Amex Gold vs Chase Sapphire Preferred
The American Express Gold Card and Chase Sapphire Preferred are two of the most popular mid-tier rewards cards. They earn points in different ecosystems — Amex Membership Rewards and Chase Ultimate Rewards — with different transfer partners, earning structures, and perks. This guide compares every detail so you can decide which card fits your spending and travel habits best.
Quick Comparison Table
| Feature | Amex Gold | Sapphire Preferred |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Fee | $250 | $95 |
| Effective Annual Fee | $10 (after $120 dining + $120 Uber Cash) | $45 (after $50 hotel credit) |
| Sign-Up Bonus | 60,000 points (~$720) | 70,000 points (~$1,050) |
| Minimum Spend | $6,000 in 6 months | $4,000 in 3 months |
| Dining | 4x points | 3x points |
| Groceries | 4x points (up to $25k/yr) | 1x points |
| Flights | 3x points | 2x points (as travel) |
| General Travel | 1x points | 2x points |
| Streaming | 1x points | 3x points |
| Rewards Currency | Membership Rewards | Ultimate Rewards |
| Network | American Express | Visa |
| Foreign Transaction Fees | None | None |
| Rental Car Insurance | Secondary | Primary |
| Credit Score Needed | Good | Good |
Annual Fee Analysis
At first glance, the Chase Sapphire Preferred looks like the cheaper card at $95 per year versus the Amex Gold's $250 per year. But the Amex Gold includes $240 in annual credits that dramatically change the math.
The Amex Gold provides $120 in annual dining credits (distributed as $10/month at select restaurants including Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, and others) and $120 in annual Uber Cash ($10/month for Uber Eats or Uber rides). If you use both credits fully, the effective annual fee drops to just $10. The Sapphire Preferred includes a $50 annual hotel credit for bookings through Chase Travel, bringing its effective fee to $45.
Amex Gold
Sapphire Preferred
The credit caveat: The Amex Gold's $240 in credits are monthly ($10 dining + $10 Uber), which means unused months do not roll over. If you consistently use Uber and eat at the participating dining partners, the credits are essentially free money. If you would not use them naturally, the effective fee is higher than $10. The Sapphire Preferred's $50 hotel credit is simpler but less valuable.
Sign-Up Bonus Comparison
Both cards offer meaningful sign-up bonuses, but they differ in value, spending requirements, and timeline.
Amex Gold Bonus
Sapphire Preferred Bonus
The Sapphire Preferred wins on sign-up bonus value by a significant margin. Its 70,000-point bonus is worth approximately $1,050 compared to the Amex Gold's 60,000 points at ~$720. The Preferred also has a lower spending requirement ($4,000 vs $6,000) with a shorter timeframe (3 months vs 6 months), making it easier to hit.
Keep in mind that Amex enforces a lifetime rule on sign-up bonuses: you can only earn the bonus once per card, ever (with some exceptions via targeted offers). Chase's 48-month Sapphire rule is more generous — you can earn the Preferred bonus again after 48 months.
Earning Structure
The earning structures of these two cards are where the comparison gets interesting. They excel in different categories, and your spending habits will determine which card earns you more points.
Points Earned Per Dollar
The Amex Gold dominates in food-related spending. Its 4x on restaurants and 4x on groceries (up to $25,000 per year) is unmatched by the Sapphire Preferred. If you spend $500/month on groceries and $300/month on dining, the Amex Gold earns 38,400 points per year on food alone, compared to the Sapphire Preferred's 16,800 points (3x dining only, 1x groceries).
The Sapphire Preferred fights back with broader travel earning (2x on all travel including hotels, trains, taxis, and rideshares) plus 3x on streaming services and 5x on Lyft rides. The Amex Gold only earns 3x on flights booked directly, and 1x on all other travel.
The grocery advantage: The Amex Gold's 4x on groceries is a major differentiator. No other premium rewards card matches this rate. At $500/month in grocery spending, that is 24,000 bonus points per year — worth roughly $288 at 1.2 cents per point — that you simply cannot earn with the Sapphire Preferred.
Transfer Partners: Membership Rewards vs Ultimate Rewards
Both Amex Membership Rewards and Chase Ultimate Rewards offer 1:1 transfers to airline and hotel loyalty programs. The partner lineups overlap in some areas but diverge in others, and the best choice depends on which airlines and hotels you prefer.
Amex Membership Rewards
Key Airline Partners:
- Delta SkyMiles
- ANA Mileage Club
- British Airways Avios
- Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer
- Air France/KLM Flying Blue
- Emirates Skywards
Key Hotel Partners:
- Hilton Honors (1:2 ratio)
- Marriott Bonvoy (1:1 ratio)
Chase Ultimate Rewards
Key Airline Partners:
- United MileagePlus
- Southwest Rapid Rewards
- British Airways Avios
- Air France/KLM Flying Blue
- Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer
- Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
Key Hotel Partners:
- World of Hyatt (1:1 ratio)
- IHG One Rewards (1:1 ratio)
Standout partners: Chase's Hyatt transfer is widely considered the single best hotel transfer in either program — Hyatt points are worth roughly 2 cents each, giving you outsized value. Amex's Delta and ANA transfers are unique to Membership Rewards and valuable for international premium cabin redemptions. If you fly Delta or want access to ANA first class, Amex wins. If you stay at Hyatt or fly United/Southwest, Chase wins.
Travel Benefits
Neither the Amex Gold nor the Sapphire Preferred is a premium travel card — that tier belongs to the Amex Platinum and Sapphire Reserve. But both cards include useful travel perks that differ meaningfully.
Primary Rental Car Insurance
Sapphire Preferred only. The Sapphire Preferred includes primary rental car insurance, meaning it pays out before your personal auto policy. This is a significant benefit that most cards only offer as secondary coverage. The Amex Gold does not include primary rental car insurance.
Trip Cancellation Insurance
Sapphire Preferred only. The Sapphire Preferred covers trip cancellation and interruption up to $10,000 per person and $20,000 per trip for prepaid, non-refundable expenses. The Amex Gold does not offer this benefit.
$120 Annual Dining Credit
Amex Gold only. The Gold Card provides $10/month in dining credits at select restaurant partners. While not a travel benefit per se, this offsets the annual fee significantly and rewards everyday dining.
$120 Annual Uber Cash
Amex Gold only. The Gold Card provides $10/month in Uber Cash, usable for Uber rides or Uber Eats orders. This is useful for travel-related transportation or everyday food delivery.
Shared Benefits
Both cards charge no foreign transaction fees, making them both good options for international travel. However, the Sapphire Preferred runs on the Visa network, which has significantly broader global acceptance than American Express.
Which Card Is Right for You?
The right card depends on where you spend the most money and which rewards ecosystem best serves your travel goals.
Get the Amex Gold If You...
- ✓Spend heavily on dining and groceries (the 4x categories are unmatched)
- ✓Will use the $120 dining credit and $120 Uber Cash every month
- ✓Fly Delta or want access to ANA for international premium cabins
- ✓Want the lowest possible effective annual fee ($10 after credits)
- ✓Already have an Amex Platinum or plan to build a Membership Rewards portfolio
- ✓Value earning rate over travel insurance benefits
Get the Sapphire Preferred If You...
- ✓Want the larger sign-up bonus (70,000 points worth ~$1,050)
- ✓Spend broadly on travel (hotels, trains, taxis, rideshares — not just flights)
- ✓Want access to Hyatt transfers (the best hotel transfer partner available)
- ✓Need primary rental car insurance and trip cancellation coverage
- ✓Prefer Visa acceptance over American Express
- ✓Plan to churn the bonus every 48 months (Amex has a stricter lifetime rule)
Our recommendation: If you spend significantly on groceries and dining, the Amex Gold is hard to beat — the 4x earning in both categories plus $240 in annual credits make it exceptional for food-heavy spenders. If you want the best sign-up bonus, broader travel earning, superior travel insurance, and the ability to churn the bonus repeatedly, the Sapphire Preferred is the better all-around choice.
Can You Have Both?
Yes — and many rewards enthusiasts do exactly that. Since the Amex Gold and Sapphire Preferred are from different issuers, there is no rule preventing you from holding both simultaneously. This is a key advantage over the Sapphire Preferred vs Reserve comparison, where Chase's One Sapphire rule forces you to pick one.
The Two-Card Strategy
The only downside is managing two points currencies. If you prefer simplicity and want all your points in one program, pick the card that best fits your spending and stick with it. But if you are willing to optimize, holding both gives you the best earning rates across every major spending category.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Amex Gold or Chase Sapphire Preferred a better value?
It depends on your spending habits. The Amex Gold costs $250 per year but includes $120 in dining credits and $120 in Uber Cash, bringing the effective cost to $10 per year. It earns 4x on restaurants and groceries. The Sapphire Preferred costs $95 per year with a $50 hotel credit, earning 3x on dining and 2x on travel. If you spend heavily on dining and groceries, the Amex Gold offers more rewards. If you want lower out-of-pocket cost and broader travel earning, the Sapphire Preferred is the better value.
Can you have both the Amex Gold and Chase Sapphire Preferred?
Yes. Since they are from different issuers (American Express and Chase), there is no rule preventing you from holding both cards simultaneously. Many churners hold both to earn points in two different ecosystems — Membership Rewards and Ultimate Rewards — which gives access to a wider range of airline and hotel transfer partners.
Which card is better for dining: Amex Gold or Sapphire Preferred?
The Amex Gold earns 4x Membership Rewards points at restaurants compared to the Sapphire Preferred's 3x Ultimate Rewards points at dining establishments. The Amex Gold also includes a $120 annual dining credit. For pure dining rewards, the Amex Gold is the clear winner. However, if restaurant acceptance is a concern, the Sapphire Preferred runs on the Visa network, which has broader acceptance than American Express.
Which has better transfer partners: Membership Rewards or Ultimate Rewards?
Both programs have strong transfer partner lineups, but they differ. Amex Membership Rewards transfers to Delta, ANA, British Airways, Singapore Airlines, Hilton, and Marriott among others. Chase Ultimate Rewards transfers to United, Hyatt, Southwest, British Airways, and Air France/KLM. Hyatt is widely considered the best hotel transfer partner in either program. The best choice depends on which airlines and hotels you use most.
Is the Amex Gold annual fee worth it?
The Amex Gold has a $250 annual fee, but it includes $120 in dining credits (Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, and others) and $120 in Uber Cash. If you use both credits, the effective annual fee is just $10. The 4x earning on restaurants and groceries (up to $25,000 per year) makes it one of the best cards for food-related spending. If you regularly eat out and buy groceries, the card easily pays for itself.
Which card has the better sign-up bonus?
The Chase Sapphire Preferred currently offers 70,000 Ultimate Rewards points (worth approximately $1,050) after spending $4,000 in 3 months. The Amex Gold offers 60,000 Membership Rewards points (worth approximately $720) after spending $6,000 in 6 months. The Sapphire Preferred has the higher-value bonus with an easier spending requirement.
Which card is better for travel purchases?
The Amex Gold earns 3x on flights booked directly with airlines, while the Sapphire Preferred earns 2x on general travel purchases (flights, hotels, trains, taxis, and more). The Sapphire Preferred's travel category is broader, covering more types of travel spending. The Preferred also includes a $50 annual hotel credit and primary rental car insurance, which the Amex Gold does not offer.