AwardWallet receives compensation from advertising partners for links on the blog. Terms Apply to the offers listed on this page. Enrollment is required for select Amex benefits. The opinions expressed here are our own and have not been reviewed, provided, or approved by any bank advertiser. Here's our complete list of Advertisers.
It can be complicated to decide whether the Chase Sapphire Reserve® is worth its annual fee. The answer will vary depending on your circumstances, and all boils down to whether the perks are sufficiently valuable enough to outweigh the card's $795 annual fee.
In this post, we'll examine the Sapphire Reserve‘s benefits, determining whether they're worth the fee and how to get the most out of the card.
We assigned values to the points you earn by swiping the card and its benefits, but depending on your travel habits and spending patterns, you may need to adjust your own personal valuations for each benefit.
- Earn 100,000 bonus points + $500 Chase Travel℠ promo credit after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Get more than $2,700 in annual value with Sapphire Reserve.
- Earn 8x points on all purchases through Chase Travel℠, including The Edit℠ and 4x points on flights and hotels booked direct. Plus, earn 3x points on dining worldwide & 1x points on all other purchases
- $300 annual travel credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
- Access over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide with a complimentary Priority Pass™ Select membership, plus every Chase Sapphire Lounge® by The Club with two guests. Plus, up to $120 towards Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck® every 4 years
- Get up to $150 in statement credits every six months for a maximum of $300 annually for dining at restaurants that are part of Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables.
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Coverage, Lost Luggage Insurance, no foreign transaction fees, and more.
- Get complimentary Apple TV+, the exclusive streaming home of Apple Originals. Plus Apple Music - all the music you love, across all your devices. Subscriptions run through 6/22/27 - a value of $250 annually
- Member FDIC
- Rates & Fees
- 8x points on all purchases through Chase Travel℠
- 4x points on flights and hotels booked directly
- 3x points on dining worldwide
- 1x points on all other purchases
Page Contents
- What Benefits Does the Sapphire Reserve Provide?
- How to Value the Sapphire Reserve‘s Perks
- Is the Sapphire Reserve Worth Its Annual Fee?
- Alternatives to the Sapphire Reserve
- Bottom Line
- FAQ
- Is the Chase Sapphire Reserve really worth it?
- How much do I have to spend for Chase Sapphire Reserve to be worth it?
- Is the Chase Sapphire Reserve hard to get?
- Who is the Chase Sapphire Reserve best for?
- Why is the Chase Sapphire Reserve so popular?
- Should I pay off my Chase Sapphire immediately?
- When can I cancel my Chase Sapphire Reserve to avoid an annual fee?
- Does Chase Sapphire increase credit?
What Benefits Does the Sapphire Reserve Provide?
The Sapphire Reserve has a laundry list of perks. Here's a broad overview of what you can access just by carrying the card in your wallet.
- Earn 8x points on all purchases through Chase Travel℠, 4x points on flights and hotels booked directly, and 3x points on dining worldwide.
- Redeem points for up to 2¢ apiece in the Chase Travel℠ portal.
- Up to $300 per card member year in travel credits across a broadly defined travel category.
- Priority Pass Select membership for both primary cardholders and authorized users, including two additional guests at most lounges, plus unlimited visits to Sapphire Lounges and select Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounges when flying a Star Alliance airline.
- Use Chase's Pay Yourself Back feature to redeem the points for 1.25¢–1.5¢ apiece in value for purchases in revolving categories.
- At least 12 months of complimentary DoorDash DashPass if you activate by December 31, 2027.
- Up to $5 in monthly statement credits for DoorDash purchases.
- Best-in-class trip delay/cancellation and luggage protection benefits.
- Primary rental car insurance coverage.
- Complimentary elite status with Avis and National Car Rental.
You can access and activate your benefits by visiting the “Featured Benefits and Offers” page in the Chase Travel portal.
Related: Chase Sapphire Reserve Full Review
Earning rates
The Sapphire Reserve has multiple elements to its earning structure:
- 8x points on all purchases through Chase Travel℠
- 4x points on flights and hotels booked directly
- 3x points on dining worldwide
- 1x points on all other purchases
You'll also earn 10X per $1 on Peloton equipment and accessory purchases of $150 or more. This is valid through December 2027 with a maximum of 50,000 bonus points.
To decide how valuable the Sapphire Reserve earning rates are, you must ask yourself how often you'll use the card to pay for travel. Specifically, consider how often you'll book hotels and rental cars through the Chase Travel℠ portal.
Spending a lot in these categories (and in the Chase Travel portal) can present a significant opportunity to earn lots of extra points on each purchase. How you can use the card's earning rates will play into whether the Sapphire Reserve is worth it for you.
Related: How Many Points Does My Credit Card Earn?
Sapphire Reserve earnings in practice
Let's assume you spend $2,000 on hotels in a given year. You'd earn 16,000 Chase points by booking through the Chase Travel℠ portal instead of 8,000 when booked directly with the hotel.
Add in renting a car four times a year at an average of $200 per rental. Booking through the portal, you'll earn 8X points per dollar spent. Booking directly with the rental agency, you'd earn just 4X. That's an extra 3,200 Ultimate Rewards annually by using Chase's travel portal ($200 x 4 rentals x 4 additional points per dollar).
You'd earn a total of 19,200 points on these $2,800 in travel purchases. Valuing those points at a baseline of up to 2 cents each (which you can get when redeeming the points in the Chase Travel℠ portal), you're getting at least $384 in credit card rewards from those purchases.
However, data points from AwardWallet users show they redeem their Chase points for 1.95¢ apiece, further increasing the value of your earnings. And it's possible to unlock even more value through Chase's transfer partners.
Earn even more points on flight bookings, DoorDash orders, and dining out
You can earn points if you book flights through Chase Travel, make reservations, dine out via Chase Dining, and order DoorDash. But just how valuable are these perks?
- Flights: Booking through Chase Travel℠ adds four extra points per dollar (8X vs. 4X). With limited savings and potential headaches, I rarely find it worth the hassle unless the price is unbeatable, and I’m confident I won’t cancel.
- Chase Dining: Unless you live in a major city with participating restaurants, Chase Dining’s value is somewhat limited. Even then, remembering to make reservations through the portal can be tricky. For me, this perk is negligible.
- DoorDash DashPass: If you order delivery via DoorDash five times a month, DashPass could save you around $240 annually — assuming you save around $4 per order (which is reasonable). Since I rarely use DoorDash, I value this at $0. For frequent users, though, the savings can add up.
Consider the value of the travel credit, lounge access, and Trusted Traveler application fee reimbursement
The card also comes with a few other benefits that are a bit more tangible, including:
- $300 Annual Travel Credit: If you spend at least $300 on travel annually, this is worth its full $300 value.
- Lounge Access: If you visit eligible lounges 12 times per year, I'd value this at ~$300 annually ($25/visit), as that's what I would pay to eat a reasonably priced meal at the airport. More visits or additional lounges (Priority Pass, Sapphire Lounge, Maple Leaf Lounge, etc.) increase the benefit.
- Global Entry/TSA PreCheck/NEXUS Credit: Get up to $120 every four years for trusted traveler program application fees — just pay with the card to receive the credit. This breaks down to a value of $30 per year.
Related: Guide to Chase Sapphire Lounges
Sign-up bonus
The sign-up bonus is one of the biggest draws of signing up for a premium credit card. New applicants for the Sapphire Reserve can earn 100,000 bonus points + $500 Chase Travel℠ promo credit bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
This sign-up bonus can easily offset the annual fee. Thus, it makes it worthwhile to try the Sapphire Reserve for a year. If you're unsure how much value the card’s benefits will provide, you can track your usage throughout the first year. When the annual fee comes due in year two, you can decide whether to keep or cancel the card based on your experience.
If the benefits don't seem worth the higher fee, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (Rates & Fees) offers a solid, lower-cost alternative. But you'll need to carefully navigate Chase's application rules if you plan to apply for this card and cancel your premium one.
Related: Best Rewards Credit Card Sign-up Bonus Offers for This Month
Visa Infinite perks
Visa Infinite is the highest tier of Visa credit cards, offering exclusive perks and privileges. Only a select few cards are issued as Visa Infinite products, making them relatively rare. Key benefits include:
- Auto rental collision damage waiver and other travel protections
- Global Entry statement credit
- Visa Infinite rental car privileges with Avis, Hertz, National, and more
- Visa Infinite concierge services
- Access to the Visa Infinite Luxury Hotel Collection
Some of these perks are also available with Visa Signature cards; issuers control which features are included. Many Visa Signature cards offer travel insurance and trusted traveler credits, reducing the need to hold a Visa Infinite card specifically. And while Visa Infinite’s benefits are valuable, I wouldn’t consider them essential.
How to Value the Sapphire Reserve‘s Perks
The value of any card’s benefits varies for everyone. Just because a benefit exists doesn’t mean you’re saving money or getting real value. For instance, if you never use food delivery apps (like me), the DashPass benefit holds no value.
Here’s how to determine the value of the Sapphire Reserve benefits:
- Review your spending habits. Look at your typical monthly expenses in areas where the card’s benefits or bonus categories align with your purchases. The AwardWallet Credit Card Spend Analysis tool is really helpful for this.
- Account for credits. The card offers monthly and annual credits. Identify them and assign them their full (or partial) value based on whether you'd make that purchase if you didn't have a credit for it.
- Calculate bonus points. For benefits that result in extra points, estimate how many more points the Sapphire Reserve earns you over another card in your wallet and calculate the difference in value.
- Ignore unused perks. Don’t assign value to benefits you wouldn’t use if the card wasn’t in your wallet.
Don't have an AwardWallet account yet? Sign up for free and track unlimited rewards programs and travel plans!
Related: How To Evaluate Your Credit Card Portfolio
Is the Sapphire Reserve Worth Its Annual Fee?
The value of the sign-up bonus makes it easy to justify the cost of the Sapphire Reserve in the first year. After that, it’s worth reassessing the benefits you use most and assigning a dollar value based on your habits. Remember that some perks — like TSA PreCheck credits or lounge access — may overlap with other cards, reducing their overall value.
But all that said, here’s how I evaluate the Sapphire Reserve:
- $300 – Annual travel credit (full value, reimbursed directly)
- $300 – Lounge access perks (based on personal usage; your value may vary)
- $50 – Extra value from redeeming 20,000 points annually through the Chase Travel℠
- $30 – Trusted Traveler Program application fee credit ($120 over four years)
- $75 – Estimated savings/points from DashPass, Peloton, and other partners
Total Estimated Value: $755
This is a conservative estimate, but many travelers can get even more value from the card. However, if you don’t spend much in the card's bonus categories or rarely use the lounge access benefit, the Sapphire Preferred or Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card (Rates & Fees) may be better options.
Alternatives to the Sapphire Reserve
If the Sapphire Reserve doesn’t quite fit your needs, here are a few alternatives to consider:
- 10X miles per $1 on hotels and rental cars booked via Capital One Travel
- 5X miles per $1 on purchases through Capital One Entertainment (through 12/31/2025)
- 5X miles per $1 on flights when booking via Capital One Travel
- 5X miles per $1 on vacation rentals booked via Capital One Travel
- 2X miles per $1 on all other eligible purchases
(Terms apply)
- Earn 5X points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel® (up to $500,000 in purchases per calendar year).
- Earn 5X points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel®.
- 5X points on Lyft rides through September 2027
- 5X points on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠
- 3X points on dining at restaurants worldwide
- 3X points on eligible streaming services
- 3X points on online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart, and wholesale clubs)
- 2X points on all other travel
- 1X point per dollar spent on all other purchases
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
The closest competitor to the Sapphire Reserve is the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card. Like the Sapphire Reserve, it offers a $300 annual travel credit — though you must book through Capital One Travel to use it. The card also includes 10,000 bonus miles annually (worth at least $100) and a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit every four years.
In terms of earnings, the Capital One Venture X provides 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, 5X miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel, and 2X miles on other eligible purchases, which compares well to the Sapphire Reserve.
However, booking through Capital One Travel can be frustrating, and I typically prefer booking directly with travel providers. The Capital One Venture X falls short when it comes to dining rewards but allows you to transfer miles to 19 Capital One partners.
The Capital One Venture X offers a similar lounge access perk with Priority Pass and access to Capital One Lounges.
But where the Capital One Venture X stands out most is its lower annual fee of $395, making it a more affordable option while still delivering comparable benefits.
- 10X miles per $1 on hotels and rental cars booked via Capital One Travel
- 5X miles per $1 on purchases through Capital One Entertainment (through 12/31/2025)
- 5X miles per $1 on flights when booking via Capital One Travel
- 5X miles per $1 on vacation rentals booked via Capital One Travel
- 2X miles per $1 on all other eligible purchases
The Platinum Card® from American Express
For those wanting maximum travel perks, The Platinum Card® from American Express is worth considering. Although its $695 annual fee (Rates & Fees) is higher than the Sapphire Reserve, numerous credits help offset the cost, including:
- $200 hotel credit for prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® and The Hotel Collection (stay at least two nights) bookings through Amex Travel®
- $200 airline incidental fee credit for your selected airline
- $199 CLEAR® Plus membership fee reimbursement
- $200 in annual Uber Cash ($15/month + $20 in December)
- $240 in digital entertainment credits ($20/month)
- Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit every four years
Enrollment is required for select Amex benefits.
Amex Disclosure: To receive the Uber Cash benefit, you must add The Platinum Card® from American Express to your account in the Uber app. Please see full terms for more details.
Other perks include a Walmart+ membership, $100 Saks Fifth Avenue credit, and more. If maximized, these benefits (combined) can exceed the annual fee.
The Amex Platinum also provides lounge access, including entry to Centurion Lounges, Delta Sky Clubs® (when flying on a same-day Delta ticket), and Plaza Premium Lounges.
And while the earning structure isn’t as strong for everyday purchases, the Amex Platinum excels on airfare and prepaid hotels booked through Amex Travel. However, it lacks the flexibility of the Sapphire Reserve‘s 4X earning rate on these categories.
- You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you're approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount - all with no credit score impact. If you're approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel® up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel®.
- $200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings through American Express Travel using your Platinum Card®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
- $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney+ bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
- Enjoy the benefits of the Global Lounge Collection, with over $500 of annual value if you visit Centurion Lounges and each of our partner lounges including Delta Sky Club® lounges when flying an eligible Delta flight (subject to visit limitations) , select Lufthansa lounges when flying Lufthansa, Plaza Premium lounges and Escape Lounges, and enroll in Priority Pass Select. See terms.
- A Walmart+ membership can get you free shipping with no order minimum on eligible items shipped by Walmart. Use your Platinum Card® to pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) and receive one statement credit for up to $12.95 (plus applicable taxes. Plus Ups not eligible) each month. Free Shipping excludes most Marketplace items, freight & certain location surcharges. Paramount+ Essential plan only, separate registration required.
- $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card® Account. American Express relies on airlines to submit the correct information on airline transactions to identify incidental fee purchases. If you do not see a credit for a qualifying incidental purchase on your eligible Card after 8 weeks, simply call the number on the back of your Card. Qualifying airlines are subject to change. See terms & conditions for more details.
- $200 Uber Cash: Platinum Card® Members can ride or dine in style with $15 in Uber Cash each month, plus a bonus $20 in December after adding their Card to their Uber account. Use your Uber Cash on rides and orders in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
- $199 CLEAR® Plus Credit: CLEAR® Plus helps get you to your gate faster by using unique facial attributes to verify you are you at 50+ airports nationwide. Receive up to $199 in statement credits per calendar year after you pay for your CLEAR Plus Membership (subject to auto-renewal) with the Platinum Card®.
- Receive either a $120 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee, when charged to your Platinum Card®. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
- Shop Saks with Platinum: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases in Saks Fifth Avenue stores or at saks.com on your Platinum Card®. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- Use Global Dining Access by Resy to access premium dining experiences. Receive Priority Notify and unlock insider access to some of the world's most sought-after restaurants with Global Dining Access by Resy. Download the Resy iOS app or log into Resy.com and add your Platinum Card® to your Resy profile to take advantage of your special benefits and discover restaurants near you.
- $695 annual fee.
- Terms Apply.
- Rates & Fees
- Earn 5X points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel® (up to $500,000 in purchases per calendar year).
- Earn 5X points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel®.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
If the Sapphire Reserve’s annual fee feels too high, the Sapphire Preferred is a solid alternative at $95 per year. It earns the same valuable points but without premium perks like lounge access or a big travel credit.
The Sapphire Preferred offers a modest $50 annual hotel credit, but this pales in comparison to the Sapphire Reserve’s $300 broader travel credit. It earns 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases., though it lacks the 8X categories on Chase travel and dining purchases.
When redeeming points through Chase Travel℠, the Sapphire Preferred’s points are worth up to 1.75¢, compared to the up to 2¢ per point with the Sapphire Reserve. This can make a significant difference if you redeem frequently through Chase’s portal.
- Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases
- Earn up to $50 in statement credits each account anniversary year for hotel stays through Chase Travel℠
- 10% anniversary points boost - each account anniversary you'll earn bonus points equal to 10% of your total purchases made the previous year.
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
- Complimentary DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees & lower service fees for a min. of one year when you activate by 12/31/27. Plus, a $10 promo each month on non-restaurant orders.
- Member FDIC
- Rates & Fees
- 5X points on Lyft rides through September 2027
- 5X points on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠
- 3X points on dining at restaurants worldwide
- 3X points on eligible streaming services
- 3X points on online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart, and wholesale clubs)
- 2X points on all other travel
- 1X point per dollar spent on all other purchases
Can I have two Sapphire-branded cards?
You cannot hold both Sapphire cards at the same time. However, you can product change between them. For example, if the Sapphire Reserve’s annual fee feels unjustifiable after the first year, you can downgrade to the Sapphire Preferred.
Since both cards share similar benefits like transfer partners and travel protections, there’s little reason to carry both as it is. The real question is which one better fits your needs.
Bottom Line
Depending on who you are, how you travel, and how you spend your money, the Sapphire Reserve may be worth its $795 — or maybe it won't. But no matter what, you should continuously evaluate what's in your wallet to ensure your card works for you and provides tangible value. Otherwise, you're not getting what you're paying for.
- Earn 100,000 bonus points + $500 Chase Travel℠ promo credit after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Get more than $2,700 in annual value with Sapphire Reserve.
- Earn 8x points on all purchases through Chase Travel℠, including The Edit℠ and 4x points on flights and hotels booked direct. Plus, earn 3x points on dining worldwide & 1x points on all other purchases
- $300 annual travel credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
- Access over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide with a complimentary Priority Pass™ Select membership, plus every Chase Sapphire Lounge® by The Club with two guests. Plus, up to $120 towards Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck® every 4 years
- Get up to $150 in statement credits every six months for a maximum of $300 annually for dining at restaurants that are part of Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables.
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Coverage, Lost Luggage Insurance, no foreign transaction fees, and more.
- Get complimentary Apple TV+, the exclusive streaming home of Apple Originals. Plus Apple Music - all the music you love, across all your devices. Subscriptions run through 6/22/27 - a value of $250 annually
- Member FDIC
- Rates & Fees
- 8x points on all purchases through Chase Travel℠
- 4x points on flights and hotels booked directly
- 3x points on dining worldwide
- 1x points on all other purchases
FAQ
Is the Chase Sapphire Reserve really worth it?
This depends on your unique circumstances. If you can use the card's $300 travel credit each year, then you need to get $495 in additional annual value from the lounge membership, spending credits, and elevated earning rates.
How much do I have to spend for Chase Sapphire Reserve to be worth it?
It depends on your spending categories. If you redeem at least 62,000 points annually in the travel portal (using the elevated redemption rates), this card justifies its higher fee in comparison to the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card.
Is the Chase Sapphire Reserve hard to get?
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is a Visa Infinite card. This is the highest category of Visa credit cards and typically requires an excellent credit score — considered to be 750 or above. That's not the only factor, though. Proof of income and other application rules also matter.
Who is the Chase Sapphire Reserve best for?
This card is ideal for those who want top-notch perks from their credit card. Think lounge access, multiple spending credits, and elevated earning rates. If you won't take advantage of these, it's hard to justify the annual fee.
Why is the Chase Sapphire Reserve so popular?
It's popular because it offers so much. A $300 annual travel credit covers more than half of the annual fee, plus you get unlimited lounge visits, strong earning rates, and earn valuable points that can be used in multiple ways.
Should I pay off my Chase Sapphire immediately?
As with all credit cards, you should pay your bill in full each month — on or before the due date. If you don't pay your full bill each month, you will accrue interest. This can negate the value of rewards you earn and can lead to debt.
When can I cancel my Chase Sapphire Reserve to avoid an annual fee?
If you decide to cancel your card, do so within 30 days of the annual fee posting to your account. Within this timeframe, Chase typically allows cardholders to close their account and have the fee removed from their final bill.
Does Chase Sapphire increase credit?
It is possible to build your credit score and to get an increased credit line. Using credit cards responsibly can build credit history and improve your credit score. If you use your card responsibly, Chase also may provide an increased credit limit — which could further help your credit score.
For rates and fees of the cards mentioned in this post, please visit the following links: Chase Sapphire Reserve® (Rates & Fees), Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (Rates & Fees), Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card (Rates & Fees), and The Platinum Card® from American Express (Rates & Fees)
The comments on this page are not provided, reviewed, or otherwise approved by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser's responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.
