For a lot of, the $500-plus annual charges that include ultra-premium travel cards such because the Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see rates and fees) and The Platinum Card® from American Express (see rates and fees) aren’t justifiable. Should you aren’t touring often and using the total lineup of perks and credit, it might not be price including these playing cards to your pockets.
Nonetheless, each Chase and Amex have glorious mid-tier cards: the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees) and the American Express® Gold Card.
Whereas each of those playing cards act as sister playing cards to their luxurious counterparts, there are lots of variations between them. On this showdown, we’re strolling via a side-by-side comparability of those playing cards that can assist you decide which is best for you — or whether or not both deserve spots in your wallet.
Sapphire Most well-liked vs. Amex Gold comparability
Here is a fast overview that compares the important thing perks on these two playing cards:
| Card | Chase Sapphire Preferred Card | American Express Gold Card |
|---|---|---|
| Welcome bonus | Earn 100,000 bonus factors after spending $5,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening. | Earn 60,000 bonus factors after spending $6,000 on purchases throughout the first six months of cardmembership. Chances are you’ll be focused for a better provide via the CardMatch tool (not everybody might be focused for a similar presents, and presents might change at any time) |
| Annual price | $95 | $325 (see rates and fees) |
| Incomes charges |
|
|
| Level valuation (based mostly on TPG’s April 2025 valuations) | 2.05 cents | 2 cents |
| Perks |
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| Journey protections |
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*Enrollment is required for these advantages.
**Eligibility and profit stage varies by card. Phrases, situations and limitations apply. Go to americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for particulars. Insurance policies are underwritten by AMEX Assurance Firm.
***Eligibility and profit stage varies by card. Phrases, situations and limitations apply. Go to americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for particulars. Insurance policies are underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance coverage Firm, an AIG Firm.
^Eligibility and profit stage varies by card. Not all car sorts or leases are lined, and geographic restrictions apply. Phrases, situations and limitations apply. Go to americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for particulars. Insurance policies are underwritten by AMEX Assurance Firm. Protection is obtainable via American Categorical Journey Associated Providers Firm, Inc.
Sapphire Most well-liked vs. Amex Gold welcome provide
The Sapphire Preferred presents a compelling limited-time welcome bonus. New candidates can earn 100,000 bonus factors after spending $5,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening.
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Primarily based on TPG’s April 2025 valuations, Final Rewards factors are price 2.05 cents every, making this bonus price $2,050. That is the highest-ever welcome offer we’ve got seen on this card.
New Amex Gold cardholders can earn 60,000 bonus factors after spending $6,000 on eligible purchases throughout the first six months of cardmembership. Primarily based on TPG’s April 2025 valuations, this provide is price $1,200.
Plus, you can be targeted for a higher welcome offer on the Amex Gold via the CardMatch tool (presents are topic to alter at any time and never everybody will obtain the identical provide).
Winner: Sapphire Most well-liked. The present welcome provide is price greater than the Amex Gold’s.
Associated: The best credit card welcome bonuses
Sapphire Most well-liked vs. Amex Gold advantages
In trade for a $95 annual price, the Sapphire Preferred presents some strong perks, together with a $50 annual hotel credit for bookings via Chase Journey, a ten% factors bonus in your cardholder anniversary and a complimentary DoorDash DashPass membership (activate by Dec. 31, 2027).
Different advantages embrace protections like rental automobile insurance coverage, journey delay and cancellation insurance coverage and baggage delay insurance coverage. These are an ideal security web when you journey, however they do not do a lot to reinforce your day-to-day life when the whole lot goes in keeping with plan.
For greater than double the Sapphire Most well-liked’s annual price ($325 vs. $95), the Amex Gold presents a number of glorious perks (enrollment is required for choose advantages; phrases apply):
- Up to $120 in Uber Cash per calendar 12 months: Obtain as much as $10 in Uber Money every month, legitimate on Uber rides and Uber Eats orders within the U.S. Your Amex Gold have to be added as a cost technique, and you’ll redeem with any Amex card
- As much as $120 in dining credits every calendar 12 months: Obtain as much as $10 a month in assertion credit for purchases along with your Amex Gold at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Manufacturing unit, Goldbelly, Wine.com and 5 Guys.
- As much as $100 in assertion credit for purchases made at Resy restaurants per calendar 12 months: Obtain as much as $50 in assertion credit biannually for eligible Resy purchases and eating at U.S. Resy eating places; simply pay along with your card to obtain the credit score. No reservation is required.
- As much as $84 in assertion credit for Dunkin’ Donuts purchases: Obtain as much as $7 per 30 days in assertion credit for purchases made at U.S. Dunkin’ Donuts.
- Enrollment is required; phrases apply.
Amex Gold cardmembers additionally obtain journey and buy protections. Phrases apply.
Winner: Amex Gold. The Amex Gold’s assertion credit are valued at $424, greater than the cardboard’s annual price. That is much more worth than you will get from the Sapphire Most well-liked annually.
Associated: Why you’ll want to pay the Chase Sapphire Preferred’s $95 annual fee
Incomes factors on the Sapphire Most well-liked vs. Amex Gold
The Sapphire Preferred presents helpful bonus classes. The true spotlight is not simply the classes themselves however how broadly they’re outlined. With this card, you will earn on the following charges:
- 5 factors per greenback on journey booked via Chase Journey (excluding resort reservations that qualify for the $50 credit score)
5 factors per greenback on Lyft (via Sept. 2027)
5 factors per greenback on Peloton tools and accent purchases of $150 or extra (via Dec. 2027, with a restrict of 25,000 bonus factors) - 3 factors per greenback on dining, choose streaming services and online grocery stores (excluding Walmart, Goal and wholesale golf equipment)
- 2 factors per greenback on different journey, together with inns, airfare, rental vehicles, taxis and parking meters
- 1 level per greenback on the whole lot else
These are strong charges on a variety of purchases.
Nonetheless, the Amex Gold might shine brighter in the case of its incomes construction:
- 4 factors per greenback on eating at eating places worldwide (as much as $50,000 every calendar 12 months, then 1 level per greenback)
- 4 factors per greenback at U.S. supermarkets (as much as $25,000 per calendar 12 months; then 1 level per greenback)
- 3 factors per greenback on airfare bought immediately from the airline or via amextravel.com
- 2 factors per greenback on pay as you go inns and different eligible purchases booked via amextravel.com
- 1 level per greenback on different eligible purchases
Regardless of the spending cap, incomes 4 factors per greenback at eating places worldwide and U.S. supermarkets is an 8% return on each purchases, in keeping with TPG’s April 2025 valuations. That makes it one of many best cards for dining at eating places and U.S. grocery buying.
Winner: Amex Gold. Its larger incomes charges on eating worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets, in addition to on flights booked immediately with an airline, give it the higher hand.
Associated: Why the Amex Gold is the perfect ‘in-between’ credit card
Redeeming factors on the Sapphire Most well-liked vs. Amex Gold
Each of those playing cards are comparable in that they earn a few of the most beneficial transferable factors currencies round.
The Sapphire Preferred earns Ultimate Rewards factors that you may redeem for journey via Chase Journey or for different objects resembling present playing cards and assertion credit.
You may get a 25% bonus when redeeming factors for journey via Chase Journey. However you will get essentially the most worth by transferring your factors to one in every of Chase’s 14 helpful resort and airline transfer partners.
The Amex Gold earns equally helpful Membership Rewards factors, which you’ll redeem for journey immediately via AmexTravel.com or for present playing cards and assertion credit.
Once more, you will get the most effective worth out of your factors by transferring them to one in every of Amex’s 21 hotel and airline partners.
Winner: Tie. Each playing cards earn transferable rewards and offer you a variety of helpful redemption choices.
Transferring factors on the Sapphire Most well-liked vs. Amex Gold
TPG’s April 2025 valuations peg Chase Final Rewards at 2.05 cents every and Amex Membership factors at 2 cents every, however your journey habits may make one forex higher than the opposite for you.
For instance, if you happen to stay in a Delta hub, you may get extra worth out of transferring your Membership Rewards factors to Delta SkyMiles, whereas those that have a coveted Southwest Companion Pass can get some unbelievable worth by transferring Chase Final Rewards factors to Southwest Speedy Rewards.
TPG contributing editor Matt Moffitt makes use of his Sapphire Preferred usually to switch factors to British Airways Executive Club to make the most of sweet spots on American Airlines flights.
In the meantime, TPG bank cards editor Olivia Mittak transfers the Membership Rewards factors she earns on her Amex Gold to Air Canada Aeroplan and Delta SkyMiles.
Winner: Tie. Each playing cards switch to varied companions, all with their respective redemption choices and candy spots.
Associated: Why transferable points are worth more than other rewards
Ought to I get the Sapphire Most well-liked or Amex Gold?
Should you spend most of your finances on groceries within the U.S. or eating and might make the most of its month-to-month credit, the Amex Gold is probably going your winner. Nonetheless, the Sapphire Preferred is a greater match if you happen to want Final Rewards factors and wish to earn bonus factors on normal journey bills. Nonetheless, do not forget that it does not need to be a “this or that” resolution; there’s room for each of those playing cards in a well-developed factors technique.
Backside line
The Sapphire Preferred and Amex Gold are two of essentially the most helpful mid-tier playing cards available on the market. Each can present glorious worth in the fitting palms, and the query of 1 card versus one other largely will depend on the way you derive worth out of your bank cards.
Nonetheless, they’re one of our top card pairings, so it could be price having each in your pockets.
To study extra, learn our full opinions of the Chase Sapphire Preferred and Amex Gold.
Apply right here: Chase Sapphire Preferred
Apply right here: American Express Gold
For charges and charges of the Amex Platinum, click on here.
For charges and charges of the Amex Gold, click on here.
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