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Side-by-side

American Express Schwab Investor Card vs Chase Sapphire Reserve

Both are travel travel cards. The American Express Schwab Investor Card comes from American Express at $0/yr; the Chase Sapphire Reserve from Chase at $795/yr. Below: side-by-side specs, an opinionated verdict, and the FAQs people actually ask before applying.

Bottom line

For most people the Chase Sapphire Reserve is the stronger pick today, the sign-up bonus is meaningfully larger ($2,390 more in estimated value) than the American Express Schwab Investor Card's. Get the Chase Sapphire Reserve first; revisit the American Express Schwab Investor Card after you've earned that bonus.

FeatureAmerican Express Schwab Investor CardChase Sapphire Reserve
Annual fee$0$795
Sign-up bonus10,000 Membership Rewards points125,000 points
Bonus value (est.)$110$2,500
Min spend to unlock bonus$1,000 in 6 mo$6,000 in 3 mo
IssuerAmerican ExpressChase
Card categorytraveltravel
Best earning category (All_purchases)1.5x1x
Transfer partnersamex-mrchase-ur
Headline benefits
  • 1.5X MR on everything
  • $0 annual fee
  • 1.0c/pt Invest with Rewards
  • Full MR transfer partners
  • $300 annual travel credit
  • 8x on Chase Travel
  • 4x on flights & hotels booked direct
  • $500 The Edit hotel credit
Read the full review
American Express Schwab Investor Card
$0/yr · 10,000 Membership Rewards points
Read the full review
Chase Sapphire Reserve
$795/yr · 125,000 points

Editorial take: American Express Schwab Investor Card

The hidden gem of the Amex MR lineup for Schwab brokerage customers. Flat 1.5X MR with $0 annual fee, full transfer-partner access, AND a 1.0 cents-per-point cash-into-brokerage redemption guarantees you can always extract real cash. The catch: you need a Schwab brokerage account to apply.

Editorial take: Chase Sapphire Reserve

Recently revamped with over $3,000 in annual credits and perks. If you travel three or more times a year and live near an airport with a Sapphire lounge, this card is a smart choice.

Common questions

Which card has the bigger sign-up bonus, American Express Schwab Investor Card or Chase Sapphire Reserve?
The Chase Sapphire Reserve has the bigger bonus, 125,000 points, worth roughly $2,500, versus 10,000 Membership Rewards points (~$110) on the American Express Schwab Investor Card.
Is the American Express Schwab Investor Card's $0 annual fee worth it compared to the Chase Sapphire Reserve?
The American Express Schwab Investor Card has no annual fee, so the question is whether the Chase Sapphire Reserve's $795 fee is justified by its perks. If you'll use enough of the Chase Sapphire Reserve's benefits to clear $795 in value annually, it's worth it; otherwise stick with the American Express Schwab Investor Card.
Can I have both the American Express Schwab Investor Card and Chase Sapphire Reserve?
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 Schwab Investor Card or the Chase Sapphire Reserve first?
Get the one whose sign-up bonus you can hit comfortably without overspending. American Express Schwab Investor Card: $1,000 spend in 6 months. Chase Sapphire Reserve: $6,000 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.