Chase Sapphire Preferred vs American Express Gold Card
Compare Chase Sapphire Preferred and Amex Gold Card: dining rewards, annual fees, travel benefits, transfer partners, and which premium rewards card fits your spending habits.
Quick Answer
The Amex Gold wins for food lovers with 4x at restaurants and supermarkets, but costs $325/year. The Sapphire Preferred wins for travelers with 3x on dining, 2x on travel, and a $95 fee with premium travel protections. Choose Amex Gold if you spend heavily on groceries. Choose Sapphire Preferred if you want travel benefits and a lower annual fee.
Chase Sapphire Preferred
The best mid-tier travel credit card in 2026 — 3x points on dining and 2x on travel, $95 annual fee, and a 60,000-point welcome bonus worth $750 in travel.
Key Features
Regions
US
Pros
- +Excellent 60,000-point welcome bonus worth $750 through Chase Travel
- +Points transfer at 1:1 to 14+ airline and hotel partners including Hyatt, United, and Southwest
- +Primary rental car insurance and comprehensive trip cancellation coverage included
- +Earns 3x on dining and 2x on travel with no spending cap
Cons
- −$95 annual fee with no first-year waiver for new applicants
- −No airport lounge access — you need the Sapphire Reserve for that
- −Only 1x points on non-bonus category spending like groceries and gas
American Express Gold Card
The premium rewards card for dining and groceries — 4x points at US restaurants and supermarkets, up to $25,000 per year, with a 60,000-point welcome bonus.
Key Features
Regions
US
Pros
- +Industry-leading 4x points at restaurants and US supermarkets up to $25K/year
- +$120 annual dining credit and $100 airline incidental fee credit offset $220 of the $325 fee
- +Premium metal card with 24/7 global concierge and Amex Offers program
- +No preset spending limit with flexible payment options
Cons
- −$325 annual fee is steep — only worth it if you spend heavily on dining and groceries
- −Amex is not as widely accepted as Visa or Mastercard internationally
- −Charge card model requires full balance payment each month (no revolving credit)
Real-World Scenarios
You spend $500+ per month on dining and groceries
Your largest monthly expenses are restaurants and supermarkets. You want maximum rewards on food spending and can justify a higher annual fee.
You want a low fee card with strong travel protections
You dine out regularly but also want trip insurance, rental car coverage, and a reasonable annual fee. Flexible point transfers matter to you.
You value transfer partners for premium travel
You want to transfer points to airlines and hotels for maximum value on business class flights and luxury hotel stays.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which card earns more on dining?
Both earn 3-4x on dining. Amex Gold earns 4x at restaurants (up to $25K/year). Chase Sapphire Preferred earns 3x on dining with no cap. Amex Gold has a higher earning rate but costs $325/year vs $95/year.
Which card is better for international travel?
Both cards have no foreign transaction fees. Chase Sapphire Preferred has better travel insurance (primary rental car, trip cancellation/interruption). Amex Gold is a charge card with no preset spending limit, which helps with large trip expenses.