Both cards live in the mid-tier travel + dining category, but they earn very differently. The Amex Gold ($325 AF) leans into grocery + dining 4x with a coupon-book; the Sapphire Preferred ($95 AF) is the leaner traveler's transfer-partner workhorse.
Scored against our published methodology · Updated July 21, 2026
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American Express
Households that spend $3,000+/yr at U.S. supermarkets AND $3,000+/yr at restaurants. The 4x at both, transferable to MR partners at our 1.4 cpp benchmark, is industry-leading for dining + grocery combined.
Find your matchMid-frequency travelers (4-8 trips/yr) who want Ultimate Rewards transfer-partner access without the Sapphire Reserve's $795 AF. United still transfers 1:1, and the June 2026 refresh added 3x on gas, EV charging, and vacation rentals plus a $100 annual Chase Travel hotel credit and a $120 TSA PreCheck/Global Entry credit every four years.
Find your matchBest for — by the numbers
Per-spec leads are computed from each issuer's published facts and our scored methodology — there is no single overall winner. Reviewed July 21, 2026. ClearValue Cards earns compensation through our CardRatings partnership, paid when a reader clicks out to CardRatings from our match tool, and through separately labeled, paid partner placements (marked "Advertiser Disclosure · Sponsored") that sit outside our card rankings. Neither compensation source influences editorial scoring or ordering.
| Spec | American Express Gold | Chase Sapphire Preferred |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $325 | $95 |
| 0% intro APR period | None | None |
| Ongoing APR (from) | 19.49% | 19.24% |
| Foreign transaction fee | None | None |
| Rewards score | 17/20 | 17/20 |
| Fee-structure score | 13/20 | 16/20 |
| ClearValue score | 77/100 | 83/100 |
| Late fee | Up to $40 | Up to $40 |
A check marks the card that leads that spec on published figures. Rows with no marker are either tied or judgment calls (fee wording, late-fee terms) where a single "winner" would misrepresent the data.
Tap the spec you care about — we'll show which card leads on it.
For Annual fee, the Chase Sapphire Preferred leads ($95).
Households spending $3,000+ at U.S. supermarkets AND $3,000+ at dining who'll capture 70%+ of the $120 dining + $120 Uber + $100 Resy + $84 Dunkin' credits
At full capture, the 4x grocery + 4x dining + credits absorb the AF entirely. The math only works if both spend categories and credit utilization land.
See your matchesTravelers who want a $95 AF + transfer-partner depth without coupon-book friction
No category caps to game, no monthly credits to remember, 1.25 cpp portal floor + 1.5+ cpp via transfers. The simplest mid-tier travel card.
See your matchesSingle-person households with low grocery spend. Neither card returns more than a $0-AF flat-rate 2% cashback card unless you have a real travel use case OR a $250+/mo grocery + dining stack.
Weighing the numbers yourself? Run our free annual fee value calculator.
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Take the 60-second quizAnnual fee
American Express Gold: $325 — high; only breaks even at strong category + credit capture
Chase Sapphire Preferred: $95 — easy to justify with 4-6 trips/yr
Grocery earning
American Express Gold: 4x at U.S. supermarkets (capped $25k/yr)
Chase Sapphire Preferred: 1x
Dining earning
American Express Gold: 4x worldwide
Chase Sapphire Preferred: 3x worldwide
Coupon-book friction
American Express Gold: High — Grubhub, Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Uber monthly
Chase Sapphire Preferred: None
Transfer-partner depth
American Express Gold: Strong (Amex MR — ANA, ALL, British Airways, Delta)
Chase Sapphire Preferred: Still deep (Chase UR — United 1:1, Air Canada, BA, Iberia), but Hyatt was cut to a 4:3 ratio for Preferred cardmembers in the June 2026 refresh — only the Sapphire Reserve still transfers to Hyatt at 1:1
Neither is universally better — it depends on how you spend. On our published 100-point methodology the American Express Gold scores 77/100 (Worth considering) and the Chase Sapphire Preferred scores 83/100 (Solid pick). Households spending $3,000+ at U.S. supermarkets AND $3,000+ at dining who'll capture 70%+ of the $120 dining + $120 Uber + $100 Resy + $84 Dunkin' credits should lean American Express Gold; travelers who want a $95 AF + transfer-partner depth without coupon-book friction should lean Chase Sapphire Preferred. Take the 60-second quiz to see which fits your profile.
The American Express Gold carries $325, sourced from the issuer's published Schumer Box as of July 21, 2026. The Chase Sapphire Preferred carries $95, as of July 14, 2026. Fees change — confirm the current number at the issuer before you decide.
Households spending $3,000+ at U.S. supermarkets AND $3,000+ at dining who'll capture 70%+ of the $120 dining + $120 Uber + $100 Resy + $84 Dunkin' credits tend to do better with the American Express Gold; travelers who want a $95 AF + transfer-partner depth without coupon-book friction with the Chase Sapphire Preferred. If neither describes you cleanly, take the 60-second quiz for a match.
We score every card across five dimensions — effective rewards, fee structure, audience fit, transparency, and the weakness named — 0–20 each for a 100-point total. The American Express Gold earned 77/100 and the Chase Sapphire Preferred earned 83/100. Scoring follows our published methodology and is never influenced by compensation.
Independent editorial comparison. ClearValue Cards is not a card issuer, a bank, or a lender. ClearValue Cards earns compensation through our CardRatings partnership, paid when a reader clicks out to CardRatings from our match tool, and through separately labeled, paid partner placements (marked "Advertiser Disclosure · Sponsored") that sit outside our card rankings. Neither compensation source influences editorial scoring or ordering. Card facts are sourced from each issuer's published Schumer Box and terms — confirm current numbers at the issuer. See disclosure.
