Amex Business Gold vs Chase Sapphire Preferred: Which Is Better In 2026?

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Breakdown

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Why We Like It

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Here’s a breakdown of why we think the Chase Sapphire Preferred® is an excellent travel rewards card.

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• It offers a generous rewards structure that covers a wide range of common spending categories.
• The card includes valuable travel protections and has no foreign transaction fees, making it a strong choice for frequent travelers.
• You have flexible options for redeeming points, including transferring them to popular airline and hotel partners.

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Pros

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• Generous welcome offer and a strong rewards-earning structure on everyday spending.
• Excellent travel protections and benefits, including no foreign transaction fees.
• Flexible point redemption options, including valuable transfers to airline and hotel partners.

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Cons

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• Charges an annual fee, which may not be worthwhile for infrequent travelers.
• Lacks premium travel benefits like airport lounge access found on more expensive cards.
• Point redemptions for non-travel options like cash back offer a lower value.

Chase Sapphire Preferred® vs American Express® Business Gold Card

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Categories

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Deciding which is better, Amex Business Gold or Chase Sapphire Preferred, depends entirely on your primary spending needs. One is a powerful tool for business expenses, while the other is a top contender for personal travel rewards.

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• American Express® Business Gold Card: This card is a versatile tool designed for business owners. It is best suited for growing companies and entrepreneurs who want to maximize their business-related spending.
• Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: This card is considered one of the best for entry-level travel. It's an ideal choice for individuals just starting out with travel rewards who want strong benefits.

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Redemption

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American Express® Business Gold Card: This card offers flexible redemption options tailored for businesses, allowing you to use points for travel, statement credits, or gift cards. You can also transfer points to various airline and hotel loyalty programs to potentially maximize their value.

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Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: With a strong focus on travel, points can be redeemed for a value boost through the Chase travel portal or transferred to numerous airline and hotel partners. While cash back and statement credits are available, travel redemptions typically provide the most bang for your buck.

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Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos

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With a tool like Kudos, you can compare top-rated cards using your own spending data to find the perfect match.

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• Test drive credit cards: Before you apply, you can preview how much you would earn with a new card. Kudos provides personalized calculations based on your actual spending data, showing projected annual rewards and a net value calculation that factors in annual fees.
• Welcome offer guarantee: If you apply for a card through Kudos and find a better public welcome offer within three months, Kudos will match it.
• Detailed approval odds: The platform offers a comprehensive analysis of your chances of approval for different cards based on your credit report.
• Kudos Boost: You can earn extra rewards on top of your regular credit card rewards when you shop with partner merchants through Kudos.
• Personalized recommendations: By analyzing your transaction history, Kudos matches you with the optimal card for your spending habits from a database of nearly 3,000 cards.

Who Should Choose the American Express® Business Gold Card?

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The American Express® Business Gold Card is ideally suited for growing businesses with significant and variable expenses, particularly those spending $50,000 or more annually. It's designed for companies that can maximize the 4X Membership Rewards® points automatically earned in their top two spending categories each billing cycle, such as U.S. advertising or shipping. Entrepreneurs who value flexible rewards and premium travel and purchase protections will find this card to be a powerful asset for their operations. Terms Apply.

Who Should Choose the Chase Sapphire Preferred®?

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The Chase Sapphire Preferred® is an excellent choice for frequent travelers and diners looking to dive into travel rewards without paying a premium annual fee. It's particularly valuable for those who spend regularly on dining, select streaming services, and online groceries, and who can maximize the 5x points on travel booked through the Chase portal. This card is ideal for the cost-conscious traveler who still wants strong travel protections and flexible redemption options, making it a powerful tool for turning everyday spending into future trips.

Alternatives to Consider

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If our Amex Business Gold vs Chase Sapphire Preferred comparison didn't point you to the perfect card, don't fret. Several other excellent rewards cards might be a better match for your specific needs.

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_{Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.}

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Tips for Application Success

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Before You Apply

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• Check your credit score: Most premium rewards cards require a good to excellent credit history for approval.
• Plan your spending: Ensure you can naturally meet the minimum spend for a welcome offer without financial strain.
• Know the rules: Be aware of issuer-specific policies, such as Chase's 5/24 rule or Amex's welcome offer eligibility.

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Application Strategy

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• Time your application: Apply before a large planned purchase to help meet any spending requirements.
• Consider business cards: If you're a business owner, cards like the American Express® Business Gold Card may offer more tailored rewards.
• Look for alternatives: If you're ineligible for a card due to issuer rules, consider a versatile option like the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card.

Our Methodology

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We evaluate nearly 3,000 credit cards across the U.S. market — far more than the ~150 cards commonly featured on sites that focus only on products tied to affiliate commissions. Our goal is to provide a comprehensive, unbiased view of the credit card landscape so you can make confident, data-driven decisions.

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Our editorial team combines deep industry experience with rigorous verification standards. While our experts surface the most relevant recommendations in our guides, you can also explore the full dataset yourself through our card explorer tool, which includes thousands of cards — more than 95% of which do not provide us with commissions.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Do I need a business to apply for the American Express® Business Gold Card?

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Yes, you typically need a business to be eligible for the American Express® Business Gold Card, though this can include sole proprietorships and freelance work. You can often apply using your Social Security Number if you don't have a separate Employer Identification Number (EIN).

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How do the annual fees for the Amex Business Gold and Chase Sapphire Preferred compare?

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The American Express® Business Gold Card has a significantly higher annual fee than the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. Always confirm the current fees directly with the issuers, as these amounts are subject to change.

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Can I transfer points from both cards to the same travel partners?

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There is some overlap, but both the American Express Membership Rewards and Chase Ultimate Rewards programs feature many unique airline and hotel transfer partners. It's best to review each program's partner list to see which aligns better with your travel habits.

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