Chase Sapphire Preferred vs Reserve (2026)

Most people use the same card at checkout, usually the one on top in their wallet. Another card you already carry can earn more on the same purchase. Extra shown is estimated. Your issuer decides final rewards.

Enter the store and amount. Pikt estimates which card in your wallet is likely to earn the most, with the dollar difference and a short reason. Issuers decide. Online, Pikt Checkout names that pick before you click pay. On recurring bills, Subscriptions shows which card is likely to earn the most and how to put it on file. Coming next: Pikt Signal will put your best card on your lock screen when you're ready to pay in stores. Pikt factors portal vs direct booking and your full Chase stack including Freedom cards.

Sapphire Preferred has a $95 annual fee. Sapphire Reserve has a $795 annual fee, plus a separate fee for each authorized user. The $700 gap between the primary-card fees is the first comparison.

Reserve includes up to $300 in statement credits for travel purchases each account anniversary year. Purchases covered by that credit do not earn points. Preferred includes up to $100 in statement credits each account anniversary year for hotel stays purchased through Chase Travel. Count a credit only when you will make an eligible purchase.

Reserve earns 8x points on purchases through Chase Travel. It earns 4x on flights and hotels booked direct, 3x on dining worldwide, and 1x on other purchases.

Preferred earns 5x through Chase Travel. It earns 3x on dining, gas stations, EV charging, vacation homes at top brands, top streaming services, and online grocery purchases. It earns 2x on other travel and 1x on other purchases.

Preferred shares the 3x dining rate and has more 3x everyday categories. It does not match Reserve's 8x portal rate or 4x direct flight and hotel rate.

Reserve cardmembers can use Chase Sapphire Lounges by The Club and participating Priority Pass lounges under Chase's access rules. Chase also lists access to select Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounges and Air Canada Cafes with an eligible boarding pass.

Both current card pages list a trusted traveler application fee credit. Reserve provides up to $120 every four years for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS. Preferred now lists the same maximum and timing. This benefit is no longer enough by itself to separate the two cards.

Preferred does not include the Reserve lounge network. Count lounge access only for airports and trips where you expect to use it.

Preferred fits a traveler who wants Ultimate Rewards transfer partners and a lower annual fee. Its 3x categories also suit someone whose spending is not limited to flights and hotels.

Reserve fits a frequent traveler who uses Chase Travel, books flights or hotels direct, and will use its airport lounge access. The higher fee asks for more benefit use before the account makes sense.

Count only the part of a published credit that matches spending you planned to make without the card.

1. At a restaurant, both cards earn 3x points under the current public terms.

2. At a gas station, Preferred earns 3x while Reserve earns its 1x base rate.

3. On a flight booked direct, Reserve earns 4x while Preferred earns 2x as other travel.

Card Check handles the purchase in front of you instead of treating one Sapphire card as the winner everywhere. You still pay with your own card. Extra is estimated; issuers decide.