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Chase Sapphire Preferred Review: Why I've Stuck With It for 5 Years

Review Updated
Brooklyn Sprunger
Author: Brooklyn Sprunger
Brooklyn Sprunger
Brooklyn Sprunger
Content Manager

Brooklyn Sprunger is a full-time Content Manager and Personal Finance Writer at Motley Fool Money, where she oversees product reviews and ratings while also writing about credit cards, bank accounts, investing, auto insurance, and other personal finance topics. She has worked in financial content since 2018, including more than four years at The Motley Fool. When she’s not writing or editing, Brooklyn is likely hiking and watching the Tennessee Vols.

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Many or all of the products here are from our partners that compensate us. It’s how we make money. But our editorial integrity ensures that our product ratings are not influenced by compensation.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees) was my very first credit card. Five years later, it's still in my wallet, and it's still one of the main reasons I've taken multiple free flights and booked an almost entirely free honeymoon in Hawaii.

What's kept me loyal isn't luxury perks or flashy extras. This card just consistently turns my everyday spending into flexible travel rewards, without the high annual fee that comes with premium travel cards. If you like to travel but also keep a close eye on your budget, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card remains one of the best all-around options in 2026.

So is it right for you? Here's what I like, what I don't, and who this card makes the most sense for.

Award Icon 2026 Award Winner

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Apply Now for Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

On Chase's Secure Website.

Rates & Fees External Link Icon

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
5.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
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5.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
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Credit Score: Circle with letter I in it. Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.
Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Good/Excellent (670-850)
Apply Now for Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

On Chase's Secure Website.

Rates & Fees External Link Icon

Credit Score Circle with letter I in it. Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.

Good/Excellent (670-850)

Intro APR

Purchases: N/A

Balance Transfers: N/A

Regular APR

19.24% - 27.49% Variable

Rewards Circle with letter I in it. 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 Circle with letter I in it. 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.

    • 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

We rate travel credit cards based on how well they reward frequent travelers — not just with points and miles, but with valuable perks and flexible redemption options. Our scoring prioritizes cards that offer strong earning rates and a rewarding travel experience.

Our highest-rated travel cards have:

  • Elevated rewards on travel or everyday purchases, with the ability to transfer points
  • Flexible redemption options through travel portals or transfer partners
  • Welcome bonuses that meaningfully offset the annual fee in the first year
  • Perks that improve the travel experience, like airport lounge access, statement credits, and trip protections

We combine these factors with an evaluation of brand reputation and customer satisfaction to ensure you're getting the best travel card recommendations. Our aim is to maintain a balanced best-of list featuring top-scoring travel credit cards from reputable brands. 'Best for' category selections on this page are determined by our editors, and a single card may be recognized in multiple categories.

Ordering within lists is influenced by advertiser compensation, including featured placements at the top of a given list, but our product recommendations are NEVER influenced by advertisers. Learn more about how Motley Fool Money rates credit cards.

We rate travel credit cards based on how well they reward frequent travelers — not just with points and miles, but with valuable perks and flexible redemption options. Our scoring prioritizes cards that offer strong earning rates and a rewarding travel experience.

Our highest-rated travel cards have:

  • Elevated rewards on travel or everyday purchases, with the ability to transfer points
  • Flexible redemption options through travel portals or transfer partners
  • Welcome bonuses that meaningfully offset the annual fee in the first year
  • Perks that improve the travel experience, like airport lounge access, statement credits, and trip protections

We combine these factors with an evaluation of brand reputation and customer satisfaction to ensure you're getting the best travel card recommendations. Our aim is to maintain a balanced best-of list featuring top-scoring travel credit cards from reputable brands. 'Best for' category selections on this page are determined by our editors, and a single card may be recognized in multiple categories.

Ordering within lists is influenced by advertiser compensation, including featured placements at the top of a given list, but our product recommendations are NEVER influenced by advertisers. Learn more about how Motley Fool Money rates credit cards.

What I like about Chase Sapphire Preferred

Strong rewards on everyday spending

This is one of our favorite travel cards. It gives you:

  • 5X points on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠
  • 3X points on dining, select streaming services, and online groceries
  • 2X points on all other travel purchases
  • 1X points on all other purchases

These point values work well for people who spend regularly on food and take at least a few trips a year. Dining alone can quietly rack up points fast, even if you're not flying every month.

Flexible points with valuable transfer partners

The Chase Travel℠ portal is solid, and I've used it plenty. But the biggest upside of Chase points is the ability to transfer them to airline and hotel partners at a 1:1 ratio.

Chase has more than a dozen partners, including major airlines and hotel brands. Once transferred, your points can often stretch further than booking directly through the portal.

You don't have to use transfer partners to get value, but it's nice knowing the option is there as your travel plans get more advanced.

Annual $50 hotel credit

This perk surprises me every year -- I go to the Chase Travel portal, book my hotels (thinking I'm just earning more points through there), and then bam! A $50 credit into my account. This is an annual perk that you can miss if you don't pay attention, but it's a nice little boost each year. Book a hotel through the portal and you'll automatically get the $50 credited back to your account -- it's that easy.

Annual hotel credit shown on account

Downsides you should consider

No luxury perks

While the Chase Sapphire Preferred is a solid travel card, it doesn't offer the exclusive luxury perks like airport lounge access that come with its older sibling, Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see rates and fees). If you're looking for things like lounge access or higher-end benefits, you'll want to consider the Chase Sapphire Reserve instead. See how it compares and apply today.

You'll need good to excellent credit

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card requires you to have a good to excellent credit score (typically 670 or higher). In fact, that's the case for all the top Chase cards. That's not doable for everyone, making it hard to obtain if you don't already have good credit.

If that's the case for you, try a credit card for lower credit and build your score by paying off your balance on time, then try for this card later down the road.

No 0% introductory APR period

This card doesn't offer a 0% introductory APR period on purchases or balance transfers, which means it's not ideal if you're looking to pay off debt without paying interest for a few months. While this isn't uncommon for travel cards, it's something to keep in mind if you were hoping for a balance transfer option.

Who should consider the Chase Sapphire Preferred card?

If you love to travel, but keep a close eye on your budget, the Chase Sapphire Preferred could be your perfect match. It's not the ultra-premium Chase Sapphire Reserve® -- which caters to luxury seekers and frequent jet-setters -- but it's a solid, reliable travel companion that delivers great value without the hefty price tag.

This card is ideal for travelers who want to earn rewards on everyday spending, enjoy occasional perks, and don't mind paying a reasonable annual fee in exchange for big travel benefits. If that sounds like you, the Chase Sapphire Preferred is definitely worth considering.

Is the $95 annual fee worth it?

In my experience, yes.

The $50 hotel credit alone effectively brings the cost down to $45 per year. That means you only need 4,500 Chase points to break even (since 4,500 points at a 1x value equals $45 in Chase Travel℠ value).

If paying an annual fee isn't in the cards right now, there are solid no-annual-fee alternatives like the Chase Freedom Unlimited® that still earn Chase points. But if you travel even occasionally, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card's fee is easy to justify.

How to apply for the Chase Sapphire Preferred card

Applying for the Chase Sapphire Preferred card is a straightforward process, but there are a few things to keep in mind to maximize your qualifications:

1. Check your credit score

Before applying, make sure your credit score is at least 670, which is the minimum for most Chase cards. If your score is lower, you may want to focus on improving it first with other cards.

2. Gather your information

You'll need some basic personal and financial details, including:

  • Your Social Security number
  • Annual income
  • Employment status
  • Monthly housing payment (rent or mortgage)

3. Fill out the application

Click here to complete the online form. Be honest and accurate when providing your details to avoid any delays or issues with approval.

4. Wait for approval

Once you submit your application, Chase will review it. If you're approved, you should receive your card in the mail within seven to 10 business days. If you're not approved immediately, don't panic -- you may receive a decision in the form of a letter or be asked to provide additional documentation.

And that's it! Once you've got your Chase Sapphire Preferred in hand, you'll be ready to start earning travel rewards and enjoying all the perks the card has to offer.

Final thoughts

Five years in, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is still my most-used card, and one I'd recommend to anyone that wants a single card that rewards everyday spending, offers flexible travel redemptions, and doesn't overwhelm you with perks you won't use.

It's not super flashy, but it's dependable. And that's exactly why I've kept it for so long.

If that sounds like the kind of card you're looking for, apply today and start putting your everyday spending to work for your next adventure.

FAQs

  • Points are worth at least 1x their value, and up to 1.5x when redeemed for thousands of top booked hotels and select flights with Points Boost or up to 1.75x when redeemed for premium cabin tickets with select airlines with Points Boost.

    So 10,000 points is worth at least $100, but could be worth as much as $150 to $175 when redeemed for Points Boost offers in Chase Travel.

  • Yes, it's excellent for everyday purchases, offering 3X points on dining, select streaming services, and online groceries, plus 2X points on all other travel purchases not purchased via Chase Travel.

  • No, the Chase Sapphire Preferred does not offer an introductory 0% APR on purchases or balance transfers, so it's not ideal for carrying a balance.