When it comes to flexible, valuable travel rewards, few programs are as powerful as Chase Ultimate Rewards®. And the best way to unlock them is through the Chase Sapphire family of cards. Chase recently relaunched its premium card and added a new business card. So now, with options for beginners, frequent travelers, and business owners, there’s a Sapphire card for every type of traveler.

In this guide, we’ll cover the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, and the Sapphire Reserve for Business℠, and how they all tie into the Ultimate Rewards ecosystem.

Why Chase Sapphire Cards Are So Popular

Chase Sapphire cards are very popular among the points and miles crowd, and for good reason. Each one earns Chase Ultimate Rewards®, one of the most flexible and valuable points currencies out there. We have used these points to book tons of amazing trips to places like Paris, Italy, London, New York, San Diego, Cabo, and more.

Chase points and flexible, meaning they can be used in multiple ways:

• You can redeem for cash back or statement credits at 1 cent per point.
• You can book travel through Chase Travel℠ for a redemption boost, depending on which Sapphire card you hold.
• Or, you can transfer to Chase’s 14 airline and hotel partners at a 1:1 ratio, which is my favorite way to use them!

This flexibility is what makes the Sapphire lineup so strong. No matter where you’re heading or how you like to travel, Chase points can be stretched for serious value.

RELATED: Hyatt + Southwest = Vacations for $11.20/person

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Let’s take a look at the three Sapphire cards.

Chase Sapphire Preferred®: The Best Beginner Card

The Sapphire Preferred is often the first step for people new to points and miles, and for good reason. It has a solid welcome offer, a low annual fee, and it earns the best points.

• Welcome Offer: 75,000 points after spending $5,000 in the first three months from account opening. This is worth at least $750 in travel, and potentially much more with transfer partners.
• Annual Fee: $95
• Earning Rates:
  • 5x on travel booked through Chase Travel
  • 3x on dining, including takeout and delivery
  • 2x on all other travel purchases
  • 1x on everything else
• Credits & Perks: A $50 annual hotel credit when you book through Chase Travel, plus solid built-in travel protections, like Trip Interruption/Trip Delay and Lost Luggage.

What makes this card so appealing is its balance of affordability and value. For under $100 a year, you get access to Chase’s full suite of transfer partners, decent earning rates on everyday categories, and trip protections that rival much more expensive cards. If you’re just starting out, this is the perfect way to dip your toes into travel rewards without feeling overwhelmed.

Chase Sapphire Reserve®: The Premium Travel Powerhouse

The Chase Sapphire Reserve takes everything that makes the Preferred great and supercharges it with premium perks. This card is designed for frequent travelers who want lounge access, a plethora of statement credits, and the ability to redeem points at higher value.

• Annual Fee: $795 (new as of June 2025)
• Welcome Offer: 125,000 points after spending $6,000 in the first three months from account opening.
• Earning Rates:
  • 8x on Chase Travel purchases
  • 4x on flights and hotels booked directly with airlines and hotels
  • 3x on dining
  • 1x on everything else
• Statement Credits & Perks:
  • $300 annual travel credit (applies automatically to most travel purchases)
  • $500 hotel credit each year, split into $250 twice a year (January to June and July to December) for stays booked through The Edit by Chase Travel (requires a minimum two-night stay)
  • $300 dining credit at select restaurants, split into two $150 credits
  • $300 StubHub/Viagogo credit for ticket purchases
  • $250 credit for Apple Music and Apple TV+ subscriptions (activation required)
  • $120 Peloton credit ($10/month membership credit)
  • $120 Lyft credit through 2027 ($10/month in app credit)
  • Up to $100 credit for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS once every four years
• Lounge Access: Entry to Chase Sapphire Lounges and Priority Pass lounges. Guest access is included for two guests.
• Travel insurances like Trip Cancellation/Interruption, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, and Lost Luggage Reimbursement.
• Elite Status: Complimentary IHG Platinum Elite through 2027, with potential for IHG Diamond or Southwest A-List status if you spend $75,000 in one calendar year.

The Reserve is a luxury card with a huge annual fee, but if you travel often and can use the credits, the perks easily outweigh the cost, especially for the first year with that big welcome offer. Between lounge access, premium earning rates, travel credits, and numerous credits, it’s a popular option for frequent travelers.

Sapphire Reserve for Business℠: Premium Perks for Entrepreneurs

The newest addition to the Sapphire lineup is the Sapphire Reserve for Business℠. This card has the same luxury feel as the personal Reserve, but the benefits are tailored to business owners.

• Annual Fee: $795
• Welcome Offer: 200,000 points after spending $30,000 in the first 6 months. An enormous bonus with a six-month window instead of the standard three-month window that comes with other similar cards.
• Earning Rates:
  • 8x on Chase Travel
  • 4x on flights and hotels booked directly
  • 3x on advertising purchases through social media or search engines
  • 1x on everything else
• Statement Credits:
  • $300 annual travel credit
  • $500 hotel credit to The Edit by Chase Travel (two $250 credits, like the personal Reserve)
  • $400 in ZipRecruiter credits (two $200 credits, one from January to June and the other from July to December)
  • $200 Google Workspace credit
  • $100 credit at Giftcards.com (Two $50 credits, one from January to June and the other from July to December)
  • $420 in DoorDash perks (DashPass membership and $25/month credits through 2027)
  • $120 credit for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS every four years
• Lounge Access: Same premium lounges and guest access as the personal Reserve.
• Travel insurances like Trip Cancellation/Interruption, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, and Lost Luggage Reimbursement.
• Elite Status: Complimentary IHG Platinum Elite through 2027.
• High-Spend Bonus: If you spend $120,000 or more annually, you unlock Southwest A-List status and a $500 Southwest flight credit. However, you can get more for your spending by opening other cards, so I wouldn’t focus on reaching this goal.

This card is perfect for business owners (even those who have a small side hustle) who want top-tier travel benefits and a variety of statement credits and perks. Plus, you can’t beat that giant welcome offer.

RELATED: Business Cards With the Highest Offers

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Eligibility Rules

Chase has some unique rules around Sapphire cards that you’ll want to know before applying.

Currently, you can have one personal Sapphire card and one business Sapphire card open at the same time.

Previously, you couldn’t earn a welcome bonus again on one of these cards if it had been less than 48 months since you last earned it. However, the rules are now even stricter. You may not be eligible for a new Sapphire personal card bonus if you’ve ever received one before on either card.

According to Chase’s fine print, you should be eligible for the bonus if you’ve never received it on that particular card. For example, if you’ve earned the bonus on the Sapphire Preferred, you should be eligible for the bonus on the Sapphire Reserve as long as you don’t currently have the Sapphire Preferred open. Unfortunately, data points have been mixed recently, with some people in this situation getting approved and others not. Thankfully, many people receive a pop-up before completing their application, letting them know they’re ineligible. But unfortunately, some people never receive the pop-up and are still denied.

The good thing is that none of that applies to the Reserve for Business since there is just one Sapphire business card.

Additionally, all Sapphire applications are still subject to Chase’s 5/24 rule, which means that if you’ve opened five or more personal credit cards from any bank in the past 24 months, you won’t be approved for a new Chase card.

The Value of Chase Ultimate Rewards®

At the core of all these cards is Chase Ultimate Rewards®, my favorite flexible points currency. No matter which Sapphire card you choose, your points can be pooled into one account and used in a variety of ways. Furthermore, you can also combine points from other Chase cards, like my favorite Ink business cards or Chase’s no-fee Freedom cards, onto your Sapphire card.

Here are your three main options for using your Ultimate Rewards®:

1. Cash Back – Redeem at 1 cent per point value, meaning every 10,000 points is worth $100. This is not the highest value, but it’s a simple, viable option.
2. Chase Travel℠ – Use your points like cash to book flights, hotels, rental cars, and activities. This also nets a 1 cent per point base value. However, Chase’s new Points Boost program allows you to sometimes redeem your points at a higher value, depending on the Sapphire card you have, for certain flights and hotels.
3. Transfer to Partners (my favorite option!) – Chase partners with 11 airlines and 3 hotels, including popular options like United, Southwest, Hyatt, Air France-KLM, and Virgin Atlantic. Transferring points to these partners often unlocks the highest value redemptions.

The ability to choose how to use your points makes Ultimate Rewards one of the most valuable and flexible programs available. It’s easy enough for beginners and advanced enough for serious travelers who want to squeeze every drop of value out of their points.

Which Sapphire Card Is Right for You?

Here’s a quick way to decide:

• Choose the Sapphire Preferred if you’re just starting out with points and miles and/or want a low-fee card with great earning potential and transfer options.
• Choose the Sapphire Reserve if you’re a frequent traveler who wants premium benefits, lounge access, and the ability to maximize credits and points redemptions.
• Choose the Sapphire Reserve for Business if you own a business, have higher spending, and can take advantage of the credits and bonuses made for business owners.

  ➡️ Check out my favorite travel cards

  ➡️ Check out my favorite business cards

Wrapping Up

The Chase Sapphire family is one of the most powerful lineups in the award travel world. With cards that range from beginner-friendly to luxury-level, there’s truly something for everyone. And because they all earn Ultimate Rewards points, you’ll always have flexibility in how you use them. Pick the one that fits your lifestyle, learn how to maximize your Ultimate Rewards®, and start planning your next adventure.