Is the American Express® Gold Card better than the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card?

Both cards offer excellent value to customers. Your requirements, use cases, and where you spend the most money decide which credit card is best for you. The Amex Gold Card is a great option if you often dine out or shop for groceries. The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card is a great option if you travel regularly.

Can you get the American Express® Gold Card if you have Chase Sapphire Preferred Card?

Yes, You can apply for the Amex Gold card even if you hold the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card.

Can you transfer points from American Express® Gold Card to Chase Sapphire Preferred Card?

No, you can’t. Each card is from a different servicer.

Can you switch from the American Express® Gold Card to the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card?

Yes you can. However, be sure you’re under Chase’s 5/24 rule, which means you have been approved for more than five credit cards in the last 24 months.

American Express® Gold Card vs. Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: Which Is Best for You?

Q: What’s harder to get, the American Express® Gold Card or the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card?

Both cards require good to excellent credit scores. However, the American Express® Gold Card may be a bit more difficult as it’s a charge card with no predetermined limit.

Q: How much do you have to spend for American Express® Gold Card vs Chase Sapphire Preferred Card to get the welcome bonus?

Both carss require $4,000 in spending. However, the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card gives cardholders three months while the Amex Gold Card gives six months to hit the spending requirement.

The American Express® Gold Card and Chase Sapphire Preferred Card are solid options for consumers looking for valuable rewards for travel and dining purchases. MoneyGeek compared the offerings of these two cards to help you make an informed decision about which credit card is best suited to your lifestyle and spending habits.

Advertising & Editorial DisclosureLast Updated: 11/18/2022

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The content on this page is accurate as of the posting date; however, some of the offers mentioned may have expired.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card and the American Express® Gold Card are two popular travel reward credit cards with similar benefits. Both of these cards offer generous sign-up bonuses, with each card providing 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in your first three months and six months respectively from account opening. In addition, they both have no foreign transaction fee and you earn points redeemable for airline tickets and hotel stays. But there are important differences to consider before picking one over another.

OUR COMPARISON AT A GLANCE

Comparison Overview
American Express® Gold Card at a Glance
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card at a Glance
Comparison Summary
Which Card Should You Get?

Comparison Overview: American Express® Gold Card vs. Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

American Express® Gold Card
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Has Annual Fee
Has Balance Transfer Offer
Has APR Offer
Cash Back Rewards
Travel Rewards
Hotel Benefits
Airline Benefits
Has Rewarding Welcome Offer
Has Foreign Transaction Fee
Recommended Credit
Good–Excellent
Excellent

American Express® Gold Card At a Glance

The American Express® Gold Card has a $250 annual fee and requires good to excellent credit score to be approved. It comes with a variety of perks, including $10 in Uber Cash and dining credit respectively each month, for a total of up to $240 in credits per year.

American Express® Gold Card
Best rewards card for frequent fliers and diners
- Good–ExcellentRecommended Credit
- $250Annual Fee
- 1–4 Points per $1Rewards Rate
- 4xRewards Rate on Groceries
- 3xRewards Rate on Air Travel
Pros
Potential for very high rewards points earning rate in particular categories
Can transfer points to partners or other programs
Can hold up to five authorized users
Receive free annual dining credit
No foreign transaction fees

Cons
American Express isn’t as widely accepted as other card brands
High APR overall due to “Pay Over Time” format
High “Pay Over Time” penalties
Annual fee of $250
Earn 60,000 membership rewards points after spending $4,000 on all eligible purchases within the first six months of your account
4X membership rewards points on certain worldwide restaurants and specific U.S. supermarkets
Annual $120 dining credit and $120 Uber Cash
3X membership rewards points for flights booked directly through American Express
Disclaimer: Credit card offers are constantly changing. We work hard to stay updated with the latest information, but the offers listed on our site may no longer be available.
Terms, rates and fees apply
Compare this credit card with other top-rated rewards cards.

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card At a Glance

The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card is one of the best rewards credit cards on the market today. With a bonus of 60,000 Ultimate Rewards points (worth $750 when redeemed through Chase Ultimate Rewards), it also earns 3x points per dollar on dining at restaurants, 5x total points on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards, 3x points per dollar on online grocery purchases and streaming services. However, to get approved for the Sapphire Preferred, you’ll need to have excellent credit; otherwise, you may not be approved.

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
A very good rewards card with no foreign transaction fees and comprehensive travel cover
- ExcellentRecommended Credit
- $95Annual Fee
- 1–2 Points per $1Rewards Rate
- 2xRewards Rate on Air Travel
- 2xRewards Rate on Dining
Pros
Stand to earn 60,000 bonus points by spending $4,000 in the first three months
Earn up to 5X points per dollar
Ways to redeem points include cash back, 1:1 points transfer, gift cards and more
Use the My Chase Plan to break up purchases of $100 or more into fixed monthly payments and pay just a monthly fee, no interest
Pay no foreign transaction fees
Extensive travel and purchase coverage can help provide extra peace of mind

Cons
The card comes with an annual fee
There are balance transfer and cash advance fees
Penalty APR might apply in case of returned or late payments
Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first three months
Earn 5X points on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards
Earn 3X points on dining, online grocery purchases and select streaming services
Earn 2X points on other travel purchases
Earn 1X points on all other purchases
Use points to pay for products or services made available through the Chase Ultimate Rewards program or directly from other merchants
Earn 25% more value for your points when you redeem them through Chase Ultimate Rewards
Some of the 1:1 points transfer members include AerClub, British Airways Executive Club, Emirates Skywards, JetBlue TrueBlue, Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer, Virgin Atlantic Flying Club, IHG Rewards Club, Marriott Bonvoy and World of Hyatt
Complimentary travel protection comes in the form of trip cancellation/interruption insurance, auto rental collision damage waiver, baggage delay insurance, trip delay reimbursement as well as travel and emergency assistance services
Safeguard your purchases through purchase protection and extended warranty protection
Disclaimer: Credit card offers are constantly changing. We work hard to stay updated with the latest information, but the offers listed on our site may no longer be available.
Terms, rates and fees apply
Compare this credit card with other cards with lower interest rates.

Comparison Summary

MoneyGeek compares both travel reward credit cards. This comparison highlights how these two travel reward credit cards compare in many categories to help you figure out which card is best for your specific needs.

Card Detail
Comparison Summary
Travel Coverage and Purchase Protection
When you travel more than 100 miles from home, Amex gives 24/7 emergency support and secures every transaction with SafeKey technology, Purchase Protection and Return Protection, and cardholders also get 24/7 fraud monitoring.
Chase provides real-time security monitoring with instant fraud notifications through text, email, or phone. The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card credit card also features chip protection to further secure your identity.
Winner: American Express® Gold Card
Welcome Bonus
The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card offers 60,000 extra points after spending $4,000 in the first three months, while the American Express® Gold Card offers 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first six months.
Winner: Tie
Rewards
You earn 5x points on Chase Ultimate Rewards travel, 3x points on dining and 2x points on all other travel purchases. All Lyft trips will earn you 5X points from now until March 2022.
The American Express® Gold Card offers 4x Membership Rewards points at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets, 3x points when booking flights directly with the airline or through amextravel.com and 1x points on all other eligible purchases through the American Express Membership Rewards Program.
Winner: American Express® Gold Card
Annual Fee
The annual cost for the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card is $95 per year. The annual fee for the American Express® Gold Card is $250.
Winner: Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
Redemption
There are 13 transfer partners to select from with Chase Ultimate Rewards, and American Express Membership Rewards has its own set of valued partners as well. By redeeming points via the Chase Ultimate Rewards travel portal, Chase Sapphire Preferred Cardholders earn a 25% bonus.
Winner: Chase Sapphire Preferred Card

Which Card Should You Get?

Both cards provide value that fulfill the needs of different consumers. Your travel reward credit card should be chosen based on your spending habits and requirements.

Who Should Consider the American Express® Gold Card?

The American Express® Gold Card is ideal for frequent travelers and those who dine out regularly.

The Amex Gold Card offers 4X Membership Rewards points at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets on the first $25,000 spent at U.S. supermarkets each year, followed by 1X points afterward.
Travelers earn 3X points when booking flights through either amextravel.com or directly with the airline, and 1X points on all other eligible purchases.
≫ More: Read Our Full Review

Who Should Consider the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card?

The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card is suitable for regular travelers who wish to take advantage of excellent travel benefits and earn rewards that can be transferred to airline and hotel partners.

Frequent travelers who want to save money can benefit from the modest $95 annual fee.
If you dine out regularly, this card can also be beneficial as it earns 3x points per dollar on dining.
≫ More: Read Our Full Review

EXPERT OPINION

The Amex Gold card is a favorite card of mine for dining out. However, the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card delivers much more value for the annual fee you pay. The Amex Gold Card is still a solid option, but some may find it difficult to use the $10 monthly Uber and dining credit. So if you want a card with great benefits for dining and travel with a low annual fee, you can’t go wrong with the Sapphire Preferred.

Other Helpful Decision-Making FAQs

Choosing a travel credit card isn't always a simple decision. MoneyGeek has answered some frequently asked questions about the American Express® Gold Card vs. the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card.

Still Not Sure About These Cards? Consider These Options

Anyone that enjoys traveling and wants to earn rewards should think about getting the American Express® Gold Card or the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card. If a travel card isn’t a great fit, cash-back reward credit cards are a good option if you want to get money back on purchases.

View All Credit Cards

Learn more about credit cards in general

sources

Chase Bank. "Chase Sapphire Preferred Card." Accessed January 5, 2022.
Chase Bank. "Security and Protection." Accessed January 5, 2022.
American Express. "American Express Fraud Protection." Accessed January 5, 2022.
American Express. "American Express® Gold Card." Accessed January 5, 2022.

*Rates, fees or bonuses may vary or include specific stipulations. The content on this page is accurate as of the posting/last updated date; however, some of the offers mentioned may have expired. We recommend visiting the card issuer’s website for the most up-to-date information available.
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