Chase Sapphire Most well-liked vs. Chase Sapphire Reserve

Chase’s duo of private Sapphire playing cards maintain the ticket to profitable Chase Final Rewards factors. Whereas the mid-tier Chase Sapphire Most well-liked® Card (see charges and charges) and premium Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see charges and charges) share a household, the playing cards diverge in advantages, incomes charges and, particularly, annual charge thresholds.

Nonetheless, including one in every of these playing cards to your pockets is among the greatest methods for factors and miles fanatics to gather Chase factors, TPG’s top-rated foreign money (alongside Bilt Factors), per our June 2025 valuations.

Earlier than the Sapphire Reserve’s sweeping refresh in 2025, you could not maintain each the Sapphire Most well-liked and Sapphire Reserve playing cards on the similar time. Now, you’ll be able to maintain each playing cards, however there are new restrictions that will make some new candidates ineligible for bonus gives. And, it is essential to recollect Chase’s 5/24 rule when making use of for one of many issuer’s playing cards.

When you’re contemplating making use of for the Sapphire Most well-liked or the Sapphire Reserve, there are a number of elements to contemplate. The playing cards share a reputation and a rewards foreign money, however they’re vastly totally different in follow. The Sapphire Reserve gives an array of perks at a steep $795 annual charge, whereas the Sapphire Most well-liked is a less complicated possibility for a decrease $95 annual charge.

It is essential to contemplate your journey type and general factors and miles technique earlier than you make your selection. Let’s get into the comparability.

Chase Sapphire Most well-liked vs. Reserve comparability

Chase Sapphire Most well-liked vs. Reserve welcome bonus

New candidates for the Chase Sapphire Reserve can earn 100,000 bonus factors plus a $500 Chase Journey promo credit score after spending $5,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening.

This supply is value $2,550 while you think about TPG’s June 2025 valuations for the factors worth and add the $500 journey credit score, which is a history-making best-ever for the cardboard’s bonus.

Notice that the phrases for the $500 credit score state the next: The promotional credit score is legitimate for a one-time use solely, if you happen to apply the promotional credit score to a transaction lower than $500, you’ll forfeit the remaining steadiness.

In the meantime, you’ll be able to earn 75,000 bonus factors after spending $5,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening with the Chase Sapphire Most well-liked. That is value about $1,538 when contemplating TPG’s valuations.

Per the brand new bonus eligibility necessities for Chase’s suite of private Sapphire playing cards, those that presently maintain a shopper Sapphire card won’t be eligible for a bonus on the opposite shopper Sapphire card.

Plus, if you happen to’ve beforehand earned a bonus on the Sapphire Reserve, you nearly definitely will not be eligible for a second bonus on the Sapphire Reserve. Likewise, if you happen to beforehand earned a bonus on a Sapphire Most well-liked, you nearly positively can be ineligible for a second bonus on the Sapphire Most well-liked.

Chase additionally elements in your 5/24 standing when reviewing candidates, so remember to calculate your 5/24 standing earlier than you apply.

Winner: Sapphire Reserve. The cardboard’s present bonus gives over $1,000 extra in worth than the Sapphire Most well-liked.

Chase Sapphire Most well-liked vs. Reserve advantages

The Chase Sapphire Most well-liked and Chase Sapphire Reserve are separated most distinctly by their advantages. Let’s break down what you’ll be able to count on from every card.

With the $95 Sapphire Most well-liked, you will obtain:

• $50 annual resort credit score that you should use while you e book via Chase Journey
• 10% anniversary factors bonus for every account anniversary
• Complimentary DoorDash DashPass subscription for not less than one yr (while you activate by Dec. 31, 2027) and $120 in DoorDash credit for non-restaurant purchases, given out as $10 in month-to-month credit

Those that go for the premium, $795 Sapphire Reserve can count on:

• $500 annual assertion credit score for The Edit, Chase’s curated assortment of luxurious accommodations and resorts (break up into two biannual $250 credit) for pre-paid bookings of two nights or extra
• $300 annual assertion credit score towards all journey purchases
• $300 annual assertion credit score for StubHub or Viagogo purchases of live performance and occasion tickets (break up into two biannual $150 credit; activation required)
• $300 yearly in month-to-month DoorDash promotions (a $5 restaurant promo and two $10 promos on non-restaurant purchases every month; activate by Dec. 31, 2027) plus a complimentary DoorDash DashPass membership valued at $120 manually (activate by Dec. 31, 2027)
• $300 annual eating credit score and primetime reservations at Sapphire Reserve Unique Tables, which you’ll be able to e book on OpenTable (break up into two biannual $150 credit routinely utilized inside the Sapphire Reserve Unique Tables program)
• Complimentary annual memberships for Apple TV+ and Apple Music subscriptions (one-time activation per service is required via chase.com or the Chase Cellular app)
• $120 in annual assertion credit towards a Peloton membership ($10 month-to-month via Dec. 31, 2027)
• $120 in annual Lyft in-app credit, as much as $10 month-to-month via Sept. 30, 2027
• Entry to Chase Sapphire airport lounges and Precedence Go lounges (excluding Precedence Go eating places)
• Complimentary IHG Platinum Elite standing via Dec. 31, 2027 (with the flexibility to spend your technique to IHG Diamond standing)
• International Entry, TSA PreCheck or Nexus software charge credit score of as much as $120 each 4 years

You too can obtain additional advantages after spending $75,000 on the Sapphire Reserve in a calendar yr. These embrace:

• Southwest Airways A-Checklist standing
• $500 Southwest Airways credit score when reserving via Chase Journey
• Complimentary IHG Diamond Elite standing
• $250 credit score for The Outlets at Chase

Two information are obvious: The Sapphire Reserve’s annual charge is considerably greater than that of the Sapphire Most well-liked, and the Sapphire Reserve undoubtedly outweighs the Sapphire Most well-liked when it comes to advantages.

A key distinction for a lot of frequent vacationers would be the Sapphire Reserve’s lounge entry. The issuer has opened eight golf equipment and has plans to open three extra. Plus, the Precedence Go community consists of over 1,700 lounges throughout the globe.

When you often fly out of one in every of these airports, corresponding to Boston Logan Worldwide Airport (BOS), John F. Kennedy Worldwide Airport (JFK) or Phoenix Sky Harbor Worldwide Airport (PHX), to call a number of, this might put the Sapphire Reserve excessive.

The Sapphire Reserve maintains its beloved, versatile $300 journey credit score regardless of the cardboard’s general refresh. It broadly applies to a variety of journey purchases and is routinely utilized to your account. The Sapphire Most well-liked’s $50 resort credit score, alternatively, is proscribed to Chase Journey purchases, which is extra restrictive by comparability.

It is also value noting that each playing cards include a collection of journey protections, together with baggage delay insurance coverage, misplaced baggage insurance coverage, journey cancellation and interruption insurance coverage, buy safety, prolonged guarantee safety and journey delay reimbursement. Nevertheless, the extra premium Sapphire Reserve has broader protection with sure insurance policies than the Sapphire Most well-liked.

Plus, the extra premium Sapphire Reserve consists of emergency medical and dental advantages and emergency evacuation and transportation that the Sapphire Most well-liked doesn’t.

Now, while you break down the assertion credit line by line, it is essential to contemplate the way you’re spending already. Do you subscribe to Apple TV+ and Apple Music, often order from DoorDash or purchase tickets on StubHub? If you cannot simply use the Sapphire Reserve’s credit, it might not be a worthwhile funding.

If the Sapphire Reserve is simply too costly or too sophisticated, the Sapphire Most well-liked is a superb different.

Winner: Sapphire Reserve. The extra premium card comes with lounge entry, a extra versatile journey credit score and a laundry record of assertion credit to maximise.

Associated: Is the Chase Sapphire Reserve definitely worth the annual charge?

Incomes factors with the Sapphire Most well-liked vs. Reserve

There are some variations in how the Sapphire Most well-liked and Sapphire Reserve earn factors.

With the Sapphire Most well-liked, you will earn:

• 5 factors per greenback spent on all journey bought via Chase Journey, eligible Lyft rides (via Sept. 30, 2027) and eligible Peloton purchases pf $150 or extra (via Dec. 30, 2027)
• 3 factors per greenback spent on eating, choose streaming providers and on-line grocery purchases (excluding Goal, Walmart and wholesale golf equipment)
• 2 factors per greenback spent on all different journey
• 1 level per greenback spent on all different purchases

The Sapphire Reserve earns:

• 10 factors per greenback spent on eligible Peloton purchases of $150 or extra (via Dec. 30, 2027)
• 8 factors per greenback spent on all Chase Journey purchases
• 5 factors per greenback spent on eligible Lyft rides (via Sept. 30, 2027)
• 4 factors per greenback spent on flights and accommodations booked instantly
• 3 factors per greenback spent on eating purchases worldwide
• 1 level per greenback spent on all different purchases

The Reserve outpaces the Most well-liked in a number of bonus classes, together with Chase Journey purchases (8 factors to five factors), flights and accommodations booked instantly (4 factors to 2 factors) and Peloton purchases (10 factors to five factors). The 2 playing cards earn on the similar fee on Lyft rides (5 factors) and eating purchases (3 factors).

The Sapphire Most well-liked really earns extra on choose streaming providers (3 factors to 1 level) and on-line groceries (3 factors to 1 level).

Plus, the Sapphire Most well-liked retains a normal journey bonus class (2 factors per greenback) that the Sapphire Reserve dropped in its 2025 refresh. So, if you happen to e book Airbnb stays, cruises or every other normal journey exterior of Chase Journey, direct flights or direct accommodations, you are higher off incomes 2 factors per greenback on the Most well-liked than 1 level per greenback on the Reserve.

As a Sapphire Most well-liked cardholder who not often books via portals like Chase Journey, I worth the simplicity of my card’s normal journey class.

Nevertheless, I additionally respect the Sapphire Reserve’s bonus choices on purchases made instantly with airways and accommodations at 4 factors per greenback and may see how that may add worth to many cardholders.

Winner: Sapphire Reserve. In most classes, it earns greater than the Most well-liked, although the incomes distinction within the normal journey class is value contemplating.

Associated: Which purchases depend as eating with the Chase Sapphire Most well-liked and Chase Sapphire Reserve?

Redeeming factors with the Sapphire Most well-liked vs. Reserve

With the Chase Sapphire Reserve refresh, Chase rolled out its new factors accelerator referred to as Factors Increase. This can substitute the earlier 50% and 25% factors bonus on the Sapphire Reserve and Sapphire Most well-liked playing cards, respectively. When you’re deciding between these playing cards at this level, you will be solely eligible for Factors Increase, so we’ll deal with that right here.

Factors Increase permits eligible cardmembers who redeem factors via Chase Journey to obtain as much as 2 cents per level in worth for his or her factors when reserving eligible journey via Chase Journey. The cardboard and redemption you select will decide how excessive your potential redemption fee might be (see your rewards program settlement for full particulars).

Chase Sapphire Reserve cardholders can obtain a worth of as much as 2 cents per level on choose resort and flight bookings made via Chase Journey. Chase Sapphire Most well-liked cardholders will rise up to 1.5 cents per level in worth on choose resort and flight bookings made via Chase Journey. If Sapphire Most well-liked cardholders e book premium cabin tickets on choose airways, they might obtain as much as 1.75 cents per level in worth.

The bottom redemption fee for each the Sapphire Most well-liked and Sapphire Reserve can be 1 cent per level on Chase Journey redemptions not eligible for Factors Increase.

Holding the Sapphire Reserve unlocks greater potential worth via Factors Increase than if you happen to had the Sapphire Most well-liked. Nevertheless, you will must e book a Factors Increase-eligible reserving with choose accommodations and flight itineraries to get greater than a 1-cent per level worth. So, it is essential to be versatile if you wish to maximize Chase factors this manner.

You too can redeem your factors for money again or reward playing cards, however these redemptions typically provide you with poor worth. More often than not, we suggest transferring your Chase factors to one in every of its companions to get essentially the most out of your factors.

Winner: Sapphire Reserve. You possibly can rise up to 2 cents per level in worth with choose Factors Increase bookings, which is greater than that of the Sapphire Most well-liked.

Associated: How you can redeem Chase Final Rewards for optimum worth

Transferring factors with the Sapphire Most well-liked vs. Reserve

The easiest way to get most worth out of your factors earned with the Sapphire Most well-liked or the Sapphire Reserve is to switch them to one in every of Chase’s 14 journey companions.

These companions embrace precious loyalty packages corresponding to Air Canada Aeroplan, Air France-KLM Flying Blue, United Airways MileagePlus, Virgin Atlantic Flying Membership and World of Hyatt. Whenever you switch factors, you’ll be able to unlock stellar redemptions and unbelievable journeys.

Plus, Chase typically runs switch bonuses to obtain much more worth on your factors while you transfer them.

Danyal Ahmed, a bank cards author at TPG, beforehand transferred 70,000 Final Rewards factors to Aeroplan to fly Lufthansa enterprise class from Frankfurt to Los Angeles.

I’ve beforehand redeemed 17,500 Chase factors for 2 commonplace nights at Hyatt Place Atlanta/Cobb Galleria, a Class 2 property, for my sister’s commencement from faculty. My favourite Chase redemptions are easy and match into my life-style to offset small journeys I must take anyway.

Winner: Tie. Each playing cards include the identical switch choices.

Associated: Who’re the Chase Final Rewards switch companions? All the things to know

Ought to I get the Chase Sapphire Most well-liked or the Sapphire Reserve?

The Sapphire Reserve wins over the Sapphire Most well-liked in side-by-side comparisons of advantages, incomes charges and redemption choices via the Chase Journey portal, so it might be pure for some bank card fanatics to veer towards the premium possibility.

Nevertheless, with an annual charge distinction as steep as $700, it is essential to contemplate your personal spending habits and journey preferences while you’re making a selection.

Does airport lounge entry matter so much to you? Are you organized sufficient to maintain observe of the Reserve’s credit (particularly these earned month-to-month and biannually)? Are its bonus classes a sport changer?

When you reply most of those questions with “sure,” the Sapphire Reserve could also be your selection. In case your reply isn’t any, the Sapphire Most well-liked continues to be a wonderful possibility at a modest $95 annual charge, particularly for vacationers who worth simplicity and primarily switch their Chase factors to companions.

Personally, I am a giant fan of the Sapphire Most well-liked and often suggest it to my mates simply moving into the factors and miles pastime. Nevertheless, we even have workers members who discover loads of worth in holding the Sapphire Reserve yr after yr. The selection comes all the way down to you.

Associated: Causes to decide on the Chase Sapphire Most well-liked over the fancier Chase Sapphire Reserve

How you can improve from the Sapphire Most well-liked to the Sapphire Reserve

You’ll be able to improve from the Sapphire Most well-liked to the Sapphire Reserve by calling the quantity on the again of your card.

You are able to do the identical if you wish to downgrade your Sapphire Reserve to the Sapphire Most well-liked. It’s a must to maintain your card for not less than 12 months earlier than you’ll be able to downgrade. Nevertheless, you will not be eligible for a welcome supply in your new card if you happen to select to improve or downgrade.

It is essential to notice that earlier than the Sapphire Reserve’s 2025 refresh, you could not maintain each Sapphire playing cards on the similar time. Now, you’ll be able to. So, if you need the additional perks of the Sapphire Reserve together with advantages particular to the Sapphire Most well-liked, you possibly can doubtlessly maintain each.

Associated: 5 causes to improve from Chase Sapphire Most well-liked to Chase Sapphire Reserve

Backside line

Each the Chase Sapphire Most well-liked and the Chase Sapphire Reserve are widespread journey playing cards which have earned their place within the factors and miles zeitgeist.

Whereas the playing cards share a household, they’ve grown more and more totally different via the years, and one card is not going to be the best choice for each traveler.

When you worth luxurious perks like airport lounge entry, can maximize assertion credit and respect excessive incomes charges, the Sapphire Reserve is the decide for you. When you’re into simplicity and do not wish to pay a excessive annual charge, apply for the Sapphire Most well-liked.

To be taught extra, see our full opinions of the Chase Sapphire Most well-liked and Chase Sapphire Reserve.

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