American Express Gold Card vs Chase Sapphire Preferred
An honest side-by-side comparison of two of our top credit cards picks — pricing, strengths, weaknesses, and who each one is really for.
American Express Gold Card
Ranked #2 of 15 in this directory
Premium dining and grocery rewards card with valuable statement credits
Chase Sapphire Preferred
Ranked #1 of 15 in this directory
The gold standard travel rewards card with flexible point redemptions
Our pick: Chase Sapphire Preferred. Our editors rank Chase Sapphire Preferred higher overall in Credit Cards — but American Express Gold Card can be the better fit depending on your budget and use case below. How we review
Compare the details
| American Express Gold Card | Chase Sapphire Preferred | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Paid | Paid |
| Starting price | See website | See website |
| Category | Travel Rewards | Travel Rewards |
| Editorial rank | #2 of 15 | #1 of 15 |
Strengths
American Express Gold Card
- ✓4x points at restaurants worldwide — one of the highest dining earn rates
- ✓4x points at US supermarkets up to $25,000 per year in purchases
- ✓Up to $240 in annual credits (Uber Cash and dining) offset the fee
- ✓Extensive Membership Rewards transfer partner network
- ✓No foreign transaction fees for international travel
Chase Sapphire Preferred
- ✓Excellent sign-up bonus worth $750+ in travel through Chase
- ✓1:1 point transfers to 14 airline and hotel loyalty programs
- ✓25% bonus value when redeeming points through Chase Travel portal
- ✓Primary car rental insurance saves money on rental car coverage
- ✓Reasonable $95 annual fee for the rewards delivered
Watch out for
American Express Gold Card
- !$250 annual fee requires using credits to get full value
- !Supermarket 4x bonus caps at $25,000/year then drops to 1x
- !Amex acceptance is slightly lower than Visa or Mastercard internationally
- !No travel-specific perks like lounge access or trip delay insurance
Chase Sapphire Preferred
- !3% foreign transaction fee is absent but annual fee still applies abroad
- !No airport lounge access included unlike premium tier cards
- !5x earning rate limited to travel booked through Chase portal only
- !Lower earning rates than category-specific cards in some spending areas
Best use cases
American Express Gold Card
- →Food lover who spends heavily at restaurants and grocery stores
- →Points collector wanting to maximize Membership Rewards earning
- →Cardholder who uses Uber regularly and can capitalize on monthly credits
Chase Sapphire Preferred
- →Frequent traveler wanting flexible points with multiple transfer partners
- →Dining enthusiast who eats out regularly and wants 3x earning
- →Travel hacker seeking a strong entry point into the Chase ecosystem
About each tool
American Express Gold Card
The American Express Gold Card is the top choice for foodies and grocery shoppers, earning 4x Membership Rewards points at restaurants worldwide and at US supermarkets (up to $25,000 per year). The card comes with up to $120 in Uber Cash credits and up to $120 in dining credits annually at select restaurants, effectively reducing the $250 annual fee to just $10 net. Membership Rewards points transfer to a wide array of airline and hotel partners, making this card an excellent complement to any travel rewards strategy.
Chase Sapphire Preferred
The Chase Sapphire Preferred is widely considered the best all-around travel rewards credit card for its combination of a generous sign-up bonus, flexible Ultimate Rewards points, and a reasonable annual fee. Points transfer 1:1 to 14 airline and hotel loyalty programs, or can be redeemed for 25% more value when booked through Chase Travel. The card earns 5x on travel through Chase, 3x on dining and streaming, 2x on other travel, and 1x on everything else. With a $95 annual fee, it delivers premium travel rewards without the premium price tag.
Still deciding? Browse all 15 options with honest pros, cons, and pricing.
See all Credit Cards →