protections of Sapphire Preferred®. No lounge access (unsurprising for a no-fee card) and no special credits.

• Welcome Bonus:
  Autograph℠’s typical bonus is around 20,000 points for $1,000 spend (worth $200). Easy to attain, but modest. Sapphire Preferred®’s bonus is several times larger by comparison (though with a higher spend requirement).

• Who Is It For?
  If you’re fee-sensitive or just starting out with rewards cards, the Wells Fargo Autograph℠ is a fantastic option—it’s essentially “free” and racks up 3X on many daily spend categories. It’s a great choice for someone who wants solid cash-back-esque rewards with no commitment. On the flip side, if you want to maximize travel rewards and are willing to pay a reasonable fee for a lot more flexibility and potential value, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® easily outpaces Autograph℠. Many avid rewards users might even use Autograph℠ as a supplement (for its 3X on categories Sapphire Preferred® doesn’t cover, like gas or phone) but rely on Sapphire Preferred® for travel redemptions and transfers.

In summary, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® holds its ground—or wins—in most comparisons thanks to its balanced rewards and strong benefits. The Sapphire Reserve® may be better for luxury perks (at a cost), Amex Gold for U.S. food spending, Venture for simplicity, and Autograph℠ for no-fee rewards. But the Sapphire Preferred® hits a “Goldilocks” sweet spot: moderate fee, great rewards, flexible points, and excellent perks. That’s why it’s often recommended as the first travel card to get and keep.

Best Strategies to Maximize Chase Sapphire Preferred® Rewards

Getting the Sapphire Preferred® is just the start—to truly unlock its value, you’ll want to use some smart strategies. Here are the best ways to use Chase Ultimate Rewards® points and tips to earn and redeem more effectively:

1. Earn Points Like a Pro (Use Bonus Categories & Partner Cards):
   Make the Sapphire Preferred® your go-to for all travel and dining purchases to earn 2X–5X and 3X respectively. For travel, remember that booking through Chase Travel℠ yields 5X—so when it makes sense (airfare, hotels, rental cars where you don’t need elite benefits), book via Chase Travel℠ to earn 5X instead of 2X. For dining, always pay with Sapphire Preferred® at restaurants, bars, coffee shops, and on food delivery services. Don’t forget bonus categories like streaming services and online groceries.
   For other purchases, consider pairing with another Chase card:

   • Chase Freedom Unlimited®: Earns 1.5X on everything (and also 3X on dining, 3X on drugstores, 5X on Chase Travel℠ purchases). Use Freedom Unlimited® for non-bonus everyday spending and funnel those points into your Sapphire Preferred®.

   • Chase Freedom Flex℠: Earns 5X on rotating quarterly categories (up to $1,500/quarter). By leveraging Freedom Flex℠ for those categories and Sapphire Preferred® for travel/dining, you cover a lot of bases at high reward rates.

   • Chase Ink Business Cards: If you have a small business or side gig, an Ink card can further boost earnings (for example, 5X on office supplies and internet/phone with Ink Business Cash). Those points, too, can be combined with Sapphire Preferred®’s Ultimate Rewards® account.

2. This combination is often dubbed the “Chase Trifecta.” Using multiple Chase cards strategically means no purchase goes unrewarded at a high rate. For instance, you might earn 5X on quarterly categories, ~3X on travel and dining, and 1.5X on general spend—all feeding into Ultimate Rewards®. Just remember that to unlock the ability to transfer points to travel partners, you need the Sapphire Preferred® (or Ink Preferred®).

3. Take Advantage of Deals and Promotions:
   Chase often has temporary promotions with partners. For example, through March 2025 the Sapphire Preferred® is granting 5X points on Lyft rides. It has also offered bonus points on Peloton purchases, and various Chase Offers (targeted discounts or extra points at select merchants). Keep an eye on your Chase account dashboard for these offers—activating a Chase Offer could give you, say, 10% back at a hotel chain or extra points at a retailer. Also, the DoorDash DashPass membership included with the card can save you on fees plus $10 off grocery orders each month, so be sure to activate and use those benefits if you order food or essentials.

4. How to Redeem Chase Sapphire Preferred® Points for Maximum Value:
   The flexibility of Ultimate Rewards® means you have options when it comes time to redeem. Not all options are equal:

   • Use the Chase Travel℠ Portal (for 1.25× value):
     Through the Chase Travel℠ site, you can book flights, hotels, rental cars, cruises, activities, etc., using your points. With Sapphire Preferred®, you get a 25% bonus, so each point is worth 1.25× its base value. It’s straightforward: 10,000 points = $125 toward a travel booking. The portal, powered by Expedia, offers similar inventory/prices to what you’d find on Expedia.com. This is a great option for simplicity and for bookings where transferring points wouldn’t yield better value.

   • Transfer to Travel Partners (for potentially huge value):
     Chase has 11+ airline and hotel transfer partners, including United MileagePlus, Southwest Rapid Rewards, JetBlue TrueBlue, Air Canada Aeroplan, British Airways Avios, Emirates, Singapore KrisFlyer, Hyatt, Marriott, IHG, and more. Transfers are typically at a 1:1 ratio and usually instantaneous for most programs. By transferring, you can take advantage of frequent flyer award charts or hotel point sweet spots. For instance, transferring to World of Hyatt might yield a redemption value of 2¢ per point or more—far exceeding the 1.25¢ base value via Chase Travel℠.

   • Avoid Low-Value Redemptions:
     While you can redeem points for cash back, gift cards, or even use them at checkout on retailers like Amazon/Apple, these options usually give you 1¢ or less per point. If travel is on your horizon, use the portal or transfers to maximize the value.

   • Leverage Point Combos:
     If you and a partner/spouse both have Chase cards, you can pool points into one account to redeem together. Or, if you have both a business Ink card and the Sapphire Preferred®, combine points from both before redeeming to take advantage of whichever option offers the best value.

   • Plan for the 1.25× Sweet Spot:
     Compare the “points cost” of a booking via Chase Travel℠ versus transferring to a partner. Often, certain redemptions are uniquely advantageous through the Chase portal. This flexibility is the beauty of Ultimate Rewards®—check both options and choose the one that yields the highest value.

5. Utilize the $50 Hotel Credit and Pay Yourself Back:
   Remember the $50 hotel credit—ensure you use it every cardmember year by booking at least one hotel night through Chase Travel℠. Once that charge posts, you’ll see a $50 statement credit—effectively free money. Additionally, Chase sometimes offers a feature called Pay Yourself Back, where you can use points to offset certain categories of purchases at the same 1.25× rate as travel. Categories have included groceries, dining, home improvement stores, and charitable donations. When active, check which categories qualify—this can be a handy way to use points for everyday expenses.

6. Keep Your Account Active and in Good Standing:
   Your Ultimate Rewards® points do not expire as long as your account remains open and in good standing. If you ever decide to close or downgrade your Sapphire Preferred®, make sure to transfer out your points first or transfer them to another Chase card in your household. Also, hold onto the card at least through the first anniversary to secure that 10% annual points bonus on your year’s spend.

By following these strategies, you’ll ensure you’re earning the maximum points possible and squeezing the most value when you redeem. The combination of high earning potential and versatile redemption options is what makes the Sapphire Preferred® such a points powerhouse.

Should You Get the Chase Sapphire Preferred®?

After covering its features and comparisons, you might still wonder: Is this card right for you? Let’s break down who will benefit most from the Chase Sapphire Preferred® and who might be better off with an alternative.

You should get the Chase Sapphire Preferred® if:

• You travel occasionally or frequently:
  If you take one or two trips a year (flights, road trips, etc.), this card’s rewards and protections will meaningfully enhance your travel. The no-foreign-fee Visa makes it great for international trips, and the travel insurance benefits offer financial peace of mind.

• You dine out or use food delivery regularly:
  The 3X on dining rewards every meal out—from sushi nights to pizza orders—making it one of the highest dining rewards rates on a card with such a low fee.

• You want top-notch rewards without a high annual fee:
  Not ready to commit to a $500+ premium card? The Sapphire Preferred® gives you many premium perks at a beginner-friendly price point. It’s ideal if you’re venturing beyond basic cash-back cards and want to dip your toes into travel rewards.

• You value flexible, high-value points:
  If the idea of transferring points to airline miles or booking travel through Chase Travel℠ appeals to you, then Ultimate Rewards® will delight you. This flexibility means you can adapt your points strategy as your travel needs evolve.

• You have (or plan to have) other Chase cards to maximize rewards:
  The Sapphire Preferred® is essential if you’re building the Chase Trifecta. It unlocks the full potential of points earned on Freedom or Ink cards.

• You have good to excellent credit:
  This card requires a solid credit score and a decent credit history, as it’s aimed at prime consumers. If you fit that criteria and want to be rewarded for your spending, it’s a top choice.

You might consider a different card if:

• You rarely travel or dine out:
  If most of your spending is on groceries and gas, other cards might align better with your lifestyle.

• You want luxury travel perks like lounge access:
  If you crave VIP perks such as airport lounge access on every trip, a higher-tier card like the Chase Sapphire Reserve® or the Amex Platinum might be a better fit.

• Your spending is heavily concentrated in non-travel categories:
  If your expenses are mostly in areas that don’t earn bonus points on Sapphire Preferred® (like heavy gas or grocery spending), a specialized card might offer more rewards.

• You absolutely refuse to pay an annual fee:
  If $95 still isn’t acceptable, consider a no-fee card like the Wells Fargo Autograph℠ or a combination of Chase Freedom Unlimited® and Chase Freedom Flex℠ (though note, you’d lose the ability to transfer points unless you later add a Sapphire card).

• You’re already committed to another rewards ecosystem:
  If you’re heavily invested in Amex Membership Rewards® or another program, you might prefer to stick to that ecosystem rather than diversify.

In essence, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® is best for someone who wants a travel-centric rewards card that’s neither too basic nor overly lavish. It’s frequently recommended as a first travel card because it offers a taste of premium perks without over-complicating things or costing a fortune each year. If you see yourself traveling or enjoying experiences more in the coming years—and you want to do so at a discount courtesy of points—this card is a prime contender.

Final Verdict: Is the Sapphire Preferred® Worth It in 2025?

Absolutely. The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card continues to be a superstar in 2025. It ticks all the boxes for what a “best travel credit card 2025” should be: generous rewards on travel and dining, a lucrative welcome bonus, and a trove of benefits that make traveling both rewarding and worry-free. All of this comes at a price that’s accessible for the average person looking to elevate their credit card game.

The card’s strengths are clear—flexible points that can be redeemed for great value, comprehensive travel protections that rival those of cards with much higher fees, and bonus earning that aligns with where people actually spend (dinners, vacations, streaming, and more). The ability to combine it with other Chase cards to supercharge your points is the cherry on top, effectively allowing cardholders to craft their own optimal rewards strategy.

Are there bigger, flashier cards out there? Sure—the Sapphire Reserve® or Amex Platinum offer luxury perks, and niche cards might earn a bit more in a single category. However, the Sapphire Preferred® is the well-balanced workhorse that fits seamlessly into many lifestyles. Its blend of engaging rewards, traveler-friendly protections, and user-friendly redemption options makes it a standout choice. If your goal is to travel more for less, enjoy fine dining and experiences, and have an all-in-one rewards card that grows with your ambitions, the Sapphire Preferred® is undoubtedly worth considering.

Learn more about the Chase Sapphire Preferred®, and if you’re convinced, don’t forget to check the current welcome bonus and apply when you’re ready to meet the spending requirement—the first few months set the tone for your rewards journey. Bon voyage and happy earning!