It appears nearly each airline, resort chain and bank card issuer has launched its personal premium bank card, attractive clients with luxurious journey perks paired with hefty annual charges. Many of those playing cards provide stable worth, particularly when you’re loyal to the underlying model.
There are two long-standing titans of the premium card market: The Platinum Card® from American Specific and the Chase Sapphire Reserve®. The previous constructed the marketplace for premium rewards playing cards many years in the past, whereas the latter is chargeable for rising its mass attraction.
Because the Sapphire Reserve debuted in 2016, competitors between these two playing cards has been fierce. Right now, we are going to study how they evaluate and whether or not you must take into account including one (or each) to your pockets.
Associated: The perfect journey bank cards
Amex Platinum vs. Sapphire Reserve comparability
| Card | Amex Platinum | Sapphire Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| Welcome provide | Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards factors after spending $8,000 on purchases throughout the first six months of card membership. | Earn 60,000 Chase Final Rewards factors after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening. |
| Annual payment | $695 (see charges and charges) | $550 |
| Incomes charges |
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| Notable advantages |
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*Enrollment is required.
Amex Platinum vs. Sapphire Reserve welcome provide
When contemplating a brand new card, particularly one with a $500-plus annual payment, most individuals first have a look at the welcome provide to see how a lot of that annual payment they’ll begin recouping instantly.
TPG’s March 2025 valuations peg Membership Rewards factors at 2 cents every, making the preliminary welcome provide of 80,000 factors price $1,600 alone. Since Amex solely means that you can earn a welcome provide on every of its playing cards as soon as per lifetime, it could be tempting to carry off on making use of for the Amex Platinum in hopes that you could be be focused by CardMatch for the next bonus in some unspecified time in the future sooner or later.
In the meantime, the Chase Sapphire Reserve is at present providing a sign-up bonus of 60,000 bonus factors after you spend $4,000 within the first three months from account opening.
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TPG’s March 2025 valuations peg Final Rewards factors at 2.05 cents every, making this bonus price $1,230. That is barely decrease than the Amex Platinum provide’s spending requirement, although.
Winner: The Amex Platinum takes the lead on this first class, particularly if you’re focused for an elevated provide by CardMatch.
Associated: The perfect time to use for these common playing cards primarily based on provide historical past
Amex Platinum vs. Sapphire Reserve advantages
Let’s have a look beneath at the preferred and beneficial perks out there (be aware that enrollment is required for choose advantages; phrases apply):
| Profit | Amex Platinum | Chase Sapphire Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| Annual assertion credit and accomplice advantages |
As much as $200 annual airline incidental payment assertion credit score As much as $200 annual pay as you go resort assertion credit score As much as $200 annual Uber Money for eligible U.S. purchases (as much as $15 month-to-month, with a $20 bonus in December) As much as $199 annual Clear Plus membership assertion credit score As much as $100 Saks Fifth Avenue assertion credit score ($50 biannually) As much as $240 in digital leisure assertion credit at choose suppliers (as much as $20 month-to-month) As much as $155 Walmart+ assertion credit score yearly (as much as $12.95 plus relevant taxes on one membership payment; topic to auto-renewal; Plus Up Advantages are excluded)* As much as $300 in Equinox assertion credit score yearly As much as $300 in annual SoulCycle assertion credit score (should use the Platinum card to buy a full-priced bike, should be enrolled in Equinox+; a most restrict of 15 bikes may be bought) |
$300 annual journey credit score
Complimentary DoorDash DashPass membership by Dec. 31, 2027, plus a $5 month-to-month credit score
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| Lounge entry | Entry to the American Specific World Lounge Assortment, which incorporates Centurion Lounges, Precedence Cross(enrollment is required), (excluding eating places), Delta Sky Golf equipment on same-day Delta flights***, Plaza Premium, Airspace and Escape lounges | Precedence Cross Choose membership, Chase Sapphire Lounge by The Membership |
| Journey protections |
Secondary automotive rental protection* Journey delay safety** Journey cancellation/interruption insurance coverage** See our information to Amex journey protections for extra particulars. |
Major automotive rental insurance coverage Baggage delay insurance coverage Journey delay insurance coverage Journey cancellation/interruption insurance coverage Emergency medical and dental profit |
| Resort elite standing | Gold standing with Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors (enrollment is required) | None |
| Resort perks | American Specific Advantageous Lodges + Resorts and The Resort Assortment | The Edit by Chase Journey |
| World Entry/TSA PreCheck credit score | One credit score each 4 years for World Entry or each 4 1/2 years for TSA PreCheck | One credit score each 4 years for World Entry, TSA PreCheck or Nexus |
*Eligibility and profit degree varies by card. Not all car varieties or leases are lined, and geographic restrictions apply. Phrases, situations and limitations apply. Go to americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for particulars. Insurance policies are underwritten by AMEX Assurance Firm. Protection is obtainable by American Specific Journey Associated Companies Firm, Inc.
**Eligibility and profit degree varies by card. Phrases, situations and limitations apply. Go to americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for particulars. Insurance policies are underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance coverage Firm, an AIG Firm.
***Eligible Platinum Card Members will obtain 10 visits per eligible Platinum Card per yr to the Delta Sky Membership or to Seize and Go when touring on a same-day Delta-operated flight.
That is by far the trickiest a part of the comparability, with many various items to unpack. It is also the place your private preferences could sway you to at least one card or one other.
For starters, the Sapphire Reserve nonetheless has an edge over Amex relating to the $300 annual journey credit score. Not solely is it the next quantity than the up-to-$200 airline payment credit score that comes with the Amex Platinum, nevertheless it’s additionally a lot much less restrictive. It’ll routinely apply to a broad vary of journey purchases. In distinction, the $200 Amex airline credit score solely applies to pick charges equivalent to seat assignments or checked baggage — and also you’re restricted to a single airline you designate every year.
Concerning ride-hailing providers, some individuals see the up-to-$200 in annual (U.S.) Uber Money (damaged into $15 a month, with a $20 bonus in December; enrollment required) that comes with the Amex Platinum card as a cashlike credit score. Nonetheless, not everybody makes use of a ride-hailing service or locations an Uber Eats order within the U.S. as soon as a month, which suggests the ten factors per greenback spent on Lyft rides with the Sapphire Reserve could be a extra beneficial possibility.
On the flip facet, when you stay in a smaller metropolis or by no means order meals, you may discover the DoorDash partnership with Chase ineffective.
The identical may be stated of sure perks on the Amex Platinum — together with assertion credit with Saks Fifth Avenue, Clear and choose digital leisure suppliers. Should you already use these providers or retailers, it is like a reimbursement in your pocket. If not, it’s possible you’ll discover they don’t seem to be an actual value-add relative to the annual payment. Enrollment is required for choose advantages.
In the meantime, the Amex Platinum is broadly thought of essentially the most complete card for airport lounge entry. With it, you may get a Precedence Cross Choose membership in addition to entry to Amex’s large assortment of Centurion Lounges and Delta Sky Golf equipment on same-day Delta flights (restricted to 10 annual visits, except you spend $75,000 or extra in your card in a calendar yr).
In the meantime, the Sapphire Reserve gives a Precedence Cross membership and entry to the rising community of Chase lounges.
One other space the place Amex excels is by providing Gold standing with each Marriott and Hilton to Platinum cardholders. Additionally, you will obtain Hertz President’s Circle standing (enrollment required; phrases apply). Chase gives no equal profit.
Chase has traditionally been the chief in journey insurance coverage, with beneficiant phrases. Amex has partially closed the hole, including a collection of journey safety advantages to the Amex Platinum card (see right here for extra info).
Winner: Amex Platinum is the clear winner on the subject of perks and advantages, together with annual assertion credit, expanded airport lounge entry, journey protections, and elite standing with Marriott and Hilton.
Associated: The right way to resolve if a card’s annual payment is price paying
Incomes factors on the Amex Platinum vs. Sapphire Reserve
Lengthy after your bonus has been earned and spent, you may desire a card that can assist you shortly rack up beneficial transferable factors.
The Amex Platinum earns:
- 5 factors per greenback spent on airfare bought instantly with the airways or by the Amex Journey portal (on as much as $500,000 of airfare purchases per calendar yr, then 1 level per greenback)
- 5 factors per greenback spent on pay as you go lodges booked with Amex Journey
- 1 level per greenback spent on all different purchases
The Chase Sapphire Reserve gives a broader vary of bonus classes, together with on a regular basis purchases like journey and eating and earns:
- 10 factors per greenback spent on lodges and automotive leases bought by Chase Journey
- 10 factors per greenback spent on eating purchases by the Chase portal
- 10 factors per greenback spent on Lyft rides (by March 31, 2025)
- 10 factors per greenback spent on Peloton tools and accent purchases (by March 2025) of $150 or extra, with a most of fifty,000 factors
- 5 factors per greenback spent on flights bought by Chase Journey
- 3 factors per greenback spent on all different journey (excluding the $300 journey credit score) and eating purchases worldwide
- 1 level per greenback spent on every thing else
Whereas the Amex Platinum does pull forward on airfare booked instantly with airways (with a terrific 10% return primarily based on TPG March 2025 valuations), the Chase Sapphire Reserve pulls forward for dozens of different journey bills, together with most lodges, ride-hailing providers, parking charges, tolls and excursions. It additionally has an equally broad 3 factors per greenback spent on eating that the Platinum cannot match.
Winner: Chase Sapphire Reserve is one of the best for incomes because of its favorable on a regular basis bonus classes that show you how to earn extra factors in the long run.
Associated: Finest reward playing cards for every bonus class
Redeeming factors on the Amex Platinum vs. Sapphire Reserve
Let’s begin with the Chase Sapphire Reserve. Along with its 14 airline and resort switch companions, Sapphire Reserve clients get a 50% bonus when redeeming factors for journey instantly by the Chase Journey portal. This offers you an absolute minimal redemption worth of 1.5 cents per level, which means you possibly can e book a seat on any flight that is on the market, even when there is not award house out there.
Should you choose to make use of your Amex factors instantly by American Specific Journey, you will not get almost the worth you do by Chase. Flight bookings are a flat 1 cent per level, whereas resort reservations clock in at simply 0.7 cents apiece.
Winner: Chase Sapphire Reserve has the next straight-up redemption worth for journey.
Transferring factors on the Amex Platinum vs. Sapphire Reserve
On the airline facet, common redemption choices embody United MileagePlus, Southwest Fast Rewards, British Airways Government Membership, Virgin Atlantic Flying Membership and Air France-KLM Flying Blue — although the final three additionally accomplice with Amex Membership Rewards. The identical holds true for Air Canada Aeroplan — although when you additionally maintain the Aeroplan® Credit score Card, you possibly can get pleasure from a ten% bonus on sure transfers from Chase Final Rewards to your Aeroplan account.
In the meantime, Amex Membership Rewards has a whopping 21 switch companions, however not all are price your consideration. Some have switch ratios beneath 1:1, have longer switch occasions (which suggests you danger watching your award house disappear) or just haven’t got moderately priced redemption choices.
TPG bank cards author Chris Nelson prefers to switch to ANA Mileage Membership, Air Canada Aeroplan and Avianca LifeMiles, every providing enticing choices for reserving Star Alliance tickets.
Winner: Chase Sapphire Reserve comes out on prime for redemption choices because it gives a 1:1 switch ratio for all its airline and resort companions.
Ought to I get the Amex Platinum or Sapphire Reserve?
Between resort elite standing and Centurion Lounge entry, the Amex Platinum is healthier fitted to these trying to get pleasure from a extra luxurious journey way of life. Should you often buy airfare qualifying for five factors per greenback, this card deserves a spot in your pockets. Alternatively, the Sapphire Reserve gives a barely decrease annual payment, lounge entry and broader points-earning alternatives.
Backside line
The Sapphire Reserve is a premium card easy sufficient for learners and execs alike. The $300 annual journey credit score is routinely utilized to a variety of purchases. Plus, you earn 3 factors per greenback spent on journey (excluding the $300 journey credit score) and eating and these classes are broad sufficient that you simply will not be scratching your head making an attempt to resolve when you’re swiping the fitting card.
The Amex Platinum is healthier suited to these on the lookout for a extra luxurious journey way of life who can make the most of all of the annual assertion credit.
To be taught extra, learn our full opinions of the Sapphire Reserve and Amex Platinum.
Apply right here: Amex Platinum
Apply right here: Chase Sapphire Reserve
For charges and charges of the Amex Platinum, click on right here.
