Amex Gold vs. Chase Sapphire Preferred: Which one is right for you?
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The American Express® Gold Card and the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card are two of our favorite travel rewards cards on the market. They both offer strong earning potential and valuable perks. However, they cater to slightly different types of travelers. Below, we’ll compare them in terms of rewards, travel benefits, fees, and other features to help you decide which one is the best fit for your wallet.
Short answer: pick the Amex Gold if dining and U.S. supermarkets drive your spending, and the Chase Sapphire Preferred® if you want a lower annual fee and stronger travel protections. As of September 2026, the Amex Gold costs $325 a year and offers up to 100,000 Membership Rewards points, while the Sapphire Preferred costs $95 and offers 75,000 Ultimate Rewards points.
Welcome offer
| Card | Welcome offer |
|---|---|
| American Express Gold Card | 100,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $6,000 in the first six months. |
| Chase Sapphire Preferred Card | 75,000 bonus Chase Ultimate Rewards points after spending $5,000 in the first three months (offer as of September 2026). |
Winner: Amex Gold for bonus size, Chase Sapphire Preferred for easier spend
As of September 2026, the Amex Gold offers up to 100,000 Membership Rewards points, compared with 75,000 Ultimate Rewards points on the Chase Sapphire Preferred. But the Sapphire Preferred requires less spending over a shorter period to earn it.
Annual fees
| Card | Annual Fee |
|---|---|
| American Express Gold Card | $325 |
| Chase Sapphire Preferred Card | $95 |
Winner: Chase Sapphire Preferred
The Sapphire Preferred has a significantly lower annual fee, but the Amex Gold offers more benefits that can offset its higher fee.
Earning rates
| Card | Earning Rates |
|---|---|
| American Express Gold Card | 4 points per dollar at restaurants worldwide (up to $50,000 per year, then 1 point per dollar). 4 points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 per year, then 1 point per dollar). 3 points per dollar on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com. 1 point per dollar on other purchases. |
| Chase Sapphire Preferred Card | 5 points per dollar on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠. 3 points per dollar on dining, vacation home rentals, gas and EV charging, top streaming services, and online groceries (excluding Walmart, Target and wholesale clubs). 2 points per dollar on all other travel purchases. 1 point per dollar on all other purchases. |
The Amex Gold excels in dining and U.S. supermarket categories, while the Sapphire Preferred offers more diverse bonus categories, including travel and streaming services.
Winner: Amex Gold for dining and groceries, Chase Sapphire Preferred for travel
If you travel often and want flexibility, the Chase Sapphire Preferred has the edge.
If you spend heavily on dining and groceries, the Amex Gold is superior.
Key benefits
| Card | Key benefits |
|---|---|
| American Express Gold Card | $10 monthly dining credit (up to $120 per year). $10 monthly Uber Cash (up to $120 per year). $100 Resy credit (split into two $50 credits). $84 annual Dunkin’ credit ($7 per month). Access to The Hotel Collection. |
| Chase Sapphire Preferred Card | Up to $100 hotel statement credit per anniversary year for bookings through Chase Travel℠. Complimentary DashPass for at least one year (activate by 12/31/27). One year of complimentary Apple TV ($156 value; activate by 12/31/26). Up to $120 every four years as statement credit for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck® or NEXUS. Trip cancellation/interruption insurance. Primary auto rental collision damage waiver. |
Winner: Amex Gold for credit toward annual fee, Chase Sapphire Preferred for stronger travel protections.
Points value and redemptions
If you’re looking to use your points for travel, Chase points are worth 1 cent each in Chase Travel℠, and Points Boost can raise that to up to 1.5 cents on select bookings, while Amex does not have a similar feature. Both programs let you transfer points to partners at a 1:1 ratio, with one exception: as of June 2026, the Chase Sapphire Preferred transfers to World of Hyatt at a 4:3 ratio (new cardholders June 15, 2026; existing cardholders October 1, 2026).
If Hyatt is the reason you are looking at the Sapphire Preferred, the 4:3 ratio has a workaround for many Category 4 nights: transfer 25,000 Chase points to Air Canada Aeroplan at 1:1 and trade them for a World of Hyatt Category 1-4 Free Night Award. It beats a direct transfer whenever the night costs more than 18,750 Hyatt points. The same route works with Amex Membership Rewards, which also transfer to Aeroplan at 1:1, so the Amex Gold can reach Hyatt nights too, even without Hyatt as a direct partner.
Both cards have valuable transfer partners, with some overlap. Amex has 21 transfer partners, while Chase has 14. Some unique partners for each include:
| Card | Points Value and redemptions |
|---|---|
| American Express Gold Card | Delta SkyMiles. ANA Mileage Club. Avianca LifeMiles. |
| Chase Sapphire Preferred Card | United MileagePlus. Southwest Rapid Rewards. World of Hyatt. |
Winner: Tie
Which one should you get?
| Get the Amex Gold if… | Get the Chase Sapphire Preferred if… |
|---|---|
| You spend a lot on dining and groceries. | You travel frequently and need strong protections. |
| You like premium perks and dining credits. | You prefer lower annual fees and flexible travel redemptions. |
| You transfer points to Delta, ANA or Air Canada. | You book through Chase Travel and can use Points Boost. |
Bottom line
The Amex Gold is the better choice for food lovers and grocery shoppers, while the Chase Sapphire Preferred® is the best for budget-conscious travelers who want strong insurance benefits. For the full details on each card, read our American Express Gold Card review and our Chase Sapphire Preferred review.
Still can’t decide? If you can afford both, they complement each other well. Earning Amex Membership Rewards points for everyday food spending and using Chase Ultimate Rewards points for flexible travel redemptions can be an excellent strategy.
- Annual fee
- $325
- Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$1,900Total$1,900Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- $1,900
- Welcome offerYou may receive as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards points after $8,000 in eligible purchases in the first 6 months of Card Membership. Offers are personalized: your amount may be lower and you may not be eligible for any offer. Check your exact Amex offer before accepting the Card. Checked October 26, 2026.
- Up to 100,000 points
Apply Now
on American Express's website
- Annual fee
- $95
- Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$1,537Total$1,537Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- $1,537
- Welcome offerAfter $5,000 in purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Offer eligibility requirements apply.
- 75,000 points
Apply Now
on Chase's website
FAQs – Amex Gold vs Chase Sapphire Preferred
Which card has a lower annual fee?
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card has a lower annual fee at $95 compared to the Amex Gold’s $325. However, the Amex Gold offers more credits that can offset its cost.
Which card earns more on dining and groceries?
The Amex Gold earns 4x points on restaurants and U.S. supermarkets, making it the better choice for food-related spending. Chase offers 3x on dining and online groceries, which is still competitive.
Which card is better for travel rewards?
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® earns 5x on travel booked through Chase Travel and 2x on other travel. It also provides stronger travel protections, making it a better fit for frequent travelers.
Which card has more valuable transfer partners?
Both cards have excellent transfer partners. Amex has more (21 vs. 14), but Chase offers partners like Hyatt and United. It depends on which loyalty programs you value most.
Can I get both cards?
Yes, you can hold both cards. Many people use Amex Gold for food-related spending and Chase Sapphire Preferred® for travel purchases and redemptions through Chase Travel, where Points Boost can increase what your points are worth.