Chase Sapphire Preferred (commonly known as CSP) is one of the best mid-tier travel cards in the Chase Ultimate Rewards ecosystem.
For a US$95 annual fee, the card offers 5X through Chase Travel, 3X on dining and select everyday categories, 2X on other travel, plus the ability to transfer Ultimate Rewards to airline and hotel partners.
If you want access to the Chase UR ecosystem without paying for premium airport lounge benefits, this is an excellent card to hold long term.
👉 Apply for Chase Sapphire Preferred
Chase Sapphire Preferred Benefits
| Benefit | Chase Sapphire Preferred |
|---|---|
| Annual Fee | US$95 |
| Chase Travel | 5X UR |
| Dining | 3X UR |
| Gas / EV Charging | 3X UR |
| Vacation Homes | 3X UR |
| Online Grocery | 3X UR |
| Select Streaming Services | 3X UR |
| Other Travel | 2X UR |
| General Purchases | 1X UR |
| Hotel Credit | Up to $100 / year |
| Global Entry / TSA PreCheck / NEXUS | Up to $120 every 4 years |
| Primary Rental Car Coverage | Up to $60,000 |
| Trip Cancellation / Interruption | Up to $10,000 per person |
| Trip Delay | Up to $500 per person |
| Baggage Delay | Up to $100 / day for 5 days |
| Lost Luggage | Up to $3,000 per person |
| Emergency Evacuation | Up to $100,000 |
| DoorDash | DashPass + select benefits |
| Lyft | 5X UR through 9/30/2027 |
| Peloton | 5X UR on eligible purchases |
| Foreign Transaction Fee | $0 |
| Airline / Hotel Transfers | ✅ |
Best Card Pairing: Chase Sapphire Preferred + Chase Freedom Unlimited
Chase Sapphire Preferred + Chase Freedom Unlimited is one of the simplest Ultimate Rewards combinations.
| Spending Category | Best Card |
|---|---|
| Chase Travel | Chase Sapphire Preferred |
| General Travel | Chase Sapphire Preferred |
| Dining | Chase Sapphire Preferred |
| Everyday Purchases | Chase Freedom Unlimited |
| Drugstores | Chase Freedom Unlimited |
Chase Sapphire Preferred handles travel, point transfers, and travel protections, while Chase Freedom Unlimited earns 1.5X on general purchases that would otherwise earn only 1X with Preferred.
Bottom Line
If you want to earn Ultimate Rewards without paying the high annual fee of Chase Sapphire Reserve, Chase Sapphire Preferred is one of the best places to start.
Its core value is simple:
5X Chase Travel + 3X Dining + 2X Travel + UR Transfers
The card also includes a Hotel Credit, primary rental car coverage, and useful travel protections.
Adding a Freedom or Ink card later can make the Ultimate Rewards ecosystem even more rewarding.
Chase Sapphire Preferred Historical Welcome Offers
| Date | Public Welcome Offer | Minimum Spend |
|---|---|---|
| Sep. 2020 | 80K UR Points | $4,000 / 3 months |
| Jun. 2021 | 100K UR Points | $4,000 / 3 months |
| Oct. 2021 | 60K UR Points | $4,000 / 3 months |
| Apr. 2023 | 80K UR Points | $4,000 / 3 months |
| May 2024 | 75K UR Points | $4,000 / 3 months |
| Oct. 2024 | 60K UR Points + $300 Chase Travel Credit | $4,000 / 3 months |
| Apr. 2025 | 100K UR Points | $5,000 / 3 months |
| Jun. 2025 | 75K UR Points | $5,000 / 3 months |
| Jun. 2026 | 100K UR Points | $5,000 / 3 months |
| Aug. 2026 | 75K UR Points | $5,000 / 3 months |
Public offers only. Targeted, referral, branch, mail, and other personalized offers are excluded.
👉 Apply for Chase Sapphire Preferred
Chase Ultimate Rewards Credit Card Comparison
Chase credit cards can be divided into Personal Cards and Business Cards, while the Ultimate Rewards ecosystem includes both Cash Back and Points-focused products.
General users can choose cards based on everyday spending, travel, or business expenses. Points and miles enthusiasts can combine different Chase Cards to earn Ultimate Rewards and use cards with Transfer Partner access to build a complete Chase Ultimate Rewards Ecosystem.
Personal Credit Cards
| Credit Card | Annual Fee | Core Role | Foreign Transaction Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Freedom Flex | $0 | Quarterly 5X | 3% |
| Freedom Unlimited | $0 | Everyday 1.5X | 3% |
| Freedom Rise | $0 | 1.5X / Build Credit | 3% |
| Sapphire Preferred | US$95 | Travel + UR Transfers | 0% |
| Sapphire Reserve | US$795 | Premium Travel + UR Transfers | 0% |
Business Credit Cards
| Credit Card | Annual Fee | Core Role | Foreign Transaction Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ink Business Cash | $0 | Up to 5X Business Categories | 3% |
| Ink Business Unlimited | $0 | Unlimited 1.5X Business Spending | 3% |
| Ink Business Preferred | US$95 | 3X Business Categories + UR Transfers | 0% |
| Ink Business Premier | US$195 | Large Purchases up to 2.5% Cash Back | 0% |
| Sapphire Reserve for Business | US$795 | Premium Business Travel + UR Transfers | 0% |
Application Rules & Restrictions
When applying for Chase credit cards, keep these key rules in mind:
– 5/24 Rule: If you have opened 5 or more credit card accounts that appear on your personal credit report within the past 24 months, it will generally affect your ability to get approved for a new Chase Card. Most Business Cards that do not report to personal credit reports generally do not add to your 5/24 count.
– Welcome Offer Eligibility: Different Chase Cards have their own Welcome Offer restrictions, and some products also have Card Family Restrictions. Being under 5/24 does not necessarily mean you are eligible for a Welcome Offer.
– Application Timing: Chase does not publish a simple fixed application interval, but submitting multiple Chase applications within a short period may affect approval.
A simple Chase application strategy is:
Check 5/24 → Check Welcome Offer / Family Eligibility → Submit Application
Actual application and Welcome Offer Eligibility requirements are subject to the current terms of each Chase Card.
How Can Foreigners Apply for Chase Credit Cards?
Foreign applicants generally need to establish some U.S. Credit History before applying for Chase credit cards.
If you are new to the U.S. credit card market, one strategy is to first obtain a U.S. Amex through Amex Global Transfer, build your U.S. credit history, and then consider applying for Chase.
Amex Global Transfer → U.S. Amex → Build U.S. Credit History → Chase
Applicants must still meet Chase’s current requirements regarding identification, address, credit history, and other application criteria.
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