For a lot of, the $500-plus annual charges that include ultra-premium journey playing cards such because the Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see charges and charges) and The Platinum Card® from American Specific (see charges and charges) aren’t justifiable. When you aren’t touring usually and using the total lineup of perks and credit, it will not be value including these playing cards to your pockets.
Nonetheless, each Chase and Amex have wonderful mid-tier playing cards: the Chase Sapphire Most popular® Card (see charges and charges) and the American Specific® Gold Card.
Whereas each of those playing cards act as sister playing cards to their luxurious counterparts, there are various variations between them. On this showdown, we’re strolling by means of a side-by-side comparability of those playing cards that will help you decide which is best for you — or whether or not each deserve spots in your pockets.
Sapphire Most popular vs. Amex Gold comparability
Here is a fast overview that compares the important thing perks on these two playing cards:
| Card | Chase Sapphire Most popular Card | American Specific Gold Card |
|---|---|---|
| Welcome bonus | Earn 100,000 bonus factors after spending $5,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening. | Earn 60,000 bonus factors after spending $6,000 on purchases throughout the first six months of cardmembership. You might be focused for the next provide by means of the CardMatch device (not everybody can be focused for a similar provides, and provides might change at any time) |
| Annual charge | $95 | $325 (see charges and charges) |
| Incomes charges |
|
|
| Level valuation (based mostly on TPG’s April 2025 valuations) | 2.05 cents | 2 cents |
| Perks |
|
|
| Journey protections |
|
|
*Enrollment is required for these advantages.
**Eligibility and profit stage varies by card. Phrases, circumstances and limitations apply. Go to americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for particulars. Insurance policies are underwritten by AMEX Assurance Firm.
***Eligibility and profit stage varies by card. Phrases, circumstances and limitations apply. Go to americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for particulars. Insurance policies are underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance coverage Firm, an AIG Firm.
^Eligibility and profit stage varies by card. Not all car varieties or leases are coated, and geographic restrictions apply. Phrases, circumstances and limitations apply. Go to americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for particulars. Insurance policies are underwritten by AMEX Assurance Firm. Protection is obtainable by means of American Specific Journey Associated Providers Firm, Inc.
Sapphire Most popular vs. Amex Gold welcome provide
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Primarily based on TPG’s April 2025 valuations, Final Rewards factors are value 2.05 cents every, making this bonus value $2,050. That is the highest-ever welcome provide we now have seen on this card.
New Amex Gold cardholders can earn 60,000 bonus factors after spending $6,000 on eligible purchases throughout the first six months of cardmembership. Primarily based on TPG’s April 2025 valuations, this provide is value $1,200.
Plus, you might be focused for the next welcome provide on the Amex Gold by means of the CardMatch device (provides are topic to alter at any time and never everybody will obtain the identical provide).
Winner: Sapphire Most popular. The present welcome provide is value greater than the Amex Gold’s.
Associated: One of the best bank card welcome bonuses
Sapphire Most popular vs. Amex Gold advantages
In trade for a $95 annual charge, the Sapphire Most popular provides some stable perks, together with a $50 annual lodge credit score for bookings by means of Chase Journey, a ten% factors bonus in your cardholder anniversary and a complimentary DoorDash DashPass membership (activate by Dec. 31, 2027).
Different advantages embrace protections like rental automobile insurance coverage, journey delay and cancellation insurance coverage and baggage delay insurance coverage. These are a fantastic security internet when you journey, however they do not do a lot to boost your day-to-day life when all the things goes in response to plan.
For greater than double the Sapphire Most popular’s annual charge ($325 vs. $95), the Amex Gold provides a number of wonderful perks (enrollment is required for choose advantages; phrases apply):
- As much as $120 in Uber Money per calendar yr: Obtain as much as $10 in Uber Money every month, legitimate on Uber rides and Uber Eats orders within the U.S. Your Amex Gold should be added as a cost methodology, and you may redeem with any Amex card
- As much as $120 in eating credit every calendar yr: Obtain as much as $10 a month in assertion credit for purchases together with your Amex Gold at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Manufacturing facility, Goldbelly, Wine.com and 5 Guys.
- As much as $100 in assertion credit for purchases made at Resy eating places per calendar yr: Obtain as much as $50 in assertion credit biannually for eligible Resy purchases and eating at U.S. Resy eating places; simply pay together with your card to obtain the credit score. No reservation is required.
- As much as $84 in assertion credit for Dunkin’ Donuts purchases: Obtain as much as $7 per thirty days in assertion credit for purchases made at U.S. Dunkin’ Donuts.
- Enrollment is required; phrases apply.
Amex Gold cardmembers additionally obtain journey and buy protections. Phrases apply.
Winner: Amex Gold. The Amex Gold’s assertion credit are valued at $424, greater than the cardboard’s annual charge. That is much more worth than you may get from the Sapphire Most popular annually.
Associated: Why you may wish to pay the Chase Sapphire Most popular’s $95 annual charge
Incomes factors on the Sapphire Most popular vs. Amex Gold
- 5 factors per greenback on journey booked by means of Chase Journey (excluding lodge reservations that qualify for the $50 credit score)
5 factors per greenback on Lyft (by means of Sept. 2027)
5 factors per greenback on Peloton tools and accent purchases of $150 or extra (by means of Dec. 2027, with a restrict of 25,000 bonus factors) - 3 factors per greenback on eating, choose streaming companies and on-line grocery shops (excluding Walmart, Goal and wholesale golf equipment)
- 2 factors per greenback on different journey, together with lodges, airfare, rental vehicles, taxis and parking meters
- 1 level per greenback on all the things else
These are stable charges on a variety of purchases.
Nonetheless, the Amex Gold might shine brighter in the case of its incomes construction:
- 4 factors per greenback on eating at eating places worldwide (as much as $50,000 every calendar yr, then 1 level per greenback)
- 4 factors per greenback at U.S. supermarkets (as much as $25,000 per calendar yr; then 1 level per greenback)
- 3 factors per greenback on airfare bought instantly from the airline or by means of amextravel.com
- 2 factors per greenback on pay as you go lodges and different eligible purchases booked by means of amextravel.com
- 1 level per greenback on different eligible purchases
Regardless of the spending cap, incomes 4 factors per greenback at eating places worldwide and U.S. supermarkets is an 8% return on each purchases, in response to TPG’s April 2025 valuations. That makes it among the best playing cards for eating at eating places and U.S. grocery purchasing.
Winner: Amex Gold. Its increased incomes charges on eating worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets, in addition to on flights booked instantly with an airline, give it the higher hand.
Associated: Why the Amex Gold is the proper ‘in-between’ bank card
Redeeming factors on the Sapphire Most popular vs. Amex Gold
Each of those playing cards are related in that they earn among the most beneficial transferable factors currencies round.
You will get a 25% bonus when redeeming factors for journey by means of Chase Journey. However you may get essentially the most worth by transferring your factors to one in every of Chase’s 14 helpful lodge and airline switch companions.
The Amex Gold earns equally helpful Membership Rewards factors, which you’ll redeem for journey instantly by means of AmexTravel.com or for present playing cards and assertion credit.
Once more, you may get one of the best worth out of your factors by transferring them to one in every of Amex’s 21 lodge and airline companions.
Winner: Tie. Each playing cards earn transferable rewards and offer you a variety of helpful redemption choices.
Transferring factors on the Sapphire Most popular vs. Amex Gold
For instance, if you happen to dwell in a Delta hub, you may get extra worth out of transferring your Membership Rewards factors to Delta SkyMiles, whereas those that have a coveted Southwest Companion Go can get some unbelievable worth by transferring Chase Final Rewards factors to Southwest Fast Rewards.
TPG contributing editor Matt Moffitt makes use of his Sapphire Most popular usually to switch factors to British Airways Government Membership to make the most of candy spots on American Airways flights.
In the meantime, TPG bank cards editor Olivia Mittak transfers the Membership Rewards factors she earns on her Amex Gold to Air Canada Aeroplan and Delta SkyMiles.
Winner: Tie. Each playing cards switch to varied companions, all with their respective redemption choices and candy spots.
Associated: Why transferable factors are value greater than different rewards
Ought to I get the Sapphire Most popular or Amex Gold?
When you spend most of your price range on groceries within the U.S. or eating and may make the most of its month-to-month credit, the Amex Gold is probably going your winner. Nonetheless, the Sapphire Most popular is a greater match if you happen to favor Final Rewards factors and wish to earn bonus factors on common journey bills. Nonetheless, keep in mind that it does not should be a “this or that” choice; there’s room for each of those playing cards in a well-developed factors technique.
Backside line
Nonetheless, they’re one in every of our high card pairings, so it could be value having each in your pockets.
To be taught extra, learn our full critiques of the Chase Sapphire Most popular and Amex Gold.
Apply right here: Chase Sapphire Most popular
Apply right here: American Specific Gold
For charges and charges of the Amex Platinum, click on right here.
For charges and charges of the Amex Gold, click on right here.
