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There are so many travel rewards credit cards that it can be challenging to pick the right one for you. Chase Sapphire Preferred and Citi Premier are two cards that offer generous rewards on travel and everyday spending. Both cards come with welcome bonus points and a $95 annual fee, but Chase Sapphire Preferred is likely to be the more cost-effective choice.
How the cards stack up
Here’s a glance at what these beginner travel rewards cards offer and how they vary.
| Feature | Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card | card_name |
|---|---|---|
Feature Welcome bonus | Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card bonus_miles_full | bonus_miles_full |
Feature Rewards* | Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card Earn 5x points on:
Earn one point per dollar on all other purchases | Qualifying cardholders can earn 10x points on:
|
Feature Annual fee | Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card annual_fees | annual_fees |
Feature APR (or regular APR) | Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card reg_apr,reg_apr_type | reg_apr,reg_apr_type |
Feature Foreign transaction fee | Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card foreign_transaction_fee | foreign_transaction_fee |
Feature Other benefits (or additional perks) | Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card $50 yearly hotel statement credit | Yearly $100 hotel savings benefit on a hotel stay that costs $500 or more |
Welcome bonus
Both cards feature a welcome bonus when you make $4,000 in purchases in the first three months. However, card_name offers a bonus of 80,000 points, while Citi Premier only offers a bonus of 75,000 points.
Every point earned is normally worth 1 cent for both Citi Premier and card_name. With Citi Premier, points can be redeemed for $600 in gift cards.
card_name also lets you earn up to 25% more when you redeem the points for travel with Chase Ultimate Rewards. So, you’ll earn a travel credit of $1,000 instead of $800 on your welcome bonus points.
Welcome bonus winner: card_name
Rewards
card_name gives you five points per dollar spent on travel arrangements made through Chase Ultimate Rewards. You’ll also get the following:
- 3 points per dollar spent on dining purchases, online grocery store orders, and streaming service subscriptions
- 2 points per dollar spent on all other travel purchases
- 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases
Here’s what Citi Premier offers:
- 3 points for every dollar spent on hotels, flights, and purchases made at supermarkets, restaurants, and gas stations
- 1 point for every dollar spent on all other purchases
The verdict: card_name provides more flexibility with its reward categories. Plus, you can maximize your earnings by using points for travel.
Rewards winner: card_name
Annual fee
The annual fee is identical for both cards (annual_fees for card_name and annual_fees for card_name).
Annual fee winner:tie
APR
The APR ranges from reg_apr,reg_apr_type on card_name and reg_apr,reg_apr_type on card_name. So, the card_name has a slight edge since the maximum APR is one percentage point lower.
APR winner: card_name
Foreign transaction fee
Both cards allow you to make purchases abroad without incurring foreign transaction fees.
Foreign transaction fee winner: tie
Additional perks
Both cards include their fair share of perks, but card_name has a competitive edge as it offers:
- A $50 yearly hotel statement credit
- An annual bonus equal to 10% of your spending
- 1:1 point transfers to airline and hotel travel loyalty programs
- Food delivery service perks
- Purchase and travel protections
With card_name, you can take advantage of:
- An annual $100 hotel savings benefit on a hotel stay of at least $500
- Access to Citi Entertainment
- Point transfers to select airline loyalty programs
Additional perks winner: card_name
Which card earns the most
If you spent $650 in each category, here’s how many points you’d earn:
| Online grocery purchases | Dining out | Streaming service subscriptions | Lodging and airfare | Rental cars | Gas station purchases | Total points | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card | Online grocery purchases 1,950 | Dining out 1,950 | Streaming service subscriptions 1,950 | Lodging and airfare 1,300 | Rental cars 1,300 | Gas station purchases 650 | Total points 9,050 |
| card_name | Online grocery purchases 650 | Dining out 1,950 | Streaming service subscriptions 650 | Lodging and airfare 1,950 | Rental cars 650 | Gas station purchases 1,950 | Total points 7,800 |
However, you’d earn more with the card_name on lodging and airfare booked independently. card_name offers 2 points per dollar spent on purchases made outside of Chase Rewards, but card_name offers 3 points per dollar spent. In this case, you’d earn more with card_name.
Our recommendations
Why we recommend card_name
card_name is the better pick for travel rewards. Points are worth 25% more when used for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards, and you’ll get an annual $50 hotel statement credit. Cardholders who dine out or order groceries online can benefit tremendously. You’ll also get built-in travel coverages and purchase protections, which makes this card even more attractive.
Why you would still opt for card_name
If you don’t travel often and prefer not to keep tabs on spending categories, the card_name could be the better choice. Earnings on everyday expenses are rather generous. And, like the card_name, you can transfer points and receive an annual hotel savings benefit.
The bottom line
card_name and card_name are affordable starter travel cards. Both come with the same annual fee of $95, and you can transfer points to other loyalty programs. That said, the right card for you will vary depending on how you spend your money and which perks are the most important to you.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Is card_name hard to get?
You’ll generally need good or excellent credit to qualify for card_name. A credit score of at least 670 (or higher) is ideal.
Which has better rewards—Chase or American Express?
card_name offers the most significant earning potential. However, you can rack up more points for independently booked travel with card_name.
What alternative cards are there for earning rewards?
The card_name is another other low-cost option worth considering.
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