American Express® Gold Card vs Sapphire Reserve
American Express® Gold Card
$325/yr
7.5/10
VS
Sapphire Reserve
$795/yr
7.0/10
Quick Answer
American Express® Gold Card charges $325/yr with 1X base rewards. Sapphire Reserve charges $795/yr with 1X base rewards. American Express® Gold Card 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
American Express® Gold Card
Lower annual fee ($325 vs $795)
Rewards Earning
Sapphire Reserve
5 earning categories
Benefits & Protection
Sapphire Reserve
12 benefits vs 6
Statement Credits
Sapphire Reserve
$2348 in annual credits
Flexibility
Tie
Both cards have similar redemption flexibility
OUR PICK
American Express® Gold Card wins for most people
The $470 fee difference is hard to justify unless you maximize premium benefits.
Apply for American Express® Gold CardPREMIUM PICK
Sapphire Reserve wins for heavy spenders
If you can offset the higher fee with credits and perks, this card delivers more value.
Apply for Sapphire ReserveRewards 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 Reserve
| Chase Travel purchases including The Edit | 8.0X |
| Flights booked directly with airlines | 4.0X |
| Hotels booked directly | 4.0X |
| Dining worldwide | 3.0X |
| All other purchases | 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 Reserve (12 benefits)
- Emergency Medical and Dental (up to $2,500)
- Lost Luggage Reimbursement (up to $3,000)
- Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance (up to $10,000)
- Trip Delay Reimbursement (up to $500)
- Baggage Delay Insurance (up to $100)
- Primary Auto Rental Coverage (up to $75,000)
- Purchase Protection (up to $10,000)
- Extended Warranty Protection
- Emergency Evacuation/Transportation (up to $100,000)
- Priority Pass Select + Chase Sapphire Lounges (up to $469)
- Global Entry/TSA PreCheck/NEXUS Credit (up to $120)
- IHG One Rewards Platinum Elite Status