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The Chase Sapphire Preferred has been one of the most consistently recommended travel credit cards for the better part of a decade — and for good reason. At $95 a year, it punches well above its fee with a solid sign-up bonus, strong earning rates in the categories that matter, and a benefits package that most cardholders barely scratch the surface of.
This review covers everything: the earning rates, the benefits most people overlook, the DoorDash situation that changed in 2026, and an honest take on who this card is actually for. This post was updated June 18, 2026 to reflect the major card overhaul Chase rolled out on June 15, 2026.
📋 What changed on June 15, 2026: Sign-up bonus increased to 100,000 points · 3x added on gas/EV charging and vacation rentals (Airbnb, Vrbo) · Hotel credit doubled to $100 · Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit added ($120 every 4 years) · Free Apple TV+ for one year (activate by Dec 31, 2026) · Emergency evacuation coverage added · 10% anniversary bonus eliminated for new cardholders (existing cardholders keep it through Oct 1, 2026) · Hyatt transfer ratio downgraded to 4:3 for new cardholders now; existing cardholders on Oct 1, 2026
The basics: what you're getting for $95 a year
The 100,000-point sign-up bonus — live as of June 15, 2026 — is worth roughly $1,000 in travel redemptions through Chase's portal, or significantly more when you transfer to airline partners at favorable rates. That alone more than covers the annual fee for several years. The $5,000 spend requirement in the first three months is meaningful, so it's worth timing your application around a larger planned expense (a move, a home project, a vacation) if you can.
Where it earns well (and where it doesn't)
| Category | Earn rate |
|---|---|
| Travel booked through Chase Travel portal | 5x points |
| Dining (restaurants, delivery, bars, cafes) | 3x points |
| Select streaming services | 3x points |
| Online grocery purchases* | 3x points |
| Gas stations and EV charging (new June 2026) | 3x points |
| Vacation rentals (Airbnb, Vrbo — new June 2026) | 3x points |
| All other travel (flights, hotels, Uber, etc.) | 2x points |
| Everything else | 1x point |
* Online grocery excludes Target, Walmart, and wholesale clubs (Costco, Sam's Club, BJ's).
The June 2026 refresh added two valuable new 3x categories: gas/EV charging and vacation rentals (Airbnb, Vrbo). That last one is notable — previously, Airbnb bookings made outside the Chase Travel portal only earned 2x. Now they earn 3x directly, which is a meaningful upgrade for anyone who books vacation rentals regularly.
The 3x on dining continues to be one of the most useful everyday earning rates — restaurants, takeout apps, and cafes all qualify. The 5x on Chase Travel requires booking through Chase's portal rather than directly with airlines or hotels, which occasionally means slightly different rates or less flexibility. For casual travelers, the portal is usually fine; for frequent flyers who need direct bookings for upgrade eligibility, you'll earn 2x on those instead.
The benefits most people never use
This is where the Chase Sapphire Preferred genuinely separates itself from no-fee cards. The insurance benefits alone can be worth more than the annual fee in the right situation.
The one that catches most people off guard is the primary car rental coverage. Most credit cards offer only secondary rental insurance — meaning they only pay out after your personal auto insurance has covered what it can (which also means a potential claim on your personal policy). Primary coverage means the card pays first, and your personal insurance never gets involved. At $30 or more per day for the rental company's collision damage waiver, this benefit can easily cover the annual fee on a single week-long trip.
Rally here. You're telling me I've been paying $30 a day at the rental counter for insurance I already had in my wallet? For years? I need a walk. We are going on a walk immediately. When we get back, you're declining the CDW. You are very welcome.
To activate the car rental benefit, you need to decline the rental company's collision damage waiver at the counter and pay for the entire rental on your Chase Sapphire Preferred. That's it. No extra enrollment, no calling Chase beforehand — just say no to the add-on insurance and charge the rental to your card.
The DoorDash benefit — and the catch everyone's running into in 2026
The Chase Sapphire Preferred includes a complimentary DashPass membership for one year (a value of roughly $120), plus a $10 monthly DoorDash credit on eligible orders. On paper, that's meaningful — a $120 DashPass value plus $120 in annual credits more than covers the $95 annual fee by itself.
Here's what changed: in April 2026, DoorDash added a $20 minimum order requirement on pickup orders — specifically the convenience store and grocery pickup method that most people were using to easily redeem the monthly credit. Previously, you could place a $10 pickup order, apply the $10 credit, and pay nothing. Now you have to spend at least $20, apply the $10 credit, and cover the remaining $10 yourself.
⚠️ The DoorDash math in 2026: To use the $10 monthly pickup credit, you now need to place a $20+ order. You'll net $10 back — but you have to spend $10 first. DoorDash confirmed the change was designed to prevent people from maximizing the credit with minimal spend. The benefit still has value if you're ordering food for delivery anyway, but the "free money" pickup arbitrage is gone.
The credit still makes sense if you're a regular DoorDash user — free DashPass membership eliminates delivery fees and reduces service fees on eligible orders, and the $10 credit offsets part of your order each month. It just no longer works as a frictionless monthly payout the way it did before April 2026.
Easy wins that offset the annual fee
$100 annual hotel credit (doubled in June 2026)
As of the June 2026 refresh, the annual hotel credit increased from $50 to $100 on hotel bookings made through Chase Travel. It applies automatically — no special enrollment needed. If you book even one hotel stay through Chase per year, that's $100 back, more than covering the annual fee before you've done anything else.
Global Entry / TSA PreCheck credit (new)
The card now includes a credit of up to $120 toward Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS application fees, valid once every four years. Global Entry ($120) is the sweet spot — it includes TSA PreCheck automatically and adds expedited customs re-entry for international travel. This was previously a Reserve-only perk, and its addition to the Preferred is a meaningful upgrade.
Apple TV+ subscription (activate by Dec 31, 2026)
New cardholders who activate by December 31, 2026, receive one free year of Apple TV+. At current pricing (~$99/year), it's a minor but free addition if you'd use it anyway.
⚠️ The 10% anniversary bonus is being eliminated — here's the timeline:
- New cardholders (applied June 15, 2026 or later): no 10% bonus at all — eliminated immediately.
- Existing cardholders (approved before June 15, 2026): the bonus continues on purchases made through October 1, 2026. The final payout will be credited by January 31, 2027.
It's a real loss either way — but Chase offset it with the doubled hotel credit and new Global Entry perk.
💡 Annual fee math (updated): $100 hotel credit + Global Entry credit (amortized ~$30/year) + Apple TV+ + primary rental insurance on one trip = the $95 fee is covered multiple times over before you've redeemed a single point.
Pros, cons, and who the card is actually for
✅ Pros
- 100,000-point sign-up bonus (live June 2026)
- Primary car rental insurance (most cards only offer secondary)
- Robust trip cancellation, delay, and emergency evacuation coverage
- 3x on dining, streaming, online groceries, gas/EV, and vacation rentals
- $100 annual hotel credit (doubled from $50)
- Global Entry / TSA PreCheck credit up to $120 (new)
- Free Apple TV+ for one year (activate by Dec 31, 2026)
- No foreign transaction fees
- Access to Chase transfer partners (United, Southwest, British Airways, and more)
- Free DashPass membership for one year
❌ Cons
- $95 fee is not waived in year one
- $5,000 spend requirement for the bonus is high for some
- 5x travel only applies when booked through Chase Travel portal
- Online grocery 3x excludes Target, Walmart, and warehouse clubs
- DoorDash $20 pickup minimum makes the monthly credit harder to use
- No airport lounge access (that's the Reserve at $795/year)
- 10% anniversary bonus eliminated for new cardholders (June 2026)
- Hyatt transfer ratio downgraded to 4:3 (was 1:1)
Who this card is for
The Chase Sapphire Preferred is an excellent fit if you travel a few times a year, eat out regularly, and want a card that earns well without a steep annual fee. The insurance benefits add real value for anyone who rents cars or takes trips where things could go sideways — and at $95, it's hard to find a better package at this price point.
Who should consider a different card
If you travel constantly and want lounge access, the Chase Sapphire Reserve at $795/year may make more sense — it offers a $300 travel credit, Priority Pass lounge access, and 3x on all travel (not just through Chase's portal). On the other end, if you rarely travel and the $95 fee feels hard to justify, a no-fee card like the Discover it might be a better starting point.
If you want to see how the Chase Sapphire Preferred fits into a full card strategy — pairing it with an everyday cash-back card and a hotel or airline card — the card setup post walks through exactly that.
And if you're ready to put those Chase points to work, the Seattle trip post shows a real example of booking $2,000 in travel for $0 using the exact Chase points this card earns.
If you're newer to travel rewards and want to understand how the whole points-and-miles system works before diving into card specifics, our Travel Hacking 101 guide explains the fundamentals — from sign-up bonuses to transfer partners to how to maximize redemption value.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Chase Sapphire Preferred worth the annual fee?
For most people who travel at least a couple of times a year and eat out regularly, yes — and the case is stronger after the June 2026 refresh. The $100 hotel credit (doubled from $50) recovers the fee outright. Add the Global Entry credit (~$30/year amortized), DashPass membership, and primary car rental insurance, and the benefits comfortably outpace the $95 fee without redeeming a single point.
What's the difference between the Chase Sapphire Preferred and Reserve?
The Reserve charges $795 a year (vs. $95 for the Preferred) but includes a $300 annual travel credit that effectively drops the net cost to $495. It also adds Priority Pass airport lounge access and 3x on all travel (vs. 2x on the Preferred for non-portal travel). After the June 2026 Preferred refresh, the gap between the two cards narrowed: the Preferred now has a Global Entry credit, doubled hotel credit, and emergency evacuation coverage — benefits that used to be Reserve-only perks. The Reserve still makes more sense if you travel constantly and value lounge access; for everyone else, the Preferred is the stronger value at $95.
What transfer partners does the Chase Sapphire Preferred have?
Chase Ultimate Rewards points transfer to a solid lineup of airline and hotel partners, including United Airlines, Southwest Airlines, British Airways, Air France/KLM Flying Blue, Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer, Virgin Atlantic, Marriott, and IHG — all at 1:1. The notable exception as of June 2026: Hyatt transfers are now 4:3 (1,000 Chase points become 750 Hyatt points). This is a meaningful downgrade for anyone who relied on Chase → Hyatt as a premium redemption. Hyatt points are still valuable, but the transfer is no longer the near-automatic best option it once was — run the math before transferring.
How does the primary car rental insurance work in practice?
When you pick up a rental car, the agent will offer you the collision damage waiver (CDW) — usually $20–$35 per day. Decline it, then pay for the full rental on your Chase Sapphire Preferred. That's the entire process. If the car is damaged or stolen during your rental period, Chase's benefit administrator handles the claim rather than your personal auto insurer. Coverage is up to $60,000 for vehicles with an MSRP of $125,000 or less. Luxury and exotic vehicles, trucks, and motorcycles are generally excluded.
Can I use the Chase Sapphire Preferred on international trips?
Yes — there are no foreign transaction fees, so every purchase abroad earns the same points without any surcharge. The travel insurance benefits also apply to international trips, making this a genuinely useful card to carry overseas. The 2x on all travel (or 5x through Chase Travel) applies to international bookings too, and Chase points can be transferred to several international airline programs including British Airways, Singapore Airlines, and Air France/KLM.