Is the Chase Sapphire Preferred worth it?

If you’ve been building credit with a no-annual-fee credit card but want to take your rewards further, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card could be a natural next step. It’s great for travelers — and Lyft riders — who have good credit but don’t want to pay for a top tier card.

With its $95 annual fee and generous welcome bonus, the Chase Sapphire Preferred is a mid tier credit card that can be a valuable option for the right person. Learn more about the card below before deciding whether to add it to your credit portfolio.

When is the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card worth it?

As one of the most popular travel cards, the Chase Sapphire Preferred could help you get the hang of earning and using travel rewards. Plus, it offers 25 percent more redemption value when booking through the Chase Travel℠ portal.

Here are a few examples of when the Chase Sapphire Preferred could be right for you:

You travel often

If you’re already paying for travel and would like to cover your next trip with points, this card could help you do that.

Chase Sapphire Preferred lets you earn:

• 5X points on travel purchases through Chase Travel℠
• 5X total points on Lyft rides (2X points on general travel and a bonus 3X points) through March 2025
• 3X points on dining (including eligible delivery services), select streaming services and online grocery purchases (excluding Walmart, Target and wholesale clubs)
• 2X points on general travel
• 1X points on all other purchases

You can also use your points to book travel via Chase transfer partners, get gift cards, shop at Amazon.com and Apple® or use other redemption options.

And with the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card in your wallet, you can travel easier with comprehensive travel insurance and other benefits like:

• A 10 percent anniversary point bonus
• An annual $50 credit on hotel stays purchased through Chase Travel℠
• Lost luggage reimbursement and baggage delay insurance
• Rental car collision damage insurance

Through January 2025, eligible Chase cardholders can also earn 20,000 points on hotel purchases or 10,000 points on non-hotel purchases when booking on Chase Travel℠ for the first time. For Chase Sapphire Preferred cardholders, that’s $250 or $125 respectively when redeemed for travel through the issuer’s portal. Terms apply.

Chase also isn’t leaving existing cardholders behind. Through January 2025, eligible cardmembers who are repeat bookers can earn a $100 statement credit or 10,000 points on hotel purchases booked through Chase Travel℠. Such high-value offers aren’t common. If you take advantage of one with your Chase Sapphire Preferred, you’ll more than offset the annual fee. Plus, you’ll still earn 5X points on your booking.

You want to earn a hefty welcome bonus

You can earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months — a $1,200 value when redeemed with Chase’s best transfer partners, according to Bankrate’s valuation.

Additionally, for a limited time, the Chase Sapphire Preferred offers up to $300 in statement credits on Chase Travel℠ purchases within the first year. This is an incredibly general offer. To compare, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® offers an annual $300 credit applied to a broad spectrum of travel purchases. However, it’s a premium credit card that charges a $550 annual fee — compared to $95 on the Chase Sapphire Preferred.

You shop from brands partnered with Chase

People who already use rideshare, delivery and fitness services might benefit from the card’s partnerships with other brands.

You can earn 5X points on Lyft rides and on Peloton equipment and accessory purchases over $150 (with a max earn of 25,000 total points) through March 2025. Plus, you’ll get a free DashPass subscription if you open the account by December 31, 2027.

You’re loyal to Chase

If you’re a fan of Chase cards, you can explore the possibility of using the Chase trifecta. This pairing strategy allows you to maximize how you earn, combine and redeem points. The trifecta typically includes using a Sapphire card — like the Sapphire Preferred or Chase Sapphire Reserve® — a cash back card and a business card.

You can pool points from all three cards to use with Chase travel partners.

When is the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card not worth it?

While the Sapphire Preferred is an excellent travel credit card, it’s not for everyone. Here are some instances where the card might not be worth it for you:

You don’t want to pay an annual fee

If you’re not used to paying an annual fee, then the $95 it costs to get the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card might be hard to swallow. But it’s possible to offset the fee with the rewards and benefits you reap.

If you combine the welcome bonus, anniversary bonus, hotel credit, travel deals and partner discounts, you should come out ahead. But it’s worth taking a look at your typical credit card spending to make sure you’d spend enough to earn rewards and take advantage of the benefits.

You want a more premium travel credit card

Some cardholders might want to jump ahead to a premium card with a higher annual fee and better rewards, like the Chase Sapphire Reserve card. It comes with 10X points on hotel stays, car rentals and Chase Dining purchases through Chase Travel℠ and on Lyft purchases through March 2025; 5X points on air travel through Chase Travel℠; a $300 travel credit and more.

Just keep in mind that a higher tier card might require an excellent credit score and steep annual fee — like Chase Sapphire Reserve’s $550 annual fee.

Should you get the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card?

If you have an established credit history and are ready to tap into more travel rewards, the Chase Sapphire Preferred can be a great choice. The flexible earning categories allow you to earn points on both travel expenses and everyday spending. Plus, if you find yourself hopping in Lyfts often, you could be earning ample points to get where you need to go anyway. You’ll just want to utilize the card enough to justify the $95 annual fee.

On the other hand, if your lifestyle is geared more toward dining and entertainment or simply paying for the essentials, a cash back card might be a better fit.

The bottom line

The Chase Sapphire Preferred is a popular, affordable travel card that could elevate your rewards potential. But before applying for the card, check out the Chase Sapphire Preferred benefits guide and see whether the card makes sense for your spending habits. Also keep in mind that you’ll need a good credit score to excellent credit score to qualify.