At TPG, we love the Chase Sapphire Most popular® Card (see charges and charges). It was the primary journey rewards bank card for many people and stays one of many playing cards we won’t reside with out.
We love that it earns versatile Chase Final Rewards factors and has our backs if one thing goes flawed whereas we’re touring. It is good for the typical traveler who takes one or two huge journeys a 12 months and desires journey advantages however does not want the extras that include a extra premium journey card.
Whereas many people have upgraded to the Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see charges and charges) as our journey habits have advanced, the Chase Sapphire Most popular continues to be one of many prime playing cards we advocate to rookies and anybody in search of a stable set of journey advantages.
Here is why we think about the Sapphire Most popular the most effective card for the typical traveler.
Low annual charge
Chances are you’ll be skeptical of annual charges when you’re new to bank card rewards. However when you have got a robust card with a manageable charge, such because the Chase Sapphire Most popular, it is easy to make up the distinction so that you just aren’t truly paying something out of pocket for the cardboard annually.
When you’re like TPG bank cards editor Olivia Mittak and use DoorDash steadily, you may get all your Sapphire Most popular’s annual charge again with some to spare via its complimentary DoorDash DashPass profit (activate by Dec. 31, 2027).
Since a DashPass membership prices $9.99 every month, utilizing your Sapphire Most popular’s complimentary membership would get you $120 a 12 months in worth. Because the Sapphire Most popular prices $95 a 12 months, you would be within the inexperienced by $25.
That is not even factoring on this card’s $50 annual lodge credit score for Chase Journey℠ bookings and the worth of the Final Rewards factors you may earn.
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Associated: Is the Chase Sapphire Most popular definitely worth the annual charge? I say sure
Helpful welcome bonus
New cardholders can earn 100,000 bonus factors after spending $5,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening. That is the greatest supply we have seen on the Sapphire Most popular in years, and it might not come round once more for some time. This supply ends on Might 15 at 9 a.m. EDT.
Whereas spending $5,000 in simply three months might sound like a tough process for some budgets, there are many methods you’ll be able to meet the minimal spend requirement to unlock the welcome bonus.
In keeping with TPG’s Might 2025 valuations, this welcome bonus is value a whopping $2,050 in journey rewards. With 100,000 Chase Final Rewards factors at your disposal, you have got a ton of redemption choices.
You will not cease incomes these useful factors if you’re executed incomes the Sapphire Most popular’s welcome supply. This card has a number of the greatest incomes charges of any mid-tier card out there.
Associated: I believed I would hardly use my Sapphire Most popular, then it grew to become considered one of my go-to playing cards
Stable incomes
The welcome bonus provides you an awesome begin towards incomes the factors vital on your subsequent trip, however it is not the one approach to earn factors. You will earn factors on a variety of frequent purchases, together with:
- 5 factors per greenback spent on journey booked via Chase Journey (excluding the $50 lodge credit score)
- 5 factors per greenback spent on Lyft purchases (via Sept. 2027)
- 5 factors per greenback spent on Peloton gear and accent purchases of $150 or extra (via Dec. 2027, with a restrict of 25,000 bonus factors)
- 3 factors per greenback spent on eating, choose streaming companies and on-line grocery retailer purchases (excluding Walmart, Goal and wholesale golf equipment)
- 2 factors per greenback spent on all different journey not booked via Chase Journey
- 1 level per greenback spent on all the pieces else
Chase’s eating class is extremely broad. Many issuers limit eating purchases to simply customary eating places and perhaps quick meals, however Chase additionally consists of bars, breweries, college eating halls, merchandising machines and even some restaurant supply companies like DoorDash and Grubhub.
The journey class can also be fairly beneficiant. You will earn bonus factors on typical journey purchases like motels and airfare, however you may additionally earn on purchases that different widespread journey playing cards do not cowl. These embrace ferries, toll bridges, parking garages, low cost journey websites and a few campgrounds.
Associated: How one can maximize your rewards incomes with the Chase Sapphire Most popular
Nice redemptions
Along with flexibility in what earns bonus rewards, the Sapphire Most popular provides flexibility in how one can redeem your factors.
As of Might 2025, TPG values Chase Final Rewards factors at 2.05 cents every. That is as a result of Chase has many useful journey companions that offer you entry to all three main airline alliances and three totally different lodge manufacturers (IHG, Marriott and Hyatt).
Chase Final Rewards transfers to every of its companions at a 1:1 ratio, and lots of of those transfers course of virtually immediately.
Transferring your factors to airline companions is vital if you wish to fly enterprise or firstclass internationally, however it provides actual worth to those that favor journey with out bells and whistles, too.
For instance, you possibly can switch simply 10,800 Final Rewards factors to United and guide a one-way economic system flight from Los Angeles Worldwide Airport (LAX) to Orlando Worldwide Airport (MCO) on choose dates this August. Or, you possibly can switch as few as 3,500 factors per evening for an off-peak keep at a Class 1 Hyatt property.
Many TPGers, together with TPG senior bank cards editor Giselle Gomez, use their Final Rewards factors for Hyatt redemptions. A few of her greatest latest redemptions weren’t for hard-to-snag worldwide flights or world-class luxurious motels however as an alternative to meet her MLB park bucket listing.
If you wish to begin with one thing simpler, you’ll be able to redeem your factors for 1.25 cents every when reserving via Chase Journey. This redemption price is mostly a great deal when you’re reserving economic system awards or customary room charges. Simply remember the fact that you will not earn elite evening credit when reserving motels via Chase Journey.
One other bonus to reserving airfare, particularly via the portal, is that airways think about your redemption money. Which means your factors can even cowl any taxes and charges related along with your flight.
Associated: 21 methods to make use of 100K Chase Final Rewards factors: Finances-friendly redemptions and splendid journeys
Useful journey advantages
The Sapphire Most popular has a number of the greatest journey protections of any mid-tier bank card in the marketplace, together with:
This card additionally comes with main rental automobile insurance coverage — a rarity for any card, not to mention a mid-tier card. Observe that your Sapphire Most popular’s insurance coverage insurance policies might have extra phrases, so make sure that to test your card’s information to advantages for full particulars.
TPG bank cards author Augusta Stone just lately used her Sapphire Most popular’s journey cancellation insurance coverage to cowl a missed lodge keep. Because of her card’s protection, she saved virtually $250.
The Sapphire Most popular additionally comes with a $50 lodge credit score for bookings made via Chase Journey. This credit score is nice for reserving boutique motels that are not a part of a serious lodge loyalty program, or if there is not nice award availability on your keep. Giselle used this credit score along with transferring her factors to Hyatt for her bucket listing baseball journey.
Lastly, the cardboard provides Visa Signature advantages (together with entry to the Visa Signature Concierge Service) and no international transaction charges.
Associated: How I bought a 20X return on my Chase Sapphire Most popular final 12 months
A fantastic sibling
Most common vacationers most likely haven’t got 15-plus bank cards of their pockets, which suggests the playing cards you have got have to make an influence. The Chase Sapphire Most popular can simply be paired with Chase’s no-annual-fee cash-back playing cards that can assist you maximize your incomes potential throughout spending classes, with out including tons of of {dollars} in annual charges to your plate.
The rewards you earn on the Chase Freedom Flex® (see charges and charges) and Chase Freedom Limitless® (see charges and charges) cannot be transferred to companions with out assist from a card just like the Sapphire Most popular.
With the Sapphire Most popular in your pockets, you’ll be able to transfer the rewards you earn from both of the Freedom playing cards to the Chase Sapphire Most popular to reap the benefits of switch companions or an elevated redemption price via Chase Journey.
The Chase Freedom Flex has rotating quarterly bonus classes that earn 5% money again on the primary $1,500 you spend every quarter you activate, whereas the Chase Freedom Limitless earns at the least 1.5% money again on all purchases.
Each playing cards additionally earn 5% again on Chase Journey and three% again on eating at eating places and drugstores. Neither card has an annual charge.
The Freedom Flex and Freedom Limitless may also help fill gaps in your pockets that the Sapphire Most popular cannot cowl. Widespread quarterly classes for the Freedom Flex that are not included among the many Sapphire Most popular’s bonus classes embrace Amazon, PayPal, gyms and charity donations.
The Freedom Limitless can cowl any purchases that do not fall into the Sapphire Most popular or Freedom Flex’s bonus classes.
Associated: Chase Freedom Flex vs. Chase Freedom Limitless
Backside line
The factors and miles world is not simply for many who journey for work or spend all of their free time on the highway. With the Chase Sapphire Most popular, the typical traveler can earn useful factors that may flip into flights and/or lodge stays for a much-deserved trip.
Having the Chase Sapphire Most popular is a superb first step to exploring the world via award journey. When you’re offered on this being the best card for you, do not wait. The cardboard’s greatest supply this 12 months will likely be gone quickly, and you do not need to miss out.
Not satisfied but? To be taught extra, try our full overview of the Sapphire Most popular.
Apply right here: Chase Sapphire Most popular with a present supply of 100,000 bonus factors after spending $5,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.
