Amex Gold vs Chase Sapphire Preferred
Mid-Tier Travel Card Comparison
Verified July 2026
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
- 100,000 points
- Network
- Amex
- Points Currency
- Membership Rewards
- Earning Rates
-
Other Purchases 1xUs Supermarkets 4xRestaurants Worldwide 4xPrepaid Car Rentals And Cruises 2xPrepaid Hotels Through Amex Travel 5xFlights Through Amex Travel Or Airlines 3x
Chase Sapphire Preferred
- Annual Fee
- $95
- Signup Bonus
- 100,000 points
- Network
- Visa
- Points Currency
- Ultimate Rewards
- Earning Rates
-
Dining 3xTravel 2xOnline Grocery 3xOther Purchases 1xVacation Rentals 3xStreaming Services 3xGas And Ev Charging 3xChase Travel Purchases 5x
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
- Dining statement credit ($120)
- Resy dining credit ($100)
- Uber Cash ($120)
- Hotel Collection credit ($100)
- Hertz Five Star status
- Transfer partners
Chase Sapphire Preferred
- Chase Travel Hotel Credit ($100)
- Global Entry/TSA PreCheck/NEXUS credit ($120)
- Apple TV subscription ($156)
- DashPass membership ($120)
- 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 · Annual fee $895
200,000 points
after $20,000 in 3 months
- $300 ChatGPT Business Credit ($300)
- $600 Hotel Credit ($600)
- $850+ Global Lounge Collection Value ($850)
The Platinum Card from American Express
Personal · Annual fee $895
175,000 points
after $12,000 in 6 months
- Hotel credit ($600)
- Resy dining credit ($400)
- Uber Cash ($200)
American Express Gold Card
Personal · Annual fee $325
100,000 points
after $8,000 in 6 months
- Dining statement credit ($120)
- Resy dining credit ($100)
- Uber Cash ($120)
Chase Sapphire Preferred
Personal · Annual fee $95
100,000 points
after $5,000 in 3 months
- Chase Travel Hotel Credit ($100)
- Global Entry/TSA PreCheck/NEXUS credit ($120)
- Apple TV subscription ($156)
Chase Sapphire Reserve
Personal · Annual fee $0
100,000 points
after $6,000 in 3 months
- $300 annual travel credit
- $500 The Edit hotel credit
- $300 dining credit
Chase Ink Business Preferred®
Business · Annual fee $95
100,000 Ultimate Rewards points
after $8,000 in purchases in the first 3 months
- 3x points on travel & shipping
- 3x points on advertising
- 3x points on internet/cable/phone
Credit card approval subject to eligibility. Terms and conditions apply. American Express cards shown are available to US residents only.