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Quick Answer

The Chase Sapphire Reserve edges out the Chase Sapphire Preferred for most cardholders — it wins on 3 of 4 comparison categories and offers 150,000 pts signup bonus earns more (up to 8x vs 5x). The Chase Sapphire Preferred is the better choice if you want no or lower annual fee.

Card Comparison

Chase Sapphire Preferred vs Chase Sapphire Reserve

Side-by-side comparison of fees, rewards, benefits, and transfer partners.

Which Card Comes Out Ahead?

Chase Sapphire Reserve is the stronger all-around option for most people in this matchup because it wins more measurable categories in our scoring model. Chase Sapphire Preferred still makes sense if your spending pattern lines up better with its fee profile, issuer rules, or rewards ecosystem.

Chase Sapphire Preferred

Best if you will actually use recurring statement credits and premium benefits.

Chase Sapphire Reserve

Best if your main priority is the larger current welcome offer.

Chase Sapphire Preferred card art
Chase Ultimate Rewards
Chase Sapphire Preferred
Chase
More Info
Chase Sapphire Reserve card art
Chase Ultimate Rewards
Chase Sapphire Reserve
Chase
More Info

Comparison Method

CardCurator compares measurable differences first: annual fee, current welcome offer, top-end earning, and recurring credits. If the cards are close, the right answer depends on spending pattern and perk usage rather than headline prestige.

Annual Fee
$95/yr
$795/yr
Foreign Fees
None
None
Signup Bonus
100,000 points
Spend $5,000 in 3 months
was 75k pts
150,000 points
Spend $6,000 in 3 months
was 125k pts
Top Earn Rates
  • Chase Travel 5x
  • Dining 3x
  • Gas Stations 3x
  • Chase Travel 8x
  • Lyft 5x
  • Flights (Direct) 4x
Reward Type
miles
miles
Pts Value
~1.50¢/pt points · industry est.
~1.50¢/pt points · industry est.
Key Credits
  • Chase Travel Hotel Credit $100
  • Global Entry / TSA PreCheck / NEXUS Credit $120
  • DoorDash Monthly Promo $10
  • Annual Travel Credit $300
  • The Edit Hotel Credit $250
Card Perks
  • DashPass
  • Apple TV Benefit
  • 5x on Lyft Rides
  • +7 more
  • Priority Pass Select
  • Chase Sapphire Lounge by The Club
  • DashPass
  • +3 more
Transfer Partners
  • Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
  • Aer Lingus AerClub
  • Air Canada Aeroplan
  • British Airways Executive Club
  • Flying Blue
  • +10 more
  • Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
  • Aer Lingus AerClub
  • Air Canada Aeroplan
  • British Airways Executive Club
  • Flying Blue
  • +10 more

Quick summary

A short version of the comparison with the main differences at a glance.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve edges out the Chase Sapphire Preferred for most cardholders — it wins on 3 of 4 comparison categories and offers 150,000 pts signup bonus earns more (up to 8x vs 5x). The Chase Sapphire Preferred is the better choice if you want no or lower annual fee. On raw upside, Chase Sapphire Reserve tops out at 8x versus 5x for Chase Sapphire Preferred. Current signup bonus values are roughly $1000 for Chase Sapphire Preferred and $1500 for Chase Sapphire Reserve. Summary generated June 21, 2026. Source: https://cardcurator.ai/compare/chase-sapphire-preferred-vs-chase-sapphire-reserve

View source data
Winner
Chase Sapphire Reserve
3/4 categories · up to 8x
Runner-up
Chase Sapphire Preferred
1/4 categories · up to 5x
  • Chase Sapphire Reserve wins 3 of 4 comparison categories in CardCurator's quick verdict model.
  • Top earn rate: Chase Sapphire Reserve reaches 8x; Chase Sapphire Preferred reaches 5x.
  • Annual fee: Chase Sapphire Reserve is $795/yr; Chase Sapphire Preferred is $95/yr.
  • Current public bonus values are approximately $1000 and $1500.

Common Questions: Chase Sapphire Preferred vs Chase Sapphire Reserve

Is the Chase Sapphire Preferred or Chase Sapphire Reserve better for dining?

Chase Sapphire Preferred earns 3x on dining; Chase Sapphire Reserve earns 3x on dining. Chase Sapphire Preferred wins for dining.

Which has the higher signup bonus in 2026?

Chase Sapphire Preferred currently offers 100,000 pts signup bonus (spend $5,000 in 3 months). Chase Sapphire Reserve offers 150,000 pts signup bonus (spend $6,000 in 3 months). Chase Sapphire Reserve has the larger bonus.

Which card is better for international travel?

Both cards charge no foreign transaction fees, making either a solid choice for international travel.

Can I hold both the Chase Sapphire Preferred and the Chase Sapphire Reserve?

In most cases yes — holding both is allowed and can be a smart strategy for maximizing rewards across different spending categories. Both cards are from Chase, so check their specific application rules.

Keep Researching

If this matchup is close, the stronger next step is usually to read the full card reviews or use a broader ranking page instead of comparing random pairs one by one.

Best next move
Chase Sapphire Reserve
Chase Sapphire Reserve is the stronger next step if you want to stop reopening the same comparison and move toward a real application decision.