Chase Sapphire Preferred vs. AmEx Green: Sapphire Comes Out Ahead

With a makeover that added more value to the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, it emerges as the winner in a head-to-head lineup against the American Express® Green Card, although the latter will still appeal to AmEx loyalists.

Why does the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card come out ahead?

In addition to having a lower annual fee and larger sign-up bonus, it also earns more rewards across a greater number of categories. Still, the American Express® Green Card offers some additional benefits that warrant a closer look.

Here’s how to decide which travel card is best for you.

» MORE: NerdWallet's best travel credit cards

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Why the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is better for most people

Annual fee

The lower fee on the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card makes it more appealing to the casual card user, especially since it doesn't correlate with lower value.

» MORE: Is the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card worth its annual fee?

Sign-up bonus

While the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card has a higher spending requirement, it also offers greater value. Points are worth 1.25 cents each when redeemed for travel booked through Chase. AmEx Membership Rewards points are generally worth from 0.7 cent to 1 cent each, depending on how you redeem them. Terms apply.

Rewards

The rewards structure for the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card makes it a more versatile card than the American Express® Green Card. Naturally, Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card holders will earn elevated rewards on travel, including 5X points on travel booked through Chase. But its other bonus categories — dining, online grocery purchases and select streaming services — make the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card a more rewarding card for some everyday expenses.

On the other hand, the highest bonus rate on the American Express® Green Card is 3X points, and it earns those bonus rewards in two categories: travel and restaurants. Terms apply.

Acceptance abroad

Though American Express has expanded the number of merchants that accept its cards worldwide, Visa is still more widely accepted, giving the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card the edge. Neither card charges foreign transaction fees.

» MORE: Why this now-classic Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card still has staying power

Who might prefer the American Express® Green Card

Perks from partners

Added extras from partner services are where the American Express® Green Card shines, especially if you want to make your time at the airport more tolerable.

American Express® Green Card holders get a $199 credit for Clear, a service that allows travelers to move more quickly through security lines. The credit completely covers the cost of a Clear membership for one year, an excellent deal for frequent travelers. The Clear credit alone more than makes up for the American Express® Green Card’s annual fee. The American Express® Green Card also comes with a $100 LoungeBuddy statement credit, which could pay for a few lounge visits every year. (Editor's note: As of Jan. 13, 2025, the American Express® Green Card's LoungeBuddy credit will no longer be available.)

Lastly, the American Express® Green Card offers a free membership to ShopRunner, the online delivery service. Enrollment is required.

In contrast, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card currently offers just one partner perk, and it’s not a permanent feature of the card. Until March 31, 2025, Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card holders receive 5x points on qualifying Lyft rides. Of course, if you don’t use ridesharing services, or prefer Uber to Lyft, this limited-time offer won’t be useful.

Potential tiebreakers

Both cards allow you to transfer points to travel partners such as airlines and hotel companies. Transferring points to partners can provide outsized value toward travel. A decision between the American Express® Green Card and the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card could come down to your preference for travel partners, which is often influenced by what airports are closest to you.

For example, if your favorite airport is a Delta hub, you may be persuaded to pick the American Express® Green Card because Delta only partners with AmEx, not Chase. On the other hand, United Airlines and Southwest Airlines are strictly Chase partners.

Check out our comprehensive lists of all of the travel partners for American Express and Chase.

Which card should you get?

The American Express® Green Card is a nice travel card with competitive rewards and perks. But unless you can fully use its statement credits for Clear and LoungeBuddy over several years, you’re likely to get more value from the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. If you want to redeem your points for travel directly through the issuer, rather than transfer to partners, points from the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card are worth considerably more at 1.25 cents each rather than 0.7 cent to 1 cent a piece at AmEx.

» MORE: How to choose a travel card