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Home / Cards / Card comparisons / Chase Sapphire Preferred vs. Chase Sapphire Reserve

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Card comparisons

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card vs. Chase Sapphire Reserve®

A side-by-side look at annual fee bands, rewards style, credit range, foreign transaction fees, pros, cons and gotchas, using only the card facts we've checked on each issuer's site. We don't list welcome offers or APRs because they change often.

Card details last reviewed October 2, 2026. Confirm everything on the issuer site. Our editorial policy.

Advertising disclosure: We may earn a commission from some links on this site, but the card links here currently go straight to issuer sites (no affiliate links). We aim to recommend products based on fit for common spending patterns and responsible use—not solely on payout size. Affiliate disclosure.

Side by side

Chase Sapphire Preferred® CardChase Sapphire Reserve®
IssuerChaseChase
NetworkVisaVisa
Card typeTravel: transferable pointsTravel: transferable points
Card forPersonalPersonal
Annual fee band$1–$99$250+
Welcome offerCheck issuerCheck issuer
APR and any intro APRCheck issuerCheck issuer
Credit typically targetedGood, ExcellentExcellent
Rewards typeTransferable points / milesTransferable points / miles
How it earnsBonus points on Chase Travel, dining, gas, streaming and online groceries; Ultimate Rewards transfer to airline and hotel partners.Higher travel and dining earn plus premium credits and lounge-style perks; Ultimate Rewards transfer partners.
Foreign transaction feeNoneNone
Bonus category capsNoNo
FeaturesTravel, Dining, Streaming, Groceries, Transferable pointsTravel, Dining, Transferable points, Lounge / premium perks
Pros
  • Beginner-friendly entry to transferable points
  • Moderate annual fee
  • No foreign transaction fee
  • Strong travel and dining earn
  • Premium travel perks
  • No foreign transaction fee
Cons
  • Annual fee
  • Best value takes some redemption learning
  • High annual fee
  • Value depends on actually using credits and perks
Watch out for
  • Chase's unofficial 5/24 rule can limit approvals if you opened many cards recently.
  • Portal and transfer values differ, so learn redemptions before you count on a value.
  • High annual fee.
  • Credits are often merchant-specific; it is easy to overpay if you do not use them.
  • Credits do not automatically offset the fee.
Last reviewedOctober 2, 2026October 2, 2026
LinksDetails
View on issuer site		Details
View on issuer site

Who should pick which

By the Credit Cards for Rewards editorial team · How we evaluate cards

Both earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points that can move to airline and hotel partners, and neither charges a foreign transaction fee. The real split is cost: the Preferred sits in the $1–$99 fee band, while the Reserve costs $250+ and layers on premium credits and lounge-style perks.

Pick the Chase Sapphire Preferred if…

  • You're new to transferable points and want a lower-fee way in.
  • Much of your spending goes to dining, gas, streaming, online groceries or Chase Travel.
  • Your credit is good rather than excellent; our data lists the Reserve for excellent credit only.

Pick the Chase Sapphire Reserve if…

  • You have excellent credit and travel often enough to use lounge-style perks.
  • You will genuinely spend the credits, which are often merchant-specific. Current amounts: check the issuer.
  • You want higher travel and dining earn and accept a fee in the $250+ band.

Bottom line

If you can't name the Reserve credits you would use, the Preferred keeps you in the same points program for a much lower fee band. Credits don't cancel the fee by themselves, so count only spending you'd do anyway.

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