Chase Sapphire Preferred vs. Amex Gold: Which mid-tier favorite is right for you?

For a lot of, the $500-plus annual charges that include ultra-premium journey playing cards such because the Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see charges and costs) and The Platinum Card® from American Categorical (see charges and costs) aren’t justifiable. For those who aren’t touring frequently and using the complete lineup of perks and credit, it is probably not price including these playing cards to your pockets.

Nonetheless, each Chase and Amex have wonderful mid-tier playing cards: the Chase Sapphire Most well-liked® Card (see charges and costs) and the American Categorical® Gold Card.

Whereas each of those playing cards act as sister playing cards to their luxurious counterparts, there are numerous variations between them. On this showdown, we’re strolling by way of a side-by-side comparability of those playing cards that will help you decide which is best for you — or whether or not each deserve spots in your pockets.

Sapphire Most well-liked vs. Amex Gold comparability

Here is a fast overview that compares the important thing perks on these two playing cards:

*Enrollment is required for these advantages.

**Eligibility and profit degree varies by card. Phrases, situations and limitations apply. Go to americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for particulars. Insurance policies are underwritten by AMEX Assurance Firm.

***Eligibility and profit degree varies by card. Phrases, situations and limitations apply. Go to americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for particulars. Insurance policies are underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance coverage Firm, an AIG Firm.

^Eligibility and profit degree varies by card. Not all car varieties or leases are lined, and geographic restrictions apply. Phrases, situations and limitations apply. Go to americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for particulars. Insurance policies are underwritten by AMEX Assurance Firm. Protection is obtainable by way of American Categorical Journey Associated Providers Firm, Inc.

Sapphire Most well-liked vs. Amex Gold welcome supply

The Sapphire Most well-liked presents a compelling limited-time welcome bonus. New candidates can earn 100,000 bonus factors after spending $5,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening.

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Primarily based on TPG’s April 2025 valuations, Final Rewards factors are price 2.05 cents every, making this bonus price $2,050. That is the highest-ever welcome supply we’ve got seen on this card.

New Amex Gold cardholders can earn 60,000 bonus factors after spending $6,000 on eligible purchases throughout the first six months of cardmembership. Primarily based on TPG’s April 2025 valuations, this supply is price $1,200.

Plus, you could possibly be focused for a better welcome supply on the Amex Gold by way of the CardMatch software (presents are topic to vary at any time and never everybody will obtain the identical supply).

Winner: Sapphire Most well-liked. The present welcome supply is price greater than the Amex Gold’s.

Associated: The most effective bank card welcome bonuses

Sapphire Most well-liked vs. Amex Gold advantages

In alternate for a $95 annual charge, the Sapphire Most well-liked presents some strong perks, together with a $50 annual lodge credit score for bookings by way of Chase Journey, a ten% factors bonus in your cardholder anniversary and a complimentary DoorDash DashPass membership (activate by Dec. 31, 2027).

Different advantages embody protections like rental automotive insurance coverage, journey delay and cancellation insurance coverage and baggage delay insurance coverage. These are a terrific security internet when you journey, however they do not do a lot to reinforce your day-to-day life when all the pieces goes based on plan.

For greater than double the Sapphire Most well-liked’s annual charge ($325 vs. $95), the Amex Gold presents a number of wonderful perks (enrollment is required for choose advantages; phrases apply):

• As much as $120 in Uber Money per calendar yr: Obtain as much as $10 in Uber Money every month, legitimate on Uber rides and Uber Eats orders within the U.S. Your Amex Gold have to be added as a cost technique, and you’ll redeem with any Amex card
• As much as $120 in eating credit every calendar yr: Obtain as much as $10 a month in assertion credit for purchases along with your Amex Gold at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Manufacturing facility, Goldbelly, Wine.com and 5 Guys.
• As much as $100 in assertion credit for purchases made at Resy eating places per calendar yr: Obtain as much as $50 in assertion credit biannually for eligible Resy purchases and eating at U.S. Resy eating places; simply pay along with your card to obtain the credit score. No reservation is required.
• As much as $84 in assertion credit for Dunkin’ Donuts purchases: Obtain as much as $7 per 30 days in assertion credit for purchases made at U.S. Dunkin’ Donuts.
• Enrollment is required; phrases apply.

Amex Gold cardmembers additionally obtain journey and buy protections. Phrases apply.

Winner: Amex Gold. The Amex Gold’s assertion credit are valued at $424, greater than the cardboard’s annual charge. That is much more worth than you may get from the Sapphire Most well-liked annually.

Associated: Why you may wish to pay the Chase Sapphire Most well-liked’s $95 annual charge

Incomes factors on the Sapphire Most well-liked vs. Amex Gold

The Sapphire Most well-liked presents helpful bonus classes. The true spotlight is not simply the classes themselves however how broadly they’re outlined. With this card, you may earn on the following charges:

• 5 factors per greenback on journey booked by way of Chase Journey (excluding lodge reservations that qualify for the $50 credit score)
  5 factors per greenback on Lyft (by way of Sept. 2027)
  5 factors per greenback on Peloton gear and accent purchases of $150 or extra (by way of Dec. 2027, with a restrict of 25,000 bonus factors)
• 3 factors per greenback on eating, choose streaming companies and on-line grocery shops (excluding Walmart, Goal and wholesale golf equipment)
• 2 factors per greenback on different journey, together with resorts, airfare, rental vehicles, taxis and parking meters
• 1 level per greenback on all the pieces else

These are strong charges on a variety of purchases.

Nonetheless, the Amex Gold could shine brighter in the case of its incomes construction:

• 4 factors per greenback on eating at eating places worldwide (as much as $50,000 every calendar yr, then 1 level per greenback)
• 4 factors per greenback at U.S. supermarkets (as much as $25,000 per calendar yr; then 1 level per greenback)
• 3 factors per greenback on airfare bought instantly from the airline or by way of amextravel.com
• 2 factors per greenback on pay as you go resorts and different eligible purchases booked by way of amextravel.com
• 1 level per greenback on different eligible purchases

Regardless of the spending cap, incomes 4 factors per greenback at eating places worldwide and U.S. supermarkets is an 8% return on each purchases, based on TPG’s April 2025 valuations. That makes it probably the greatest playing cards for eating at eating places and U.S. grocery purchasing.

Winner: Amex Gold. Its larger incomes charges on eating worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets, in addition to on flights booked instantly with an airline, give it the higher hand.

Associated: Why the Amex Gold is the right ‘in-between’ bank card

Redeeming factors on the Sapphire Most well-liked vs. Amex Gold

Each of those playing cards are related in that they earn a number of the Most worthy transferable factors currencies round.

The Sapphire Most well-liked earns Final Rewards factors that you could redeem for journey by way of Chase Journey or for different gadgets akin to present playing cards and assertion credit.

You may get a 25% bonus when redeeming factors for journey by way of Chase Journey. However you may get probably the most worth by transferring your factors to certainly one of Chase’s 14 precious lodge and airline switch companions.

The Amex Gold earns equally precious Membership Rewards factors, which you’ll redeem for journey instantly by way of AmexTravel.com or for present playing cards and assertion credit.

Once more, you may get the very best worth out of your factors by transferring them to certainly one of Amex’s 21 lodge and airline companions.

Winner: Tie. Each playing cards earn transferable rewards and provide you with a variety of precious redemption choices.

Transferring factors on the Sapphire Most well-liked vs. Amex Gold

TPG’s April 2025 valuations peg Chase Final Rewards at 2.05 cents every and Amex Membership factors at 2 cents every, however your journey habits may make one foreign money higher than the opposite for you.

For instance, when you reside in a Delta hub, you may get extra worth out of transferring your Membership Rewards factors to Delta SkyMiles, whereas those that have a coveted Southwest Companion Move can get some unbelievable worth by transferring Chase Final Rewards factors to Southwest Speedy Rewards.

TPG contributing editor Matt Moffitt makes use of his Sapphire Most well-liked typically to switch factors to British Airways Govt Membership to make the most of candy spots on American Airways flights.

In the meantime, TPG bank cards editor Olivia Mittak transfers the Membership Rewards factors she earns on her Amex Gold to Air Canada Aeroplan and Delta SkyMiles.

Winner: Tie. Each playing cards switch to varied companions, all with their respective redemption choices and candy spots.

Associated: Why transferable factors are price greater than different rewards

Ought to I get the Sapphire Most well-liked or Amex Gold?

For those who spend most of your finances on groceries within the U.S. or eating and might make the most of its month-to-month credit, the Amex Gold is probably going your winner. Nonetheless, the Sapphire Most well-liked is a greater match when you want Final Rewards factors and wish to earn bonus factors on common journey bills. Nonetheless, do not forget that it does not should be a “this or that” resolution; there’s room for each of those playing cards in a well-developed factors technique.

Backside line

The Sapphire Most well-liked and Amex Gold are two of probably the most precious mid-tier playing cards available on the market. Each can present wonderful worth in the precise fingers, and the query of 1 card versus one other largely relies on the way you derive worth out of your bank cards.

Nonetheless, they’re certainly one of our high card pairings, so it is perhaps price having each in your pockets.

To study extra, learn our full opinions of the Chase Sapphire Most well-liked and Amex Gold.

Apply right here: Chase Sapphire Most well-liked
Apply right here: American Categorical Gold

For charges and costs of the Amex Platinum, click on right here.
For charges and costs of the Amex Gold, click on right here.