Amex Gold vs Chase Sapphire Reserve
Membership Rewards vs Ultimate Rewards
Verified October 2026
The Amex Gold ($325) undercuts the Chase Sapphire Reserve ($795) on annual fee. Pick the Amex Gold for everyday prepaid hotel stays spending (5x); pick the Chase Sapphire Reserve for everyday travel through Chase portal spending (8x).
At a Glance
American Express Gold Card
- Annual Fee
- $325
- Signup Bonus
- 100,000 points
- Network
- American Express
- Points Currency
- Membership Rewards
- Earning Rates
-
Flights 3xRestaurants 4xUs Supermarkets 4xPrepaid Hotel Stays 5x
Chase Sapphire Reserve
- Annual Fee
- $795
- Signup Bonus
- 100,000 points
- Network
- Visa
- Points Currency
- Ultimate Rewards
- Earning Rates
-
Dining 3xFlights And Hotels 4xTravel Through Chase Portal 8x
Category Breakdown
How they compare across key categories
Annual Fee
Amex Gold winsAmex Gold $325 vs Chase Sapphire Reserve $795
Welcome Bonus
TieAmex Gold: 100,000 points after $8,000 in 6 months vs Chase Sapphire Reserve: 100,000 points after $6,000 in 3 months
Top Earning Rate
Chase Sapphire Reserve winsAmex Gold: 5x on prepaid hotel stays vs Chase Sapphire Reserve: 8x on travel through Chase portal
Perks & Credits
TieAmex Gold: 6 listed benefits vs Chase Sapphire Reserve: 6 listed benefits
Transfer Partners
TieAmex Gold: 20+ airline and hotel partners vs Chase Sapphire Reserve: 14 airline and hotel partners
Perks & Benefits
American Express Gold
- Dining credit ($120)
- Resy credit ($100)
- Dunkin credit ($84)
- Uber Cash ($120)
- Hotel Collection credit ($100)
- Hertz Five Star status
Chase Sapphire Reserve
- Annual Travel Credit ($300)
- Global Entry/TSA PreCheck Credit ($120)
- The Edit Hotel Credit ($500)
- Dining Credit ($300)
- Priority Pass Select
- Chase Sapphire Lounges
Which Is Right for You?
Get the Amex Gold if...
- Lower $325 annual fee
- Earns 5x on prepaid hotel stays
- Earns 4x on restaurants
- Dining credit ($120)
Get the Chase Sapphire Reserve if...
- Premium benefits to offset the $795 fee
- Earns 8x on travel through Chase portal
- Earns 4x on flights and hotels
- Annual Travel Credit ($300)
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Amex Gold or Chase Sapphire Reserve better?
The Amex Gold ($325) undercuts the Chase Sapphire Reserve ($795) on annual fee. Pick the Amex Gold for everyday prepaid hotel stays spending (5x); pick the Chase Sapphire Reserve for everyday travel through Chase portal spending (8x). Both earn transferable rewards, so many points collectors hold one from each ecosystem.
Which has the lower annual fee, the Amex Gold or Chase Sapphire Reserve?
The Amex Gold has the lower annual fee at $325, versus $795 for the Chase Sapphire Reserve.
Which card earns points faster?
The Amex Gold earns up to 5x on prepaid hotel stays, while the Chase Sapphire Reserve earns up to 8x on travel through Chase portal.
Can I have both the Amex Gold and the Chase Sapphire Reserve?
Yes. They're issued independently, so you can hold both and earn Membership Rewards and Ultimate Rewards side by side.
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Earn bonus points with these credit card offers
Can't find availability at your current points balance? These credit cards earn points you can put towards your next flight.
The Platinum Card from American Express
Personal · Annual fee $895
175,000 points
after $12,000 in 6 months
- Airline incidentals credit ($200)
- Uber credit ($200)
- Lounge access
American Express Gold Card
Personal · Annual fee $325
100,000 points
after $8,000 in 6 months
- Dining credit ($120)
- Resy credit ($100)
- Dunkin credit ($84)
Chase Sapphire Reserve
Personal · Annual fee $795
100,000 points
after $6,000 in 3 months
- Annual Travel Credit ($300)
- Global Entry/TSA PreCheck Credit ($120)
- The Edit Hotel Credit ($500)
Chase Ink Business Preferred®
Business · Annual fee $95
100,000 Ultimate Rewards points
after $8,000 in purchases in the first 3 months
- 3x points on travel & shipping
- 3x points on advertising
- 3x points on internet/cable/phone
Chase Sapphire Preferred
Personal · Annual fee $95
75,000 points
after $5,000 in 3 months
- Hotel credit ($50)
- DoorDash DashPass
- Peloton credit ($60)
Capital One Venture Rewards
Personal · Annual fee $95
75,000 points
after $4,000 in 3 months
- Capital One Travel credit ($300)
Credit card approval subject to eligibility. Terms and conditions apply. American Express cards shown are available to US residents only.