Chase Sapphire Preferred vs. Amex Gold: Which Wins in 2026?

Intro

It is the most common debate in the credit card community: Team Blue (Chase) or Team Gold (Amex)? If you are looking for a mid-tier premium card in 2026, you have almost certainly narrowed it down to the Chase Sapphire Preferred® (CSP) and the American Express® Gold Card.

On the surface, they look different. The CSP is a travel card with a low $95 fee. The Amex Gold is a lifestyle card with a steeper $250 fee (rates subject to change). But both target the same consumer: the person who wants to earn serious points on their daily life to fund their future travels. Let's break down the math to see which one actually wins.

Quick Summary: The Verdict

• Choose Chase Sapphire Preferred if: You are a beginner, you want a low annual fee, or you love staying at Hyatt hotels.
• Choose Amex Gold if: You spend a lot on groceries and dining, and you can naturally use the Uber/Dining credits.

Round 1: The Annual Fee & Credits

Chase Sapphire Preferred: $95 annual fee. You get a $50 annual hotel credit (for hotels booked via Chase).
Effective Cost: ~$45.

Amex Gold: $250 annual fee. However, it comes with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually and up to $120 in dining credits (Shake Shack, Grubhub, etc.).
Effective Cost: $10 if you use the coupons. $250 if you don't.

Winner: Chase (for simplicity). Amex wins only if you are already a Grubhub/Uber power user.

Round 2: Earning Rates

This is where Amex usually crushes the competition.

• Amex Gold: 4x points on Restaurants, 4x on US Supermarkets (up to $25k/year), 3x on Flights.
• Chase Sapphire Preferred: 3x on Dining, 3x on Online Grocery, 2x on Travel.

If you spend $500 a month on groceries, Amex earns you 24,000 points a year. Chase earns you significantly less unless you order online groceries specifically. For the daily spender, Gold is superior.

Round 3: Transfer Partners (The Redemption)

Earning points is half the battle; burning them is the other.

Chase Ultimate Rewards: The secret weapon is Hyatt. Hyatt award charts are incredibly generous. 20,000 Chase points can get you a night at a luxury hotel that costs $800 cash. Chase also has United Airlines and Southwest.

Amex Membership Rewards: The strength here is international airlines. ANA (All Nippon Airways), Air Canada Aeroplan, British Airways, and Delta. If you want to fly business class to Europe or Asia, Amex points often offer more routes.

Round 4: Travel Protection

Chase wins comfortably here. The CSP offers primary rental car insurance (Amex is secondary unless you pay extra) and solid trip delay reimbursement. If your flight is delayed by 12 hours, Chase covers your hotel and meals. Amex Gold has fewer travel protections compared to its Platinum sibling.

Head-to-Head Comparison Table

Mini FAQ

Can I transfer Amex points to Chase?

No. The ecosystems are separate. You cannot combine points from different banks directly.

Is the Amex Gold metal?

Yes, and it is available in Gold, Rose Gold, and sometimes limited edition designs. It feels premium.

Which card is better for international travel?

Chase Sapphire Preferred. While both have no foreign transaction fees, Visa is accepted significantly more often worldwide than American Express.

Conclusion

Here is the bottom line for 2026: Get the Amex Gold if your budget revolves around food and groceries and you want to rack up points fast. Get the Chase Sapphire Preferred if you want a low-maintenance travel card with excellent insurance and access to Hyatt hotels.

Our Pick: Start with Chase (due to the 5/24 rule), then add the Amex Gold later.