Who should (and shouldn’t) get the Chase Sapphire Preferred?

4 weeks ago 22

There are multiple factors to consider when you're choosing a travel credit card.

The mid-tier Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees) is a great option for collecting valuable Chase Ultimate Rewards points and enjoying straightforward benefits for a relatively low $95 annual fee. For these reasons, the Sapphire Preferred is one of our favorite cards for travel beginners.

However, the Sapphire Preferred is not for everyone. If you want perks like lounge access or multiple statement credits, this card may not pack in enough for you.

Let's dive into the card's benefits to help you decide if you should (or shouldn't) apply for it.

Key benefits

Let's start by reviewing the top ongoing benefits of the Sapphire Preferred.

Annual hotel credit: $50 annual statement credit for any hotel stay booked through Chase Travel℠
Anniversary bonus points: 10% anniversary bonus points each year, based on your total spending during the account anniversary year
DoorDash perks: At least one year of a complimentary DoorDash DashPass membership (activate by Dec. 31, 2027), plus $10 a month toward non-restaurant purchases
No foreign transaction fees
Primary car rental insurance: Covers rentals in most countries for up to 31 consecutive days
Travel and purchase protections: The card's suite of protections includes baggage delay insurance, lost luggage reimbursement, trip cancellation/interruption insurance and trip delay reimbursement

Plus, new applicants can earn 75,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.

Per TPG's September 2025 valuations, the offer is worth $1,538.

Plus, the card provides solid earning rates:

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5 points per dollar spent on travel booked through Chase Travel (excluding the $50 hotel credit)
5 points per dollar spent on Lyft purchases (through September 2027)
5 points per dollar spent on Peloton equipment and accessory purchases of $150 or more (through December 2027, with a limit of 25,000 bonus points)
3 points per dollar spent on dining, select streaming services and online grocery store purchases (excludes Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs)
2 points per dollar spent on all travel not booked through Chase Travel
1 point per dollar spent on everything else

Transferring points to Chase's travel partners can unlock exceptional value for flights and hotels. If you choose to redeem your points through Chase Travel, you can receive up to 1.5 cents each on select hotels and up to 1.75 cents each on flights with select airlines, thanks to the Points Boost redemption feature.

Who should get the Sapphire Preferred?

After considering the card's benefits, it's time to decide whether the Sapphire Preferred makes sense. Here are some reasons you may want to add this card.

You're looking for your first card with an annual fee

Many beginners think they need to avoid cards with annual fees completely. But if you've already started with one of our favorite cards without an annual fee and are ready to take your next step in the points and miles world, the Sapphire Preferred is a great option.

That's because its $95 annual fee is relatively low, especially when you consider the value of Chase points.

You have a Chase Freedom card

You're also a great candidate for this card if you already have the Chase Freedom Flex® (see rates and fees) or Chase Freedom Unlimited® (see rates and fees).

Mid adult businesswoman working with a laptop in a coffee shop paying with credit card

Combining the Sapphire Preferred with one (or both) of these cards is one of the best ways to maximize your points.

The Ultimate Rewards program lets you freely transfer points between your participating cards. As a result, the points on the two Freedom cards that would usually only be redeemable for cash back can be sent to your Sapphire Preferred account, instantly increasing their value.

You're a small-business owner with Ink Business cards

If you're a business owner with the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card (see rates and fees), Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card or Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card (see rates and fees), you can use the same strategy as the Freedom cards.

While we recommend keeping business and personal expenses separate, you can combine your business and personal rewards.

The information for the Ink Business Preferred has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

You don't currently have a card that earns Chase points

Chase's Ultimate Rewards program is one of the most lucrative out there, especially if you know how to redeem your points for maximum value.

If you don't currently have a card that participates in the program, the Chase Sapphire Preferred is a great one to get started. As noted above, the card carries a valuable welcome bonus, solid earning rates and several added perks for a $95 annual fee.

Who shouldn't get the Sapphire Preferred?

While many travelers should apply for the Sapphire Preferred, certain types of travelers shouldn't go for the card. Here are some reasons the card may not be for you.

You want lounge access or premium perks

The Sapphire Preferred's low annual fee means that it doesn't come with luxury benefits, such as airport lounge access and elite status.

If you value those perks, consider its premium counterpart, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see rates and fees).

Among the top perks are Chase Sapphire airport lounge access and a Priority Pass Select membership, which are not included in the Sapphire Preferred.

The Sapphire Reserve also provides elevated perks like valuable statement credits for travel purchases, The Edit luxury hotel bookings, exclusive dining opportunities.

You currently have the Sapphire Reserve

While you can hold the Sapphire Preferred at the same time as the Sapphire Reserve, you can't earn a bonus on the Sapphire Preferred if you currently hold the Sapphire Reserve.

This is because Chase altered the bonus eligibility requirements for its Sapphire cards after the Sapphire Reserve's refresh in June.

You've already earned a Sapphire Preferred welcome bonus

Along these lines, you won't earn the current bonus on the Sapphire Preferred if you've previously held the card and earned its bonus.

Because so much of the Sapphire Preferred's value is found in its welcome offer, it wouldn't make sense to apply now if you've already had it.

You've applied for five or more cards from any issuer in the last 24 months

The final person who shouldn't apply for the Sapphire Preferred is someone whose application would be affected by the Chase 5/24 rule.

If you're unfamiliar, Chase will typically deny your application if you've opened five or more new credit cards in the last 24 months (hence the "5/24" name).

Bottom line

The Sapphire Preferred is a fantastic option for exploring travel rewards more deeply. It provides many opportunities to redeem points for valuable rewards that go far beyond those offered by simpler, fixed-value cards.

That said, it isn't the best option for people who value premium card perks. Consider your travel and spending habits to determine if the card is the right fit.

To learn more, read our full review of the Chase Sapphire Preferred.

Apply here: Sapphire Preferred

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