Amex Gold vs Chase Sapphire Preferred 2026
Two of the most popular mid-range rewards cards going head-to-head. The Amex Gold Card is built for people who spend heavily at restaurants and grocery stores — 4X Membership Rewards on both categories is unmatched in this fee tier. The Chase Sapphire Preferred is the gold standard for well-rounded travel rewards, with strong transfer partners and flexible point redemptions. Which one earns you more? That depends entirely on how you spend.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | Amex Gold Card® | Chase Sapphire Preferred® |
|---|---|---|
| Welcome Bonus | 100,000 pts after $5,000 spend in 6 mo | 75,000 pts after $4,000 spend in 3 mo |
| Bonus Value (CardTier) | $2,000 (@ 2.0¢/pt) | $1,500 (@ 2.05¢/pt) |
| Annual Fee | $325 | $95 (waived year 1) |
| Annual Credits | $120 dining + $120 Uber + $100 Resy + $84 Dunkin = $424 | $50 hotel credit via Chase Travel |
| Effective Net Fee | ~$-99 if credits fully used | $45 after hotel credit |
| Top Rewards | 4X dining worldwide, 4X U.S. supermarkets, 3X flights direct | 3X dining, 3X streaming, 3X online grocery, 2X travel |
| Lounge Access | None | None |
| Transfer Partners | 20+ (Delta, Marriott, Hilton, British Airways, Singapore…) | 14 (United, Hyatt, Southwest, Marriott, IHG, Virgin…) |
| Global Entry / TSA PreCheck | No | No |
| Foreign Transaction Fee | None | None |
| CardTier Year 1 Net Value | $2,099 (S-Tier) | $1,550 (A-Tier) |
The Full Breakdown
Welcome Bonus: Amex Gold Wins — But With Caveats
The Amex Gold's 100,000-point bonus is worth $2,000 at CardTier's 2.0¢/pt valuation — $500 more than the Sapphire Preferred's 75K bonus. However, the Amex Gold requires $5,000 spend in 6 months versus $4,000 in 3 months for the CSP. If your spending is concentrated in a single quarter, the CSP may be easier to earn. The Amex MR bonus is also more valuable if you transfer to Delta or Singapore Airlines for premium cabin redemptions.
Annual Fee: Closer Than You Think
The $325 Amex Gold fee looks steep against the CSP's $95 — a $230 difference. But the Gold's annual credits change the math dramatically:
- $120 Dining Credit ($10/mo at Grubhub, Cheesecake Factory, Five Guys)
- $120 Uber Cash ($10/mo, Uber Eats included)
- $100 Resy Credit ($50 semi-annually at Resy restaurants)
- $84 Dunkin' Credit ($7/mo)
That's $424 in potential credits. If you use all of them, your effective fee is negative — the card pays you $99 per year in year 2+. The catch: these credits are highly specific. Dunkin' and Cheesecake Factory are lifestyle-dependent. If you're not already using these services, forcing yourself to use them to "break even" is an annoying game. The CSP's $50 hotel credit is simpler and easier to use but far less valuable.
Rewards Structure: Amex Gold Destroys CSP on Dining and Groceries
This is where the Amex Gold earns its reputation. 4X on dining worldwide and 4X at U.S. supermarkets (up to $50,000/yr) are the best rates in any personal non-premium card. A household spending $1,000/month on dining and groceries earns 48,000 Amex MR points annually — worth ~$960. Add 3X on flights booked directly with airlines, and the Gold is a powerful everyday earner.
The Sapphire Preferred is no slouch — 3X on dining, 3X on streaming, 3X on online groceries, and 2X on all travel. But 3X vs 4X is a consistent 25% deficit on your two highest spend categories. Where the CSP wins: 2X on ALL travel (not just flights) including Uber, Lyft, parking, tolls, and taxis. The Gold earns only 1X on those.
Transfer Partners: Amex Has More Airlines, Chase Has Hyatt
Amex Membership Rewards transfers to 20+ partners including Delta SkyMiles, British Airways Avios, Singapore KrisFlyer, Emirates Skywards, and Marriott/Hilton. If you want to fly international business class on Singapore or Emirates — two of the best premium cabin products in the world — Amex MR is the currency to have.
Chase Ultimate Rewards has the better hotel story. World of Hyatt transfers at 1:1 and is renowned for outsized value — you can get $500+ hotel stays for 30,000 points. Chase also has United for domestic flights and Southwest for Companion Pass earning. For U.S.-focused travel, Chase wins. For global redemptions, Amex wins.
Practical Perks
Both cards include baggage insurance, no foreign transaction fees, and trip delay coverage. The Sapphire Preferred includes primary rental car collision coverage (valuable — saves you $30+/day on rental insurance). The Amex Gold includes baggage insurance when you use the card to purchase your ticket. Neither includes lounge access or Global Entry reimbursement.
CardTier Net Value Scores
- Amex Gold Card: $2,000 bonus + $424 credits − $325 fee = $2,099 net value · S-Tier
- Chase Sapphire Preferred: $1,500 bonus + $50 credits − $0 (waived yr1) = $1,550 net value · A-Tier
The Amex Gold's year-1 net value is $549 higher. In year 2+, the difference depends on credit usage. If you fully use Amex Gold credits: $424 − $325 = $99 net positive carry vs. CSP's $50 − $95 = −$45. The Gold wins year 2 by ~$144 if credits are maximized.
The Verdict
Get the Amex Gold if you: Spend heavily on dining and groceries ($800+/month combined), regularly use Grubhub, Uber Eats, or Resy restaurants, want the highest possible rewards rate on food, or plan to redeem Amex MR for international flights on Delta/Singapore/British Airways.
Get the Chase Sapphire Preferred if you: Want a simpler card with broad travel rewards, plan to redeem for Hyatt hotels or United flights, prefer Chase's more accessible credit redemptions, or want a card that's easier to "set and forget" without tracking monthly credits.
CardTier Bottom Line: For food-heavy spenders, the Amex Gold earns more and returns more value. For travelers who want flexibility across all categories, the CSP wins. Many power users hold both — Gold for dining and groceries, Sapphire Preferred for everything else.