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Both the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees) and the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express are consistently ranked among the best in their categories.
I've personally carried the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card for years (mainly for travel), and previously used the Amex Blue Cash Preferred for groceries and gas for a few years.
But depending on your spending habits and goals, one may clearly outshine the other for you. Here's my honest comparison of both cards.
5.00/5
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.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
5.00/5
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.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
4.80/5
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.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
4.80/5
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.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Credit Rating Requirement:
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)
Poor
Fair
Good
Excellent
300-579
580-669
670-739
740-850
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Credit Rating Requirement:
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
Poor
Fair
Good
Excellent
Good/Excellent
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
Welcome Offer:
Earn a $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.
$250
Rewards Program:
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
Rewards Program:
Earn 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in eligible purchases (then 1%), 6% cash back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions, 3% cash back at eligible U.S. gas stations and on transit (including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more) purchases and 1% cash back on other purchases. Cash Back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit and at Amazon.com checkout.
1%-6% Cash Back
Intro APR:
Purchases: N/A
Balance Transfers: N/A
Intro APR:
Purchases: 0% on purchases, 12 months
Balance Transfers: 0%, 12 months
Regular APR:
19.74% - 27.99% Variable
APR:
19.99%-28.99% Variable
Annual Fee:
$95
Annual Fee:
$0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.
Highlights:
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
Highlights:
Earn a $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.
$0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.
Low Intro APR: 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 12 months from the date of account opening. After that, your APR will be a variable APR of 19.99% - 28.99%.
Plan It®: Buy now, pay later with Plan It. Split purchases of $100 or more into equal monthly installments with a fixed fee so you don’t have the pressure of paying all at once. Simply select the purchase in your online account or the American Express® App to see your plan options. Plus, you’ll still earn rewards on purchases the way you usually do.
Earn 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in eligible purchases (then 1%), 6% cash back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions, 3% cash back at eligible U.S. gas stations and on transit (including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more) purchases and 1% cash back on other purchases. Cash Back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit and at Amazon.com checkout.
Get up to a $10 monthly statement credit after using your enrolled Blue Cash Preferred® Card for a subscription purchase, including a bundle subscription purchase, at disneyplus.com, Hulu.com, or Plus.espn.com U.S. websites. Subject to auto-renewal.
Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
• Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply.
• Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details.
• Card Members are responsible for the costs charged by third-party service providers.
• Extended warranty, purchase protection warranty, and car rental loss & damage insurance underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.
At Motley Fool Money, every credit card we review is rated on a 5-star scale, scored to a tenth of a point. Our ratings weigh the features that matter most: rewards rates, 0% intro APR offers, welcome bonuses, fees, and perks like travel credits and purchase protections.
We score cards within four primary categories:
0% intro APR cards for paying down balances or financing purchases
Travel cards for maximizing points, miles, and perks on the road
Cash back and rewards cards for everyday spending value
Business cards designed to fit company expenses and growth
Top-rated cards typically combine strong long-term value, attainable bonuses, low fees, and standout protections or perks.
We combine these factors with an evaluation of brand reputation and customer satisfaction to ensure you're getting the best credit card recommendations. Our aim is to maintain a balanced best-of list featuring top-scoring 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.
At Motley Fool Money, every credit card we review is rated on a 5-star scale, scored to a tenth of a point. Our ratings weigh the features that matter most: rewards rates, 0% intro APR offers, welcome bonuses, fees, and perks like travel credits and purchase protections.
We score cards within four primary categories:
0% intro APR cards for paying down balances or financing purchases
Travel cards for maximizing points, miles, and perks on the road
Cash back and rewards cards for everyday spending value
Business cards designed to fit company expenses and growth
Top-rated cards typically combine strong long-term value, attainable bonuses, low fees, and standout protections or perks.
We combine these factors with an evaluation of brand reputation and customer satisfaction to ensure you're getting the best credit card recommendations. Our aim is to maintain a balanced best-of list featuring top-scoring 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.
Annual fees: They're basically the same...after year one
Both cards carry an annual fee, but there's a slight advantage for the Amex.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card has a $95 annual fee. It's the perfect entry level travel rewards card, and one of my first recommendations for anyone just getting started.
The Amex Blue Cash Preferred has a $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95. (See rates and fees.)
If you're planning to test a card short-term, that $0 intro year on the Amex could be a win. But if you're thinking of long-term travel redemptions, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card's fee can pay for itself (and then some).
Welcome offers: Chase is more valuable
Here are the welcome offers for each card currently:
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Those points are worth at least $750 in Chase Travel℠ value, or even more with Points Boost or when transferred to travel partners.
Amex Blue Cash Preferred: Earn a $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.
My take: While Amex's welcome bonus is easier to earn (lower spend threshold and longer time window), Chase delivers much higher value -- especially if you're booking travel.
Intro APR: Amex wins here
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card currently has no intro APR offer.
The Amex Blue Cash Preferred on the other hand offers 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 12 months from the date of account opening. After that, you'll have a 19.99%-28.99% Variable APR.
So if you're planning a large purchase or want to transfer a balance and avoid interest, Amex is your better choice.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card has a travel-oriented rewards program. It earns rewards in the form of Chase Ultimate Rewards points, and accumulates points at the following rates:
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
In addition, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card has several valuable travel and purchase protections. You'll also Earn up to $50 in statement credits each account anniversary year for hotel stays through Chase Travel℠, and each account anniversary you'll earn bonus points equal to 10% of your total purchases made the previous year.
6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $6,000 per year in eligible purchases) and select U.S. streaming subscriptions
3% cash back at U.S. gas stations and transit (including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more)
1% cash back on other purchases
You'll also get up to a $10 monthly statement credit after using your enrolled Amex Blue Cash Preferred for a subscription purchase, including a bundle subscription purchase, at disneyplus.com, Hulu.com, or Plus.espn.com U.S. websites. Terms apply.
For customers who take advantage of them, these annual credits can be worth more than the card's annual fee, without even factoring in cash back rewards.
One caveat to note: The 6% cash back isn't eligible at most big box or superstores for groceries (think: Walmart or Target.) So if you buy groceries there, you won't get the top rewards rate.
Since both rewards programs are so different, they suit different user profiles:
If your biggest expenses are groceries, gas, and streaming, the Amex can rake in serious cash back -- especially for families.
If you travel frequently or want the flexibility of points that can be transferred to airlines or hotels, Chase takes the edge.
Travel benefits: Chase wins hands-down
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card includes:
No foreign transaction fees
Trip cancellation and interruption insurance
Primary auto rental collision damage waiver
Lost luggage reimbursement
Travel and emergency assistance
Amex Blue Cash Preferred is more of a domestic-use card and charges a foreign transaction fee of 2.7% of each transaction after conversion to US dollars. Fees like this can seriously cut into value if you travel internationally.
For heavy travelers (especially international trips) or even folks who take a few domestic flights a year, Chase's built-in protections and no foreign fees make it a more versatile card on the road. See all our top rated travel cards here.
Final verdict: Which card is right for you?
You honestly can't go wrong with either. But one will definitely be better depending on how you spend and travel.
Choose the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card if:
You spend more on travel and dining
You want to transfer points to hotel or airline partners
Downgrading should let you preserve your credit line and account history, and you can continue forward with no annual fee.
Both cards generally require good to excellent credit (we estimate a FICO® Score of 670 or higher). Approval odds improve if you have a solid income and clean credit history.
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We're firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. Motley Fool Money does not cover all offers on the market. Motley Fool Money is 100% owned and operated by The Motley Fool. Our knowledgeable team of personal finance editors and analysts are employed by The Motley Fool and held to the same set of publishing standards and editorial integrity while maintaining professional separation from the analysts and editors on other Motley Fool brands.
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American Express is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. JPMorgan Chase is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Joel O'Leary has positions in Target. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends JPMorgan Chase, Target, and Walmart. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
For rates and fees for the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express, click here
For rates and fees for the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express, click here
The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Visa. The Motley Fool recommends Amex.
