Why the Chase Sapphire Preferred remains the top t...

Yearly, the TPG Awards honor excellence in bank cards, loyalty packages and journey. Please click on here to learn extra about our winner choice course of and methodology for the 2024 TPG Awards.

Chase has snagged the award for Best Travel Rewards Credit Card for the seventh 12 months in a row.

A consensus favourite amongst TPG staffers, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees) is once more taking dwelling the title of Greatest Journey Rewards Credit score Card. That is because of its low annual price, capacity to earn Chase Ultimate Rewards factors, a wonderful roster of switch companions, ease of use and beneficiant journey advantages and protections.

The Sapphire Most popular was my first journey rewards bank card, getting me into the world of points and miles. This card is nice for freshmen and specialists alike and can proceed to be in my pockets for years to return.

Let’s discover why the Chase Sapphire Most popular is called the highest journey rewards card year after year.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred is the little sibling of the Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see rates and fees), a premium journey rewards card with a $550 annual price. The Sapphire Reserve has extra advantages and perks than the Sapphire Most popular, however the Sapphire Most popular wins on simplicity and ease of use.

Moreover, in case you’re new to the world of factors and miles, the welcome provide on the Chase Sapphire Most popular can jump-start your journey with a pleasant stash of what we contemplate essentially the most useful rewards forex (together with Bilt Rewards Factors).

For a restricted time, new candidates can obtain the highest-ever welcome offer of 100,000 bonus factors after spending $5,000 inside the first three months of account opening. Based mostly on TPG’s April 2025 valuations, this welcome provide is price $2,050.

Associated: Chase Sapphire Preferred vs. Sapphire Reserve: Should you go mid-tier or premium?

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The Chase Sapphire Preferred has a modest $95 annual price that’s similar to that of its mid-tier travel rewards card opponents.

Whilst you will not get perks like lounge access or journey assertion credit, you’re going to get a stable card with glorious earnings charges and helpful perks. This annual price is rather more cheap for these simply moving into the world of bank cards with annual charges or these seeking to improve from a no-annual-fee card to a mid-tier card.

The cardboard additionally comes with a simple annual $50 assertion credit score for any resort booked by way of Chase Travel℠ . If you happen to make the most of this credit score, the efficient annual price drops to solely $45.

Associated: The complete guide to credit card annual fees

Whereas many journey rewards playing cards have a number of bonus classes, the Sapphire Preferred outshines most. That is as a result of the bonus classes are broad, there are not any spending caps and purchases made overseas are eligible for bonus factors. The cardboard earns versatile rewards within the type of Chase Final Rewards factors.

The Sapphire Most popular earns:

• 5 factors per greenback spent on journey booked by way of Chase Journey
• 5 factors per greenback spent on Lyft rides (by way of Sept. 2027)
• 5 factors per greenback spent on Peloton gear and accent purchases of $150 or extra (with a restrict of 25,000 bonus factors by way of Dec. 2027)
• 3 factors per greenback spent on eating, choose streaming companies and on-line grocery retailer purchases (excludes Goal, Walmart and wholesale golf equipment)
• 2 factors per greenback spent on all different journey not booked by way of the Chase Journey portal (travel is broadly defined by Chase and contains issues resembling parking, tolls, ferries and campgrounds)
• 1 level per greenback spent on every little thing else

These are a number of the greatest earnings charges available on the market. Whereas there are a couple of different playing cards with larger earnings charges in sure classes, these playing cards often carry larger annual charges or are restricted by spending caps in choose bonus classes.

Whether or not you are a newbie or an skilled, these bonus classes can assist you maximize your earnings and get you nearer to your subsequent journey.

Associated: 6 reasons why the Chase Sapphire Preferred is the perfect card for the average traveler

The Chase Sapphire Preferred earns Final Rewards factors that may be redeemed in a number of methods.

Factors could be redeemed for journey booked by way of the Chase Journey portal at 1.25 cents per level, a press release credit score at 1 cent per level (at occasions larger in case you use Chase’s Pay Yourself Back feature) or reward playing cards at 1 cent per level.

You may also redeem factors by transferring them to companions, our favourite redemption possibility. Based mostly on TPG’s April 2025 valuations, Final Rewards factors are price 2.05 cents every by way of this redemption route.

Chase has a roster of 14 transfer partners, together with 11 airline and three resort companions. Transferring and redeeming factors is comparatively simple, making this convenient for freshmen. Many switch companions have unbelievable sweet spot redemptions the place you will get outsize worth in your factors.

My three favourite Chase switch companions are Air Canada Aeroplan, Southwest Rapid Rewards and World of Hyatt. The latter has gotten me excellent resort redemptions worldwide at properties just like the Grand Hyatt Barcelona, the place I routinely rise up to 4 cents per level in worth.

Associated: When and how to transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points to World of Hyatt

The Chase Sapphire Preferred is loaded with varied journey protections and insurances that alone may assist justify the annual fee. These embody:

• Baggage delay insurance coverage
• Misplaced baggage reimbursement
• Main rental automotive protection
• Buy safety and prolonged guarantee safety
• Journey cancellation insurance coverage
• Journey delay insurance coverage

Even in case you journey solely a few times a 12 months, these protections can add peace of thoughts your journey plans go awry. Moreover, the acquisition and prolonged guarantee safety could be useful for big purchases.

To be taught extra in regards to the card, learn our full review of the Chase Sapphire Preferred.

Apply right here: Chase Sapphire Preferred