Whether or not you are a rewards card newbie or a longtime factors and miles skilled, there could possibly be room in your setup for 2 improbable playing cards: the Chase Sapphire Most well-liked® Card (see charges and costs) and the American Categorical® Gold Card.
However, should you can solely decide only one, it may be exhausting to determine.
The Sapphire Most well-liked is well-positioned as a good way to gather beneficial Chase Final Rewards factors for a modest annual payment, whereas the Amex Gold is a favourite for foodies, incomes bonus rewards on food-related purchases and offering beneficial assertion credit alongside the way in which.
Which is greatest in your pockets? There are a number of variations between these two common choices, so let’s examine them to see which is best for you — or whether or not each deserve your consideration.
Sapphire Most well-liked vs. Amex Gold comparability
Earn 75,000 bonus factors after spending $5,000 on purchases throughout the first three months from account opening.
Discover out your supply and see if you’re eligible for as excessive as 100,000 bonus factors after spending $6,000 on eligible purchases in your first six months of card membership. Welcome gives differ, and also you will not be eligible for a suggestion.
$95
Earn 5 factors per greenback spent on journey booked via Chase Journey℠
Earn 5 factors per greenback spent on Lyft (via Sept. 2027)
Earn 5 factors per greenback spent on Peloton gear and accent purchases of $150 or extra (via Dec. 2027, with a restrict of 25,000 bonus factors)
Earn 3 factors per greenback spent on eating, choose streaming providers and on-line groceries (excludes Goal, Walmart and wholesale golf equipment)
Earn 2 factors per greenback spent on all different journey
Earn 1 level per greenback spent on every part else
Earn 4 factors per greenback spent on eating at eating places worldwide (as much as $50,000 per calendar 12 months; then 1 level per greenback spent)
Earn 4 factors per greenback spent at U.S. supermarkets (as much as $25,000 per calendar 12 months; then 1 level per greenback spent)
Earn 3 factors per greenback spent on airfare bought immediately from the airline or via amextravel.com
Earn 2 factors per greenback spent on pay as you go resorts and different eligible purchases booked via amextravel.com
Earn 1 level per greenback spent on all different purchases
2.05 cents
2 cents
$50 annual credit score on resort stays booked via Chase Journey
Cardmember anniversary bonus — earn bonus factors equal to 10% of your spending the earlier 12 months
Complimentary DoorDash DashPass membership (activate by Dec. 31, 2027)
As much as $120 per calendar 12 months in Uber Money (as much as $10 every month, for U.S. providers; Uber Money will solely be deposited into one Uber account if you add the Amex Gold as a fee methodology and redeem with any Amex card.)*
As much as $120 every calendar 12 months in eating assertion credit for purchases at choose retailers (as much as $10 credit score per thirty days)*
As much as $100 assertion credit score per calendar 12 months for purchases at U.S. Resy-affiliated eating places (as much as $50 semiannually)*
As much as $84 assertion credit score every calendar 12 months for purchases at U.S. Dunkin’ Donuts (as much as $7 per thirty days)*
Journey cancellation and interruption insurance coverage
Major automobile rental insurance coverage
Baggage delay insurance coverage
Journey delay reimbursement
Journey and emergency help providers
Baggage insurance coverage**
Journey delay protection***
Rental automobile insurance coverage^
*Enrollment is required for these advantages.
**Eligibility and profit degree varies by card. Phrases, situations and limitations apply. Go to americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for particulars. Insurance policies are underwritten by AMEX Assurance Firm.
***Eligibility and profit degree varies by card. Phrases, situations and limitations apply. Go to americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for particulars. Insurance policies are underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance coverage Firm, an AIG Firm.
^Eligibility and profit degree varies by card. Not all automobile varieties or leases are lined, and geographic restrictions apply. Phrases, situations and limitations apply. Go to americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for particulars. Insurance policies are underwritten by AMEX Assurance Firm. Protection is obtainable via American Categorical Journey Associated Companies Firm, Inc.
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Sapphire Most well-liked vs. Amex Gold welcome supply
The Sapphire Most well-liked gives a compelling welcome bonus. New candidates can earn 75,000 bonus factors after spending $5,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.
Primarily based on TPG’s valuations, Final Rewards factors are price 2.05 cents every, making this bonus price $1,538.
With the Amex Gold, you’ll find out if you’re eligible for as excessive as 100,000 factors after spending $6,000 on eligible purchases in your first six months of card membership. Welcome gives differ and also you will not be eligible for a suggestion.
This supply is price as much as $2,000, based mostly on TPG’s valuations.
Winner: Amex Gold. There’s extra potential worth in its supply.
Associated: One of the best bank card welcome bonuses
Sapphire Most well-liked vs. Amex Gold advantages
The Sapphire Most well-liked gives strong perks for its $95 annual payment. These embody a $50 annual resort credit score for bookings via Chase Journey, 10% factors bonus in your cardholder anniversary and a complimentary DoorDash DashPass membership (activate by Dec. 31, 2027).
Different advantages embody protections like rental automobile insurance coverage, journey delay and cancellation insurance coverage and baggage delay insurance coverage. These are an excellent security internet whilst you journey, however they don’t do a lot to reinforce your day-to-day life when every part goes in accordance with plan.
For greater than triple the Sapphire Most well-liked’s annual payment ($325 vs. $95), the Amex Gold gives a number of wonderful perks (enrollment is required for choose advantages):
As much as $120 in Uber Money per calendar 12 months: Obtain as much as $10 in Uber Money every month, legitimate on Uber rides and Uber Eats orders within the U.S. Your Amex Gold have to be added as a fee methodology, and you’ll redeem with any Amex card.As much as $120 in eating credit every calendar 12 months: Obtain as much as $10 a month in assertion credit for purchases along with your Amex Gold at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Manufacturing unit, Goldbelly, Wine.com and 5 Guys.As much as $100 in assertion credit for purchases made at Resy eating places per calendar 12 months: Obtain as much as $50 in assertion credit semiannually for eligible Resy purchases and eating at U.S. Resy eating places; simply pay along with your card to obtain the credit score. No reservation is required.As much as $84 in assertion credit for Dunkin’ Donuts purchases: Obtain as much as $7 per thirty days in assertion credit for purchases made at U.S. Dunkin’ Donuts.
Amex Gold cardmembers additionally obtain varied journey and buy protections.
Winner: Amex Gold. It is simpler to get constructive worth out of the Amex Gold’s annual payment with its assertion credit.
Associated: Why you’ll wish to pay the Chase Sapphire Most well-liked’s $95 annual payment
Incomes factors on the Sapphire Most well-liked vs. Amex Gold
The Sapphire Most well-liked gives helpful bonus classes which are broadly outlined. These embody:
5 factors per greenback spent on journey booked via Chase Journey (excluding resort reservations that qualify for the $50 credit score)5 factors per greenback spent on Lyft (via Sept. 2027)5 factors per greenback spent on Peloton gear and accent purchases of $150 or extra (via Dec. 2027, with a restrict of 25,000 bonus factors)3 factors per greenback spent on eating, choose streaming providers and on-line grocery shops (excluding Goal, Walmart and wholesale golf equipment)2 factors per greenback spent on different travel1 level per greenback spent on every part else
When you’re into maximizing bonus classes, these provide you with lots to work with.
Nonetheless, the Amex Gold might shine brighter relating to its incomes construction. It earns:
4 factors per greenback spent on eating at eating places worldwide (as much as $50,000 every calendar 12 months, then 1 level per greenback spent)4 factors per greenback spent at U.S. supermarkets (as much as $25,000 per calendar 12 months; then 1 level per greenback spent)3 factors per greenback spent on airfare bought immediately from the airline or via amextravel.com2 factors per greenback spent on pay as you go resorts and different eligible purchases booked via amextravel.com1 level per greenback spent on different eligible purchases
Previous to hitting the spending caps, incomes 4 factors per greenback spent at eating places worldwide and U.S. supermarkets is an 8% return on each purchases, in accordance with TPG’s valuations. That makes it top-of-the-line playing cards for eating at eating places worldwide and grocery procuring throughout the U.S.
Winner: Amex Gold. Its increased incomes charges on eating worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets, in addition to on flights booked immediately with an airline, give it the higher hand.
Associated: Why the Amex Gold is the right ‘in-between’ bank card
Redeeming factors on the Sapphire Most well-liked vs. Amex Gold
Each of those playing cards are related in that they earn a few of the most precious transferable factors currencies round.
The Sapphire Most well-liked earns Final Rewards factors that you may redeem for journey via Chase Journey or for different gadgets reminiscent of reward playing cards and assertion credit.
You’ll rise up to 1.75 cents per level for some journey booked via Chase Journey (relying on the precise redemption) with the Factors Increase function. However you’ll get probably the most worth by transferring your factors to one in all Chase’s resort and airline switch companions.
The Amex Gold earns equally beneficial Membership Rewards factors, which you’ll redeem for journey immediately via AmexTravel.com or for reward playing cards and assertion credit. Nonetheless, all at lackluster charges, with some even being lower than 1 cent per level.
Once more, you’ll get the very best worth out of your factors by transferring them to one in all Amex’s 20 resort and airline companions.
Winner: Tie. Each playing cards earn transferable rewards and provide you with a variety of beneficial redemption choices.
Transferring factors on the Sapphire Most well-liked vs. Amex Gold
TPG’s valuations peg Chase Final Rewards at 2.05 cents every and Amex Membership factors at 2 cents every, however your journey habits would possibly make one forex higher than the opposite for you.
For instance, should you stay in a Delta hub, you would possibly get extra worth out of transferring your Membership Rewards factors to Delta SkyMiles, whereas those that have a coveted Southwest Companion Go can get some unimaginable worth by transferring Chase Final Rewards factors to Southwest Speedy Rewards.
TPG bank cards author Augusta Stone typically transfers the factors she earns on the Sapphire Most well-liked to World of Hyatt, some of the beneficial resort rewards packages on the market.
In the meantime, TPG bank cards editor Olivia Mittak has transferred the Membership Rewards factors she earns on her Amex Gold to companions like Air Canada Aeroplan and Delta SkyMiles.
Winner: Tie. Each playing cards switch to numerous companions, all with their respective redemption choices and candy spots.
Associated: Why transferable factors are price greater than different rewards
Ought to I get the Sapphire Most well-liked or Amex Gold?
When you’re thinking about a dining-focused card with assertion credit that earns bonus factors on groceries within the U.S. and eating places, the Amex Gold is probably going a greater match for you.
Nonetheless, should you’re looking for out a strong entry-level journey rewards card that earns on normal journey bills, the Sapphire Most well-liked is a greater match.
Each playing cards match right into a balanced technique, so the choice comes all the way down to what you need proper now.
Associated: How to decide on the very best bank card for you
Backside line
There are a number of methods to profit from holding both the Sapphire Most well-liked or the Amex Gold. Each earn beneficial rewards factors in common classes and supply strong advantages to maximise.
Whereas these two differ in some ways, they do work nicely collectively in some card methods. In spite of everything, that is one in all our prime card pairings, so it may be price carrying each.
To study extra, learn our full opinions of the Chase Sapphire Most well-liked and Amex Gold.
Apply right here: Chase Sapphire Most well-liked
Apply right here: American Categorical Gold Card
For charges and costs of the Amex Gold, click on right here.
