Find Your Best
American Express® Gold Card
vs. Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Updated: December 5, 2024
Advertising & Editorial Disclosure
MoneyGeek partners with leading industry experts and advertisers to help you get to your financial happy place. Our content is accurate when posted but offers may change over time. We may receive compensation for partner advertisements, but our editorial team independently reviews and ranks products. Learn more about our editorial policies.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card and the American Express® Gold Card are two popular travel reward credit cards with similar benefits. Both of these cards offer generous sign-up bonuses, with each card providing 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in your first three months respectively from account opening. In addition, they both have no foreign transaction fee and you earn points redeemable for airline tickets and hotel stays. But there are important differences to consider before picking one over another.
Comparison Overview: American Express® Gold Card vs. Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
- American Express® Gold CardChase Sapphire Preferred® Card
- Has Annual Fee
- Has Balance Transfer Offer
- Has APR Offer
- Cash Back Rewards
- Travel Rewards
American Express® Gold Card At a Glance
The American Express® Gold Card has a $250 annual fee and requires good to excellent credit score to be approved. It comes with a variety of perks, including $10 in Uber Cash and dining credit respectively each month, for a total of up to $240 in credits per year.
- American Express® Gold Card
Best rewards card for frequent fliers and diners
- 1–4 Points per $1Rewards Rate
- See Pay Over Time APR*APR
- $250Annual Fee
- Good–ExcellentRecommended Credit
Pros
- Top-tier rewards on dining and groceries
- Great annual bonus credits
- Transfer points to multiple airline partners
- No foreign transaction fees See Rates and Fees
Cons
- High annual fee
- Limited premium travel perks
- No rewards on hotel stays or car rentals
- Introductory Offers
- Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $6,000 on eligible purchases in the first six months.
- Rewards
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards points per dollar at restaurants worldwide, up to $50,000 annually, then 1X points.
- Earn 4X points at U.S. supermarkets, up to $25,000 annually, then 1X points.
- Earn 3X points on flights booked directly with airlines or AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X points on prepaid hotels and eligible purchases through AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X point on all other eligible purchases.
- Perks & Benefits
- Receive $120 Uber Cash annually for Uber Eats or rides in the U.S. Effective 11/8/2024, an Amex Card must be selected as the payment method for your Uber or Uber Eats transaction to redeem the Amex Uber Cash benefit.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. Eligible charges vary by property.
- No foreign transaction fees. See Rates and Fees
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- APRs, Fees, and Penalties
- Annual fee is $325. See Rates and Fees
- Know if you're approved for a card with no impact on your credit score. Accepting the card may impact your score.
- Terms apply.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card At a Glance
The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card is one of the best rewards credit cards on the market today. With a bonus of 60,000 bonus points (worth over $750 when redeemed through Chase Travel℠), it also earns 3x points per dollar on dining at restaurants, 5x total points on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x points per dollar on online grocery purchases and streaming services. However, to get approved for the Sapphire Preferred, you’ll need to have excellent credit; otherwise, you may not be approved.
- Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
A very good rewards card with no foreign transaction fees and comprehensive travel cover
- 1–5 Points per $1Rewards Rate
- 21.49%–28.49% VariableAPR
- $95Annual Fee
- 670–850 (Good to Excellent)Recommended Credit
Pros
- Generous new cardholder bonus
- High rewards on travel and dining
- No foreign transaction fees
- With travel insurance and benefits
- Flexible rewards redemption options
Cons
- Annual fee
- High credit requirement
- Rewards program can be complex
- Potentially high APR
Introductory Offers
- Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first three months of account opening.
Rewards
- Earn 5X points on travel booked through Chase Travel.
- Earn 3X points on dining, select streaming services and online groceries.
- Earn 2X points on all other travel purchases.
- Earn 1X points on all other purchases.
- Points are worth 25% more when redeemed for travel through Chase Travel, making 60,000 points equivalent to $750 in travel value.
Perks & Benefits
- Enjoy a $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit.
- Benefit from Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance.
- Use Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver.
- Protect your belongings with Lost Luggage Insurance.
- Get complimentary DashPass access with $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for at least one year when activated by December 31, 2027.
Comparison Summary
MoneyGeek compares both travel reward credit cards. This comparison highlights how these two travel reward credit cards compare in many categories to help you figure out which card is best for your specific needs.
Card Detail | Comparison Summary |
|---|---|
Travel Coverage and Purchase Protection | When you travel more than 100 miles from home, Amex gives 24/7 emergency support and secures every transaction with SafeKey technology, Purchase Protection and Return Protection, and cardholders also get 24/7 fraud monitoring. Chase provides real-time security monitoring with instant fraud notifications through text, email, or phone. The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card credit card also features chip protection to further secure your identity. Winner: American Express® Gold Card |
Welcome Bonus | The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card offers 60,000 extra points after spending $4,000 in the first three months, while the American Express® Gold Card offers 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first six months. Winner: Tie |
Rewards | You earn 5X points on Chase Travel℠ (excluding hotel purchases that qualify for the $50 Anniversary Hotel Credit). 3X points at restaurants, select streaming services and online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs). 2X points on all other travel purchases and 1X points on general purchases The American Express® Gold Card offers 4x Membership Rewards points at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets, 3x points when booking flights directly with the airline or through amextravel.com and 1x points on all other eligible purchases through the American Express Membership Rewards Program. Winner: American Express® Gold Card |
Annual Fee | The annual cost for the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card is $95 per year. The annual fee for the American Express® Gold Card is $250. Winner: Chase Sapphire Preferred Card |
Redemption | There are 13 transfer partners to select from with Chase Travel℠, and American Express Membership Rewards has its own set of valued partners as well. By redeeming points via the Chase Travel℠ travel portal, Chase Sapphire Preferred Cardholders earn a 25% bonus. Winner: Chase Sapphire Preferred Card |
Which Card Should You Get?
Both cards provide value that fulfill the needs of different consumers. Your travel reward credit card should be chosen based on your spending habits and requirements.
Who Should Consider the American Express® Gold Card?
The American Express® Gold Card is ideal for frequent travelers and those who dine out regularly.
The Amex Gold Card offers 4X Membership Rewards points at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets on the first $25,000 spent at U.S. supermarkets each year, followed by 1X points afterward.
Travelers earn 3X points when booking flights through either amextravel.com or directly with the airline, and 1X points on all other eligible purchases.
≫ More: Read Our Full Review
Who Should Consider the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card?
The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card is suitable for regular travelers who wish to take advantage of excellent travel benefits and earn rewards that can be transferred to airline and hotel partners.
Frequent travelers who want to save money can benefit from the modest $95 annual fee.
If you dine out regularly, this card can also be beneficial as it earns 3x points per dollar on dining.
≫ More: Read Our Full Review
EXPERT OPINION
The Amex Gold card is a favorite card of mine for dining out. However, the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card delivers much more value for the annual fee you pay. The Amex Gold Card is still a solid option, but some may find it difficult to use the $10 monthly Uber and dining credit. So if you want a card with great benefits for dining and travel with a low annual fee, you can’t go wrong with the Sapphire Preferred.
Other Helpful Decision-Making FAQs
Choosing a travel credit card isn't always a simple decision. MoneyGeek has answered some frequently asked questions about the American Express® Gold Card vs. the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card.
Is the American Express® Gold Card better than the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card?
Both cards offer excellent value to customers. Your requirements, use cases, and where you spend the most money decide which credit card is best for you. The Amex Gold Card is a great option if you often dine out or shop for groceries. The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card is a great option if you travel regularly.
Can you get the American Express® Gold Card if you have Chase Sapphire Preferred Card?
Yes, You can apply for the Amex Gold card even if you hold the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card.
Can you transfer points from American Express® Gold Card to Chase Sapphire Preferred Card?
No, you can’t. Each card is from a different servicer.
Can you switch from the American Express® Gold Card to the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card?
Yes you can. However, be sure you’re under Chase’s 5/24 rule, which means you have been approved for more than five credit cards in the last 24 months.
What’s harder to get, the American Express® Gold Card or the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card?
Both cards require good to excellent credit scores. However, the American Express® Gold Card may be a bit more difficult as it’s a charge card with no predetermined limit.
How much do you have to spend for American Express® Gold Card vs Chase Sapphire Preferred Card to get the welcome bonus?
Both carss require $4,000 in spending. However, the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card gives cardholders three months while the Amex Gold Card gives six months to hit the spending requirement.
Still Not Sure About These Cards? Consider These Options
Anyone that enjoys traveling and wants to earn rewards should think about getting the American Express® Gold Card or the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card. If a travel card isn’t a great fit, cash-back reward credit cards are a good option if you want to get money back on purchases.
Learn more about credit cards in general
Find Your Best
About Doug Milnes, CFA
Doug Milnes is a CFA charter holder with over 10 years of experience in corporate finance and the Head of Credit Cards at MoneyGeek. Formerly, he performed valuations for Duff and Phelps and financial planning and analysis for various companies. His analysis has been cited by U.S. News and World Report, The Hill, the Los Angeles Times, The New York Times and many other outlets.
Milnes holds a master’s degree in data science from Northwestern University. He geeks out on helping people feel on top of their credit card use, from managing debt to optimizing rewards.
sources
- Chase Bank. "Chase Sapphire Preferred Card." Accessed December 5, 2024.
- Chase Bank. "Security and Protection." Accessed December 5, 2024.
- American Express. "American Express Fraud Protection." Accessed December 5, 2024.
- American Express. "American Express® Gold Card." Accessed December 5, 2024.
*Rates, fees or bonuses may vary or include specific stipulations. The content on this page is accurate as of the posting/last updated date; however, some of the offers mentioned may have expired. We recommend visiting the card issuer’s website for the most up-to-date information available.
Editorial Disclosure: Opinions, reviews, analyses and recommendations are the author’s alone and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. Learn more about our editorial policies and expert editorial team.
Advertiser Disclosure: MoneyGeek has partnered with CardRatings.com and CreditCards.com for our coverage of credit card products. MoneyGeek, CardRatings and CreditCards.com may receive a commission from card issuers. To ensure thorough comparisons and reviews, MoneyGeek features products from both paid partners and unaffiliated card issuers that are not paid partners.
Editorial Disclosure: Opinions, reviews, analyses and recommendations are the author’s alone and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. Learn more about our editorial policies and expert editorial team.
Advertiser Disclosure: MoneyGeek has partnered with CardRatings.com and CreditCards.com for our coverage of credit card products. MoneyGeek, CardRatings and CreditCards.com may receive a commission from card issuers. To ensure thorough comparisons and reviews, MoneyGeek features products from both paid partners and unaffiliated card issuers that are not paid partners.