Chase Sapphire Most well-liked vs. Chase Sapphire Reserve

Chase’s duo of non-public 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 costs) and premium Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see charges and costs) 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 likely one of the finest methods for factors and miles fanatics to gather Chase factors, TPG’s top-rated forex (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 identical time. Now, you may maintain each playing cards, however there are new restrictions which will make some new candidates ineligible for bonus affords. And, it is vital to recollect Chase’s 5/24 rule when making use of for one of many issuer’s playing cards.

In case you’re contemplating making use of for the Sapphire Most well-liked or the Sapphire Reserve, there are a number of components to think about. The playing cards share a reputation and a rewards forex, however they’re vastly completely different in apply. The Sapphire Reserve affords an array of perks at a steep $795 annual charge, whereas the Sapphire Most well-liked is an easier possibility for a decrease $95 annual charge.

It is vital to think about your journey model 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 price $2,550 while you consider 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.

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

In the meantime, you may 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 price about $1,538 when contemplating TPG’s valuations.

Per the brand new bonus eligibility necessities for Chase’s suite of non-public Sapphire playing cards, those that presently maintain a client Sapphire card is not going to be eligible for a bonus on the opposite client Sapphire card.

Plus, for those who’ve beforehand earned a bonus on the Sapphire Reserve, you virtually actually will not be eligible for a second bonus on the Sapphire Reserve. Likewise, for those who beforehand earned a bonus on a Sapphire Most well-liked, you virtually undoubtedly shall be ineligible for a second bonus on the Sapphire Most well-liked.

Chase additionally components in your 5/24 standing when reviewing candidates, so make sure you calculate your 5/24 standing earlier than you apply.

Winner: Sapphire Reserve. The cardboard’s present bonus affords 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 may count on from every card.

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

• $50 annual lodge credit score that you should utilize while you e-book by Chase Journey
• 10% anniversary factors bonus for every account anniversary
• Complimentary DoorDash DashPass subscription for not less than one 12 months (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 resorts and resorts (cut 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 (cut 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 (cut up into two biannual $150 credit mechanically 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 by chase.com or the Chase Cellular app)
• $120 in annual assertion credit towards a Peloton membership ($10 month-to-month by Dec. 31, 2027)
• $120 in annual Lyft in-app credit, as much as $10 month-to-month by Sept. 30, 2027
• Entry to Chase Sapphire airport lounges and Precedence Go lounges (excluding Precedence Go eating places)
• Complimentary IHG Platinum Elite standing by Dec. 31, 2027 (with the flexibility to spend your approach to IHG Diamond standing)
• International Entry, TSA PreCheck or Nexus utility charge credit score of as much as $120 each 4 years

You may also obtain further advantages after spending $75,000 on the Sapphire Reserve in a calendar 12 months. These embody:

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

Two details are obvious: The Sapphire Reserve’s annual charge is considerably larger 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 contains over 1,700 lounges throughout the globe.

In case you often fly out of one in every of these airports, similar to Boston Logan Worldwide Airport (BOS), John F. Kennedy Worldwide Airport (JFK) or Phoenix Sky Harbor Worldwide Airport (PHX), to call a couple 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 mechanically utilized to your account. The Sapphire Most well-liked’s $50 lodge credit score, then again, is restricted to Chase Journey purchases, which is extra restrictive by comparability.

It is also price 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 contains 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 vital to think about 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 will not be a worthwhile funding.

If the Sapphire Reserve is just too costly or too difficult, the Sapphire Most well-liked is a good various.

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

Associated: Is the Chase Sapphire Reserve well 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 may earn:

• 5 factors per greenback spent on all journey bought by Chase Journey, eligible Lyft rides (by Sept. 30, 2027) and eligible Peloton purchases pf $150 or extra (by 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 (by Dec. 30, 2027)
• 8 factors per greenback spent on all Chase Journey purchases
• 5 factors per greenback spent on eligible Lyft rides (by Sept. 30, 2027)
• 4 factors per greenback spent on flights and resorts booked straight
• 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 resorts booked straight (4 factors to 2 factors) and Peloton purchases (10 factors to five factors). The 2 playing cards earn on the identical price 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, for those who e-book Airbnb stays, cruises or some other normal journey outdoors of Chase Journey, direct flights or direct resorts, 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 by portals like Chase Journey, I worth the simplicity of my card’s normal journey class.

Nevertheless, I additionally admire the Sapphire Reserve’s bonus choices on purchases made straight with airways and resorts 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 price 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 known as Factors Enhance. It will exchange the earlier 50% and 25% factors bonus on the Sapphire Reserve and Sapphire Most well-liked playing cards, respectively. In case you’re deciding between these playing cards at this level, you may be solely eligible for Factors Enhance, so we’ll concentrate on that right here.

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

Chase Sapphire Reserve cardholders can obtain a price of as much as 2 cents per level on choose lodge and flight bookings made by Chase Journey. Chase Sapphire Most well-liked cardholders will stand up to 1.5 cents per level in worth on choose lodge and flight bookings made by 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 price for each the Sapphire Most well-liked and Sapphire Reserve shall be 1 cent per level on Chase Journey redemptions not eligible for Factors Enhance.

Holding the Sapphire Reserve unlocks larger potential worth by Factors Enhance than for those who had the Sapphire Most well-liked. Nevertheless, you may should e-book a Factors Enhance-eligible reserving with choose resorts and flight itineraries to get greater than a 1-cent per level worth. So, it is vital to be versatile if you wish to maximize Chase factors this manner.

You may also redeem your factors for money again or present playing cards, however these redemptions typically offer you 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 could possibly stand up to 2 cents per level in worth with choose Factors Enhance bookings, which is larger than that of the Sapphire Most well-liked.

Associated: Tips on how to redeem Chase Final Rewards for max 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 embody precious loyalty applications similar to Air Canada Aeroplan, Air France-KLM Flying Blue, United Airways MileagePlus, Virgin Atlantic Flying Membership and World of Hyatt. While you switch factors, you may unlock stellar redemptions and implausible journeys.

Plus, Chase usually runs switch bonuses to obtain much more worth to 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 customary 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 pieces 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 by the Chase Journey portal, so it could 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 vital to think about your personal spending habits and journey preferences while you’re making a selection.

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

In case you reply most of those questions with “sure,” the Sapphire Reserve could also be your selection. In case your reply is not 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 an enormous fan of the Sapphire Most well-liked and often suggest it to my buddies simply entering into the factors and miles interest. Nevertheless, we even have workers members who discover loads of worth in holding the Sapphire Reserve 12 months after 12 months. 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

Tips on how to 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 may downgrade. Nevertheless, you will not be eligible for a welcome supply in your new card for those who select to improve or downgrade.

It is vital to notice that earlier than the Sapphire Reserve’s 2025 refresh, you could not maintain each Sapphire playing cards on the identical time. Now, you may. So, if you would like 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 standard 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 completely different by the years, and one card is not going to be the most suitable choice for each traveler.

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

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

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