Chase Sapphire Preferred

A travel card with a modest fee that suits people who travel a few times a year and eat out often.

Who it's for

This card fits you if you book trips a few times a year, spend a fair amount on restaurants or food delivery, and want points that can turn into flights and hotels. The annual fee is $95, which is low for a travel card, so you don't have to be a frequent flyer to make it pay off. You earn 5x on travel booked through Chase Travel, 3x on dining, gas stations, EV charging, select streaming, online grocery orders and vacation homes at top brands, 2x on other travel and 1x on everything else. There's also a yearly statement credit of up to $100 for hotel stays booked through Chase Travel. If most of your spending already lands in those buckets, the points add up quickly.

Who should skip it

Skip it if you carry a balance from month to month. The regular APR is high, and interest wipes out the value of any points you earn. It's also not the best pick if you rarely travel and just want simple cash back; a no-fee 2% card will likely give you more for less effort. Chase generally looks for strong credit on this card, so if your score is still building, a starter card is a better first step.

How to get the most from it

Put dining, gas, EV charging, streaming and online grocery orders on this card, since those earn 3x without any extra steps. If you book a hotel through Chase Travel, use the yearly hotel credit of up to $100. Book flights and hotels through Chase Travel when the price is the same as booking direct, so you collect the 5x rate. Pay the full statement balance every month, and set up autopay so a missed payment never costs you a late fee. When you're ready to use points, compare what they're worth on Chase Travel with moving them to an airline or hotel partner; the better option changes from trip to trip. If you also have a no-fee Chase card, you can combine points into this account.

Pros

• Low $95 annual fee for a travel card
• 3x on dining, gas, EV charging, select streaming and online grocery
• 5x on travel booked through Chase Travel
• Up to $100 a year back on hotels booked through Chase Travel
• Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or NEXUS fee credit, up to $120 every four years
• Points can go toward travel or move to airline and hotel partners
• No foreign transaction fees

Cons

• High regular APR if you carry a balance
• 1x on spending outside the bonus categories
• Usually needs strong credit to get approved
• You get the most value only if you actually travel

Frequently asked questions

Is the Chase Sapphire Preferred worth the $95 fee?

It usually is if you spend a few hundred dollars a month on dining, gas and travel. The 3x and 5x categories can earn back the fee on their own, and the hotel credit of up to $100 a year helps if you book hotels through Chase Travel. If you seldom eat out or travel, a no-fee card is likely the better deal.

What credit score do you need for the Sapphire Preferred?

Chase doesn't publish a minimum, but this card generally goes to people with good to excellent credit. lemonope's card finder can estimate your odds from a few quick answers without a credit check.

Can you use the Sapphire Preferred abroad?

Yes. It's a Visa and it has no foreign transaction fees, so it works well when you travel outside the US.

Does the Sapphire Preferred earn points on groceries?

It earns 3x on online grocery orders. Groceries bought in a store earn 1x.