Chase Sapphire Preferred vs Amex Gold: Which Is Better In 2025?

American Express® Gold Card Breakdown

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Why We Like It

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Here’s a detailed look at why the American Express® Gold Card (See Rates & Fees) consistently ranks as a favorite among cardholders.

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• The card offers exceptional rewards for food enthusiasts, covering both dining out and groceries at U.S. supermarkets.
• Monthly statement credits for select dining partners and Uber can provide substantial value throughout the year.
• Membership Rewards® points are famously flexible, with valuable options to transfer to a wide array of airline and hotel partners.

Terms apply.

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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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Pros

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• High rewards-earning rates on everyday spending categories like dining and U.S. supermarkets.
• Annual credits for popular dining and rideshare services.
• The Membership Rewards® program offers exceptional flexibility, with the ability to transfer points to numerous airline and hotel partners.

Terms apply.

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Cons

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• The card carries a significant annual fee.
• Annual credits are distributed in monthly increments, and some benefits require enrollment, which can make maximizing the card’s value a bit of a chore.
• It’s not as widely accepted as Visa or Mastercard, which could be a drawback for some merchants or when traveling internationally.

Terms apply.

American Express® Gold Card vs Chase Sapphire Preferred®

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Categories

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Deciding which is better, Chase Sapphire Preferred or Amex Gold, often comes down to your primary spending habits. Both are top-tier travel cards, but they cater to slightly different types of consumers.

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• Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is an excellent entry-level travel card. It's designed for frequent travelers who want strong rewards and protections without committing to a premium annual fee.
• American Express® Gold Card is a premium rewards card best for frequent travelers and foodies. It offers exceptional earning rates on dining and travel purchases for those who spend heavily in those categories.

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Redemption

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Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: Points can be redeemed for cash back or gift cards, but they become more valuable when used to book travel through the Chase portal. The highest potential value, however, often comes from transferring points to one of Chase's airline and hotel partners.

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American Express® Gold Card: Membership Rewards® points are highly flexible, allowing redemptions for statement credits, merchandise, or travel booked via Amex. Similar to the Sapphire Preferred, transferring points to a long list of airline and hotel partners is where cardholders can typically find exceptional value.

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Travel Perks

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• Travel Portals: With the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, points are worth more when used to book travel through the Chase Ultimate Rewards® portal. The American Express® Gold Card provides access to its own booking platform, AmexTravel.com.
• Foreign Transaction Fees: Both cards are excellent companions for trips abroad, as neither charges foreign transaction fees.
• Airport Lounge Access: Neither card offers complimentary airport lounge access, a perk generally reserved for ultra-premium travel cards.
• Hotel Benefits: The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card includes an annual hotel credit on bookings made through Chase. The American Express® Gold Card offers access to The Hotel Collection, which provides benefits like room upgrades and experience credits on eligible bookings of two consecutive nights or more (Terms Apply).
• Travel Protections: The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card provides comprehensive coverage, including trip cancellation/interruption insurance, an auto rental collision damage waiver, and baggage delay insurance. The American Express® Gold Card offers a baggage insurance plan.

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Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos

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If you're still unsure which card is right for you, a tool like Kudos can help you compare top-rated cards using your own spending data.

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• Test drive credit cards: The ‘Test Drive’ feature lets you simulate earnings with a new card using your actual transaction history, showing you the potential value before you apply.
• Personalized recommendations: Get card recommendations and side-by-side comparisons tailored to your spending habits from a database of nearly 3,000 cards.
• Approval odds analysis: Receive a detailed analysis of your approval odds for different cards based on your credit report.
• Welcome offer guarantee: If you find a better public welcome offer within three months of approval, Kudos will match it.
• $100 Kudos Kickstart+ reward: Unlock $100 in rewards by adding select approved cards to your Kudos Wallet.

Who Should Choose the Chase Sapphire Preferred®?

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The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is an excellent choice for frequent travelers who want to maximize rewards without committing to a premium annual fee. It serves as a top-tier entry-level travel card, ideal for those new to earning points or anyone seeking strong travel perks and protections. This card best suits individuals who spend regularly on travel and dining and want flexible redemption options, including valuable point transfers to airline and hotel partners.

Who Should Choose the American Express® Gold Card?

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The American Express® Gold Card is a powerhouse for food enthusiasts, offering generous rewards for those who frequently dine at restaurants or spend significantly at U.S. supermarkets. Cardholders can earn 4X points at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X. It's also an excellent choice for travel enthusiasts who book their own flights and can take full advantage of the card's annual statement credits to offset the fee.

Alternatives to Consider

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If the classic Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card vs. American Express® Gold Card comparison has shown you that neither card is the right fit, don't fret. Several other excellent travel rewards cards might better suit your spending habits and travel goals.

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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 cards require a good to excellent credit history for approval.
• Plan your spending - Ensure you can naturally meet the minimum spend requirement to earn the welcome offer.
• Know the rules - Be aware of issuer-specific application rules, like Chase’s 5/24 rule or Amex’s welcome offer eligibility.

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Application Strategy

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• Use pre-qualification tools - Check for offers from issuers like American Express without impacting your credit score.
• Review your card history - Be mindful of issuer rules like Chase's 5/24 before submitting your application.
• Time your application - Apply before a large planned purchase to help meet the spending requirement for the welcome offer.

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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Which card is better for dining and travel rewards?

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Both cards offer strong rewards, but with different focuses. The American Express® Gold Card typically provides higher rewards rates for dining worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets, while the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card offers broad travel categories and a bonus on points redeemed through the Chase travel portal.

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Do the Chase Sapphire Preferred and Amex Gold have the same travel partners?

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No, they have largely separate lists of airline and hotel transfer partners, with only a few overlapping. You should review each program's partner list to determine which card offers more value for your specific travel style.

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What are the main differences in annual credits and perks?

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The Amex Gold Card provides up to $120 in annual dining credits and up to $120 in Uber Cash annually; Terms Apply. The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card features an annual $50 hotel credit and robust trip cancellation and interruption insurance.

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