Is the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card better than the Citi Premier® Card?

Choosing the best card for you will depend on your preferences. The Citi Premier® Card offers travel rewards and points for everyday expenditures. On the other hand, Chase Sapphire Preferred Card is a better choice if you want to use your points for travel.

Can you get the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card if you have a Citi Premier® Card?

Yes, you can get Chase Sapphire Preferred Card if you have a Citi Premier® Card. People who are in a position to switch cards should consider other factors, including interest rates and annual fees, to decide which card is best for them. Carefully comparing options before making a change will help you avoid surprises down the road.

Can you transfer points from the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card to the Citi Premier® Card?

Chase only allows you to transfer your points to another Chase card with Ultimate Rewards belonging to you or one member of your household.

Can you switch from the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card to the Citi Premier® Card?

Yes, if you consider the Citi Premier® Card more beneficial to you.

What’s harder to get, the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card or the Citi Premier® Card?

The Citi Premier® Card is relatively easy to get if you have good to excellent credit and can qualify for the minimum credit limit, compared to Chase Sapphire Preferred Card, for which you need excellent credit.

How much do you have to spend for Chase Sapphire Preferred Card vs. Citi Premier® Card to get the welcome bonus?

You must spend $4,000 in the first three months of your Chase Sapphire Preferred Card account to receive 60,000 Ultimate Rewards points. Similarly, with Citi Premier, you'll only be eligible for 60,000 ThankYou points after spending $4,000 in three months.

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card vs. Citi Premier® Card: Which Is Best for You?

A mid-tier travel rewards card may be a good fit for people who travel a few times each year but aren't particularly frequent travelers. The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card and the Citi Premier® Card both provide a plethora of perks, so choosing the right one for you will depend on your unique preferences and needs.

Advertising & Editorial DisclosureLast Updated: 11/18/2022

Reviewed By

Brett Holzhauer

Last Updated: 11/18/2022

The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card and Citi Premier credit cards are both mid-tier travel rewards cards. These two cards have become favorites among frequent and not-so-frequent travelers because of their flexible reward programs and generous welcome bonuses. Both have $95 yearly fees, but vary in perks and features.

Because choosing between two good rewards credit cards can be difficult, this comparison will break down the differences between the Sapphire Preferred and Premier Card to help you make a decision.

OUR COMPARISON AT A GLANCE

Comparison Overview
Chase Sapphire Preferred Card at a Glance
Citi Premier® Card at a Glance
Comparison Summary
Which Card Should You Get?

Comparison Overview: Chase Sapphire Preferred Card vs. Citi Premier® Card

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
Citi Premier® 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
Excellent
Excellent

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card At a Glance

The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card credit card is one of the best rewards cards available today. The card comes with a bonus of 60,000 Ultimate Rewards points (worth $750 toward travel when redeemed via Chase Ultimate Rewards), 3X points per dollar spent on dining, 5X total points on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards, flexible redemption choices and no foreign transaction fees. However, to be approved for the Sapphire Preferred, you must have excellent credit — otherwise, you may be denied.

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.

Citi Premier® Card At a Glance

New cardmembers can earn 60,000 ThankYou bonus points after spending $4,000 in purchases with the Citi Premier® Card within the first three months of account opening. ThankYou Points are worth $0.01 per point when redeemed through Citi’s travel portal or for gift cards. So 60,000 points would be worth $600 toward gift cards, travel and other redemptions.

Citi Premier® Card
An excellent travel rewards card for international use
- ExcellentRecommended Credit
- $95Annual Fee
- 1–3 Points per $1Rewards Rate
- 3xRewards Rate at Hotels
- 3xRewards Rate on Groceries
Pros
Opportunity to earn a sizeable sign-up bonus
3X points for travel purchases and on a few other categories
No foreign transaction fees
Transfer points to popular frequent flyer programs or redeem them in other ways
$100 hotel savings benefit each year

Cons
Annual fee of $95
No complimentary insurance
No purchase protection
Cash advance and balance transfer fees
Penalty APR may apply in case of a late or returned payment
Earn 80,000 bonus points if you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months (valued at $800 when you redeem them for gift cards).
Earn 3X points on air travel, on hotel bookings, at gas stations, at supermarkets and at restaurants.
Earn 1X points on all other purchases.
Get $100 off a hotel stay of $500 or more (excluding fees and taxes) when you book through thankyou.com (online or over the phone).
Transfer your points to airline loyalty programs such as Aeromexico, Asia Miles, Avianca LifeMiles, Emirates Skywards, Etihad Guest, Flying Blue, InterMiles, JetBlue TrueBlue, Malaysia Airlines Enrich, Qantas Frequent Flyer, Qatar Privilege Club, Singapore Airlines, Thai Royal Orchid Plus, Miles & Smiles and Virgin Atlantic Flying Club.
Other ways to redeem your points include getting gift cards, shopping online, paying for travel, getting statement credits, making online bill payments and making charitable donations.
Pay no foreign transaction fees when you use this card internationally.
Additional cards come with no annual fees.
Access to Citi Entertainment gives you the means to buy tickets to various events as well as presale tickets.
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 cards from our partners.

Comparison Summary

Compare the similarities and differences between these two mid-tier travel rewards credit cards to see which card is best for you.

Card Detail
Comparison Summary
Travel Coverage and Purchase Protection
Insurance for trip cancellation, trip delay, baggage delay, travel accidents and an auto rental collision damage waiver are all included in Chase Sapphire Preferred Card's travel benefits.
The Citi Premier® Card doesn’t have any travel protections.
Winner: Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
Welcome Bonus
Both providers offer generous welcome bonuses to their new cardholders.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card offers new cardholders the opportunity to earn 60,000 Ultimate Rewards points after spending $4,000 in the first three months of account setup. Chase Ultimate Rewards are incredibly valuable since each point is worth $1.25 when redeemed using the Chase travel site or the Pay Yourself Back function (so the 60,000-point incentive is worth $750).
When redeemed, ThankYou Points are only worth $0.01 per point. Therefore 60,000 points are worth $600 in gift cards or towards a vacation.
Winner: Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
Rewards
In terms of rewards, both cards are excellent.
With the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card, it’s possible to earn 5X points on travel paid via Chase Ultimate Rewards, 3X points on dining and 2X points on all other travel purchases.
With the Citi Premier® Card, you’ll earn 3X points for every dollar spent at restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, airports and hotels. You’ll also earn 1X point per dollar spent on all other eligible items.
For frequent travelers, the Sapphire Preferred is the ideal option since it earns 5X points per dollar instead of the Premier Card's 3X points per dollar.
Winner: Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
Annual Fee
The annual fee is $95 for both the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card and the Citi Premier® Card.
Winner: Tie
Foreign Transaction Fee
Neither card has foreign transaction fees.
Winner: Tie

Which Card Should You Get?

When deciding between the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card and Citi Premier® Card, it’s best to consider your financial habits and goals. The best choice will depend on your individual travel needs and spending patterns.

Who Should Consider the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card?

The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card is ideal for people who want to stretch their points farther on travel and statement credits. It's also an excellent choice for people looking to earn points that can be used with various partners, such as airlines, hotels and restaurants.

Frequent travelers may want to take advantage of this card's ample travel protections, plus 5X total points rewards bonus on select travel purchases.
Each year, customers may use a $50 statement credit for hotel stays booked via Chase Ultimate Rewards.
≫ More: Read Our Full Review

Who Should Consider the Citi Premier® Card?

The Citi Premier® Card is a good choice for individuals who want to earn points on regular purchases. The card will also help you save money on travel, as there are no foreign transaction fees.

Once per year, the Citi Premier® Card gifts customers with a $100 Annual Hotel Savings Benefit on a single stay of $500 or more booked through thankyou.com.
Experience-seekers may enjoy the Citi Entertainment rewards system, which gives cardholders special access to purchase tickets for concerts, sporting events, dining experiences and more.
≫ More: Read Our Full Review

EXPERT OPINION

The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card is definitely the better card in this comparison. Chase Ultimate Rewards are extremely valuable as you can transfer them to great airline and hotel loyalty programs. While you can do the same with Citi ThankYou points, the partners are not as valuable as the majority of them are international airlines.

Other Helpful Decision-Making FAQs

Despite knowing the differences between the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card and the Citi Premier® Card, you might still be undecided about which one to go with. MoneyGeek has answered some frequently asked questions that can help you make an informed decision.

Still Not Sure About These Cards? Consider These Options

If you can't decide between the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card and the Citi Premier® Card, look into other cards that offer significant rewards advantages. If you want to receive money back on purchases, a cash back credit card could be a good option for you.

View All Credit Cards

Learn more about credit cards in general

sources

Chase Bank. "Chase Sapphire Preferred Card." Accessed January 6, 2022.
Citi Premier. "Citi Premier® Card." Accessed January 6, 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.
Editorial Disclosure: Opinions, reviews, analyses and recommendations are the author’s alone and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity.
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