Chase Sapphire Preferred Card

If you want transferable points without paying for lounge access you'll never use, the Preferred beats the Reserve on math for most people: $95 a year as of 2026 versus $550. Points move 1:1 to partners like Hyatt and United, and a $20,000-a-year spender earns roughly 25,000 points on travel and dining alone, often worth $375+ through transfers. Skip it if you fly enough to actually clear the Reserve's lounge and credit value, and confirm current bonus terms on chase.com since welcome offers rotate.

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card at a glance

Rewards & perks

• Move points at a 1:1 rate to partners like United, Southwest, and Hyatt
• Points stretch 25% further when booked through Chase Travel
• $50 hotel credit each year for stays booked via Chase Travel

Pros

• Send points to airline and hotel loyalty programs
• Solid coverage for trips and purchases
• Charges nothing extra on purchases made abroad

Cons

• Carries an annual fee
• Doesn't get you into airport lounges
• You'll need good credit to qualify

Who should apply

• A U.S. credit file scoring in the good-to-excellent range
• Under the Chase 5/24 limit (fewer than 5 new cards opened in the past 24 months)
• Income high enough to back the credit line

Before you apply: card terms change often. Confirm the current annual fee, APR, welcome offer and rewards on the official Chase site. CreditCardCompare is an independent comparison resource, not the card issuer, and this is not financial advice.