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Side-by-side

Chase Sapphire Preferred vs Mastercard Black Card

Both are travel travel cards. The Chase Sapphire Preferred comes from Chase at $95/yr; the Mastercard Black Card from Barclays (Luxury Card) at $699/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 Preferred is the stronger pick today, the sign-up bonus is meaningfully larger ($1,500 more in estimated value) than the Mastercard Black Card's. Get the Chase Sapphire Preferred first; revisit the Mastercard Black Card after you've earned that bonus.

FeatureChase Sapphire PreferredMastercard Black Card
Annual fee$95$699
Sign-up bonus75,000 pointsNo public welcome offer
Bonus value (est.)$1,500$0
Min spend to unlock bonus$5,000 in 3 mo$0 in 0 mo
IssuerChaseBarclays (Luxury Card)
Card categorytraveltravel
Best earning category (Travel)5x1x
Transfer partnerschase-urNone
Headline benefits
  • 5x on travel booked via Chase
  • 3x on dining & streaming
  • $50 annual hotel credit
  • Transfer to 13 partners (Hyatt 1:1)
  • $200 airline credit
  • $100 dining credit
  • Priority Pass Select
  • 1.5cpp cash back, 2cpp airfare
Read the full review
Chase Sapphire Preferred
$95/yr · 75,000 points
Read the full review
Mastercard Black Card
$699/yr · No public welcome offer

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.

Editorial take: Mastercard Black Card

The mid tier of the Barclays Luxury Card lineup. The $200 airline + $100 dining credits offset $300 of the $699 AF before lounge value, and the 1.5cpp cash-back rate is the best of the Luxury Card tiers. Still hard to beat Sapphire Reserve or Venture X on transferable-points flexibility, but the all-stainless body and concierge appeal to some.

Common questions

Which card has the bigger sign-up bonus, Chase Sapphire Preferred or Mastercard Black Card?
The Chase Sapphire Preferred has the bigger bonus, 75,000 points, worth roughly $1,500, versus No public welcome offer (~$0) on the Mastercard Black Card.
Is the Chase Sapphire Preferred's $95 annual fee worth it compared to the Mastercard Black Card?
At $95/yr, the Chase Sapphire Preferred is in the mid-fee tier. Compare its specific perks (lounge access, travel credits, primary rental insurance) to the Mastercard Black Card's, pick the one whose perks you'll actually use.
Can I have both the Chase Sapphire Preferred and Mastercard Black Card?
Yes, since they're from different issuers (Chase and Barclays (Luxury Card)) 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 Chase Sapphire Preferred or the Mastercard Black Card first?
Get the one whose sign-up bonus you can hit comfortably without overspending. Chase Sapphire Preferred: $5,000 spend in 3 months. Mastercard Black Card: $0 in 0 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.