Prime Visa vs Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Prime Visa
VS
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
The short answer: The Prime Visa delivers a bit more value for most spenders, but choose the Chase Sapphire Reserve® if you spend more on dining, travel.

Side-by-side comparison

Prime VisaChase Sapphire Reserve®
Annual feeNo annual fee$795
Welcome offer$200 Amazon Gift Card upon approval100,000 Ultimate Rewards® Points
Dining2x3x
Groceries5x1x
Gas2x1x
Travel1x4x
Streaming1x1x
Everything else1x1x
Est. yearly rewards*$590$406
Points typeCash back onlyTransfers to airlines & hotels
NetworkVisaVisa

*Estimated yearly rewards on typical household spending, every point valued at a flat 1 cent. Verified June 2026. See your own numbers in the calculator.

The verdict

On a typical year of household spending, the Prime Visa earns about $590 a year in rewards and the Chase Sapphire Reserve® about $406, valuing every point at a flat 1 cent. The Prime Visa has no annual fee, so its rewards are all profit. The Chase Sapphire Reserve® charges $795, but carries about $2,108 in annual statement credits that offset it for anyone who uses them. The two are effectively tied on value, with the Prime Visa marginally ahead, mostly because it earns more where you spend most, on groceries and gas. The bigger difference is the ceiling: the Chase Sapphire Reserve® earns points you can move to travel partners for outsized value, while the Prime Visa pays plain cash back. Favor the Chase Sapphire Reserve® if you will use travel transfers, the Prime Visa if you want simplicity. On the sign-up bonus, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® currently has the larger welcome offer. A welcome bonus is a one-time event, so weigh it apart from the ongoing rewards.

Pick the Prime Visa if your spending leans toward groceries, gas. Pick the Chase Sapphire Reserve® if your spending leans toward dining, travel.

Read the full reviews

Frequently asked questions

Is the Prime Visa or the Chase Sapphire Reserve® better?
On typical household spending, the two come out nearly even with every point valued at a flat 1 cent. But the Chase Sapphire Reserve® can be the better fit if your spending lines up with its stronger categories. Run both through the Cardocrat calculator to see your own numbers.
Can I have both the Prime Visa and the Chase Sapphire Reserve®?
In most cases yes, as long as you meet each issuer's approval rules (for example Chase's 5/24 rule). Many people hold complementary cards to cover more bonus categories, then pool or redeem the rewards together where the program allows.
Which has the better welcome bonus, the Prime Visa or the Chase Sapphire Reserve®?
As of June 2026, the Prime Visa offers $200 Amazon Gift Card upon approval and the Chase Sapphire Reserve® offers 100,000 Ultimate Rewards® Points. Welcome offers change often, so confirm the current offer on each card's page before applying.