Travel rewards cards can shape the way you explore the world. The right card can turn everyday spending into affordable flights, comfortable hotels, and simple travel upgrades. The key is choosing a card that fits your habits and delivers value you can actually use.

Two cards stand out for people who want strong rewards without jumping into the premium card space. The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and the American Express® Gold Card. Both are popular, both earn flexible points, and both have loyal fans. Yet they create very different experiences.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred offers a low annual fee, simple benefits, and strong protections that support a wide range of travel plans. It is designed to be a reliable foundation for anyone who wants flexible travel value without added complexity.

The Amex Gold Card focuses on everyday excellence. It delivers high earnings on dining and U.S. supermarket purchases, along with statement credits that can return solid value when used often. It is built for people who want fast point growth from daily life.

This guide breaks down the Chase Sapphire Preferred vs Amex Gold differences step-by-step. You will find clear explanations of earning, redeeming, benefits, and real value. By the end, you will know which card fits your spending pattern, or if a two card strategy makes sense for your wallet.

Quick Comparison: Chase Sapphire Preferred vs Amex Gold

When choosing between two popular travel rewards cards, it helps to begin with a simple overview. The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and the American Express® Gold Card both earn flexible points and offer strong value for everyday spending, but they excel in different ways. The table below highlights the features that matter most to travelers who want rewards that support real trips and real savings.

Annual Fees

The annual fee is often the first detail people consider when choosing a travel rewards card. It sets expectations and helps you understand how much value you need to earn each year to justify keeping the card.

Chase Sapphire Preferred Annual Fee

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card has an annual fee of 95 USD. This makes it one of the most accessible travel rewards cards available. The fee is low enough that many people feel comfortable starting with it, and the card delivers strong benefits without placing pressure on your budget. For anyone building a simple and reliable travel strategy, this fee level strikes a good balance.

Amex Gold Annual Fee

The American Express® Gold Card carries a higher annual fee of 325 USD. This reflects its focus on high earning potential in popular categories such as dining and U.S. supermarkets. The Gold Card also comes with multiple statement credits that can return meaningful value each year, but they work best for people who already spend in the right places. If you use the credits often, the fee can be easy to offset. If you do not, the higher cost may feel less comfortable.

How To Think About These Fees

The difference in annual cost is clear. The Chase Sapphire Preferred is easier to justify for most people because the fee is low and the benefits are simple. The Amex Gold can deliver more value, but only when the card matches your everyday spending. If your budget leans toward dining and groceries, the Amex Gold can pay off. If you want straightforward travel value at a modest price, the Chase Sapphire Preferred may be a better fit.

WINNER: CHASE SAPPHIRE PREFERRED

Its lower fee makes it a practical starting point for travelers who want strong rewards without a large yearly cost.

Welcome Offers

A strong welcome offer can jump start your travel rewards balance. For many people, the first year with a card delivers the most value because the bonus alone can unlock flights, hotel stays, or a mix of travel redemptions. The two cards in this comparison both offer generous bonuses, but they take different approaches.

Chase Sapphire Preferred Welcome Offer

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card often features a welcome bonus in the range of 60,000 to 75,000 points after a three month spending requirement – normally around 4,000 USD. The timeline is short and the spending requirement is usually manageable for many households.

Amex Gold Welcome Offer

The American Express® Gold Card welcome offer varies much more. Some applicants will see public offers at lower levels (60,000 points), while others may qualify for targeted offers that are far higher (100,000 points). Many Amex Gold promotions provide six months to meet the spending requirement – normally around 6,000 USD. This longer runway can help cardholders meet the goal without adjusting their habits.

How To Think About These Welcome Offers

The Chase Sapphire Preferred bonus is steady and predictable. The Amex Gold bonus has a higher ceiling but less consistency. The better choice depends on your comfort level. If you want a clear path with a reasonable spending threshold, Chase might feel safer. If you enjoy the chance at a top level offer and can meet the requirement, Amex may deliver more value.

WINNER: AMEX GOLD

Its highest targeted offers can be extremely valuable and can set up a very strong first year with the card.

Earning Points On Everyday Spending

How you earn points each day is one of the most important factors when choosing a travel rewards card. Strong earning rates in the right categories can accelerate your progress toward free flights, hotel stays, and other redemptions. The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and the American Express® Gold Card both offer valuable opportunities, but they reward spending in different ways.

Chase Sapphire Preferred Earning Rates

The Chase Sapphire Preferred focuses on balanced travel and dining rewards. It offers:

• 5x points on travel booked through Chase Travel
• 3x points on dining
• 3x points on online grocery purchases
• 3x points on select streaming services
• 2x points on other travel purchases
• 1x point on all other spending

This mix makes the Chase Sapphire Preferred a strong all around card for people who travel a few times per year and enjoy dining out. It rewards both everyday habits and occasional trips. The card also adds a yearly 10 percent points bonus based on total spending, which can provide a small but steady lift in your earning.

Amex Gold Earning Rates

The Amex Gold is built for high rewards on everyday essentials. It offers:

• 4x points at restaurants worldwide
• 4x points at U.S. supermarkets up to the annual cap
• 3x points on flights booked directly with airlines or through Amex Travel
• 1x point on all other purchases

These rates make the Amex Gold one of the strongest cards available for food focused spending. If you dine out often or buy groceries every week, the Amex Gold can generate points very quickly. The card also delivers solid value on flight purchases, which helps support travel goals over time.

A Simple Real World Spending Example

A helpful way to compare these two cards is to look at how many points a person could earn in one year with a common set of expenses. The example below uses monthly spending that reflects regular daily life, along with a few planned trips.

How To Think About These Earning Structures

The Chase Sapphire Preferred rewards a wide range of spending with strong travel support. The Amex Gold rewards everyday life with fast earning in food related categories. The better fit depends on your habits. If you want a balanced card that supports travel and dining without limits or caps, the Chase Sapphire Preferred works well. If you spend heavily on restaurants and supermarkets, the Amex Gold can deliver much faster point growth.

WINNER: AMEX GOLD

Its high earning rates on dining and U.S. supermarket spending make it one of the most powerful everyday rewards cards available.

Statement Credits And Everyday Perks

Statement credits can add real value to a rewards card, but only when they match your daily habits. Some credits are simple and automatic. Others require more tracking and planning. The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and the American Express® Gold Card both include credits that can help you offset part of the annual fee, although the ease of use is very different.

Chase Sapphire Preferred Credits And Perks

The Chase Sapphire Preferred keeps its credits simple. It includes:

• A 50 USD annual hotel credit when you book through Chase Travel
• Access to the Visa Signature Luxury Hotel Collection with benefits such as room upgrades and daily breakfast when available
• Chase Offers for cash back or bonus points on select purchases

These benefits are easy to understand and do not require monthly reminders. The hotel credit alone reduces the effective annual fee to a level that feels very manageable.

Amex Gold Credits And Perks

The Amex Gold offers a larger collection of statement credits. These include:

• Up to 120 USD in dining credits each year at participating restaurants and food delivery services
• Up to USD dollars in Uber Cash each year for U.S. rides and food orders
• A yearly Resy credit when enrolled
• A yearly Dunkin’ credit when enrolled
• Access to The Hotel Collection through Amex Travel with property credits on eligible stays
• Amex Offers for cash back or bonus points on select purchases

These credits can return meaningful value, but most of them refresh monthly. They also require enrollment and use with specific merchants. When used often, they can more than offset the annual fee. When forgotten, the unused credits reduce the overall card value.

How To Think About These Credits

The Chase Sapphire Preferred focuses on simple, once a year perks that support common travel plans. The Amex Gold offers larger credit totals, but they work best for people who already spend money with the participating merchants. If you use food delivery services and rideshare apps often, the Amex Gold can create strong value. If you prefer a hands off approach, the Chase Sapphire Preferred may feel more comfortable.

WINNER: AMEX GOLD

Its credits can deliver higher total value when matched with the right habits, although they require more attention to use fully.

Travel And Purchase Protections

Travel protections can save you money when flights are delayed, bags are lost, or rental cars are damaged. Purchase protections can cover new items when accidents happen. The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and the American Express® Gold Card both include helpful safeguards, but the level of protection is very different.

Chase Sapphire Preferred Protections

The Chase Sapphire Preferred provides some of the strongest protections in its category. These include:

• Primary rental car coverage for damage or theft when you decline the rental company’s coverage
• Trip cancellation and interruption coverage for nonrefundable expenses when your trip is disrupted by a covered event
• Trip delay reimbursement when your flight is delayed for more than a set number of hours
• Lost and delayed baggage coverage when you pay for your trip with the card
• Roadside dispatch services for help during minor breakdowns
• Travel accident insurance for covered incidents

These protections can prevent surprise costs and reduce stress during travel. For many people, primary rental car coverage alone can save hundreds of dollars and simplify the claims process.

Amex Gold Protections

The Amex Gold includes several helpful protections, although its travel coverage is more limited. Benefits include:

• Secondary rental car coverage for damage or theft, which activates after your personal insurance
• Trip delay insurance for long delays that meet the required time threshold
• Baggage insurance for lost or damaged bags on tickets purchased with the card
• Global Assist Hotline for medical, legal, and emergency referrals when traveling far from home

The Amex Gold does not offer trip cancellation or interruption insurance. Cardholders can buy optional premium rental coverage from American Express at a fixed cost per rental period, which may be useful for long trips.

Shopping Protections

Both cards include:

• Purchase protection for covered items that are lost, stolen, or damaged within the allowed time period
• Extended warranty protection that adds time to eligible manufacturer warranties

In general, the Amex Gold offers stronger coverage limits for purchase protection and extended warranties, which is helpful when buying high value items.

How To Think About These Protections

The Chase Sapphire Preferred delivers stronger travel protections and a wider safety net for trip disruptions. The Amex Gold offers good shopping protections but less coverage for travel. If travel security is important to you, the Chase Sapphire Preferred may feel more reliable. If you care more about protection for everyday purchases, the Amex Gold may be the better match.

WINNER: CHASE SAPPHIRE PREFERRED

It offers far stronger travel protections, including primary rental car coverage and trip interruption benefits that many travelers find essential.

Points Redemption And Transfer Partners

Earning points is only half the story. The real value comes from how easily you can redeem those points for flights, hotels, and other travel experiences. Both the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and the American Express® Gold Card offer flexible rewards, but the strength of their programs depends on how you like to travel.

Chase Ultimate Rewards Redemption Options

Chase Ultimate Rewards points are known for their flexibility and ease of use. With the Chase Sapphire Preferred, you can redeem points through:

• The Chase Travel portal, where points are usually worth more than one cent each
• Transfer partners, including major airlines and top hotel programs
• Statement credits or cash back, which offer predictable value
• Pay Yourself Back, a rotating feature that can increase point value on select categories

Chase Ultimate Rewards transfer partners include airlines such as United Airlines MileagePlus, Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards, Air Canada Aeroplan, and British Airways Executive Club. Hotel partners include World of Hyatt, Marriott Bonvoy, and IHG One Rewards. The presence of World of Hyatt is a key advantage because World of Hyatt points often deliver high value on both standard and premium hotel stays.

Amex Membership Rewards Redemption Options

Amex Membership Rewards points are also very flexible and are known for strong airline transfer value. With the Amex Gold, you can redeem points through:

• Amex Travel, for flights and hotels
• Transfer partners, which include a wide range of international airlines
• Select statement credit options, generally at a lower value
• Gift cards and shopping, which also provide lower value

Amex Membership Rewards offers one of the largest transfer partner lists available. These include Delta Air Lines SkyMiles, Air Canada Aeroplan, ANA Mileage Club, Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer, and many other global carriers. Amex also partners with Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy for hotel redemptions. Amex Membership Rewards points can deliver strong returns, especially when transferred to airline partners with favorable award charts.

Key Differences In Travel Partners

Chase Ultimate Rewards has fewer partners, but some of its programs, such as World of Hyatt and United Airlines MileagePlus, are highly valued for their simplicity and strong redemption rates. Amex Membership Rewards offers more partners, which creates more opportunities for international travel and premium cabin flights.

The best choice depends on your travel style. If you want simple, consistent redemptions with strong hotel value, Chase Ultimate Rewards is a great fit. If you enjoy planning international trips and searching for high value airline award flights, Amex Membership Rewards may offer more flexibility.

How To Think About These Programs

The Chase Sapphire Preferred works well for travelers who want easy redemptions and strong hotel options. The Amex Gold shines for people who enjoy premium flight redemptions and want access to a larger global network of partners. Both programs offer excellent value, but in different ways.

TIE: AMEX GOLD (AIRLINES) | CHASE SAPPHIRE PREFERRED (HOTELS / TRAVEL PORTAL)

Amex Membership Rewards points offer more airline partners and more opportunities for high value redemptions, especially for international flights. Chase Ultimate Rewards still performs very well for hotel stays and simple travel bookings through Chase Travel.

Who Each Card Is Best For

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and the American Express® Gold Card each deliver strong value, but they are built for different spending styles. Understanding where each card performs best will help you match the right tool to your habits and travel goals.

Chase Sapphire Preferred Is Best For

The Chase Sapphire Preferred works well for people who want simple and reliable travel benefits. It is an excellent fit for:

• Travelers who want strong protections for flights, hotels, and rental cars
• Anyone who prefers a lower annual fee with clear value
• People who want flexible redemptions through both transfer partners and the Chase Travel portal
• Cardholders who want an easy foundation for a larger Chase Ultimate Rewards strategy
• Those who take a few trips each year and want coverage for delays or cancellations

The Chase Sapphire Preferred delivers balanced earning and generous protections without requiring careful tracking of multiple monthly credits.

Amex Gold Is Best For

The Amex Gold card shines for people who spend heavily on food and want fast point growth from everyday life. It is a good choice for:

• People who dine out often and want high rewards on restaurant spending
• Households that spend regularly at U.S. supermarkets
• Anyone who already uses Uber or food delivery services that match the card credits
• Travelers who enjoy building Amex Membership Rewards balances for premium flight redemptions
• Cardholders who do not mind tracking monthly credits to maximize yearly value

For everyday earners with strong food spending, the Amex Gold can deliver more points than almost any other mid-tier card.

When Both Cards Make Sense

For some people, the best answer is not one card or the other. It is both. Pairing the Chase Sapphire Preferred and the Amex Gold can create a powerful combination. You can use the Amex Gold for dining and supermarket purchases, and use the Chase Sapphire Preferred for travel purchases, travel protections, and flexible redemptions.

This two card strategy works best for travelers who can take advantage of each card’s benefits while still covering both annual fees. The combination creates strong earning potential and balanced coverage.

Ease Of Approval And Important Bank Rules

Understanding the approval rules from each bank can help you plan the best time to apply for a new card. These rules can affect both your chances of approval and your ability to earn a welcome bonus.

Chase Application Rules

Chase is known for a few important guidelines:

• The Chase 5/24 Rule: You will likely be denied if you have opened five or more personal credit cards from any bank in the past 24 months.
• The Chase 2/30 Rule: Some sources suggest that Chase may deny applications if you have applied for more than two credit cards in the last 30 days.

American Express Application Rules

American Express uses different rules that focus on welcome bonuses:

• Amex Card Family Rule: You may not be eligible for a welcome offer on a card if you’ve previously held another card within the same family, such as Membership Rewards-earning cards.
• Amex Credit Card Limit Rule: Most individuals are limited to a total of 4 – 6 American Express credit cards at any one time (this does not apply to charge cards).
• Amex 1-In-5-Day Rule: You can only be approved for one new credit card every 5 days. This rule does not apply to charge cards, so you can apply for a credit card and a charge card on the same day
• Amex 2-In-90-Day Rule: You can only be approved for a maximum of two new credit cards within a 90-day period.
• Amex Once-In-A-Lifetime Bonus Rule: You can only receive a welcome offer for a specific card once in a lifetime.

Final Thoughts

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and the American Express® Gold Card are two of the most valuable travel rewards cards available. Each one shines in different ways, and the right choice depends on how you spend and how you travel.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred works well for people who want simple, dependable value. It has a modest annual fee, strong travel protections, and flexible redemption options. It is a solid foundation for anyone who wants to earn points without keeping track of several monthly credits.

The Amex Gold delivers fast point growth for people who spend heavily on dining and U.S. supermarkets. It offers high earning rates and a collection of yearly credits that can return meaningful value with regular use. It is a powerful everyday card for building Amex Membership Rewards balances.

Some travelers choose to hold both cards. This combination allows the Amex Gold to handle dining and supermarket spending, while the Chase Sapphire Preferred provides travel protections and flexible redemptions. This approach works best when you can use the strengths of each card and feel comfortable managing two annual fees.

No matter which option you choose, both cards can help you turn daily spending into meaningful travel experiences. The key is selecting the card that feels natural, supports your habits, and brings you closer to the trips you want to take.

Kevin Zanes