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Premium Rewards Credit Cards · Buyer's guide · chase.com/sapphire/reserve
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
chase.com/sapphire/reserveComprehensive comparison of the most searched premium and everyday rewards credit cards in the US, covering travel perks, cashback, annual fees, and who each card is best for.
Section
Costs & Fees
Annual Fee
$795/year
$395/year
$0/year
Foreign Transaction Fee
Annual Credits (Max Value)
$500+ in credits
Up to $2,000
$300 travel credit
Net Effective Annual Fee
~$295 after credits
Varies — up to $0 for big spenders
~$95 after credits
Features
PREMIUM TRAVEL
LUXURY LIFESTYLE
FLAT-RATE VALUE
EVERYDAY CASHBACK
Annual Fee
$795/year
$895/year
$395/year
$0/year
Foreign Transaction Fee
None
None
None
3%
Annual Credits (Max Value)
$500+ in credits
Up to $2,000
$300 travel credit
None
Net Effective Annual Fee
~$295 after credits
Varies — up to $0 for big spenders
~$95 after credits
$0
Section
Rewards & Earning
Base Earn Rate
1X on all other purchases
1X on most purchases
2X on all purchases
2% on everything
Top Earning Category
8X via Chase Travel
5X on flights (up to $500K/yr)
10X on hotels via Capital One Travel
2% flat — no bonus categories
Dining Rewards
3X worldwide
1X (use Amex Gold for dining)
Points / Miles Currency
Ultimate Rewards (2.05¢/pt)
Membership Rewards (2.0¢/pt)
Venture Miles (1.85¢/mi)
Cash back (1¢ flat)
Transfer Partners
14 airlines & hotels
20+ airlines & hotels
15+ partners
None (cash back only)
Welcome Bonus Value (Est.)
~$1,500
~$3,500 (TPG May 2026)
$200 cash back
Features
PREMIUM TRAVEL
LUXURY LIFESTYLE
FLAT-RATE VALUE
EVERYDAY CASHBACK
Base Earn Rate
1X on all other purchases
1X on most purchases
2X on all purchases
2% on everything
Top Earning Category
8X via Chase Travel
5X on flights (up to $500K/yr)
10X on hotels via Capital One Travel
2% flat — no bonus categories
Dining Rewards
3X worldwide
1X (use Amex Gold for dining)
2X
2%
Points / Miles Currency
Ultimate Rewards (2.05¢/pt)
Membership Rewards (2.0¢/pt)
Venture Miles (1.85¢/mi)
Cash back (1¢ flat)
Transfer Partners
14 airlines & hotels
20+ airlines & hotels
15+ partners
None (cash back only)
Welcome Bonus Value (Est.)
~$1,500
~$3,500 (TPG May 2026)
~$750
$200 cash back
Section
Travel Perks
Airport Lounge Access
Priority Pass + Chase Sapphire Lounges
Centurion + Priority Pass + Delta Sky Club
Capital One Lounges + Priority Pass
Global Entry / TSA PreCheck Credit
Hotel Elite Status
Preferred hotels + IHG Platinum (Sapphire Preferred)
Hilton Gold + Marriott Gold auto-granted
None auto-granted
Trip Cancellation Insurance
Up to $10,000/trip
Up to $10,000/trip
Up to $2,000/trip
Primary Rental Car Insurance
Yes — primary coverage
Secondary (need Amex Premium Protection)
Yes — primary coverage
Concierge / Lifestyle Service
Sapphire Reserve Trips (exclusive experiences)
Premium Global Dining & Amex Fine Hotels
Lifestyle Collection hotels
Features
PREMIUM TRAVEL
LUXURY LIFESTYLE
FLAT-RATE VALUE
EVERYDAY CASHBACK
Airport Lounge Access
Priority Pass + Chase Sapphire Lounges
Centurion + Priority Pass + Delta Sky Club
Capital One Lounges + Priority Pass
Global Entry / TSA PreCheck Credit
Hotel Elite Status
Preferred hotels + IHG Platinum (Sapphire Preferred)
Hilton Gold + Marriott Gold auto-granted
None auto-granted
Trip Cancellation Insurance
Up to $10,000/trip
Up to $10,000/trip
Up to $2,000/trip
Primary Rental Car Insurance
Yes — primary coverage
Secondary (need Amex Premium Protection)
Yes — primary coverage
Concierge / Lifestyle Service
Sapphire Reserve Trips (exclusive experiences)
Premium Global Dining & Amex Fine Hotels
Lifestyle Collection hotels
Section
Structure & Eligibility
Credit Score Required
740+ FICO (excellent)
740+ FICO (excellent)
720+ FICO (very good)
670+ FICO (good)
Authorized Users
$195/user — full lounge access
$195/user (Gold) or $695/user (Platinum) — lounge access
Free — lounge access included
Points Expiration
Never (account open)
Never (account open)
Never (account open)
Never (cash back)
Application Restrictions
Chase 5/24 rule applies
Amex 1-card/90-days rule
Max 2 Capital One cards
Citi 1 card/8 days
Features
PREMIUM TRAVEL
LUXURY LIFESTYLE
FLAT-RATE VALUE
EVERYDAY CASHBACK
Credit Score Required
740+ FICO (excellent)
740+ FICO (excellent)
720+ FICO (very good)
670+ FICO (good)
Authorized Users
$195/user — full lounge access
$195/user (Gold) or $695/user (Platinum) — lounge access
Free — lounge access included
Free
Points Expiration
Never (account open)
Never (account open)
Never (account open)
Never (cash back)
Application Restrictions
Chase 5/24 rule applies
Amex 1-card/90-days rule
Max 2 Capital One cards
Citi 1 card/8 days
Best fit by objective
Pick the right option for the job
Maximum travel rewards and flexibility on dining + travel spend
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
8X via Chase Travel, 3X dining worldwide, and Ultimate Rewards points — the most flexible and valuable currency for most travelers.
Luxury travel with lounge access and hotel elite status
Amex Platinum
Centurion + Delta Sky Club + Priority Pass, automatic Hilton Gold and Marriott Gold, and the largest welcome bonus on the market at ~$3,500.
High value with lowest net annual fee
Capital One Venture X
$395 fee largely offset by a $300 travel credit and anniversary miles — effective cost as low as $95 with lounge access for free authorized users.
Simple no-fuss cash back with no annual fee
Citi Double Cash®
2% on all purchases with no categories, no fee, no hoops — the gold standard for straightforward everyday spending.
Business traveler needing comprehensive trip protection
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
Best-in-class trip cancellation ($10K/trip), primary rental car coverage, and travel delay reimbursement — the most protective card for road warriors.
Why customers pick Chase Sapphire Reserve®
- 3X on dining and 4X on hotels/flights direct — strongest everyday multipliers of premium cards
- Ultimate Rewards worth 2.05¢/pt — best overall currency for mixing cash, travel, and transfers
- Primary rental car insurance saves money vs. buying coverage at the desk
- Sapphire Reserve Trips provides exclusive curated travel experiences
- 8X on Chase Travel bookings rivals premium co-branded airline cards
When to consider alternatives
- $795 annual fee requires significant travel/dining spend to justify
- Chase 5/24 rule blocks applicants who've opened 5+ cards in 24 months
- No automatic hotel elite status unlike Amex Platinum
- Authorized user fee ($195) adds cost for couples versus Venture X