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Chase Sapphire Preferred vs Amex Gold — Which Mid-Tier Card Wins?
The Chase Sapphire Preferred and Amex Gold are two of the most popular mid-tier travel credit cards. Compare their rewards on dining, groceries, and travel to see which card puts more points in your pocket.
Winner
American Express Gold
Earns $605.60 more per year
Chase Sapphire Preferred
43,200
UR points
$734.40
dollar value
+$689.40 net
Amex Gold
64,800
MR points
$1,296.00
dollar value
+$1,295.00 net
Category Breakdown
Side-by-side earning rates and annual value per spending category.
Dining
$500/mo
3x
$306.00
4x
$480.00
Travel
$200/mo
2x
$81.60
3x
$144.00
Groceries
$400/mo
1x
$81.60
4x
$384.00
Gas
$150/mo
1x
$30.60
1x
$36.00
Streaming
$50/mo
3x
$30.60
1x
$12.00
Everything Else
$1,000/mo
1x
$204.00
1x
$240.00
Chase Sapphire Preferred
Amex Gold
Frequently Asked Questions
Which card is better for dining, the CSP or Amex Gold?
The Amex Gold earns 4x Membership Rewards points at restaurants worldwide, while the Chase Sapphire Preferred earns 3x on dining. For pure dining rewards, the Amex Gold has the edge.
Does the CSP or Amex Gold have a lower annual fee?
The Chase Sapphire Preferred has a $95 annual fee, while the Amex Gold has a $250 annual fee. However, the Amex Gold includes up to $120 in Uber Cash and $120 in dining credits annually, which can offset the higher fee.
Which card is better for groceries?
The Amex Gold earns 4x points at U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 per year), making it one of the best grocery cards available. The CSP earns only 1x on groceries, so the Amex Gold wins this category decisively.
Can I transfer points from both cards to airline partners?
Yes, both cards allow point transfers to airline and hotel loyalty programs. Chase Ultimate Rewards transfers to partners like United, Hyatt, and British Airways. Amex Membership Rewards transfers to Delta, ANA, and Hilton, among others.
Which card has better travel protections?
The Chase Sapphire Preferred offers strong travel protections including trip cancellation insurance, primary car rental coverage, and baggage delay insurance. The Amex Gold has more limited travel protections, making the CSP the better choice if travel insurance is important to you.