Relating to journey rewards playing cards, you often get what you pay for when it comes to bonus classes and perks. For this reason we often examine playing cards inside a single class to attempt to discover one of the best premium rewards card or one of the best no-annual-fee playing cards.
The issue is that the American Specific® Gold Card does not match neatly into any class. It straddles the road between midlevel and premium, providing high-value bonus classes for the foodie at a $325 annual price (see charges and charges). Then there’s the premium Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see charges and charges) that only in the near past acquired a significant overhaul.
When you’re a foodie and traveler making an attempt to determine between the Amex Gold and the Chase Sapphire Reserve — among the finest playing cards for journey and eating total — this is what to think about that will help you determine which card is a greater match to your wants.
Sapphire Reserve vs. Amex Gold comparability
Let’s begin with a fast overview of every card’s highlights:
| Chase Sapphire Reserve^ | Amex Gold | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual price | $795 | $325 |
| Welcome provide | Earn 100,000 factors and a $500 Chase Journey℠ credit score after spending $5,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening. | Discover out your provide and see in case you are eligible to earn as excessive as 100,000 Membership Rewards factors after spending $6,000 on purchases throughout the first six months of card membership. Welcome affords fluctuate, and also you is probably not eligible for a suggestion. |
| Bonus classes |
Elevated incomes charges on flights and accommodations booked straight and Chase Journey purchases apply solely after exhausting the $300 annual journey credit score and the $500 Chase Journey credit score featured as a part of the welcome bonus. Current Sapphire Reserve cardholders will not get entry to the brand new incomes charges till Oct. 26. |
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| Annual assertion credit |
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| Different card advantages |
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*Eligibility and profit stage fluctuate 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.
**Eligibility and profit stage fluctuate by card. Phrases, situations and limitations apply. Go to americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for particulars. Insurance policies are underwritten by AMEX Assurance Firm.
***Eligible fees fluctuate by property.
^It is also necessary to notice that present Sapphire Reserve cardholders who utilized earlier than June 23 won’t have entry to the brand new advantages and earnings price till Oct. 26.
Associated: Is the Amex Gold well worth the annual price?
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Sapphire Reserve vs. Amex Gold welcome provide
Each playing cards provide helpful welcome affords that may assist fund your subsequent large journey.
The Chase Sapphire Reserve affords new candidates 100,000 bonus factors and a $500 Chase Journey credit score after they spend $5,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.
It is necessary to notice that the phrases for the journey credit score state: “The promotional credit score is legitimate for a one-time use solely, in case you apply the promotional credit score to a transaction lower than $500, you’ll forfeit the remaining steadiness.”
When factoring within the Chase Journey credit score, that is the very best welcome provide we have seen because the card was initially launched again in 2016.
TPG’s July 2025 valuations peg Final Rewards factors at 2.05 cents every, making the Sapphire Reserve bonus price as much as $2,550 once you embody the $500 Chase Journey credit score.
In the meantime, with the Amex Gold, new candidates can discover out their provide and see if they’re eligible to earn as excessive as 100,000 Membership Rewards factors after spending $6,000 on purchases throughout the first six months of card membership. Welcome affords fluctuate, and also you is probably not eligible for a suggestion.
TPG’s July 2025 valuations peg Membership Rewards factors at 2 cents a bit, making this welcome provide price as much as $2,000.
In fact, the bonus worth is just one piece of the equation. You additionally must ensure you’re eligible to use for both of those playing cards, as Chase and Amex have totally different restrictions on welcome bonus eligibility.
Chase has carried out new guidelines for welcome bonus eligibility on its Sapphire playing cards. Now you can maintain multiple Sapphire product on the similar time, however in case you’re a present cardholder of the Chase Sapphire Most popular® Card (see charges and charges) or beforehand earned a welcome bonus on a Sapphire product — excluding the Chase Sapphire Reserve for Enterprise℠ (see charges and charges) — you virtually positively won’t be eligible for a second Sapphire card bonus.
With the Amex Gold, you might be topic to Amex’s once-in-a-lifetime rule and household restrictions.
Winner: Chase Sapphire Reserve. Its welcome provide is the upper and extra helpful one.
Associated: Finest welcome affords of the month
Sapphire Reserve vs. Amex Gold advantages
Here is a breakdown of the advantages supplied on every card at first look.
| Assertion credit |
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Enrollment is required for choose advantages; phrases apply. |
|---|---|---|
| Different card advantages |
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Enrollment is required for choose advantages; phrases apply. |
That is the place we begin to see the largest variations come up, because the Chase Sapphire Reserve is a premium, luxurious journey card with the perks to match.
Let’s begin with an important profit that may assist offset the cardboard’s $750 annual price: a $300 annual journey credit score. This credit score is routinely utilized to a variety of journey purchases, together with airfare and accommodations. Bookings don’t must be made by way of a journey portal and no activation is required.
The Sapphire Reserve’s different standout profit is lounge entry. You may have entry to Chase Sapphire Lounges and a Precedence Go Choose membership for you and as much as two friends. Plus, you and one visitor will obtain entry to pick Air Canada Maple Leaf lounges when flying on a Star Alliance airline.
Moreover, Sapphire Reserve cardholders obtain a number of different assertion credit, together with a eating credit score; an leisure credit score with StubHub and Viagogo; complimentary Apple Music and Apple TV+ subscriptions; and a International Entry, TSA PreCheck or Nexus software price credit score, and a number of other helpful journey and baggage insurance coverage insurance policies.
Cardholders additionally get pleasure from a complimentary DoorDash DashPass membership and $25 in month-to-month DoorDash promos. (Should activate by Dec. 31, 2027.)
The Amex Gold rewards foodies with as much as $10 in month-to-month eating credit score legitimate on the following retailers: 5 Guys, Grubhub, the Cheesecake Manufacturing facility, Goldbelly and Wine.com (as much as $120 per calendar yr). Cardmembers additionally obtain as much as $120 in annual Uber Money every calendar yr, issued in $10 month-to-month increments, which is legitimate on Uber rides or Uber Eats purchases. Your Amex Gold have to be added to your Uber account, and you’ll redeem it with any Amex card.
As well as, cardmembers can stand up to $100 in assertion credit each calendar yr for purchases made at U.S. Resy-affiliated eating places (as much as $50 in assertion credit biannually). As a remaining foodie profit, the Amex Gold offers as much as $7 in month-to-month assertion credit for U.S. Dunkin’ purchases (as much as $84 every calendar yr).
The Sapphire Reserve affords extra lifestyle- and travel-oriented advantages, whereas the Amex Gold is solely centered on meals and eating. When you maximize these out there advantages, you will wind up with $424 in annual worth, simply justifying the cardboard’s $325 annual price and leaving you within the inexperienced. Enrollment is required for choose advantages; phrases apply.
Winner: Chase Sapphire Reserve. It affords extra substantial perks, together with lounge entry and industry-leading journey protections. Nevertheless, in case you’re in search of a extra food-focused card, the Amex Gold ought to be your prime choose.
Associated: Chase Sapphire Reserve assertion credit: What they’re and tips on how to use them
Incomes factors on the Sapphire Reserve vs. Amex Gold
Each playing cards earn helpful versatile rewards in a wide range of bonus classes.
With the Chase Sapphire Reserve you will earn:
- 10 factors per greenback spent on Peloton gear and accent purchases of $150 or extra (via Dec. 31, 2027), with a most of fifty,000 factors
- 8 factors per greenback spent on purchases made via Chase Journey, together with The Edit
- 5 factors per greenback spent on Lyft rides (via Sept. 30, 2027)
- 4 factors per greenback spent on flights and accommodations booked straight
- 3 factors per greenback spent on eating worldwide
- 1 level per greenback spent on every thing else
Word that the elevated incomes price on journey kicks in after spending your first $300 on journey every calendar yr with the Sapphire Reserve.
In the meantime, with the Amex Gold you will earn:
- 4 factors per greenback spent at eating places and U.S. supermarkets (U.S. supermarkets capped at $25,000 per calendar yr, then 1 level per greenback; eating places capped at $50,000 per calendar yr, then 1 level per greenback)
- 3 factors per greenback spent on flights booked straight with the airline or via amextravel.com
- 2 factors per greenback spent on pay as you go accommodations and different journey purchases made via Amex Journey
- 1 level per greenback spent on all different purchases
The Amex Gold is clearly focused as a foodie-friendly card, and that is mirrored within the bonus classes. The 4 factors per greenback spent at U.S. supermarkets (an 8% return based mostly on TPG’s July 2025 valuations, on as much as $25,000 per calendar yr) is without doubt one of the finest incomes charges you will discover from any card.
The Amex Gold additionally has an edge when eating at eating places, as its 4 factors per greenback spent (on as much as $50,000 per calendar yr) once more wins out over 3 factors per greenback spent on the Sapphire Reserve, which isn’t any slouch both (an 8% versus 6.15% return based mostly on our July 2025 valuations).
For journey earnings, the Sapphire Reserve takes the cake because it earns 4 factors per greenback spent on accommodations and flights booked straight, whereas the Amex Gold earns 3 factors per greenback spent on airfare booked straight or on amextravel.com.
Whereas the Sapphire Reserve is healthier fitted to journey purchases, when you’ve got larger spending on meals and groceries, you are higher suited with the Amex Gold card.
Winner: Chase Sapphire Reserve, because it has barely extra bonus classes.
Associated: Which purchases rely as journey with the Chase Sapphire Reserve?
Redeeming factors on the Sapphire Reserve vs. Amex Gold
Each playing cards share comparable methods of redeeming factors.
With the Chase Sapphire Reserve, factors will be redeemed for journey via Chase Journey at a price of as much as 2 cents per level, relying on the precise redemption, with the Factors Enhance function. With Factors Enhance, you’ll be able to obtain elevated redemption charges of greater than 1 cent per level on choose Chase Journey redemptions. Choose flight and lodge redemptions will be made at a price between 1.5 and a pair of cents per level.
Moreover, it’s also possible to redeem your factors for present playing cards, merchandise or assertion credit score.
With the Amex Gold Card, you’ll be able to redeem your factors for journey via amextravel.com or for present playing cards or money again as an announcement credit score. It is necessary to notice that you simply obtain a redemption price of 1 cent per level when reserving flights via Amex Journey.
All different redemption choices, together with these via Amex Journey, present a price of beneath 1 cent per level, effectively under TPG’s July 2025 valuation of two cents per level, and will not be really helpful.
With each playing cards, you will usually be higher off transferring your factors to one among Chase’s or Amex’s switch companions for max worth.
Winner: Chase Sapphire Reserve. Its factors are price a minimum of 1 cent per level, whatever the redemption methodology, whereas with the Amex Gold, there are not any redemption strategies which have a price of 1 cent per level.
Associated: Amex Platinum vs. Chase Sapphire Reserve
Transferring factors on the Sapphire Reserve vs. Amex Gold
Each playing cards have wonderful rosters of switch companions.
With the Chase Sapphire Reserve, you will have entry to the Chase roster of 14 airline and lodge companions.
With the Amex Gold, you will have entry to Amex’s roster of 20 airline and lodge companions, together with Avianca LifeMiles and Qantas Frequent Flyer.
Each playing cards share some switch companions, together with Air Canada Aeroplan, Air France-KLM Flying Blue, Emirates Skywards, British Airways Membership, Virgin Atlantic Flying Membership and Singapore Airways KrisFlyer.
Moreover, every card has two home airways as a switch associate, with Chase having United MileagePlus and Southwest Speedy Rewards and Amex having Delta SkyMiles and JetBlue TrueBlue.
Chase has fewer airline switch companions however is significantly better for these trying to redeem factors for lodge stays, as World of Hyatt affords the best-value lodge redemptions, as Hyatt nonetheless makes use of a set award chart. Each playing cards share Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors as lodge switch companions.
TPG Credit score Playing cards Author Chris Nelson likes to switch his Amex factors to Delta SkyMiles to make the most of flash gross sales on award flights. Moreover, he likes to switch his Chase factors to Air Canada Aeroplan to ebook long-haul business-class flights on Star Alliance companions.
Switch companions are the easiest way to maximise your factors, particularly if you wish to keep at luxurious accommodations or fly in fancy premium cabins.
Winner: Chase Sapphire Reserve. The Sapphire Reserve takes the slight edge regardless of Aemx having extra switch companions, as Chase has World of Hyatt as a switch associate.
Associated: Why all vacationers ought to earn transferable factors
Ought to I get the Sapphire Reserve or Amex Gold?
When you’re eligible for each of those playing cards, they make an all-star pairing, and there is a actual case for having each in your pockets, as Credit score Playing cards Editor Daisy Hernandez can attest to: “I get a ton of worth from each my Sapphire Reserve and my Amex Gold as journey, eating and groceries are amongst my greatest bills.”
These two playing cards complement one another very effectively when it comes to advantages and incomes and redeeming factors. However in case you should choose one, you will must determine if you would like higher incomes charges on meals and eating and a decrease annual price with the Amex Gold or luxurious journey advantages with the Sapphire Reserve.
When you’re in search of a extra travel-oriented card, the Sapphire Reserve is your best option, however in case you spend rather a lot on meals and eating, the Amex Gold will doubtless be a greater match.
Associated: How to decide on one of the best bank card for you
Backside line
Regardless of not technically being a premium card, the Amex Gold offers the Chase Sapphire Reserve a run for its cash in a number of totally different classes.
These two playing cards complement one another fairly effectively, but additionally goal barely totally different audiences. The Amex Gold is a go-to card for all issues food-related, whereas the Sapphire Reserve focuses on luxurious journey experiences. Both card might make a wonderful addition to your pockets.
To be taught extra, take a look at our full evaluations of the Amex Gold and the Chase Sapphire Reserve.
Apply right here: Amex Gold
Apply right here: Chase Sapphire Reserve
Associated: Amex Platinum vs. Chase Sapphire Reserve
For charges and charges of the Amex Gold card, click on right here.
