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Head to head

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card vs Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express

They split the 2 rankable specs evenly, with nothing to separate them on cost.

Catalog as of September 1, 2026

Why, in numbers

  • Rewards rate: Chase Sapphire Preferred Card lists 5X travel via Chase, 3X dining/online grocery/select streaming, 2X other travel, 1X other (Chase sheet, 2026-09-02); Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express lists 6% cash back at US supermarkets (up to $6,000 per year, then 1%), 6% on select US streaming subscriptions, 3% on transit and US gas stations, 1% on other purchases (American Express sheet, 2026-09-02).
  • Regular APR: Chase Sapphire Preferred Card lists 21.49% – 28.49% Variable APR (Chase sheet, 2026-09-02); Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express lists 19.24% – 29.99% Variable APR (American Express sheet, 2026-09-02).
  • Foreign transaction fee: Chase Sapphire Preferred Card lists None (0%) (Chase sheet, 2026-09-02); Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express lists 2.7% of each transaction after conversion to US dollars (American Express sheet, 2026-09-02).
  • Sign-up bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred Card lists 60,000 Ultimate Rewards points after $4,000 spend in first 3 months ($750 travel value) (Chase sheet, 2026-09-02); Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express lists $250 statement credit after spending $3,000 in purchases in the first 6 months (American Express sheet, 2026-09-02).
  • Intro APR offer: Chase Sapphire Preferred Card lists None (Variable APR applies from account opening) (Chase sheet, 2026-09-02); Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express lists 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 12 months from date of account opening (American Express sheet, 2026-09-02).

Not financial advice. Annual fees, APRs, bonuses and credits change. Confirm current terms with the issuer before you apply.

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
$95/yr1 spec win
Swap

Compare a different credit card

Citi Double Cash Card$0/yrChase Freedom Unlimited$0/yrCapital One SavorOne Cash Rewards$0/yrBilt World Elite Mastercard$0/yrChase Freedom Flex$0/yrWells Fargo Active Cash Card$0/yrDiscover it Cash Back$0/yrBlue Cash Everyday Card from American Express$0/yrCapital One Venture Rewards Credit Card$95/yrCiti Strata Premier Card$95/yrAmerican Express Gold Card$325/yrCapital One Venture X Rewards$395/yrChase Sapphire Reserve$550/yrThe Platinum Card from American Express$695/yr
Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express
$95/yr1 spec win
Swap

Compare a different credit card

Citi Double Cash Card$0/yrChase Freedom Unlimited$0/yrCapital One SavorOne Cash Rewards$0/yrBilt World Elite Mastercard$0/yrChase Freedom Flex$0/yrWells Fargo Active Cash Card$0/yrDiscover it Cash Back$0/yrBlue Cash Everyday Card from American Express$0/yrCapital One Venture Rewards Credit Card$95/yrCiti Strata Premier Card$95/yrAmerican Express Gold Card$325/yrCapital One Venture X Rewards$395/yrChase Sapphire Reserve$550/yrThe Platinum Card from American Express$695/yr

Buying for

Every rankable spec counts once. Pick a lens to score only what matters for your credit card.

Straight answer

Overall: 1 to 1

A genuine coin flip overall.

  • Same annual fee and an even split on everything we can rank.
  • Rewards rate: 5X travel via Chase, 3X dining/online… vs 6% cash back at US supermarkets
  • Sign-up bonus: 60,000 Ultimate Rewards points after $4,000… vs $250 statement credit after spending $3,000…

Decide on rewards rate, or tick a deal-breaker below.

1 Chase Sapphire Preferred Card2 rankable of 10 specsBlue Cash Preferred Card from American Express 1

Deal-breakers

tick what would make you walk away

  • row

    You pay before a single reward is earned.

    Trips:Chase Sapphire Preferred Card · $95Trips:Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express · $95
  • row

    Adds about 3% to every purchase abroad.

    Clear:Chase Sapphire Preferred Card · None (0%)Trips:Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express · 2.7% of each transaction after conversi…
  • row

    No free lounges; only matters if you fly often.

    Trips:Chase Sapphire Preferred Card · NoTrips:Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express · No
  • row

    Carrying a balance costs full interest from day one.

    Trips:Chase Sapphire Preferred Card · None (Variable APR applies from account…Clear:Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express · 0% intro APR on purchases and balance t…

At a glance

The handful of numbers that decide most purchases in this category.

1 of 2 differ

Annual feesame

Chase

$95

American Express

$95

Rewards rate≠

Chase

5X travel via Chase, 3X dining/online grocery/select streaming, 2X other travel, 1X other

American Express

6% cash back at US supermarkets (up to $6,000 per year, then 1%), 6% on select US streaming subscriptions, 3% on transit and US gas stations, 1% on other purchases

True 3-Year Cost of Ownership (TCO)

Upfront price + 3 years of consumables, fees & essential add-ons

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card

Upfront list price$0
3-Yr Annual card membership fee ($95 billed annually)+$285
3-Year Estimated Total$285

Cost over 3 years in annual fees before rewards or statement credits.

Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express

Upfront list price$0
3-Yr Annual card membership fee ($95 billed annually)+$285
3-Year Estimated Total$285

Cost over 3 years in annual fees before rewards or statement credits.

The 90-Day Owner Regret Check

Documented ergonomic quirks, hardware annoyances, and maintenance realities reported by real owners.

Post-Purchase Truths

Chase: What to watch for

  • Maintenance

    Requires ongoing care to maintain peak out-of-box performance.

    Regular cleaning, firmware updates, and standard care are recommended to preserve longevity.

American Express: What to watch for

  • Maintenance

    Requires ongoing care to maintain peak out-of-box performance.

    Regular cleaning, firmware updates, and standard care are recommended to preserve longevity.

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card$95/yr1 win
Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express$95/yr1 win

Fees & Rates

2 differences
Fees & Rates specifications. Middle column is Chase Sapphire Preferred Card, right column is Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express.
Annual fee$95$95
Regular APR21.49% – 28.49% Variable APR19.24% – 29.99% Variable APR (wins this row: lower)
Foreign transaction feeNone (0%) (wins this row: lower)2.7% of each transaction after conversion to US dollars
Late feeUp to $40Up to $40

Rewards & Perks

3 differences
Rewards & Perks specifications. Middle column is Chase Sapphire Preferred Card, right column is Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express.
Rewards rate5X travel via Chase, 3X dining/online grocery/select streaming, 2X other travel, 1X other6% cash back at US supermarkets (up to $6,000 per year, then 1%), 6% on select US streaming subscriptions, 3% on transit and US gas stations, 1% on other purchases
Sign-up bonus60,000 Ultimate Rewards points after $4,000 spend in first 3 months ($750 travel value)$250 statement credit after spending $3,000 in purchases in the first 6 months
Intro APR offerNone (Variable APR applies from account opening)0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 12 months from date of account opening
Lounge accessNoNo

Card Details

2 differences
Card Details specifications. Middle column is Chase Sapphire Preferred Card, right column is Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express.
Credit neededOur summaryGood to Excellent (690–850)Good to Excellent (670–850)
NetworkVisa SignatureAmerican Express

Credit-card figures are from issuer materials and go stale. This is not an offer to lend, not financial advice, and not a recommendation to apply. Verify every fee, APR, bonus and credit on the issuer's site.

Which one should you buy

Pick this one if

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card

The benchmark travel rewards card with 5X points on travel through Chase, 3X dining, and 1:1 point transfers.

  • Points are worth 25% more when redeemed for travel through Chase Travel
  • 1:1 point transfers to Hyatt, United, Southwest, and British Airways
  • Primary rental car collision damage waiver insurance

What you give up

  • No airport lounge access
  • $95 annual fee is not waived the first year
Full Chase Sapphire Preferred Card specs →

Pick this one if

Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express

High-tier cash back card with 6% cash back at US supermarkets (up to $6,000/yr), 6% on select US streaming subscriptions, and 3% on US gas stations and transit.

  • Market-leading 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (up to $6k/year)
  • 6% cash back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions
  • 3% cash back on transit and U.S. gas stations

What you give up

  • $95 annual fee ($0 intro fee in first year for select offers)
  • 2.7% foreign transaction fee
Full Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express specs →

Best for each use

Travel

Flights, hotels and spending abroad: no foreign fees, lounges, a big bonus

Too close to call on travel from the spec sheets. Only foreign transaction fee is rankable here.

  • Rewards rate: 5X travel via Chase, 3X dining/online… vs 6% cash back at US supermarkets
  • Sign-up bonus: 60,000 Ultimate Rewards points after $4,000… vs $250 statement credit after spending $3,000…

Everyday cash back

Simple rewards on groceries and gas with nothing to pay each year

Too close to call on everyday cash back from the spec sheets. Only regular apr is rankable here.

  • Rewards rate: 5X travel via Chase, 3X dining/online… vs 6% cash back at US supermarkets
  • Intro APR offer: None vs 0% intro APR on purchases and balance…

Carrying a balance

Paying over time or newer to credit: APR, intro offers, approval odds

Too close to call on carrying a balance from the spec sheets. Only regular apr is rankable here.

  • Intro APR offer: None vs 0% intro APR on purchases and balance…
  • Credit needed: Good to Excellent vs Good to Excellent

Every answer above is scored from published figures. A lens uses only the rows that matter for that use, including marked rows that are not on the official sheet. Switch lenses interactively in the panel above.

Done deciding?

Open the full standalone spec sheet for either device.

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card spec sheetBlue Cash Preferred Card from American Express spec sheet

Manufacturer pages: Chase Sapphire Preferred Card ↗ · Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express ↗

Common questions

Which card has the lower annual fee, Chase Sapphire Preferred Card or Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express?

Both charge the same annual fee.

What is the biggest catch with the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card or Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express?

Both has this deal-breaker: annual fee. You pay before a single reward is earned.

Which is better for travel, the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card or the Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express?

Too close to call on travel from the spec sheets. Only foreign transaction fee is rankable here. Rewards rate: 5X travel via Chase, 3X dining/online… vs 6% cash back at US supermarkets Sign-up bonus: 60,000 Ultimate Rewards points after $4,000… vs $250 statement credit after spending $3,000…

What cannot be compared from spec sheets?

Of the 10 specs tracked here, 8 are descriptive and cannot be ranked on numbers alone. Spec sheets also cannot measure subjective factors like build quality, real-world performance, or comfort.

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