Disclaimer: This site is an independent comparison and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by American Express or JPMorgan Chase. Card details are verified against issuer websites as of April 2026. See issuer sites for current terms.

Amex Gold vs Chase Sapphire Preferred

The $325 card that costs less than the $95 card. Updated April 2026.

AG

Amex Gold

American Express

Annual Fee$325/yr
Annual Credits$424
Net Annual Cost-$99
4x Dining4x Groceries3x Flights100K MR Bonus
CSP

Chase Sapphire Preferred

JPMorgan Chase

Annual Fee$95/yr
Hotel Credit$50
Net Annual Cost$45
5x Travel Portal3x Dining3x Streaming75K UR Bonus

Choose Amex Gold if...

You eat out 3+ times per week, shop at US supermarkets, and use Uber. The $424 credit stack turns a $325 fee into a $99 profit.

Choose CSP if...

You travel 4+ times per year, want the best travel insurance, and prefer Visa's near-universal acceptance. Simple $95 fee with a $50 hotel credit.

Get both if...

You spend $4,000+ per month. Use Gold for dining and groceries, CSP for travel. Combined net cost: -$54/year after all credits.

Complete Side-by-Side Comparison

FeatureAmex GoldChase Sapphire Preferred
Annual Fee$325$95
Net Fee After Credits-$99$45
Dining4x (up to $50K/yr)3x
US Supermarkets4x (up to $25K/yr)1x
Travel (Portal)1x5x (Chase Travel)
Flights Direct3x2x
Streaming1x3x
Online Grocery1x3x
Everything Else1x1x
Welcome BonusUp to 100K MR75K UR
Dining Credits$120/yrNone
Uber Cash$120/yr ($10/mo)None
Resy Credit$100/yr ($50 biannual)None
Dunkin Credit$84/yr ($7/mo)None
Hotel CreditNone$50/yr (Chase Travel)
DoorDash DashPassNoIncluded
NetworkAmerican ExpressVisa
Foreign Transaction FeeNoneNone
Trip CancellationNoUp to $10K/person
Rental Car InsuranceSecondaryPrimary
Authorized Users$35 eachFree
Downgrade OptionsNone (charge card)Freedom Flex/Unlimited
Card TypeCharge cardCredit card

Net Cost Breakdown: How the $325 Card Pays You Back

Amex Gold Net Cost

Annual fee$325
Dining credit ($10/mo at Grubhub, Cheesecake Factory, etc.)-$120
Uber Cash ($10/mo)-$120
Resy credit ($50 every 6 months)-$100
Dunkin credit ($7/mo)-$84
Net annual cost-$99

Credits are only valuable if you use them naturally. If you already use Uber, eat at restaurants, and drink coffee, these credits are essentially free money.

CSP Net Cost

Annual fee$95
Hotel credit (via Chase Travel portal)-$50
Net annual cost$45

CSP also includes DoorDash DashPass (worth roughly $120/year in waived delivery fees) but it requires active use of DoorDash to get value from it.

Which Card Earns More for YOU?

Enter your monthly spending to see a personalised comparison. Point values calculated at 1.5 cents per point.

$500
$400
$400
$50
$500
Amex GoldWINNER
Annual points earned64,200
Points value (1.5cpp)$963
Credits used+$424
Annual fee-$325
Net annual value+$1,062
Chase Sapphire Preferred
Annual points earned54,600
Points value (1.5cpp)$819
Credits used+$50
Annual fee-$95
Net annual value+$774

Amex Gold wins by $288/year for your spending

Based on $1,850/month total spend at 1.5 cents per point

Points Value: Membership Rewards vs Ultimate Rewards

Redemption MethodAmex MRChase UR
Statement credit0.6 cpp1.0 cpp
Amex/Chase travel portal1.0 cpp1.25 cpp
Transfer to airlines/hotels (average)1.5-2.0 cpp1.5-2.0 cpp
Best sweet spots5-7 cpp (ANA biz class)2-4 cpp (Hyatt)
Recommended baseline1.5 cpp1.5 cpp

Both currencies are roughly equal when transferred to airline and hotel partners. The key difference: Amex MR has higher ceilings through ANA and other partners, while Chase UR has more consistent floor value through Hyatt and the 1.25x travel portal. Read more in our transfer partner comparison.

Which Card Fits Your Life?

Heavy Diner

You eat out 4+ times per week and spend $600+/month at restaurants. Gold's 4x earn rate plus $220 in dining and Resy credits is unbeatable.

Amex Gold

Frequent Traveler

You fly 4+ times per year and book through portals. CSP's 5x Chase Travel rate, trip cancellation insurance, and primary rental car coverage give it the edge.

CSP

Grocery Shopper

Your family spends $800+/month at US supermarkets (Kroger, Publix, Whole Foods). Gold's 4x vs CSP's 1x is worth $360+/year in extra points.

Amex Gold

Budget Conscious

You want the lowest possible effective fee. CSP at $45 net (after hotel credit) is simple and predictable. No monthly credits to track.

CSP

Points Maximizer

You want access to the most transfer partners. Carry both: Gold for dining and groceries, CSP for travel. Combined net cost: -$54/year.

Both Cards

International Traveler

You travel abroad often. CSP's Visa network works nearly everywhere; Amex acceptance is limited in many countries.

CSP

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Amex Gold worth $325 a year?▾
After the $424 annual credit stack ($120 dining, $120 Uber Cash, $100 Resy, $84 Dunkin), the Amex Gold has a net cost of -$99 per year if you use all credits. Even using just the dining and Uber credits ($240), the effective fee drops to $85. The card pays for itself if you regularly eat out and use Uber.
Which is better for dining, Amex Gold or Chase Sapphire Preferred?▾
Amex Gold earns 4x points at restaurants (up to $50,000/year) compared to CSP's 3x. Combined with the $120 dining credit and $100 Resy credit, Gold provides roughly $310 more in annual dining value at $500/month spend. CSP's advantage is broader acceptance with the Visa network and included DoorDash DashPass for delivery.
Can you transfer Amex points to Hyatt?▾
No. Hyatt is a Chase-exclusive transfer partner. This is one of Chase Ultimate Rewards' biggest advantages, as Hyatt transfers consistently deliver 2-4 cents per point. Amex Membership Rewards transfers to Hilton and Marriott for hotels, but neither matches Hyatt's value. If Hyatt stays are important to you, CSP or another Chase card is necessary.
Does the Chase 5/24 rule affect the Sapphire Preferred?▾
Yes. Chase will deny your CSP application if you have opened 5 or more new credit card accounts across all banks in the past 24 months. This does not apply to Amex Gold. If you want both cards, apply for CSP first while under 5/24, then get Amex Gold afterwards since Amex has no similar restriction.
Is it worth having both Amex Gold and CSP?▾
For spending above $4,000/month, the two-card strategy is powerful. Use Gold for dining (4x) and groceries (4x), CSP for travel (5x portal) and streaming (3x). The combined fee of $420 drops to -$54 net after all credits. You also access both Membership Rewards and Ultimate Rewards transfer partners, covering nearly every airline and hotel program.
What credit score do you need for Amex Gold and CSP?▾
Both cards generally require a credit score of 700 or higher, with best approval odds at 740+. Amex tends to be slightly more lenient and focuses on your existing Amex relationship. Chase is stricter and enforces the 5/24 rule. Income is self-reported for both, and there is no official minimum, but these cards target earners above $60,000/year.
Can you downgrade the Amex Gold to avoid the annual fee?▾
No. Amex Gold is a charge card, not a credit card, so there is no product-change path to a no-fee card. Your options are to cancel (call the retention line first for a possible offer of 10K-30K bonus points or a $50-$150 statement credit) or keep paying. CSP, by contrast, can be product-changed to Chase Freedom Flex or Freedom Unlimited at $0/year.
Which card has better travel insurance?▾
CSP wins on travel insurance. It includes trip cancellation and interruption coverage (up to $10,000 per person), baggage delay insurance, travel accident insurance, and primary rental car coverage (meaning it pays before your personal auto insurance). Amex Gold has minimal travel protections with only secondary rental car coverage.

Explore Every Angle

Rewards Comparison

Category-by-category earn rates at 3 spending levels

Annual Fee Analysis

Credit-by-credit breakdown: is the $325 worth it?

Transfer Partners

MR vs UR partner tables with sweet spot valuations

Sign-Up Bonus

Current offers and how to find elevated bonuses

Dining Deep Dive

4x vs 3x plus $220 in Amex dining credits

Groceries Guide

Which stores count and the $25K cap explained

Travel Benefits

Insurance, portal bookings, and international use

Two-Card Strategy

Why carrying both costs -$54/year net

Approval Guide

Credit scores, 5/24 rule, and application order

Downgrade Paths

Exit strategy: CSP's flexibility vs Gold's limitations

Spending Calculator

Full interactive tool with preset profiles

For Families

Grocery-heavy spending, authorized users, and family math