Amex Gold vs. Chase Sapphire Preferred 2026
The American Express® Gold Card is our top pick for Amex Gold vs. Chase Sapphire Preferred. 4x at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets — one tier above Sapphire Preferred's 3x. For budget shoppers, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card offers solid value at a lower price.
Apply Now →At a Glance
| # | Card / Product | Award | Annual Fee | Rewards Rate | APR Range | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | American Express® Gold Card | Best Overall | $325 | 4x at restaurants worldwide (up to $50k/year); 4x at U.S. supermarkets (up to $25k/year); 3x on direct airline bookings; 1x everywhere else | See rates at americanexpress.com | Apply → |
| 2 | Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card | Also Excellent | $95 | 5x Chase Travel; 3x dining, streaming, online groceries; 2x other travel; 1x everywhere else | 19.24%–27.49% Variable | Apply → |
American Express® Gold Card
“4x dining + 4x grocery. $325 fee offset by $424 in credits. Best for heavy diners who use the credits.”
What we like
- 4x at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets — one tier above Sapphire Preferred's 3x
- $424 in annual credits if you use all four ($120 dining, $120 Uber, $100 Resy, $84 Dunkin’)
- Membership Rewards transfer to Delta, British Airways, Singapore Airlines, and 15+ partners
- No foreign transaction fees
Watch out for
- $325 annual fee requires disciplined use of all four fragmented credits
- Travel earning only 3x on directly-booked flights (no 5x like Sapphire through Chase Travel)
- Pay-over-time APR card — not a traditional revolving credit card
Rates as of April 8, 2026. Terms apply. Verify on issuer site.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
“3x dining + 5x Chase Travel. $95 fee, no credit juggling. Best travel insurance of the two. 75k bonus.”
What we like
- $95 annual fee — $300 less than Venture X gross fee ($395)
- 1:1 transfer to Hyatt (best hotel points program), United, and Southwest — not available via Capital One
- 3x on dining and online groceries — strong everyday earning for non-travel spend
- 75,000-point bonus ($937.50 toward Chase Travel) after $5,000 spend in 3 months
Watch out for
- No lounge access (major Venture X advantage for frequent flyers)
- 1x on general purchases (vs. Venture X’s 2x) — earns half as many miles on non-bonus spending
- 5x only on Chase Travel bookings (direct bookings earn 2x)
Rates as of April 8, 2026. Terms apply. Verify on issuer site.
Amex Gold vs. Chase Sapphire Preferred Buying Guide
Amex Gold's $325 fee looks steep next to CSP's $95. But the Amex Gold includes $424 in annual credits: $120 Dining Credit (Grubhub, Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Five Guys — $10/month), $120 Uber Cash ($10/month for rides or Uber Eats), $100 Resy Credit for Resy-partner restaurants, and $84 Dunkin' Credit ($7/month). If you use all two, you're ahead by $99 before any rewards are counted. If you'll use two of the four credits, the effective fee is $85 — comparable to CSP. If you won't use any, the Gold is a bad deal at $325.
Rewards Rate Comparison for Dining and Groceries
Amex Gold earns 4x Membership Rewards at restaurants worldwide (on up to $50,000/year). Chase Sapphire Preferred earns 3x Ultimate Rewards on dining. Both point currencies are valuable, but the 33% higher earning rate on Gold matters if you spend $500+/month on dining. For grocery spending, Amex Gold earns 4x at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000/year) versus Chase Sapphire Preferred's 1x at grocery stores. For grocery spenders, the Gold has no competition.
Both cards transfer points to airline partners, but they have different networks. Chase transfers to United, Southwest, British Airways, Hyatt, Marriott, Air France-KLM, Singapore Airlines, and more. Amex transfers to Delta, Air France-KLM, British Airways, Singapore Airlines, ANA, Hilton, Marriott, and others. Chase partners include Hyatt — considered by many to be the most valuable hotel program for redemptions. Amex partners include Delta — the dominant U.S. carrier for many travelers.
Chase Sapphire Preferred has significantly stronger travel insurance — trip cancellation ($10,000/person), primary auto rental coverage, and baggage delay. Amex Gold's travel protections are lighter. If travel insurance matters, CSP wins clearly.
Heavy diner ($600/month) + heavy grocery shopper ($500/month) + uses all credits → Amex Gold. Moderate diner ($300/month), occasional traveler, values simplicity → Chase Sapphire Preferred. Wants hotel redemptions via Hyatt → Chase Sapphire Preferred. Wants Delta miles or frequent Grubhub/Uber user → Amex Gold.
For a broader look at the rewards card landscape, our Best Rewards Credit Cards of 2026 ranks the top earners across dining, travel, and everyday spend categories. If travel redemptions are your primary goal, Best Travel Credit Cards of 2026 covers both of these cards plus flexible-points alternatives. For context on choosing between premium rewards cards generally, How to Pick Your First Credit Card in 2026 explains annual-fee math and when premium cards actually pay off.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Amex Gold annual fee worth it?
Which card has better travel insurance?
Can I transfer Amex and Chase points to the same airlines?
Which card is better for someone who travels internationally?
Can I get both the Amex Gold and Chase Sapphire Preferred?
What are the downsides of the Amex Gold card?
How We Evaluate Financial Products
We compare financial products based on objective criteria: annual fees, APR ranges, rewards rates, sign-up bonuses, and key perks. We do not factor in issuer relationships or compensation when determining rankings. Products are ranked based on overall value for the target use case described on this page.
Rates and terms change frequently. We update these pages regularly, but always verify current rates directly on the issuer’s website before applying. APR ranges shown reflect the full possible range — your actual rate depends on your creditworthiness.
This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. We compare products; we do not advise on which product is right for your personal financial situation. Read our full methodology →