Two of Chase’s hottest bank cards — the mid-tier Chase Sapphire Most popular® Card (see charges and costs) and its premium sibling, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see charges and costs) — are well-loved at TPG resulting from a number of elements together with the previous’s cheap $95 annual payment, bonus-earning charges on journey and eating and helpful journey protections.
Whereas the Sapphire Reserve has a a lot greater annual payment of $550, it additionally presents luxurious perks and most of the advantages we have come to count on from premium journey playing cards.
That mentioned, the Sapphire Most popular nonetheless packs an honest punch. What makes it much more interesting is that it is each an excellent starter journey card and preferrred for frequent and seasoned vacationers, too.
Let’s check out why the Sapphire Most popular could be the following Chase card you need in your pockets (if you happen to do not have already got it).
Higher welcome bonus
Each playing cards at present provide totally different welcome bonuses however similar minimal spend thresholds:
- Sapphire Most popular: Earn 100,000 factors after spending $5,000 on purchases throughout the first three months from account opening.
- Sapphire Reserve: Earn 60,000 factors after spending $5,000 on purchases throughout the first three months from account opening.
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In line with TPG’s April 2025 valuations, the Chase Sapphire Most popular’s 100,000-point bonus is value $2,050. In case you select to redeem via Chase Journey℠, nevertheless, the identical quantity of factors are value as much as $1,250.
The Chase Sapphire Reserve’s 60,000-point bonus is value $1,230 in line with our valuations and could be value as much as $900 if you redeem the factors for journey via the Chase Journey or as an announcement credit score with the Pay Your self Again function since level redemptions are value 50% extra this fashion.
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In case you redeem factors for money again exterior of Pay Your self Again, 60,000 factors are value $600.
Associated: 10 greatest methods to make use of 100K Chase Final Rewards factors
Decrease annual payment
The 2 Chase Sapphire playing cards have very totally different annual charges, so it is essential to do the mathematics and see which card makes probably the most monetary sense on your way of life. Those that aren’t frequent vacationers won’t really feel the necessity to pay extra for advantages that they may hardly ever use.
In case you’ve by no means held a premium card earlier than or are averse to excessive annual charges, you might be a little bit apprehensive in regards to the $550 annual payment for the Sapphire Reserve.
Nonetheless, it’s best to know {that a} excessive payment is widespread amongst playing cards of this tier. You possibly can successfully recoup a lot of the payment if you happen to make the most of all of the added card advantages.
Simply by accounting for the Sapphire Reserve’s $300 annual journey credit score alone, the annual payment is already lowered to a extra manageable $250 — but it is nonetheless a $155 premium over the Sapphire Most popular.
Whereas the Sapphire Reserve delivers extra credit and perks than the Sapphire Most popular, you do need to make extra of an effort to maximise these further perks, which might be a ache in order for you a card with an easier reward incomes and redeeming construction.
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Bonus classes
The Sapphire Most popular earns on the following charges:
- 5 factors per greenback spent on journey booked via Chase Journey
- 3 factors per greenback spent on eating — consistent with the Sapphire Reserve
- 3 factors per greenback spent on choose streaming providers
- 3 factors per greenback spent on on-line groceries (excluding Goal, Walmart and wholesale golf equipment)
- 2 factors per greenback spent on journey purchases
- 1 level per greenback spent on different eligible purchases
For its half, the Chase Sapphire Reserve earns:
- 10 factors per greenback spent on Chase Eating booked via the Final Rewards portal
- 10 factors per greenback spent on lodge and automobile rental purchases via Chase Journey
- 5 factors per greenback spent on airline journey booked via Chase Journey
- 3 factors per greenback spent on different journey
- 3 factors per greenback spent on eating
- 1 level per greenback spent on different eligible purchases
The extra you intend to spend in these bonus classes, the larger the distinction in rewards. As an instance you spend $500 on non-Chase eating and $500 on non-Chase journey (a complete of $1,000) per thirty days on these two bonus classes.
That will deliver your Sapphire Most popular earnings to 2,500 factors month-to-month (as much as $50 in worth) versus 3,000 factors with the Reserve (as much as $60).
Total, the extra 1 level earned on basic journey purchases with the Sapphire Reserve could not warrant the a lot greater annual payment for some. When you think about that $155 distinction in annual charges (after utilizing the $300 annual journey credit score from the Sapphire Reserve), the Sapphire Most popular could very properly come out on high as the higher alternative for some shoppers.
Journey protections
It is uncommon to discover a mid-tier card with sturdy journey protections. Most playing cards on this vary provide a number of protections, akin to secondary auto insurance coverage or baggage insurance coverage.
With the Chase Sapphire Most popular, cardholders get the good thing about as much as $10,000 per coated traveler or $20,000 per journey in journey cancellation insurance coverage, as much as $500 a coated ticket in journey delay insurance coverage, as much as $3,000 in misplaced baggage insurance coverage, as much as $100 a day (as much as 5 days) in baggage delay insurance coverage and major rental automobile insurance coverage.
Secondary automobile rental insurance coverage is extra in style amongst mid-tier playing cards, including much more worth to an already spectacular protection-rich card.
As a mid-tier card, the Sapphire Most popular packs a punch with premium-level journey insurance coverage. The advantages right here make the Sapphire Most popular extraordinarily enticing, particularly when its annual payment is a lot decrease than the Sapphire Reserve’s.
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Simpler approval
The Chase Sapphire Most popular is less complicated to get permitted for than the Chase Sapphire Reserve, too. Now, that does not imply that it is a straightforward course of, particularly if you happen to’re trying to get the Sapphire Most popular as one among your first bank cards.
Many elements play into whether or not or not you will get permitted for any bank card, akin to earnings, credit score historical past, credit score rating, age of your credit score accounts and when you’ve got a preexisting relationship with the credit score issuer.
When making use of to the extra premium Chase Sapphire Reserve, you will probably want a credit score rating of no less than 740. Nonetheless, it has been reported the typical individual permitted has a rating of round 750.
It is essential to notice you can nonetheless be denied for both card even when you’ve got a wonderful credit score rating. Nonetheless, these estimates can provide you a spot to start out. And bear in mind, Chase’s 5/24 rule nonetheless applies, so if you happen to’ve opened 5 or extra private bank cards throughout all banks within the final 24 months, you will probably obtain a denial in your utility.
Associated: Chase’s 5/24 rule: All the pieces it’s essential to know
Backside line
The Sapphire Reserve is a wonderful premium card for vacationers who plan to maximise its perks and use its coveted airport lounge entry. Nonetheless, the Chase Sapphire Most popular Card is a standout within the sea of mid-tier playing cards. Once you crunch the numbers, the same advantages and decrease annual payment make it probably the most enticing Chase card for most individuals.
Plus, due to the Chase Sapphire Most popular Card’s present highest-ever welcome bonus of 100,000 factors after spending $5,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening, it is easy to earn a large stash of Final Rewards factors proper now.
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Apply right here: Chase Sapphire Most popular
