Which card has the bigger sign-up bonus, American Express Gold Card or Chase Sapphire Preferred?

The American Express Gold Card has the bigger bonus, 100,000 points, worth roughly $2,000, versus 75,000 points (~$1,500) on the Chase Sapphire Preferred.

Is the American Express Gold Card's $325 annual fee worth it compared to the Chase Sapphire Preferred?

At $325/yr, the American Express Gold Card is in the mid-fee tier. Compare its specific perks (lounge access, travel credits, primary rental insurance) to the Chase Sapphire Preferred's, pick the one whose perks you'll actually use.

Can I have both the American Express Gold Card and Chase Sapphire Preferred?

Yes, since they're from different issuers (American Express and Chase) the application rules don't conflict. Many points enthusiasts hold both, they pair well when one earns flexible bank points and the other earns a different currency.

Should I get the American Express Gold Card or the Chase Sapphire Preferred first?

Get the one whose sign-up bonus you can hit comfortably without overspending. American Express Gold Card: $8,000 spend in 6 months. Chase Sapphire Preferred: $5,000 in 3 months. Pick the easier minimum spend if you're new to points; pick the larger bonus if you have planned big purchases coming up.

All credit cards

Side-by-side

American Express Gold Card vs Chase Sapphire Preferred

Both are travel travel cards. The American Express Gold Card comes from American Express at $325/yr; the Chase Sapphire Preferred from Chase at $95/yr. Below: side-by-side specs, an opinionated verdict, and the FAQs people actually ask before applying.

Bottom line

If you're not sure you'll use premium perks, start with the Chase Sapphire Preferred, its annual fee is significantly lower and the bonus values are similar. Upgrade later if you find yourself using the higher-tier benefits.

Feature	American Express Gold Card	Chase Sapphire Preferred
Annual fee	$325	$95
Sign-up bonus	100,000 points	75,000 points
Bonus value (est.)	$2,000	$1,500
Min spend to unlock bonus	$8,000 in 6 mo	$5,000 in 3 mo
Issuer	American Express	Chase
Card category	travel	travel
Best earning category (Prepaid_hotels_amex)	5x	1x
Transfer partners	amex-mr	chase-ur
Headline benefits	4x on restaurants worldwide 4x on U.S. supermarkets $120 dining credit $120 Uber Cash	5x on travel booked via Chase 3x on dining & streaming $50 annual hotel credit Transfer to 13 partners (Hyatt 1:1)

Read the full review

American Express Gold Card

$325/yr · 100,000 points

Read the full review

Chase Sapphire Preferred

$95/yr · 75,000 points

Editorial take: American Express Gold Card

The ultimate foodie card, earning bonus points at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. Plus over $400 in easy-to-use statement credits make the annual fee a no-brainer.

Editorial take: Chase Sapphire Preferred

The best starter travel card, period. Transferable points, solid bonus categories, and a low annual fee make this the card we recommend to almost everyone getting into the points game. Note: the 10% anniversary points bonus sunsets October 1, 2026.

The real-world take

TL;DR. The Gold ($325) is built for foodies: 4x at restaurants worldwide and 4x at U.S. supermarkets, plus a 100,000-point welcome offer. The Sapphire Preferred ($95) is built for the all-around traveler: 5x on Chase Travel, 3x on dining, 3x on streaming, 3x on online groceries, and the strongest transfer partner stable in points (Hyatt is the single biggest reason). If you spend heavily on groceries and restaurants, Gold wins on raw earn. If you want one card that does everything decently for under $100, Preferred wins.

The three dimensions that actually decide it. First, where your spend lives. Gold's 4x grocery is uncapped through U.S. supermarkets, which Preferred cannot match. Second, transfer partner alignment. Amex Membership Rewards has 19+ airline partners but no Hyatt; Chase has Hyatt and United. Hyatt alone is worth choosing Chase for many people. Third, credits. Gold has roughly $400 a year in Uber, dining, Resy, and Dunkin' credits that require active use. Preferred has a simple $50 Chase Travel hotel credit and nothing else.

Real customer scenario for each. If you spend $1,500 a month on dining and groceries combined, the Gold earns 72,000 points a year on those categories alone, worth roughly $1,440 at a 2 cpp redemption. After credits the effective fee is well under $100. If instead you spend $2k a month broadly across travel, online groceries, streaming, and dining, the Preferred earns transferable Hyatt and United points at a fraction of the fee and is easier to maintain.

The trap to avoid. The Gold's "credits" are not cash. Uber Cash expires monthly. The Dunkin' credit only works at Dunkin'. The Resy credit only works at Resy partner restaurants. If you do not already use these vendors, treat the Gold's effective fee as the full $325. Do not let a points blogger convince you the credits are a wash if you have to change your behavior to use them.

Common questions

Which card has the bigger sign-up bonus, American Express Gold Card or Chase Sapphire Preferred?: The American Express Gold Card has the bigger bonus, 100,000 points, worth roughly $2,000, versus 75,000 points (~$1,500) on the Chase Sapphire Preferred.
Is the American Express Gold Card's $325 annual fee worth it compared to the Chase Sapphire Preferred?: At $325/yr, the American Express Gold Card is in the mid-fee tier. Compare its specific perks (lounge access, travel credits, primary rental insurance) to the Chase Sapphire Preferred's, pick the one whose perks you'll actually use.
Can I have both the American Express Gold Card and Chase Sapphire Preferred?: Yes, since they're from different issuers (American Express and Chase) the application rules don't conflict. Many points enthusiasts hold both, they pair well when one earns flexible bank points and the other earns a different currency.
Should I get the American Express Gold Card or the Chase Sapphire Preferred first?: Get the one whose sign-up bonus you can hit comfortably without overspending. American Express Gold Card: $8,000 spend in 6 months. Chase Sapphire Preferred: $5,000 in 3 months. Pick the easier minimum spend if you're new to points; pick the larger bonus if you have planned big purchases coming up.

Card details on this page reflect the most recent data we've verified against the issuer's own site. Sign-up bonuses and fees can change at any time, confirm the current offer on the issuer's page before applying.