Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card vs. The Platinum Card® from American Express

If you spend a lot of time flying, it’s worth investing in an annual fee rewards card. Most fee-worthy travel cards are packed with so many high-value benefits that it’s relatively easy to recoup your investment.

The harder decision is narrowing down which travel card is best for you: Should you invest hundreds of dollars in a super-premium card that’s known for showering cardholders with luxurious free perks? Or would you be just as happy with a less expensive card that offers a more modest collection of traveler-friendly benefits?

The answer largely depends on how often you travel and how much you care about high-end perks, such as airport lounge access and spa credits.

Chase Sapphire Preferred vs. American Express Platinum

Two of the most well-known travel cards are The Platinum Card® from American Express and the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card*. The American Express Platinum card charges an eye-popping $550 annual fee, but it’s packed with valuable benefits that help make up for its expense. The Chase Sapphire Preferred card, by contrast, has an annual fee of just $95 and provides the average cardholder with more opportunities to rack up rewards. But its travel benefits aren’t nearly as generous.

If you’re trying to decide which side of the Chase Sapphire Preferred-versus-Amex Platinum fence you fall on, here’s what to think about when comparing the two offers:

Chase Sapphire Preferred vs. The Platinum Card from American Express

	Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card	The Platinum Card® from American Express
Rewards rate	2 points per dollar on travel and dining 5 points per dollar on Lyft rides (through March 2022) 2 points per dollar on up to $1,000 in grocery store purchases per month (until April 30, 2021), including eligible pick-up and delivery services 1 point per dollar on general purchases	10 points per dollar at U.S. gas stations and U.S. supermarkets, on up to $15,000 in combined purchases, during the first six months 5 points per dollar for flights booked directly with airlines and American Express Travel (starting January 1, 2021, earn 5x points on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year) 5 points per dollar on prepaid hotels booked through American Express Travel 1 point per dollar on general purchases Terms apply
Introductory bonus	60,000 points when you spend $4,000 in the first three months Up to $50 in statement credits on grocery store purchases within the first 12 months	75,000 points when you spend $5,000 in the first six months Terms apply
Annual fee	$95	$550
Estimated yearly rewards value (for someone who spends $15,900)	$491	$856
Other features	25% bonus when you redeem points for travel through Chase’s Ultimate Rewards portal 12 months of complimentary DoorDash DashPass (must activate by Dec. 31, 2o21) Up to $60 back on eligible Peloton Digital or All-Acces Membership (through Dec. 31, 2021) Trip cancellation/interruption insurance Baggage delay insurance Trip delay reimbursement Purchase and extended warranty protection Auto rental collision damage waiver	Up to $200 in annual airline credits for incidentals Up to $200 in Uber Cash annually (up to $15 each month and $20 in December) Access to exclusive American Express airport lounges and partner lounges Up to $100 hotel credit and free room upgrade when available when you book two consecutive nights with American Express Travel Up to $100 Saks Fifth Avenue credit (after enrollment) Complimentary Hilton Honors Gold Status and Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite Status Up to $100 fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck Special perks at participating hotels, such as free breakfast, late check-out and early check-in when available Platinum Card Concierge and Platinum Travel Service Trip cancellation/interruption insurance Trip delay insurance Return protection Purchase and extended warranty protection Car rental loss and damage insurance
Who should get this card?	Someone who wants a big sign-up bonus Someone who doesn’t travel frequently Someone who wants more flexibility with their rewards-funded travel	Someone who wants to enjoy more luxury or convenience when they travel Someone who spends a lot on airline tickets

Chase Sapphire Preferred

Overview

Although the Chase Sapphire Preferred card’s bigger sibling — the Chase Sapphire Reserve® card — is a more equivalent comparison in terms of the annual fee and top-tier features, the Sapphire Preferred can stand its ground depending on your travel needs. Its affordability is the biggest appeal, but the Sapphire Preferred blows many rival cards out of the water thanks to its sizable sign-up bonus and exceptionally versatile redemption opportunities. In fact, you might want to lean toward the Sapphire Preferred if you want 1:1 cash back redemption as a back-up plan in case your travel plans don’t pan out. The Chase Sapphire Preferred card’s 25% point value boost toward travel through the Ultimate Rewards portal is an excellent plus when it’s time to finally book your trip too.

Best for a big introductory bonus

Though the introductory bonuses on the American Express Platinum and Chase Sapphire Preferred cards look the same, the Preferred awards more value in the first few months – a big plus for cardholders looking for a quick infusion of rewards.

The American Express Platinum card gives cardholders 75,000 bonus points when they spend $5,000 in the first six months, which we estimate to be worth around $930. However, the cost of the card’s annual fee cancels out a lot of that value. On the other hand, the Chase Sapphire Preferred card awards 60,000 bonus points when cardholders spend $4,000 in the first three months (worth an estimated $750), plus up to $50 in statement credits for grocery store purchases within the first year, and only charges a $95 annual fee.

Introductory bonus value

The Amex Platinum’s card bonus, however, can be easier to obtain. To earn it, cardholders must spend $5,000 in the card’s first six months (approximately $833 a month for six months). With the Sapphire Preferred card, cardholders need to spend $4,000 – around $1,333 a month for three months.

Monthly spend required to earn introductory bonus

Best for flexible reward redemption

When it’s finally time to redeem your points, the Sapphire Preferred card offers more flexibility and convenience. For example, if you want to redeem your points for travel, you can book a flight or hotel using Chase’s online Ultimate Rewards Portal and earn a 25% redemption bonus. If you don’t have enough points available to pay for a full flight, you can just use what you have and charge the rest to your card. Or, you can redeem your points for cash (at one cent each) and buy a ticket yourself. Additionally, Chase lets you transfer your points on a one-to-one basis to a wide variety of partner airlines as well as redeem your points for gift cards, cruises, rental cars and more.

American Express, by contrast, isn’t quite as flexible. With the Platinum card, you’re able to transfer points to a larger number of airline and hotel partners, but only some of those partners will transfer points on a one-to-one basis. You can also redeem your points for statement credits; however, the points will drop substantially in value. For example, you can redeem 10,000 Membership Rewards points for $60 in statement credits. But if you use those same points for a flight, they’ll be worth at least $100.

American Express Platinum

Overview

If you’re an avid traveler and your definition of value focuses around access to the finer side of travel instead of economizing, then the American Express Platinum is the winner hands down. The Amex Platinum delivers a rich platter of elite perks on top of its superior airfare and hotel rewards rate. Considering the monetary value behind the variety of annual credits, exclusive airport lounge access and complimentary hotel elite statuses that the Amex Platinum provides, the annual fee is essentially an admission fee that you’ll recoup along the way.

Best for luxury travel perks and credits

Where the Platinum card shines is in its travel benefits. If you travel heavily and can afford to spend several hundred dollars upfront, a premium card such as the Platinum card will offer you more than enough value to make up for the annual fee. But you have to actually use the benefits to make that three-figure fee worth it. Most of the Platinum card’s high-end benefits are travel perks that either cut the cost of travel or make your time at the airport or hotel more luxurious or convenient. For example, you’ll get a $200 airline fee credit, up to $200 worth of Uber Cash each year, an application fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck, free Wi-Fi access, a $100 resort credit, free room upgrades, free hotel breakfasts and more. You’ll also be given unlimited free access to some of the most lavish airport lounges in the world – a perk that’s worth hundreds of dollars just by itself.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred card, by contrast, doesn’t offer any of those benefits. The most similar partner perk that the Sapphire Preferred carries that’s comparable to the Amex Platinum’s benefits is the Sapphire Preferred card’s 12 months of complimentary DoorDash DashPass. Meanwhile, the Amex Platinum carries 12 months of complimentary Uber Eats Pass, but the Sapphire Preferred also earns 5X points on Lyft rides (through March 2022).

Estimated value of free travel benefits

Best for airline tickets

The Platinum card also offers a more generous rewards rate on air travel and hotel purchases than the Sapphire Preferred card, making it a better pick for heavy travelers. Platinum cardholders get 5 points for every dollar they spend on flights booked directly with an airline or American Express Travel and 5 points per dollar on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. By contrast, Chase Sapphire Preferred cardholders only earn 2 points for every dollar spent on travel.

If you fly internationally or across the country several times a year, you should be able to easily earn enough rewards to make up for the Platinum card’s annual fee – especially when you take into account the $200 airline fee credit. For example, if you spend $8,000 a year on airline tickets, you’ll earn $496 worth of rewards points using the Platinum card. With the Sapphire Preferred card, you’d earn just $203.

Value of rewards earned on $8,000 annual airfare spend

Similarly, you can potentially earn more than $186 in rewards if you charge $3,000 in prepaid hotel stays booked through American Express Travel using your Platinum card. If you spend the same amount using your Chase card, you’ll only earn around $76 worth of rewards.

Value of rewards earned on $3,000 annual hotel spend

Which is right for you?

The main difference between these two stellar credit cards lies in your approach to travel. If the American Express Platinum card’s steep annual fee is intimidating, you might want to occasionally redeem for cash back or you might not jet-set or hotel-hop enough to justify the expense, then the Chase Sapphire Preferred might be your speed. However, it’s hard to beat the Amex Platinum if you’re looking for top-of-the-line perks and reimbursements to make travel a more convenient, luxurious experience.

Pros and Cons

Bottom line

Overall, the Chase Sapphire Preferred card is more flexible, affordable and accessible for the average traveler. If you don’t want to make a big commitment, but want to earn a sizable amount of rewards, this is a good card to use for travel.

However, the Platinum card’s supersized benefits are hard to beat. If you crave more luxury when you travel – or if you just want to get more value from your flights – then the Platinum card is a satisfying pick.

See related: American Express Gold Card vs. The Platinum Card from American Express: Which is best?, Chase Sapphire Preferred Card vs. American Express Gold Card: Which is best?

*All information about the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card has been collected independently by CreditCards.com and has not been reviewed by the issuer. This offer is no longer available on our site.