American Express® Gold Card vs. Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: Which Is Best?

American Express Gold Card Rewards:

Based on average American consumer spending,* you can expect to earn with this card:

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card Rewards:

Cardholders can earn three points per dollar on dining at restaurants, two points per dollar on travel and one point per dollar on all other purchases. A 60,000-point sign-up bonus, when redeemed for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards, applies when you spend after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s $750 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.

Each point is worth 1 cent, but points are worth 25% more when redeemed for travel booked through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal. They also transfer at a 1-to-1 value with airline and hotel travel partners.

Based on average American consumer spending,* you can expect to earn with this card:

Best two-year value: American Express Gold Card

*Rewards values are based on household spending category averages, rounded to the nearest $100, from the 2017 Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Surveys. That amounts to $500 for flights and hotels, respectively, $3,400 for dining, $4,400 for groceries, $2,000 for gas, $3,000 for entertainment, $1,800 for apparel and services, $800 for personal care products and services, and $2,000 for all other expenditures, earned and redeemed at the highest value.

American Express Gold Card’s Welcome Offer:

The American Express Gold Card earns a earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® Points welcome offer after you spend $4,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.

Those points are worth $420 for shopping at Amazon or Walmart, $360 for covering your card charges, or $600 for purchasing flights through American Express Travel, according to the American Express rewards points calculator.

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card’s Introductory Offer:

With the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card introductory bonus, you can 60,000 after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s $750 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.

Your financial situation will help you determine the card with the best introductory offer for you.

You must be able to meet a $4,000 spending minimum to earn either bonus, and the American Express Gold Card gives you six months to do it. The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card gives you half the time to reach the same minimum but has a bigger payout.

American Express Gold Card Eligibility:

The American Express Gold Card requires a good to excellent credit score, or a minimum FICO score of 670. You can complete a simple form online to check whether you prequalify for the American Express Gold Card without hurting your credit score.

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card Eligibility:

You’ll also need good to excellent credit to be approved for the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card. The issuer allows you to prequalify online with no damage to your credit.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card has a $95 annual fee. Cardholders pay no foreign transaction fee but a balance transfer fee of either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater. The card also charges a late fee of up to $40.

Lowest fees: Chase Sapphire Preferred Card

American Express Gold Card APR:

The annual percentage rate for the card is see pay over time APR. This credit card does not have a 0% introductory rate for purchases or balance transfers.

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card APR:

The annual percentage rate for the card is 20.24% to 27.24% variable. This credit card does not have a 0% introductory rate for purchases or balance transfers.

American Express Gold Card’s most valuable benefits:

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card’s most valuable benefits:

Most valuable benefits: American Express Gold Card

American Express Gold Card is best if:

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card is best if:

For rates and fees of the American Express Gold Card, please click here.