What the Sapphire Card Is and Who It's Built For
The Sapphire Preferred and Sapphire Reserve are two credit cards from Chase designed for people who travel regularly or spend heavily on dining and entertainment. Both cards charge an annual fee — $95 for Preferred, $550 for Reserve — and both offer rewards points that are worth more when you redeem them for travel or transfers to airline and hotel partners. The Reserve card also includes travel protections like trip cancellation insurance and emergency medical evacuation coverage.
These cards are not entry-level. Chase typically approves people with credit scores of 720 or higher for Sapphire Preferred and 750 or higher for Sapphire Reserve. If your credit history is thin or you've had recent missed payments, you're unlikely to be approved. The cards also require you to carry a balance or pay the full statement balance each month — there's no grace period if you don't pay in full.
Key Takeaways
- Sapphire Preferred charges $95 per year and earns 3 points per dollar on travel and dining; Sapphire Reserve charges $550 per year and earns 3 points per dollar on travel, dining, and some other categories.
- Points are worth 1.5 cents each when redeemed for travel through Chase's portal, or you can transfer them to airline and hotel partners at a 1-to-1 rate.
- Both cards require a strong credit score (720+ for Preferred, 750+ for Reserve) and the ability to pay your full balance monthly to avoid interest charges that erase rewards value.
- The annual fee is only worth it if you spend enough on travel and dining to earn back the fee in rewards value within the first year.
- Chase offers a sign-up bonus (typically 50,000 to 75,000 points) when you meet a spending requirement in the first few months, which can cover the annual fee several times over.
How Rewards Points Work on the Sapphire Cards
Both Sapphire cards earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points, which are worth different amounts depending on how you use them. When you redeem points through Chase's travel portal — booking flights, hotels, or rental cars directly through their website — each point is worth 1.5 cents. So 100,000 points equals $1,500 in travel value. This is the most common way people use the points.
You can also transfer points to Chase's airline and hotel partners at a 1-to-1 rate. This means 100,000 points can become 100,000 airline miles or hotel points. Whether this is a better deal depends on the partner and the specific redemption — sometimes airline miles are worth more than 1.5 cents each, sometimes less. You have to do the math for your specific trip.
Points earned on the card never expire as long as your account stays open. If you close the card, you have a short window (usually 30 days) to use or transfer any remaining points before they're forfeited.
Earning Rates and Spending Categories
Sapphire Preferred earns 3 points per dollar on travel (including flights, hotels, rental cars, and public transit) and dining at restaurants. It earns 1 point per dollar on everything else. There's no bonus on groceries, gas, or other everyday categories.
Sapphire Reserve earns 3 points per dollar on travel, dining, and also on purchases made through Chase's travel portal. It earns 1 point per dollar on everything else. The Reserve also includes a $300 annual travel credit that reimburses you for travel purchases (flights, hotels, rental cars, tolls, parking, and some other categories), which effectively reduces the $550 annual fee to $250 if you use the full credit.
Neither card has a cap on points earned. You can earn as many points as you want in a single month or year. The card doesn't limit how much you can spend or how many points you can accumulate.
Annual Fees and Whether They're Worth the Cost
The $95 annual fee on Sapphire Preferred is charged once per year on your card anniversary. The $550 annual fee on Sapphire Reserve is also charged once per year, but the $300 travel credit (which reimburses travel purchases automatically) brings the net cost down to $250 if you use it.
To determine whether the annual fee is worth it, calculate how much you spend on travel and dining per year, multiply that by 3%, and subtract the annual fee. For example, if you spend $5,000 per year on travel and dining, you earn $150 in rewards value (5,000 × 0.03). After the $95 Sapphire Preferred fee, your net benefit is $55. If you spend $10,000 on travel and dining, you earn $300, and your net benefit is $205.
For Sapphire Reserve, the math is similar but includes the $300 travel credit. If you spend $20,000 per year on travel and dining, you earn $600 in rewards value. Subtract the $550 fee, and you're ahead by $50 — before counting the $300 travel credit, which makes the card a much better deal if you actually use it.
Sign-Up Bonuses and How to Maximize Them
Chase typically offers a sign-up bonus when you open a Sapphire card — often 50,000 to 75,000 points if you spend a certain amount (usually $4,000 to $5,000) within the first three months. At 1.5 cents per point, 50,000 points equals $750 in travel value, which easily covers the annual fee and then some.
To hit the spending requirement, you can use the card for regular purchases you'd make anyway (groceries, utilities, gas) or plan a trip and put travel and dining on the card. Some people also use the card to pay bills or make large purchases they were already planning. You should never spend money you wouldn't otherwise spend just to hit a bonus — the interest you'd pay on a balance would wipe out the bonus value.
Sign-up bonuses are one-time only. Chase typically won't give you another bonus if you've received one in the past 24 months, though this rule changes occasionally. Check Chase's current terms before explore.
Credit Score Requirements and Approval Odds
Chase publishes no official minimum credit score for either Sapphire card, but approval data from cardholders shows that Sapphire Preferred typically goes to people with scores of 720 or higher, and Sapphire Reserve typically goes to people with scores of 750 or higher. If your score is below 720, your odds of approval are low.
Chase also looks at your credit history, not just your score. Recent missed payments, high credit utilization (using more than 30% of your available credit), or a very short credit history can result in denial even with a decent score. If you're denied, you can call Chase's reconsideration line to ask why and sometimes provide additional information (like a higher income or a recent score increase).
You can check your credit score for free through many banks and credit card issuers, or through sites like AnnualCreditReport.com, which provides your actual credit report once per year at no cost.
Interest Rates and How to Avoid Paying Them
Both Sapphire cards have a variable purchase APR (annual percentage rate) that changes based on market conditions and your creditworthiness. Chase does not publish a specific rate — it depends on your individual approval. Typical rates range from 16% to 24%, but your rate could be different.
The key to avoiding interest charges is straightforward: pay your full statement balance by the due date every month. If you do, you pay no interest, and the rewards value far outweighs any cost. If you carry a balance, interest charges will quickly erase the value of your rewards. For example, if you earn $100 in rewards but pay $150 in interest, you've lost money.
If you're not confident you can pay the full balance every month, these cards are not a good fit for you. A card with no annual fee and a lower interest rate would be a better choice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get the sign-up bonus if I already have a Chase credit card?
Yes. The sign-up bonus is tied to the specific Sapphire card, not to your relationship with Chase. You can have multiple Chase cards at once. However, Chase typically won't give you a bonus on the same card twice within 24 months, and some cardholders report that opening too many Chase cards in a short time can trigger a denial or a lower credit limit.
What happens to my points if I close the card?
Your points don't disappear when ready, but you have a limited window (usually 30 days) to use or transfer them before they're forfeited. If you're thinking about closing the card, redeem or transfer your points first. You can also keep the card open and inactive to preserve your points indefinitely, though you'll still owe the annual fee each year.
Is the Sapphire Reserve worth it if I don't travel much?
Probably not. The $550 annual fee is steep, and the $300 travel credit only helps if you actually book travel. If you spend less than $10,000 per year on travel and dining combined, the Sapphire Preferred is likely a better value. Calculate your own spending before explore.
Can I use my points to pay my credit card bill?
Yes, but it's usually not the best use of your points. You can redeem points for a statement credit at a rate of 1 cent per point (so 10,000 points equals $100 off your bill). This is worth less than redeeming for travel through the portal (1.5 cents per point) or transferring to partners. Only use this option if you have no upcoming travel plans.
What's the difference between Sapphire Preferred and Sapphire Reserve?
Sapphire Reserve costs $550 per year (minus the $300 travel credit), has a higher credit score requirement, and includes travel protections like trip cancellation insurance and emergency medical evacuation. Sapphire Preferred costs $95 per year and has a lower credit score requirement. Choose Reserve only if you travel frequently enough to use the travel credit and value the protections. Otherwise, Preferred is the better deal.