American Express® Gold Card vs Sapphire Preferred
American Express® Gold Card
$325/yr
7.5/10
VS
Sapphire Preferred
$95/yr
8.0/10
Quick Answer
American Express® Gold Card charges $325/yr with 1X base rewards. Sapphire Preferred charges $95/yr with 1X base rewards. Sapphire Preferred offers better overall value for most spenders when comparing fees, rewards, and benefits side by side.
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Winner by Category
Annual Fees
Sapphire Preferred
Lower annual fee ($325 vs $95)
Rewards Earning
Sapphire Preferred
6 earning categories
Benefits & Protection
American Express® Gold Card
6 benefits vs 6
Statement Credits
American Express® Gold Card
$240 in annual credits
Flexibility
Tie
Both cards have similar redemption flexibility
OUR PICK
Sapphire Preferred wins for most people
The $230 fee difference is hard to justify unless you maximize premium benefits.
Apply for Sapphire PreferredPREMIUM PICK
American Express® Gold Card wins for heavy spenders
If you can offset the higher fee with credits and perks, this card delivers more value.
Apply for American Express® Gold CardRewards Earning: Detailed Comparison
American Express® Gold Card
| Dining | 4.0X |
| U.S. Supermarkets | 4.0X (up to $25,000) |
| Flights | 3.0X |
| Everything Else | 1.0X |
Sapphire Preferred
| Travel via Chase Portal | 5.0X |
| Dining | 3.0X |
| Online Grocery | 3.0X |
| Streaming | 3.0X |
| Other Travel | 2.0X |
| Everything Else | 1.0X |
Card Benefits: Detailed Comparison
American Express® Gold Card (6 benefits)
- Trip Delay Insurance (up to $500)
- Baggage Insurance Plan
- Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance
- Purchase Protection (up to $1,000)
- Extended Warranty
- Return Protection (up to $300)
Sapphire Preferred (6 benefits)
- Trip Cancellation Insurance (up to $10,000)
- Trip Delay Reimbursement (up to $500)
- Baggage Delay Insurance (up to $100)
- Rental Car Collision Damage Waiver
- Purchase Protection (up to $500)
- Extended Warranty Protection (up to $10,000)