Amex Gold Vs. Chase Sapphire Reserve (2024)

The American Express® Gold Card and Chase Sapphire Reserve® are two of the most popular premium cards on the market. Both cards offer a similar welcome bonus alongside generous rewards on travel and dining. But with varying annual fees and card perks, it can be challenging to determine which card to apply for.

The American Express Gold comes with a recently increased $325 annual fee, which is still significantly lower than the Chase Sapphire Reserve’s annual fee of $550.

If basing your decision solely on the annual fee, the Amex Gold is the winner but as you read on, you’ll see why this may not be the best metric to use to help make your choice.

The Amex Gold and Sapphire Reserve both offer generous welcome bonuses. The Amex Gold earns 60,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $6,000 on eligible purchases in the first 6 months of card membership, plus 20% back in statement credits on eligible purchases made at restaurants worldwide within the first 6 months of card membership, up to $100 back and the Sapphire Reserve earns 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.

Both cards earn valuable rewards that can be transferred to over a dozen airline and hotel partners, several of which overlap. The best welcome bonus comes down to how you want to redeem your points.

American Express® Gold Card

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See Also

Is the Chase Sapphire Reserve Worth It in 2024? - NerdWalletHow Much to Spend to Be Worth It?

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Rates & Fees/ Terms Apply

4.6

Forbes Advisor created additional star ratings so that you can see the best card for specific needs. This card shines for this use, but overall the star ratings may differ when compared to other cards.

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Up to 4X Reward Rate

Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X; EarnRead More

Welcome Bonus

Earn 60,000 points + earn up to $100 back

Annual Fee

$325

Regular APR

See Pay Over Time APR

Credit Score

Excellent/Good(700 - 749)

Our Expert Take

Foodies and travelers can leverage the American Express® Gold Card to the hilt, earning up to 4x points. The annual fee may seem intimidating, but by using the included benefits and doing some spending, it’s easy to come out ahead.

Expert Commentary

Barbara King

Credit Cards Writer

Always dreaming about the next destination, credit cards specialist Barbara King is an avid traveler who optimizes her adventures through the use of points and miles. Barbara has earned and redeemed millions of credit cards points which has enabled her to explore over 50 countries on six continents, enjoying both budget and luxury travel.

Barbara King

Barbara King

Credit Cards Writer

Always dreaming about the next destination, credit cards specialist Barbara King is an avid traveler who optimizes her adventures through the use of points and miles. Barbara has earned and redeemed millions of credit cards points which has enabled her to explore over 50 countries on six continents, enjoying both budget and luxury travel.

Credit Cards Writer

This card makes it easy to earn Membership Rewardspoints while doing regular grocery shopping since the card earns bonus points at supermarkets. And for the nights that cardholders don’t want to cook, they can make use of the monthly dining and Uber credits (which can be used on Uber Eats orders).

Pros & Cons

• High rewards earnings possibilities
• Points transfer option to many partners
• Add up to five authorized users for no additional annual fee
• Can choose from regular, white gold or rose gold versions

• Most credits are doled out monthly and can be cumbersome to redeem
• Limited options to carry a balance
• High APR for pay over time feature*

Card Details

• Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Plus, receive 20% back in statement credits on eligible purchases made at restaurants worldwide within the first 6 months of Card Membership, up to $100 back. Limited time offer. Offer ends 11/6/24.
• Get the American Express® Gold Card in either the Gold, Rose Gold or Limited-Edition White Gold metal design. White Gold design is only available while supplies last.
• Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
• Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
• Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
• Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
• Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
• $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and each month automatically get $10 in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S., totaling up to $120 per year.
• $84 Dunkin’ Credit: With the $84 Dunkin’ Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Dunkin’ locations.
• $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
• $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
• Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. Eligible charges vary by property.
• No Foreign Transaction Fees.
• Annual Fee is $325.
• Terms Apply.

Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Plus, receive 20% back in statement credits on eligible purchases made at restaurants worldwide within the first 6 months of Card Membership, up to $100 back. Limited time offer. Offer ends 11/6/24.

Credit Score ranges are based on FICO® credit scoring. This is just one scoring method and a credit card issuer may use another method when considering your application. These are provided as guidelines only and approval is not guaranteed.

With the Amex Gold, you can earn 4 Membership Rewards® points per dollar at restaurants (on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar beginning on 1/1/2025), 4 Membership Rewards® points per dollar at US supermarkets (on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar), 3 Membership Rewards® points per dollar on flights booked directly with airlines or on American Express Travel, 2 Membership Rewards® points per dollar on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on American Express Travel and 1 point per dollar on all other eligible purchases.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve offers 5 points per dollar on flights and 10 points per dollar on hotels and car rentals when purchasing travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3 points per dollar on other travel and dining and 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases.

The Sapphire Reserve gives cardholders a Priority Pass Select membership with enrollment. The Priority Pass Select membership can be especially valuable if you’re a frequent traveler and want a nice place to relax and enjoy complimentary snacks at busy airports. The Amex Gold card doesn’t offer any kind of lounge benefit.

The two cards earn different currencies but offer similar welcome bonuses. Determining which currency offers the most value depends on how you redeem your points. Amex and Chase have nearly a dozen airline and hotel transfer partners in common, including Air France-KLM Flying Blue, Air Canada Aeroplan and Marriott Bonvoy.

But the two programs also have their unique partnerships that make them more valuable than the other. For example, Amex Membership Rewards® has nearly two dozen partners, half of which it shares with Chase Ultimate Rewards®. Out of the other half, the ANA Mileage Club is a unique program full of sweet spot awards that can save you points on international flights.

Meanwhile, Ultimate Rewards is a 1:1 transfer partner of World of Hyatt, an incredibly valuable hotel loyalty program. Hyatt still publishes an award chart and room rates start at a reasonable 3,500 points per night. If you value the ability to top off your Hyatt account quickly, then the Sapphire Reserve might be a better option than the Amex Gold.

If you want to redeem your points for direct travel bookings, Chase offers a higher value for your points. Sapphire Reserve cardholders can redeem their points at 1.5 cents each when redeemed through Chase. So 60,000 Ultimate Rewards are worth $900 toward Chase Travel bookings.

On the other hand, American Express points are worth 1 cent each for airfare and 0.5 to 0.7 cents for hotels, rental cars, cruises and vacations.

While you can get over 2 cents per point by redeeming either currency for premium travel, the direct travel redemption rate matters. Airlines and hotels can devalue their points anytime or restrict award inventory. Sometimes, you might have to redeem points through a travel portal to make your trip happen. In those scenarios, it’s worth noting that you’ll get better redemption value from Chase Ultimate Rewards vs. Amex Membership Rewards.

Both rewards programs offer transfer partner options with some crossover. Membership Rewards can be transferred to 18 airlines and three hotel partners, whereas Chase Ultimate Rewards can be transferred to one of 14 travel partners.

The Amex Gold and Sapphire Reserve both offer many perks that come in handy when traveling or going about your daily life. The Sapphire Reserve takes the cake with $300 in annual travel credits and $100 toward Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or NEXUS every four years.

The Amex Gold isn’t a travel-focused card but still offers a $100 credit towards eligible charges on stays of two nights or longer booked with The Hotel Collection through American Express. Eligible charges vary by property. Taking advantage of this credit more than three times a year could be more lucrative than the Sapphire Reserve’s $300 travel credit.

Both cards offer valuable dining perks. Amex Gold card members receive $10 monthly dining credits at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com and Five Guys. The card also comes with $10 in monthly Uber Cash, valid on rides or Uber Eats purchases in the U.S. The card must be added to your Uber account to receive the Uber Cash benefit.

The Sapphire Reserve offers a complimentary DashPass subscription for a minimum of one year and a monthly $5 DoorDash credit when activated by December 31, 2027.

Chase Sapphire Reserve®

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4.9

Forbes Advisor created additional star ratings so that you can see the best card for specific needs. This card shines for this use, but overall the star ratings may differ when compared to other cards.

Apply Now

On Chase Bank USA, NA's Website

Up to 10x Reward Rate

Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel throughRead More

Welcome Bonus

60,000 bonus points

Annual Fee

$550

Regular APR

22.49%-29.49% Variable

Credit Score

Excellent(750 - 850)

Our Expert Take

This card offers superior points earning rates if you spend frequently on travel and dining out. The $300 travel credit justifies much of the annual fee, and redeeming points for travel through Chase Travel℠ nets you a 50% bonus.

Expert Commentary

Lori Zaino

Credit Cards Writer

A credit card enthusiast and avid traveler, Lori has visited more than 60 countries, many of them using credit card points and frequent flyer miles. She has lived in Spain as a freelance writer and editor for around two decades, figuring out the best tips and tricks for using points and miles to live and travel abroad, and writing about it to share her knowledge every step of the way.

Lori Zaino

Lori Zaino

Credit Cards Writer

A credit card enthusiast and avid traveler, Lori has visited more than 60 countries, many of them using credit card points and frequent flyer miles. She has lived in Spain as a freelance writer and editor for around two decades, figuring out the best tips and tricks for using points and miles to live and travel abroad, and writing about it to share her knowledge every step of the way.

Credit Cards Writer

The Chase Sapphire Reserve card is one of the most valuable flexible rewards credit cards thanks to its lucrative bonus categories and easy-to-use travel credit. Cardholders can offset the annual fee and get great value when redeeming Chase Ultimate Rewards points earned on the card, thanks to partnerships with numerous airlines and hotels and its convenient travel booking portal, Chase Travel℠.

Pros & Cons

• $300 annual travel credit is incredibly flexible
• Generous welcome bonus
• Get 50% more value when you redeem points for travel through Chase Travel℠
• Points transfer to valuable airline and hotel partners

• High annual fee
• Additional fee for each authorized user
• Excellent credit recommended

Card Details

• Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
• $300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursem*nt for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
• Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
• Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $900 toward travel.
• Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2027.
• 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
• Access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select and up to $100 application fee credit every four years for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck®
• Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
• Member FDIC

Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

Credit Score ranges are based on FICO® credit scoring. This is just one scoring method and a credit card issuer may use another method when considering your application. These are provided as guidelines only and approval is not guaranteed.

At $325, the Amex Gold card has a lower annual fee than the Sapphire Reserve’s $550. This makes the Gold card a more appealing option, especially if you don’t need lounge access and will maximize the card’s 4 points per dollar categories. However, the Sapphire Reserve’s $300 annual travel credit largely offsets the annual fee.

The Amex Gold card doesn’t charge an extra fee for the first five authorized users, but adds $35 per additional card beyond five. Meanwhile the Sapphire Reserve tacks on an additional $75 per user. If you plan to add several authorized users to your account to meet spending requirements and generate extra points, having an Amex Gold card might work out cheaper for you.

An Everyday Rewards Card

If you’re reading this article, you’re probably interested in finding a card with rewards that beat a no annual fee 2% cash-back card, but if you’re looking for an everyday rewards card with robust travel benefits, take a look at the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card (rates & fees). For a lower $395 annual fee compared to other ultra-premium travel cards, the Venture X comes with lounge access and travel credits and earns 2 miles per dollar on all eligible purchases, 5 miles per dollar on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel, 5 miles per dollar on Capital One Entertainment purchases through 12/31/25 and 10 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars when booking via Capital One Travel.

See Forbes Advisor’s list of the best cash-back credit cards to explore other options.

Earning Maximum Points With Your Preferred Airline or Hotel

If you want to maximize the points you earn on your travel spending with your preferred airline or hotel chain, consider one of the many airline credit cards or hotel credit cards. These cards usually offer the most generous rewards and useful perks available for customers loyal to a particular airline or hotel chain.

If you want to maximize your rewards for dining, supermarkets or on flights booked directly with airlines, go with the American Express® Gold Card. However, most frequent travelers will get more value from the Chase Sapphire Reserve®. If you consider that the Sapphire Reserve offers a $300 travel credit, lounge access, generous earnings on various travel purchases, the ability to access useful transfer partners and cash rewards, most frequent travelers will find it to be the smarter addition to their wallets.

To view rates and fees for American Express® Gold Card please visit this page.
¹Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.