Is the Chase Sapphire Reserve® Worth the $795 Annual Fee?
Yes. The Chase Sapphire Reserve® hands back up to $2,108 in annual statement credits and benefits, which more than covers the $795 fee before you earn a single point. As long as you will actually use even $795 of those credits, the card pays for itself.
Every credit, broken down
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® 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 |
|---|---|
| $300 annual travel credit (auto-applied) | $300 |
| $300 dining credit via Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables ($150 semi-annually) | $300 |
| $500 The Edit luxury hotel credit ($250 semi-annually) | $500 |
| $300 StubHub and viagogo event ticket credit ($150 semi-annually) | $300 |
| Up to $300 in DoorDash credits annually ($25 per month) | $300 |
| Up to $120 Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS credit (every 4 years) | $120 |
| Up to $288 Apple TV+ and Apple Music credit | $288 |
| Total stated value | $2,108 |
If you use all of it, that is $2,108 back against a $795 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 Reserve® earns about $406 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 Reserve® review, or run your own numbers in the rewards calculator.
The break-even
Add it up. The Chase Sapphire Reserve® costs $795 a year. Its credits return up to $2,108, and everyday rewards add about $406. That is a net of $1,719 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 $2,719.
Frequently asked questions
- Is the Chase Sapphire Reserve® worth the annual fee?
- Yes. The Chase Sapphire Reserve® hands back up to $2,108 in annual statement credits and benefits, which more than covers the $795 fee before you earn a single point. As long as you will actually use even $795 of those credits, the card pays for itself.
- How do you offset the Chase Sapphire Reserve® annual fee?
- Use the statement credits first: the Chase Sapphire Reserve® offers up to $2,108 a year, enough to cover the fee by itself. Everyday rewards add roughly $406 more on a typical budget.
- Is there a no-annual-fee alternative to the Chase Sapphire Reserve®?
- Yes. If you cannot clear the $795 fee, a no-fee card keeps every dollar of rewards as profit. See our ranked no-fee picks to compare.
