Is the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Worth the $95 Annual Fee?
Yes. The Chase Sapphire Preferred® hands back up to $230 in annual statement credits and benefits, which more than covers the $95 fee before you earn a single point. As long as you will actually use even $95 of those credits, the card pays for itself.
Every credit, broken down
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® offsets its fee with statement credits and benefits. Here is every one, with the most you can get from each per year. Remember that credits only count if you would have spent that money anyway, and some renew on a monthly or semi-annual schedule you have to use or lose.
| Credit or benefit | Up to |
|---|---|
| $100 annual hotel credit (via Chase Travel) | $100 |
| $120 Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS application fee credit (every 4 years) | $120 |
| $10 monthly DoorDash credit on non-restaurant orders, plus complimentary DashPass (through December 2027) | $10 |
| Complimentary Apple TV+ for one year (activate by December 31, 2026) | varies |
| Total stated value | $230 |
If you use all of it, that is $230 back against a $95 fee, which covers the fee on its own.
What you earn on spending
Credits are only half the story; the card also earns rewards every time you swipe. On $29,160 of annual spending, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® earns about $545 a year at a flat 1 cent per point. The figure below is based on a typical household budget. See the full category breakdown in our Chase Sapphire Preferred® review, or run your own numbers in the rewards calculator.
The break-even
Add it up. The Chase Sapphire Preferred® costs $95 a year. Its credits return up to $230, and everyday rewards add about $545. That is a net of $680 in your favor every year you hold it, before any welcome bonus. First-year holders also collect a welcome bonus worth about $1,000, pushing the first-year total to roughly $1,680.
Frequently asked questions
- Is the Chase Sapphire Preferred® worth the annual fee?
- Yes. The Chase Sapphire Preferred® hands back up to $230 in annual statement credits and benefits, which more than covers the $95 fee before you earn a single point. As long as you will actually use even $95 of those credits, the card pays for itself.
- How do you offset the Chase Sapphire Preferred® annual fee?
- Use the statement credits first: the Chase Sapphire Preferred® offers up to $230 a year, enough to cover the fee by itself. Everyday rewards add roughly $545 more on a typical budget.
- Is there a no-annual-fee alternative to the Chase Sapphire Preferred®?
- Yes. If you cannot clear the $95 fee, a no-fee card keeps every dollar of rewards as profit. See our ranked no-fee picks to compare.
