American Express® Gold vs Chase Sapphire Preferred®
Side-by-side comparison
| American Express® Gold | Chase Sapphire Preferred® | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $325 | $95 |
| Welcome offer | 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points | |
| Dining | 4x | 3x |
| Groceries | 4x | 3x |
| Gas | 1x | 3x |
| Travel | 3x | 2x |
| Streaming | 1x | 3x |
| Everything else | 1x | 1x |
| Est. yearly rewards* | $598 | $545 |
| Points type | Transfers to airlines & hotels | Transfers to airlines & hotels |
| Network | Amex | Visa |
*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 American Express® Gold earns about $598 a year in rewards and the Chase Sapphire Preferred® about $545, valuing every point at a flat 1 cent. The American Express® Gold charges $325, but carries about $424 in annual statement credits that offset it for anyone who uses them. The Chase Sapphire Preferred® charges $95, but carries about $230 in annual statement credits that offset it for anyone who uses them. Counting rewards, fees, and any credits, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® delivers more total value, about $80 a year more for a typical spender, mostly because it earns more where you spend most, on gas and streaming. Both earn transferable points rather than flat cash, so the deciding factor is whose transfer partners reach the airlines and hotels you would actually book. On the sign-up bonus, the two are currently comparable in size. Note that Chase Sapphire Preferred® is running a limited-time offer above the usual amount, so that edge may not last. A welcome bonus is a one-time event, so weigh it apart from the ongoing rewards.
Pick the American Express® Gold if your spending leans toward dining, groceries, travel. Pick the Chase Sapphire Preferred® if your spending leans toward gas, streaming.