Two of Chase’s hottest bank cards — the mid-tier Chase Sapphire Most popular® Card (see charges and costs) and its premium sibling, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see charges and costs) — are well-loved at TPG on account of a number of components together with the previous’s affordable $95 annual payment, bonus-earning charges on journey and eating and worthwhile journey protections.
Whereas the Sapphire Reserve has a a lot larger annual payment of $550, it additionally provides luxurious perks and lots of the advantages we have come to anticipate from premium journey playing cards.
That mentioned, the Sapphire Most popular nonetheless packs an honest punch. What makes it much more interesting is that it is each an excellent starter journey card and ultimate for frequent and seasoned vacationers, too.
Let’s check out why the Sapphire Most popular could be the subsequent Chase card you need in your pockets (if you happen to do not have already got it).
Higher welcome bonus
Each playing cards presently provide completely different welcome bonuses however similar minimal spend thresholds:
- Sapphire Most popular: Earn 100,000 factors after spending $5,000 on purchases inside the first three months from account opening.
- Sapphire Reserve: Earn 60,000 factors after spending $5,000 on purchases inside the first three months from account opening.
Associated: Chase Sapphire Most popular Card evaluate: A high journey and eating card
In line with TPG’s April 2025 valuations, the Chase Sapphire Most popular’s 100,000-point bonus is price $2,050. When you select to redeem by Chase Journey℠, nevertheless, the identical quantity of factors are price as much as $1,250.
The Chase Sapphire Reserve’s 60,000-point bonus is price $1,230 based on our valuations and might be price as much as $900 once you redeem the factors for journey by the Chase Journey or as an announcement credit score with the Pay Your self Again characteristic since level redemptions are price 50% extra this fashion.
Day by day E-newsletter
Reward your inbox with the TPG Day by day publication
Be part of over 700,000 readers for breaking information, in-depth guides and unique offers from TPG’s consultants
When you redeem factors for money again outdoors of Pay Your self Again, 60,000 factors are price $600.
Associated: 10 greatest methods to make use of 100K Chase Final Rewards factors
Decrease annual payment
The 2 Chase Sapphire playing cards have very completely different annual charges, so it is essential to do the mathematics and see which card makes essentially the most monetary sense in your way of life. Those that aren’t frequent vacationers may not really feel the necessity to pay extra for advantages that they are going to hardly ever use.
When you’ve by no means held a premium card earlier than or are averse to excessive annual charges, it’s possible you’ll be a bit of apprehensive in regards to the $550 annual payment for the Sapphire Reserve.
Nevertheless, it’s best to know {that a} excessive payment is frequent amongst playing cards of this tier. You possibly can successfully recoup a lot of the payment if you happen to make the most of all of the added card advantages.
Simply by accounting for the Sapphire Reserve’s $300 annual journey credit score alone, the annual payment is already decreased to a extra manageable $250 — but it is nonetheless a $155 premium over the Sapphire Most popular.
Whereas the Sapphire Reserve delivers extra credit and perks than the Sapphire Most popular, you do should make extra of an effort to maximise these further perks, which may very well be a ache if you need a card with a less complicated reward incomes and redeeming construction.
Associated: The 8 greatest bank cards with annual charges below $100
Bonus classes
The Sapphire Most popular earns on the following charges:
- 5 factors per greenback spent on journey booked by Chase Journey
- 3 factors per greenback spent on eating — in step with the Sapphire Reserve
- 3 factors per greenback spent on choose streaming companies
- 3 factors per greenback spent on on-line groceries (excluding Goal, Walmart and wholesale golf equipment)
- 2 factors per greenback spent on journey purchases
- 1 level per greenback spent on different eligible purchases
For its half, the Chase Sapphire Reserve earns:
- 10 factors per greenback spent on Chase Eating booked by the Final Rewards portal
- 10 factors per greenback spent on resort and automobile rental purchases by Chase Journey
- 5 factors per greenback spent on airline journey booked by Chase Journey
- 3 factors per greenback spent on different journey
- 3 factors per greenback spent on eating
- 1 level per greenback spent on different eligible purchases
The extra you intend to spend in these bonus classes, the larger the distinction in rewards. To illustrate you spend $500 on non-Chase eating and $500 on non-Chase journey (a complete of $1,000) monthly on these two bonus classes.
That will carry your Sapphire Most popular earnings to 2,500 factors month-to-month (as much as $50 in worth) versus 3,000 factors with the Reserve (as much as $60).
General, the extra 1 level earned on basic journey purchases with the Sapphire Reserve could not warrant the a lot larger annual payment for some. When you think about that $155 distinction in annual charges (after utilizing the $300 annual journey credit score from the Sapphire Reserve), the Sapphire Most popular could very nicely come out on high as the higher selection for some shoppers.
Journey protections
It is uncommon to discover a mid-tier card with robust journey protections. Most playing cards on this vary provide a number of protections, akin to secondary auto insurance coverage or baggage insurance coverage.
With the Chase Sapphire Most popular, cardholders get the advantage of as much as $10,000 per coated traveler or $20,000 per journey in journey cancellation insurance coverage, as much as $500 a coated ticket in journey delay insurance coverage, as much as $3,000 in misplaced baggage insurance coverage, as much as $100 a day (as much as 5 days) in baggage delay insurance coverage and major rental automobile insurance coverage.
Secondary automobile rental insurance coverage is extra in style amongst mid-tier playing cards, including much more worth to an already spectacular protection-rich card.
As a mid-tier card, the Sapphire Most popular packs a punch with premium-level journey insurance coverage. The advantages right here make the Sapphire Most popular extraordinarily engaging, particularly when its annual payment is a lot decrease than the Sapphire Reserve’s.
Associated: Bank card rental automobile insurance coverage: Finest playing cards and the way it works
Simpler approval
Many components play into whether or not or not you will get authorized for any bank card, akin to earnings, credit score historical past, credit score rating, age of your credit score accounts and in case you have a preexisting relationship with the credit score issuer.
When making use of to the extra premium Chase Sapphire Reserve, you will doubtless want a credit score rating of not less than 740. Nevertheless, it has been reported the common individual authorized has a rating of round 750.
It is essential to notice that you may nonetheless be denied for both card even in case you have a superb credit score rating. Nevertheless, these estimates can provide you a spot to start out. And keep in mind, Chase’s 5/24 rule nonetheless applies, so if you happen to’ve opened 5 or extra private bank cards throughout all banks within the final 24 months, you will doubtless obtain a denial in your software.
Associated: Chase’s 5/24 rule: Every part it is advisable to know
Backside line
Plus, because of the Chase Sapphire Most popular Card’s present highest-ever welcome bonus of 100,000 factors after spending $5,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening, it is simple to earn a large stash of Final Rewards factors proper now.
Associated: Chase Sapphire Most popular vs. Sapphire Reserve: Must you go mid-tier or premium?
Apply right here: Chase Sapphire Most popular
