Amex Gold vs Chase Sapphire Preferred
Mid-Tier Travel Card Comparison — Updated 2026
Quick Verdict
The Amex Gold wins for foodies with 4x on restaurants and groceries plus $424 in credits. The Chase Sapphire Preferred wins for budget-conscious travelers ($95 vs $325 annual fee) who want access to Hyatt transfers and DashPass. Both are excellent entry points to the points ecosystem.
At a Glance
American Express Gold Card
- Annual Fee
- $325
- Signup Bonus
- 60,000 points
- Network
- Amex
- Points Currency
- Membership Rewards
- Earning Rates
-
Groceries 4x (up to $25k/yr)Restaurants 4xEverything Else 1xFlights Booked Directly 3x
Chase Sapphire Preferred
- Annual Fee
- $95
- Signup Bonus
- 60,000 points
- Network
- Visa
- Points Currency
- Ultimate Rewards
- Earning Rates
-
Dining 3xTravel 2xStreaming 3xEverything Else 1xOnline Groceries 3x
Category Breakdown
How they compare across key categories
Annual Fee
Chase winsCSP $95 vs Amex Gold $325 — significant difference
Dining Rewards
Amex wins4x restaurants vs 3x dining — Amex wins with higher multiplier
Grocery Rewards
Amex wins4x on groceries (up to $25k/yr) vs 3x online groceries on CSP
Transfer Partners
Amex wins20 partners vs 13 — more airline options
Hotel Value
Chase wins1:1 Hyatt transfer access (best hotel value in points)
Credits & Perks
Amex wins$120 dining + $120 Uber + $84 Dunkin' + $100 Resy vs $50 hotel credit + DashPass ($120 value)
Effective Cost
Amex winsGold net -$99 after all credits vs CSP net -$75 after credits — both effectively free
Portal & Delivery
Chase wins5x on Chase Travel purchases + free DashPass with $10/mo credits
Perks & Benefits
American Express Gold
- $120 dining credit (Grubhub, Cheesecake Factory, etc.)
- $120 Uber Cash
- $84 Dunkin' credit
- No foreign transaction fees
Chase Sapphire Preferred
- $50 annual hotel credit (Chase Travel)
- 1.25 cpp in Chase Travel portal
- 10% anniversary points bonus
- No foreign transaction fees
Which Is Right for You?
Get the Amex Gold if...
- You spend $500+/month on dining and groceries
- You want the most transfer partner options (20 partners)
- You'll use the dining, Uber, Dunkin', and Resy credits
- You eat out frequently and want maximum rewards
Get the Chase Sapphire Preferred if...
- You want the lowest annual fee entry to premium transfers
- You value World of Hyatt access for hotel stays
- You want free DashPass and $10/mo delivery credits
- You're building a Chase trifecta (CSP + Freedom Flex + Freedom Unlimited)
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Amex Gold or Chase Sapphire Preferred better?
The Amex Gold is better for heavy restaurant and grocery spenders (4x on both categories) with $424 in annual credits. The Chase Sapphire Preferred is better for budget-conscious travelers who want access to World of Hyatt transfers and DashPass delivery perks. If you spend $500+/month on dining and groceries, the Amex Gold easily justifies its higher annual fee.
Which card is better for beginners?
The Chase Sapphire Preferred at $95/year is the best entry point. It gives you access to 13 transfer partners including World of Hyatt, earns 5x on Chase Travel purchases, and includes free DashPass with $10/month credits. The lower fee means less pressure to maximize credits.
Can I upgrade from the Sapphire Preferred to the Reserve later?
Yes — Chase allows product changes from CSP to CSR after holding the card for at least 1 year. This is a common strategy: start with CSP for the signup bonus, then upgrade to CSR for better earning rates and lounge access.
Is the Amex Gold worth $325/year?
If you use the $120 dining credit, $120 Uber credit, $84 Dunkin' credit, and $100 Resy credit, you get $424 in value — making the effective annual fee negative. Add the 4x earning on restaurants and groceries, and the card more than pays for itself for regular diners.
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The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
Business Card | Annual Fee: $895
200,000 Membership Rewards® points
after $20,000 in purchases in the first 3 months
Key Benefits:
- 5x points on flights & hotels via Amex Travel
- 1.5x points on purchases over $5,000
- Airport lounge access
American Express® Business Gold Card
Business Card | Annual Fee: $375
100,000 Membership Rewards® points
after $15,000 in purchases in the first 3 months
Key Benefits:
- 4x points on top 2 spending categories (up to $150K/yr)
- Up to $240 in annual statement credits
Chase Ink Business Preferred®
Business Card | Annual Fee: $95
100,000 Ultimate Rewards points
after $8,000 in purchases in the first 3 months
Key Benefits:
- 3x points on travel & shipping
- 3x points on advertising
- 3x points on internet/cable/phone
The Platinum Card from American Express
Personal Card | Annual Fee: $695
80,000 points
after $8,000 in 6 months
Key Benefits:
- $200 airline fee credit
- $200 hotel credit (FHR/THC)
- $200 Uber credit
Capital One Venture Rewards
Personal Card | Annual Fee: $95
75,000 miles
after $4,000 in 3 months
Key Benefits:
- Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit
- No foreign transaction fees
Capital One Venture X Rewards
Personal Card | Annual Fee: $395
75,000 miles
after $4,000 in 3 months
Key Benefits:
- $300 annual travel credit (Capital One Travel)
- 10,000 bonus miles annually
- Capital One Lounge access
* Credit card approval subject to eligibility. Terms and conditions apply. American Express cards shown are available to US residents only.