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.
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Side-by-side
Chase Sapphire Reserve vs Citi Diamond Preferred Card
Both are well-respected travel cards. The Chase Sapphire Reserve comes from Chase at $795/yr; the Citi Diamond Preferred Card from Citi at $0/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 ($2,500 more in estimated value) than the Citi Diamond Preferred Card's. Get the Chase Sapphire Reserve first; revisit the Citi Diamond Preferred Card after you've earned that bonus.
| Feature | Chase Sapphire Reserve | Citi Diamond Preferred Card |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $795 | $0 |
| Sign-up bonus | 125,000 points | No welcome bonus; product is a 0% intro APR balance-transfer card with no rewards program |
| Bonus value (est.) | $2,500 | - |
| Min spend to unlock bonus | $6,000 in 3 mo | - |
| Issuer | Chase | Citi |
| Card category | travel | |
| Best earning category (Chase_travel) | 8x | 1x |
| Transfer partners | chase-ur | None |
| Headline benefits |
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Read the full review
Chase Sapphire Reserve
$795/yr · 125,000 points
Read the full review
Citi Diamond Preferred Card
$0/yr · No welcome bonus; product is a 0% intro APR balance-transfer card with no rewards program
Editorial take: Citi Diamond Preferred Card
Common questions
- Which card has the bigger sign-up bonus, Chase Sapphire Reserve or Citi Diamond Preferred Card?
- The Chase Sapphire Reserve has a public bonus (125,000 points, worth roughly $2,500), while the Citi Diamond Preferred Card doesn't advertise one right now.
- Is the Chase Sapphire Reserve's $795 annual fee worth it compared to the Citi Diamond Preferred Card?
- Premium cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve ($795/yr) earn their fee through credits, travel, dining, lounge access, statement reimbursements. If you'd actively use $795+ of those credits, the math works. The Citi Diamond Preferred Card at $0/yr trades some perks for a lower commitment.
- Can I have both the Chase Sapphire Reserve and Citi Diamond Preferred Card?
- Yes, since they're from different issuers (Chase and Citi) 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 Reserve or the Citi Diamond Preferred Card first?
- Get the one whose sign-up bonus you can hit comfortably without overspending. Chase Sapphire Reserve: $6,000 spend in 3 months. Citi Diamond Preferred Card: no published min spend. 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.