4.8 / 5 \u00b7 Bonus Eagle score
Chase
Sapphire Preferred
Welcome bonus
75,000Ultimate Rewards
Annual fee
$95
Purchase APR
20.49% – 27.49%
Credit needed
Good (670+)
on Chase's secure site
The bottom line
The Sapphire Preferred is the card we recommend more than any other for someone starting their points-and-miles journey. The transfer partners alone (United, Hyatt, Air France, etc.) make every point worth 1.8-2x its cash value if you know what you're doing.
At a glance
Pros and cons.
Pros
- Best-in-class entry travel card
- Points transfer to 14 airline & hotel partners
- No foreign transaction fees
- $50 annual hotel credit through Chase Travel
- Primary rental car insurance
Cons
- $95 annual fee isn't waived first year
- Welcome bonus minimum spend is high for the tier
The editorial review
Our take on this card.
The Sapphire Preferred is the card we recommend more than any other for someone starting their points-and-miles journey. The transfer partners alone (United, Hyatt, Air France, etc.) make every point worth 1.8-2x its cash value if you know what you're doing. The $95 fee pays for itself the first time you transfer 60,000 points to Hyatt for a $1,200 hotel night.
How you earn
Rewards by category.
Chase Travel portal
5x
Dining, online grocery, streaming
3x
Other travel
2x
All other purchases
1x
Rates and fees
The full disclosure.
All rates and fees current as of publication. Verify against the issuer's official Terms and Conditions before applying.
Annual fee
$95
Purchase APR
20.49% – 27.49%
Foreign transaction fee
None
Frequently asked
Questions readers ask.
For anyone who travels at least once a year and uses points strategically, yes. The card's welcome bonus alone (75,000 points) is worth roughly $1,400 when transferred to Hyatt for hotel nights. The $50 annual hotel credit through Chase Travel covers more than half the fee on its own. The fee pays for itself the first time you transfer 60,000 points to a partner program.
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