How the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card Can Pay for Its Annual Fee 8 Times Over
Image source: Getty Images
If you've only heard of one travel credit card, there's a decent chance it's the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees) -- and that's no accident.
For just a $95 annual fee, you'll get a great one-two punch of travel perks and earning rates, plus a strong welcome offer. Add it all up, and you're looking at more than $800 in tangible first-year value -- enough to justify the cost of the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card for almost an entire decade.
If you ask me, it's the most cost-effective card out there. Here's how easy it is to start saving with the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card.
A great welcome bonus and a $50 hotel credit
As with most great cards, the welcome bonus on the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is one of its biggest selling points. Right now, new cardholders can earn 75,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 in the first 3 months.
That's a bonus worth at least $750 in Chase Travel℠ value, and potentially even more if you transfer your points to Chase's airline and hotel partners.
Land that welcome bonus, and you've already effectively justified having the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card for almost seven years. Add in an annual $50 annual credit for hotels booked through Chase Travel, and you're looking at a full $800 in first-year value -- just from the welcome bonus and a single, versatile perk.
2026 Award Winner
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= PoorGood/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR
Purchases: N/A
Balance Transfers: N/A
Regular APR
19.49% - 27.74% Variable
Rewards Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases
5x on Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, 2x on all other travel
Annual Fee
$95
Welcome Offer Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
75,000 bonus points
-
This card easily justifies the (very reasonable) annual fee with benefits that deliver real value. Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months, which we estimate is worth at least $750 in Chase Travel℠ value. Plus, enjoy bonus travel and dining rewards, a $50 annual hotel credit, and 10% anniversary points boost. With added travel protections like rental car insurance and trip reimbursement, we think this card is a game-changer for any traveler.
Read Full Review -
- Big sign-up bonus
- Travel rewards
- Dining rewards
- Flexible travel points
- Consumer and travel protections
- Annual fee
- Limited-time perks
-
- Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases
- Earn up to $50 in statement credits each account anniversary year for hotel stays through Chase Travel℠
- 10% anniversary points boost - each account anniversary you'll earn bonus points equal to 10% of your total purchases made the previous year.
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
- Complimentary DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees & lower service fees for a min. of one year when you activate by 12/31/27. Plus, a $10 promo each month on non-restaurant orders.
- Member FDIC
Great earning rates and travel protections to boot
That's not all the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card has to offer, though. It's also got some of the best earning rates you can find on a $95-annual-fee card. You'll get:
- 5X points on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠ (excluding hotels covered by the $50 hotel credit)
- 3X points on dining, select streaming services, and online groceries
- 2X points on all other travel purchases
- 1X points on all other purchases
If you eat out often -- and travel just a few times a year -- it's pretty easy to rack up rewards with the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. Throw in valuable protections like trip cancellation/interruption insurance and travel and emergency assistance, and it's easy to see why the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is a winning bet.
It's been my go-to travel card rec for years now, and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
Want to learn more? Read our full review of the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and apply today.
Our Research Expert
Ryan Wilcox is a full-time Personal Finance Writer at Motley Fool Money, covering credit cards, bank accounts, investing, auto insurance, and other personal finance topics. Ryan has been writing about credit cards and savings since 2022. Before joining Motley Fool Money, he was a full-time writer at The Points Guy, where he focused on maximizing credit card rewards and travel strategies. He holds a bachelor’s degree in English and American History from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he also spent four years reporting for The Daily Tar Heel. With a background in both journalism and consumer finance, he brings a clear and thoughtful voice to money topics. Outside of work, Ryan is likely reading, writing, or updating his Letterboxd account.