Chase Sapphire Preferred vs Amex Gold
The two most popular mid-tier travel and dining rewards cards face off.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred and the Amex Gold are the two cards that serious rewards enthusiasts debate most often. Both charge similar annual fees and target travel and dining spenders, but their rewards structures, transfer partners, and perks differ in meaningful ways. Your spending patterns determine the winner.
Chase Sapphire Preferred
The card for travel rewards flexibility
Advantages
- 5x points on Chase Travel; 3x on dining and streaming; 2x on all other travel
- Points transfer 1:1 to 14 airline and hotel partners
- 25% point bonus when redeeming through Chase Travel portal
- Massive sign-up bonus (typically 60,000-80,000 points)
- Primary car rental insurance included
Drawbacks
- 3x dining rate trails Amex Gold's 4x at restaurants
- No statement credits to offset the annual fee
- Travel protections were reduced in recent years
- Chase's transfer partners are slightly less premium than Amex's
Amex Gold Card
The card for dining and grocery rewards
Advantages
- 4x points at restaurants worldwide -- best dining rate in this tier
- 4x points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25K/year)
- Up to $120/year Uber Cash credit and $120/year dining credit
- Transfer to 21+ airline and hotel partners including Delta and Hilton
- No preset spending limit on purchases
Drawbacks
- Higher annual fee than Sapphire Preferred ($250 vs $95)
- Credits require specific merchants (Uber, GrubHub, etc.) to maximize
- 3x on flights only -- no broader travel bonus category
- Not a Visa, so Amex acceptance gaps still exist internationally
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Chase Sapphire Preferred | Amex Gold Card |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Fee | $95 | $250 (offset by up to $240 in credits) |
| Dining Rewards | 3x points per dollar | 4x points per dollar |
| Travel Rewards | 5x Chase Travel; 2x other travel | 3x flights booked directly; 1x other travel |
| Grocery Rewards | 1x (not a bonus category) | 4x at U.S. supermarkets (up to $25K/year) |
| Transfer Partners | 14 airline and hotel partners (1:1) | 21+ airline and hotel partners (1:1) |
| Sign-Up Bonus | 60,000-80,000 points after $4K spend | 60,000-90,000 points after $6K spend |
| Statement Credits | None | $120 Uber Cash + $120 dining credit annually |
| Foreign Transaction Fee | No foreign transaction fees | No foreign transaction fees |
Too Close to Call
The Sapphire Preferred wins on simplicity and annual fee, while the Amex Gold wins on earning power for dining and grocery spenders -- making this a genuine tie based on spending habits.
If you spend over $500/mo on dining and groceries combined, the Amex Gold's 4x rates in both categories generate significantly more points than the Sapphire Preferred, and the statement credits bring its effective annual fee down to nearly zero. But if you want a simple, low-fee travel card with no credits to manage and a broader travel rewards category (2x on all travel, not just flights), the Sapphire Preferred is the cleaner product. Many rewards enthusiasts carry both in a Chase + Amex dual-ecosystem strategy. Your spending pattern determines the winner.
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