Amex Platinum vs. Chase Sapphire Reserve: Which card is best for you?

It looks like nearly each airline, resort chain and bank card issuer has launched its personal premium bank card, attractive clients with luxurious journey perks paired with hefty annual charges. Many of those playing cards provide strong worth, particularly should you’re loyal to the underlying model.

There are two long-standing titans of the premium card market. Of course, I’m speaking about The Platinum Card® from American Express and the Chase Sapphire Reserve.

The former constructed the marketplace for premium rewards playing cards a long time in the past, whereas the latter is answerable for rising its mass enchantment.

Since the Sapphire Reserve debuted in August 2016, competitors between these two playing cards has been fierce. Today, we’re going to check out how they stack up in opposition to one another and whether or not you need to take into account including one (or each) to your pockets.

Related: The finest journey bank cards of 2023

Welcome provide

When contemplating a brand new card, particularly one with a $500-plus annual charge, the very first thing most individuals have a look at is the welcome provide to see how a lot of that annual charge they will begin recouping instantly.

With its $695 annual charge (see charges and costs), the Amex Platinum is currently providing new candidates 80,000 Membership Rewards factors after they spend $6,000 on purchases within the first six months of cardmembership. However, it’s value checking to see should you’re focused for a better provide of 125,000 and even 150,000 factors via the CardMatch software (provide topic to vary at any time).

TPG values Membership Rewards factors at 2 cents every, making the preliminary welcome provide of 80,000 factors value $1,600 alone. Since Amex solely permits you to earn a welcome provide on every of its playing cards as soon as per lifetime, it could be tempting to carry off on making use of for the Amex Platinum in hopes that you could be be focused via CardMatch for a better bonus sooner or later sooner or later.

Meanwhile, the Chase Sapphire Reserve provides a sign-up bonus of 60,000 bonus factors after you spend $4,000 within the first three months from account opening.

TPG additionally values Ultimate Rewards factors at 2 cents every, making this bonus value $1,200. That’s considerably decrease than the Amex Platinum provide, although the spending requirement to earn the bonus can be decrease.

Winner: The Amex Platinum takes the lead on this first class, particularly in case you are focused for an elevated provide via CardMatch.

Earning

Long after your bonus has been earned and spent, you’ll need a card that may show you how to rack up precious transferable factors shortly.

Both of those playing cards get that executed however in very other ways. Your most suitable choice relies on which different Chase or Amex playing cards you presently have in your pockets and the way the bonus classes on these different playing cards overlap with the Chase Sapphire Reserve and Amex Platinum.

Here are the bonus classes for these two playing cards:

Chase provides a broader vary of bonus classes, together with on a regular basis purchases like journey and eating.

While the Amex Platinum does pull forward on most airfare purchases (with a terrific 10% return), the Chase Sapphire Reserve pulls forward for dozens of different journey bills, together with most accommodations, ride-sharing companies, parking charges, tolls, excursions and extra. It additionally has an equally broad 3 factors per greenback spent on eating that the Platinum can’t match.

Winner: Chase Sapphire Reserve is the perfect for incomes due to its favorable on a regular basis bonus classes that show you how to earn extra factors in the long run.

Redemption choices

With Chase Ultimate Rewards and Amex Membership Rewards tied at 2 cents apiece in TPG’s valuations, it’s as much as you to take a look at the totally different switch companions and determine which of them finest fit your wants.

Let’s begin with the Chase Sapphire Reserve. In addition to 11 airline and three resort switch companions, Sapphire Reserve clients get a 50% bonus when redeeming factors for journey instantly via the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal. This offers you an absolute minimal redemption worth of 1.5 cents per level, that means you’ll be able to guide a seat on any flight that’s on the market, even when there isn’t award house accessible.

That stated, you’ll usually get a higher worth by transferring your factors to the loyalty applications of airways and accommodations as an alternative. All Chase accomplice transfers happen at a 1:1 ratio, and most of them are almost immediate. Ultimate Rewards has an actual edge for resort bookings due to its partnership with World of Hyatt, the place free nights begin as little as 3,500 factors per evening.

On the airline aspect of issues, widespread redemption choices embrace United MileagePlus, Southwest Rapid Rewards, British Airways Avios, Virgin Atlantic Flying Club and Flying Blue (Air France-KLM) — although the final three additionally accomplice with Amex Membership Rewards. The identical holds true for Air Canada Aeroplan — although should you additionally maintain the Aeroplan Credit Card, you’ll be able to truly take pleasure in a 10% bonus on sure transfers from Chase Ultimate Rewards to your Aeroplan account.

Finally, you even have the Pay Yourself Back choice with the Sapphire Reserve, permitting you to make use of factors to cowl sure purchases at larger values:

• 1.5 cents per level for choose charitable donations via Dec. 31, 2023.
• 1.25 cents per level for purchases at gasoline stations and grocery shops.
• 1.25 cents per level to cowl your annual charge.

Again, although, the perfect redemption choice will usually come from maximizing Chase’s switch companions.

Meanwhile, Amex Membership Rewards has a whopping 20-plus switch companions, however not all of them are value your consideration. Some have switch ratios under 1:1, have longer switch occasions (which suggests you threat watching your award house disappear) or just don’t have moderately priced redemption choices.

Some of the perfect are ANA Mileage Club, Air Canada Aeroplan and Avianca LifeMiles, every of which provides attractively priced choices for reserving Star Alliance tickets. Cathay Pacific Asia Miles, Etihad Guest and Delta SkyMiles are additionally widespread switch choices.

However, should you decide to make use of your factors instantly via American Express Travel, you will not get almost the worth you do via Chase. Flight bookings are a flat 1 cent per level, whereas resort reservations clock in at simply 0.7 cents apiece. As a outcome, you are usually a lot better off with the switch choices.

Winner: Chase Sapphire Reserve comes out on high for redemption choices because it provides a 1:1 switch ratio for all of its airline and resort companions, the Pay Yourself Back function and extra flexibility with its 50% bonus for journey booked in Ultimate Rewards.

Want to ensure you’re maximizing each buy like a factors knowledgeable? Download the free TPG App to start out spending like a professional.

Perks and advantages

The Chase Sapphire Reserve and Amex Platinum are two of essentially the most precious rewards playing cards available on the market, however they’re additionally two of the costliest.

You’ll pay a $550 annual charge with the Sapphire Reserve and a $695 annual charge with the Amex Platinum.

So, what do you get in alternate for that upfront price? For starters, each playing cards function airport lounge entry and extra journey and meals supply credit, amongst different advantages. Let’s have a look under at the most well-liked and precious perks accessible (word that enrollment is required for choose advantages):

*Eligibility and profit stage varies by card. Terms, circumstances and limitations apply. Please go to americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for extra particulars.

This is by far the trickiest a part of the comparability, with a variety of totally different items to unpack. It’s additionally the one the place your individual private preferences might sway you essentially the most to at least one card or one other.

For starters, the Sapphire Reserve nonetheless has an edge over Amex concerning the $300 annual journey credit score. Not solely is it a better quantity than the up-to-$200 airline charge credit score that comes with the Amex Platinum, nevertheless it’s additionally a lot much less restrictive. It will mechanically apply to a broad vary of journey purchases, whereas the $200 Amex airline credit score solely applies to pick charges corresponding to seat assignments or checked luggage — and also you’re restricted to a single airline you designate every year.

Related: Dear bank card issuers: Lighten up on the airline charge credit score restrictions

When it involves ride-sharing companies, some folks see the up-to-$200 in annual (U.S.) Uber Cash (damaged into $15 a month, with a $20 bonus in December) that comes with the Amex Platinum card as a cash-like credit score. However, not everybody makes use of a ride-sharing service or locations an Uber Eats order within the U.S. as soon as a month, which suggests the 10 factors per greenback spent on Lyft rides with the Sapphire Reserve could be a extra precious choice.

On the flip aspect, should you dwell in a smaller metropolis or by no means order meals, you may discover the DoorDash partnership with Chase to be completely ineffective.

The identical may be stated of sure perks on the Amex Platinum — together with assertion credit with Saks Fifth Avenue, Clear and choose digital leisure suppliers. If you already use these companies or retailers, it is like cash proper again in your pocket. If not, you might discover that they are not an actual value-add relative to the annual charge.

Meanwhile, the Amex Platinum is broadly thought-about essentially the most complete card in the case of airport lounge entry. Although the Priority Pass Select membership that comes with this card not permits you to entry collaborating eating places (you’ll be able to with a Chase-issued Priority Pass membership), the entry to Amex’s large assortment of Centurion Lounges and Delta Sky Clubs on same-day Delta flights must be sufficient to make up for that.

Meanwhile, the Sapphire Reserve solely provides Priority Pass entry, and whereas Chase does have plans to construct out its personal community of branded lounges, only a single location (Hong Kong) has opened its doorways.

Another space the place Amex excels is by providing Gold elite standing with each Marriott and Hilton to Platinum cardholders. Chase provides no equal profit.

Chase has traditionally been the chief in journey insurance coverage, with a mess of various insurance policies and beneficiant phrases. Amex has partially closed the hole, including a brand new suite of journey safety advantages to the Amex Platinum card (see right here for extra).

Winner: Amex Platinum is the clear winner in the case of perks and advantages, which embrace its $1,400-plus in annual assertion credit, expanded airport lounge entry, journey protections, and elite standing with Marriott and Hilton. However, should you’re in search of a extra versatile journey credit score, extra complete protections and fewer way of life perks, the Sapphire Reserve might be a greater choice.

Bottom line

The Chase Sapphire Reserve and The Platinum Card from American Express are two of the most well-liked premium rewards playing cards available on the market. However, they provide barely totally different worth propositions.

Between resort elite standing and Centurion Lounge entry, the Amex Platinum is best suited to these seeking to take pleasure in a extra luxurious journey way of life. If you steadily buy airfare that will qualify for five factors per greenback, this card deserves a spot in your pockets.

The Sapphire Reserve, by comparability, is a premium card that’s easy sufficient for rookies and execs alike. The $300 annual journey credit score is mechanically utilized to a variety of purchases. Plus, you earn 3 factors per greenback on journey (excluding the $300 journey credit score) and eating, and these classes are broad sufficient that you just received’t be scratching your head making an attempt to determine should you’re swiping the fitting card.

However, some folks might even discover that it is smart to hold each playing cards. If you’ll be able to make the most of all of the annual assertion credit and luxurious perks, these playing cards can truly complement one another effectively.

Official software hyperlink: Amex Platinum.
Official software hyperlink: Chase Sapphire Reserve.

For charges and costs of the Amex Platinum, click on right here.

Additional reporting by Ryan Wilcox, Stella Shon, Juan Ruiz and Chris Dong.