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Side-by-side

Chase Sapphire Preferred vs Mastercard Gold Card

Both are travel travel cards. The Chase Sapphire Preferred comes from Chase at $95/yr; the Mastercard Gold Card from Barclays (Luxury Card) at $1199/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 Gold Card's. Get the Chase Sapphire Preferred first; revisit the Mastercard Gold Card after you've earned that bonus.

FeatureChase Sapphire PreferredMastercard Gold Card
Annual fee$95$1199
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)
  • $300 airline credit
  • $200 dining credit
  • $120 Global Entry credit
  • 2cpp cash back or airfare
Read the full review
Chase Sapphire Preferred
$95/yr · 75,000 points
Read the full review
Mastercard Gold Card
$1199/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 Gold Card

The top tier of Barclays' Luxury Card lineup at $1,199. The $300 airline + $200 dining + $120 Global Entry credits chip away at the AF (about $620 of stated value before lounge access), and the 2cpp redemption on cash back is unusual. Still a status play more than a smart-points play; Amex Platinum or Sapphire Reserve win on credits-to-fee math for most travelers. Authorized-user fee is steep at $349 each.

Common questions

Which card has the bigger sign-up bonus, Chase Sapphire Preferred or Mastercard Gold 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 Gold Card.
Is the Chase Sapphire Preferred's $95 annual fee worth it compared to the Mastercard Gold 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 Gold Card's, pick the one whose perks you'll actually use.
Can I have both the Chase Sapphire Preferred and Mastercard Gold 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 Gold 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 Gold 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.