Chase Ultimate Rewards vs Amex Membership Rewards
Transfer partners
Chase Ultimate Rewards transfers to a focused set of partners, with World of Hyatt the standout for outsized hotel value, plus United, Southwest, and others. Amex Membership Rewards has the widest network of any program, more than 20 airline and hotel partners, including several no other bank reaches. For maximum flexibility Amex wins on breadth; for Hyatt value, Chase is hard to beat.
Earning and cards
Amex Gold earns 4x at restaurants and US supermarkets, among the best everyday rates anywhere, and the Platinum layers on travel perks. Chase earns through the no-fee Freedom cards with a Sapphire as the transfer hub. Both let cheap no-fee earners feed a premium hub, and Chase is shaped by the 5/24 rule. On the Amex side, the family rule means you should open the Green, Gold, and Platinum in that order to earn each welcome bonus.
Which to choose first
If you are under 5/24 and want a clean path to premium travel, start with Chase and a Sapphire. If you spend heavily on dining and groceries and want the broadest transfer options, Amex and the Gold are excellent. Compare both in our ecosystem ranking and the broader Chase vs Amex breakdown.
Stop guessing at point values. Look up the real award price and live availability for a specific trip before you transfer.
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