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The Chase Sapphire Reserve® and the Chase Sapphire Most popular® Card are two of essentially the most talked-about journey bank cards available on the market. That’s because of the priceless Final Rewards program, top-notch advantages and nice journey protections. However which one is the most effective match for you?
You would possibly assume that the Chase Sapphire Reserve — with a better annual charge and extra luxurious advantages — is all the time the higher selection. It’s the higher-tier card, however that will not essentially imply it’s the best choice. Relying in your spending habits, journey targets and present bank card lineup, the Sapphire Most popular may very well be the extra enticing choice on your pockets.
We’ll examine the 2 playing cards under that can assist you make the most effective determination.
Sapphire Most popular vs. Sapphire Reserve comparability
Card |
Chase Sapphire Most popular |
Chase Sapphire Reserve |
| Annual charge | $95 | $550 |
| Incomes charges | 5 factors per greenback on journey bought by means of the Chase Journey portal
5 factors per greenback on Lyft by means of March 2025 5 factors per greenback on Peloton gear and accent purchases over $150 or extra with a most earn of 25,000 whole factors by means of March 2025 3 factors per greenback on eating at eating places worldwide, on-line grocery purchases, and choose streaming providers 2 factors per greenback on all different journey 1 level per greenback on every part else |
10 factors per greenback on accommodations, automotive leases and Chase Eating bought by means of the Chase Journey portal
10 factors per greenback on Lyft by means of March 2025 10 factors per greenback on Peloton gear and accent purchases over $150 with a most earn of fifty,000 whole factors by means of March 2025 5 factors per greenback on flights bought by means of the Chase Journey portal 3 factors per greenback on eating and all different journey 1 level per greenback on every part else |
| Signal-up bonus | 75,000 bonus factors after you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening | 75,000 bonus factors after you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening |
| Worth for Final Rewards journey redemptions | 1.25 cents | 1.5 cents |
| Advantages | $50 annual Chase Journey lodge credit score
10% anniversary factors increase DoorDash DashPass subscription (activate by Dec. 31) Six-month complimentary Instacart+ membership (activate by July 31) and as much as $15 in Instacart assertion credit every quarter (by means of July 31)
|
$300 annual journey credit score
World Entry, TSA PreCheck or Nexus charge credit score (as much as $100) each 4 years Complimentary two-year Lyft Pink All Entry membership (activate by Dec. 31) DoorDash DashPass subscription (activate by Dec. 31) and $5 in DoorDash credit every month One-year complimentary Instacart+ membership (activate by July 31) and as much as $15 in Instacart assertion credit per thirty days (by means of July 31) Entry to Chase Luxurious Resort & Resort Assortment |
| Lounge entry | None | Precedence Cross lounges
Sapphire Lounges |
| Approved consumer annual charge | $0 | $75 for every consumer |
Sapphire Most popular vs. Sapphire Reserve welcome bonus
Presently, the Sapphire Most popular and Sapphire Reserve have an similar welcome bonus of 75,000 factors after you spend $4,000 within the first three months from account opening.
TPG values Chase Final Rewards factors at 2.05 cents every, making these bonuses value $1,538.
However keep in mind that you’re solely eligible for a welcome bonus on one among these playing cards should you haven’t acquired a bonus from one inside the previous 48 months. Moreover, each playing cards are topic to Chase’s 5/24 rule, so ensure you’re eligible for each the cardboard and its bonus earlier than making use of.
Winner: Tie. Each playing cards at the moment have similar welcome bonuses.
Associated: The perfect time to use for these Chase playing cards based mostly on their supply historical past
Sapphire Most popular vs. Sapphire Reserve advantages
The distinction in advantages is the place the Sapphire Reserve shines. With it, you’ll get a $300 annual journey credit score and entry to Chase Lounges and Precedence Cross lounges (together with entry to Precedence Cross eating places by means of June). Cardholders additionally obtain a World Entry, TSA PreCheck or Nexus charge credit score of as much as $100 each 4 years, which is able to improve to $120 when the World Entry charge modifications in October.
Moreover, the Sapphire Reserve comes with a complimentary two-year Lyft Pink All Entry membership (activate by Dec. 31), a complimentary DoorDash DashPass subscription for at the very least one 12 months (activate by Dec. 31) in addition to $5 in DoorDash credit every month, one 12 months of complimentary Instacart+ (activate by July 31) and as much as $15 in Instacart assertion credit per thirty days by means of July 31.
Plus, the Sapphire Reserve will get you entry to Chase’s Luxurious Resort & Resort Assortment, which incorporates advantages like day by day breakfast for 2 and a $100 on-property credit score for every reserving.
Nonetheless, the Sapphire Most popular comes with a handful of advantages. With it, you’ll get an annual $50 credit score for accommodations booked by means of the Chase Journey portal and an account anniversary factors bonus of 10% of the whole purchases you made that 12 months. You’ll additionally get a complimentary DoorDash DashPass subscription for at the very least one 12 months (activate by Dec. 31), six months of complimentary Instacart+ membership (activate by July 31), and as much as $15 in Instacart assertion credit every quarter by means of July 31.
Whereas each playing cards have spectacular journey and buy protections, the Sapphire Reserve’s protections are extra substantial. For instance, journey cancellation insurance coverage on the Sapphire Most popular covers as much as $10,000 per lined journey, whereas the Sapphire Reserve covers as much as $20,000 per lined journey. The Sapphire Reserve additionally provides elevated protection for rental automotive insurance coverage, journey delay safety, emergency medical and dental insurance coverage, and buy safety.
Winner: Sapphire Reserve. The journey credit score, airport lounge entry and elevated journey protections are laborious to beat.
Associated: Is the Chase Sapphire Reserve definitely worth the annual charge?
Incomes factors with the Sapphire Most popular vs. Sapphire Reserve
The Sapphire Most popular earns 5 factors per greenback on journey booked by means of the Chase Journey portal, Lyft rides (by means of March 2025) and Peloton gear and accent purchases over $150 (with a max earn of 25,000 whole factors, by means of March 2025). It additionally earns three factors per greenback on eating, on-line grocery and choose streaming purchases, in addition to two factors per greenback on eligible journey purchases and one level per greenback on all different purchases.
The Sapphire Reserve, in the meantime, earns 10 factors per greenback on accommodations, automotive leases and Chase Eating bought by means of the Chase Journey portal, Lyft rides (by means of March 2025) and Peloton gear and accent purchases over $150 (with a max earn of fifty,000 whole factors, by means of March 2025). It earns 5 factors per greenback on flights bought by means of the Chase Journey portal, three factors per greenback on eating and journey purchases and one level per greenback on all different purchases.
Winner: Sapphire Reserve. It earns greater than the Most popular in most bonus classes.
Associated: Which purchases rely as journey with the Chase Sapphire Most popular and Chase Sapphire Reserve?
Redeeming factors with the Sapphire Most popular vs. Sapphire Reserve
Since each the Sapphire Most popular and the Sapphire Reserve earn Chase Final Rewards factors, you’ll have the identical redemption choices with both card. Your Most worthy redemption choice is to switch them to any of Chase’s 14 airline and lodge companions for essentially the most worth, however you can even use them to e-book journey by means of the Final Rewards portal or use Chase’s Pay Your self Again choice.
Moreover, you possibly can redeem your factors for money again or present playing cards, however you’ll get a decrease worth out of your factors going this route, so we advocate utilizing your factors for journey when you possibly can.
Nonetheless, should you’re redeeming your factors by means of the Chase Journey portal or utilizing Chase Pay Your self Again, your factors are value extra with the Sapphire Reserve. With it, you’ll get a worth of 1.5 cents per level, whilst you’ll solely get a worth of 1.25 cents per level with the Sapphire Most popular.
Winner: Sapphire Reserve. The upper redemption worth by means of the Final Rewards portal and Pay Your self Again give the Reserve an edge.
Associated: How one can redeem Chase Final Rewards for max worth
Transferring factors with the Sapphire Most popular vs. Sapphire Reserve
Each the Sapphire Most popular and Sapphire Reserve assist you to switch your factors to any of Chase’s 14 journey companions. A number of the Most worthy companions embrace Air France-KLM Flying Blue, Air Canada Aeroplan and World of Hyatt.
Bank card author Danyal Ahmed loves transferring his factors to Aeroplan to reap the benefits of their area and distance-based award chart together with their spectacular record of non-Star Alliance companions.
Winner: Tie. You’ll get the identical switch choices with both card.
Associated: The whole information to Chase Final Rewards switch companions
Ought to I get the Sapphire Most popular or the Sapphire Reserve?
In case you can reap the benefits of the annual journey credit score and don’t have one other card that features airport lounge entry, you’ll nearly definitely get essentially the most worth from the Sapphire Reserve. Nonetheless, if you wish to maintain your annual charge prices low or don’t journey a lot, the Sapphire Most popular will provide you with good incomes charges and redemption choices for a a lot decrease annual charge.
Associated: 11 causes to decide on the Sapphire Most popular over the Sapphire Reserve
How one can improve from the Sapphire Most popular to the Sapphire Reserve
You probably have the Sapphire Most popular and wish the Sapphire Reserve as an alternative, the most effective technique is to first downgrade your Most popular to a no-annual-fee Chase card just like the Chase Freedom Limitless®. You possibly can request this by calling the quantity on the again of your card. Then, you possibly can apply for the Sapphire Reserve and earn the welcome bonus, so long as you might be below Chase’s 5/24 rule and didn’t earn the bonus in your Chase Sapphire Most popular lower than 48 months in the past.
Likewise, you possibly can downgrade your Reserve to a Most popular card by calling the quantity on the again of your card. Nonetheless, you’ll miss out on the welcome bonus on the Most popular, so it’s higher to downgrade your Reserve to a no-annual-fee card first after which submit a brand new software for the Most popular to earn the welcome bonus so so long as you didn’t earn the welcome bonus on the Sapphire Reserve lower than 48 months prior.
You can too request a product change from both card to the opposite by calling the quantity on the again of your card. Nonetheless, by going this route, you’ll forfeit incomes a welcome bonus in your new card.
Associated: 5 causes to improve from the Sapphire Most popular to the Sapphire Reserve
Backside line
The Chase Sapphire Most popular and Chase Sapphire Reserve are TPG favorites for his or her robust incomes charges, intensive journey protections and priceless switch companions. Which card is healthier for you relies on your journey targets and spending habits, however you possibly can’t go unsuitable with both card.
For extra particulars, please see our full opinions of the Chase Sapphire Most popular and Chase Sapphire Reserve.
Apply right here: Chase Sapphire Most popular Card
Apply right here: Chase Sapphire Reserve
