Advertiser Disclosure

Many of the credit card offers that appear on this site are from credit card companies from which we receive financial compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). However, the credit card information that we publish has been written and evaluated by experts who know these products inside out. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse. This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers that are on the market. See our advertising policy here where we list advertisers that we work with, and how we make money. You can also review our credit card rating methodology.

Chase Sapphire Reserve Card vs. Amex Gold Card [Detailed Comparison]

Christine Krzyszton's image
Christine Krzyszton
Edited by: Jessica Merritt
& Michael Y. Park
Jump to Section

We may be compensated when you click on product links, such as credit cards, from one or more of our advertising partners. Terms apply to the offers below. See our Advertising Policy for more about our partners, how we make money, and our rating methodology. Opinions and recommendations are ours alone.

Upgraded Points: Expertise You Can Trust

Our seasoned and experienced team brings years of expertise in the credit card and travel sectors. Committed to integrity, we offer data-driven guides to help you find the card(s) that best fit your requirements. See details on our intensive editorial policies and card rating methodologies.

  • Content by Leading Industry Experts
  • Routine Updates and Fact-Checks
  • First-Hand Credit Card Experience
  • Shared Across 200+ Top Outlets
  • Methodical “U.P. Rating” System
  • 1136+ Expert Credit Card Guides

Key Takeaways

  • The Chase Sapphire Reserve® earns 8x points on travel booked through Chase Travel, 4x points on airfare and hotels booked directly, and 3x points on dining worldwide.
  • The American Express® Gold Card earns 4x points at U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 per year) and restaurants worldwide (up to $50,000 per year), 3x points on airfare, and 1x points on everything else.
  • The Chase Sapphire Reserve card has a higher annual fee than the Amex Gold card, but it offers superior travel benefits and protections.

If you’ve searched for a travel rewards card, chances are you’ve considered both Chase and American Express cards. Both issuers are known for providing cards that earn valuable rewards you can redeem for travel and benefits that save money or make travel more enjoyable.

Today, we’re highlighting a pair of popular travel rewards cards issued by these financial institutions. The Chase Sapphire Reserve card and the Amex Gold card earn valuable rewards, offer good value at redemption time, and have travel and shopping benefits that add even more value.

While on the surface it may seem that both cards would serve you equally well, the cards do have their differences.

To find out which card is a better fit, we’ll look closely at how rewards are earned on each card. We’ll also check out the differences in redemptions to see which card provides benefits that save you travel dollars or add some comfort to your journey.

Overview

It can be helpful to review a high-level comparison before we expand on some of the details of our featured cards.

Here is a quick comparison of the key features and benefits of the Chase Sapphire Reserve card and the Amex Gold card.

SCROLL FOR MORE

Feature or benefit

Chase Sapphire Reserve®

American Express® Gold Card

Welcome offer

Earn 100,000 bonus points + $500 Chase Travel promo credit after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months.

Apply and find out if you're eligible for as high as 100,000 points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases in the first 6 months. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.

Earning

  • 8x points on travel booked through Chase Travel, and 5x points on Lyft purchases (through September 30, 2027)
  • 4x points on airfare and hotels booked directly with the airline or hotel
  • 3x points on dining worldwide
  • 1x points on all other purchases
  • 4x points at restaurants worldwide (up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1x) and U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 per year, then 1x)
  • 3x points on airfare purchased directly from the airline or on AmexTravel.com

Top redemptions

  • Transfer to airline and hotel partners
  • Book travel through Chase Travel with up to a 100% redemption bonus (2 cents per point) with Points Boost
  • Transfer to airline and hotel partners
  • Book travel through AmexTravel.com for 1 cent per point

Top travel protections and benefits

  • Complimentary Priority Pass Select membership
  • $300 annual travel credit
  • $500 annual The Edit hotel collection credit
  • Up to $120 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee statement credit
  • Primary auto rental coverage (up to $75,000 in coverage), lost luggage reimbursement, baggage delay insurance, trip cancellation/interruption insurance, trip delay and travel accident insurance, emergency medical evacuation coverage, emergency medical and dental benefit, roadside dispatch (4 free service calls per year, each up to $50 per call
  • Secondary car rental loss and damage insurance with the option to purchase primary Premium Protection for 1 low fee
  • The Hotel Collection benefits
  • Trip delay, baggage insurance, Global Assist Hotline

Top shopping protections and benefits

  • $300 annual StubHub credit for concert and event ticket purchases
  • $250 annual in annual value with complimentary subscriptions to Apple TV+ and Apple Music
  • Purchase protection, extended warranty, return protection
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • Up to $120 in Uber Cash each year, delivered in monthly $10 credits after adding card to your Uber account
  • Purchase protection, extended warranty
  • No foreign transaction fees (rates & fees)

Annual fees and authorized users

  • Annual fee of $795
  • $195 per year per authorized user
  • Annual fee of $325 (rates & fees)
  • No fee to add up to 5 authorized users, $35 per year per authorized user for the 6th and beyond (rates & fees)

Welcome Offer Comparison

Card issuers frequently offer incentives to apply for their cards. These welcome bonus offers can typically be earned by meeting minimum spending requirements within the first few months after being approved for the card.

Welcome offers change periodically, so check out the most recent offers before applying for any card.

Here’s a snapshot of what welcome bonus offers could be worth on our featured cards:

Chase Sapphire Reserve Card

Chase Sapphire Reserve®
Star rating iconStar rating iconStar rating iconStar rating iconStar rating iconStar rating iconStar rating iconStar rating iconStar rating iconStar rating icon
U.P. Rating 
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

A top player in the high-end premium travel credit card space that earns points on travel and dining while offering top luxury perks.

A top player in the high-end premium travel credit card space that earns points on travel and dining while offering top luxury perks.
Earn 100,000 bonus points + $500 Chase Travel promo credit after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Get more than $2,700 in annual value with Sapphire Reserve.
100,000 points + $500 Chase Travel credit
$2,000
$795
20.24% - 28.74% Variable
Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.
Excellent
Why We Like This Card

If you’re looking for an all-around excellent travel rewards card, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® is one of the best options.

The card combines elite travel benefits and perks like worldwide airport lounge access, with excellent point earning and redemption options. Plus, it offers top-notch travel insurance protections to cover you at home or on the road.

Don’t forget the more than $2,000 in annual credits, which can offset the annual fee!

Pros & Cons
Pros
  • 8x points on all Chase Travel purchases
  • 5x points on Lyft rides
  • 4x points on flights and hotels booked directly
Cons
    • $795 annual fee
Card Highlights
  • Earn 100,000 bonus points + $500 Chase Travel℠ promo credit after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
  • Get more than $2,700 in annual value with Sapphire Reserve.
  • Earn 8x points on all purchases through Chase Travel℠, including The Edit℠ and 4x points on flights and hotels booked direct. Plus, earn 3x points on dining worldwide & 1x points on all other purchases
  • $300 annual travel credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
  • Access over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide with a complimentary Priority Pass™ Select membership, plus every Chase Sapphire Lounge® by The Club with two guests. Plus, up to $120 towards Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck® every 4 years
  • Get up to $150 in statement credits every six months for a maximum of $300 annually for dining at restaurants that are part of Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables.
  • Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Coverage, Lost Luggage Insurance, no foreign transaction fees, and more.
  • Get complimentary Apple TV+, the exclusive streaming home of Apple Originals. Plus Apple Music - all the music you love, across all your devices. Subscriptions run through 6/22/27 - a value of $250 annually
  • Member FDIC
Financial Snapshot
  • APR: 20.24% - 28.74% Variable
  • Foreign Transaction Fees: None
Rewards Center

Chase Ultimate Rewards

Ultimate Rewards points earned on the Chase Sapphire Reserve card can be redeemed for travel for up to 2 cents each when using the Points Boost feature. Using this valuation, a 50,000-point welcome bonus offer could be worth up to $1,000 in travel when redeemed on the Chase Travel portal.

Ultimate Rewards points can also be transferred to Chase airline and hotel partners, where you may receive even more value.

Amex Gold Card

NEW OFFER
American Express® Gold CardTerms Apply / Rates & Fees
Star rating iconStar rating iconStar rating iconStar rating iconStar rating iconStar rating iconStar rating iconStar rating iconStar rating iconStar rating icon
U.P. Rating 
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

This is the best card for food lovers who dine out at restaurants (worldwide), order take-out and want big rewards at U.S. supermarkets!

Apply Now(at Amex's secure site)

Apply With Confidence

Know if you're approved with no credit score impact

If you're approved and accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.

This is the best card for food lovers who dine out at restaurants (worldwide), order take-out and want big rewards at U.S. supermarkets!
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.
As High As 100,000 Points. Find Out Your Offer.
Up to $2,200
$325
See Pay Over Time APR
Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.
Good to Excellent
Why We Like This Card

The American Express® Gold Card is a game-changer.

With this card, you can earn 4x Membership Rewards points at restaurants, up to $50,000 per calendar year, and you’ll also earn 4x Membership Rewards points at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 per calendar year, then 1x.

There isn’t another card on the market that offers a 1-2 punch like this. Of course, there are several other benefits of the Gold Card as well, including extra monthly dining rewards and more.

Pros & Cons
Pros
  • 4x points per dollar at restaurants worldwide, up to $50,000 per calendar year; then 1x thereafter
  • 4x points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets, up to $25,000 per calendar year; then 1x thereafter
  • 3x points per dollar on flights purchased directly from airlines or at AmexTravel.com
Cons
Card Highlights
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
  • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
  • $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
  • Terms Apply.
Financial Snapshot
  • APR: See Pay Over Time APR
  • Foreign Transaction Fees: None
Rewards Center

American Express Membership Rewards

Hot Tip: Apply and find out if you’re eligible for a welcome bonus offer as high as 100,000 points with the Amex Gold card. Welcome offers may vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.

You can redeem Membership Rewards points earned on the Amex Gold card for flights via AmexTravel.com for 1 cent each. For this reason, we value the current welcome bonus offer at up to $2,200.

Since Membership Rewards points can also be transferred to the Amex transfer partners for potentially increased value, the welcome bonus offer could be more than $1,000 in value. This is why we value Amex points at more than 1 cent each.

Membership Rewards Points vs. Ultimate Rewards Points

British Airways A350 1000 Club Suites review LAS LHR seat 8K
Earn rewards on all of your purchases and redeem them for travel you might not experience otherwise. Image Credit: Ryan Smith

Earning Potential per Card

Both of our featured cards earn points for every $1 spent, and each has bonus-earning categories that earn multiple points per $1 spent.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve card earns Ultimate Rewards points, and the Amex Gold card earns Membership Rewards points. Both points currencies are very valuable because of their flexibility at redemption time.

We’ll talk about redemption options next, but first, let’s look at how you earn rewards on each of these cards. Pay particular attention to how each card matches up with your spending patterns.

SCROLL FOR MORE

Card

Earnings

Chase Sapphire Reserve card

  • 8x points on travel booked through Chase Travel, and 5x points on Lyft purchases (through September 30, 2027)
  • 4x points on airfare and hotels booked directly with the airline or hotel
  • 3x points on dining worldwide
  • 1x points on all other purchases

Amex Gold card

  • 4x points at restaurants worldwide (up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1x)
  • 4x points at U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 per calendar year, then 1x)
  • 3x points on airfare purchased directly from the airline or on AmexTravel.com
  • 2x points on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
  • 1x points on all other purchases
  • Terms apply

If you spend a lot on travel, you’d appreciate the elevated earnings on the Chase Sapphire Reserve card. Booking travel through Chase Travel results in the most earnings, but you can also earn well on flights booked with the airline or hotels booked directly. Use your card for dining anywhere you travel, as you’ll always earn 3x points.

The Amex Gold card delivers 3x earnings on airfare purchased directly from the airline or AmexTravel.com. The card excels at earning in more everyday purchase categories, as supermarket and restaurant purchases earn 4x points. U.S. supermarket earnings have a maximum of 4x $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, and worldwide 4x restaurant earnings are capped at $50,000 per calendar year. Earning 1x thereafter for both.

If you spend a lot on travel using Chase Travel, booking flights and hotels directly, and dining, you’d earn more with the Chase Sapphire Reserve card. If your spending is focused more at U.S. supermarkets and restaurants, the 4x earnings on the Amex Gold card could be a better match for you.

Discover how to accelerate your earnings on either card with our take on the best ways to earn lots of Ultimate Rewards points and lots of Membership Rewards points.

Bottom Line: The best rewards-earning card for your situation depends on your spending profile. If travel through Chase Travel, direct bookings of flights and hotels, and dining are your most significant expenses, the Chase Sapphire Reserve card would be better. If your spending is more in everyday categories such as supermarkets and dining, the Amex Gold card would earn more and offer nice travel redemptions. 

Comparing Redemption Options

Regardless of how you earn your rewards, the Chase Sapphire Reserve card or the Amex Gold card offers several desirable redemption options.

SCROLL FOR MORE

Card

Best redemptions

Additional redemptions

Chase Sapphire Reserve card

  • Transfer to airline and hotel partners.
  • Redeem for travel for up to 2 cents per point with Points Boost via Chase Travel.

Statement credits, Chase experiences, gift cards, shopping on Amazon, and with Apple

Amex Gold card

  • Transfer to airline and hotel partners.
  • Redeem for 1 cent per point for flights on AmexTravel.com.
  • Terms apply.
  • Book travel through AmexTravel.com, statement credits, gift cards, airline upgrades, shopping with partners such as Amazon and Uber.
  • Terms apply.

Transferring points earned on either card has the potential to earn the most value for your rewards.

It’s worth noting that Chase Ultimate Rewards points can be redeemed for 1 cent each for a statement credit, while Membership Rewards points can be redeemed at 0.6 cents per point for a general statement credit.

We’ll walk you through the best ways to redeem your Ultimate Rewards points or your Membership Rewards points with our guides for maximizing redemption value.

Bottom Line:

At redemption time, the Chase Sapphire Reserve card has the edge with the opportunity to redeem points for up to 2 cents each with Points Boost through Chase Travel. Both cards allow you to transfer points to airline and hotel partners, with the Amex Gold card having more travel partners.

Statement Credits Comparison

Statement credits provide direct value in return for making a specific purchase. The bottom line value you receive depends on how many you can utilize.

Here are the statement credits offered by the Chase Sapphire Reserve card and the Amex Gold card.

SCROLL FOR MORE

Card

Statement credits

Chase Sapphire Reserve card

  • $300 statement credit for travel purchases each cardmember year
  • $500 credit with the Edit annually with 2 separate $250 credits January through June, and July through December. A 2-night minimum stay is required.
  • $300 annual dining credit with Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables available for booking on OpenTable, delivered in 2 separate $150 biannual credits
  • $300 annual StubHub credit for concert and event ticket purchases, delivered in 2 separate $150 biannual credits for StubHub and viagogo
  • $250 in annual value with complimentary subscriptions to Apple TV+ and Apple Music (separate activation required)
  • Up to $120 for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck fee

Amex Gold card

  • Up to $10 monthly dining credit with Grubhub, the Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys (up to $120 per year, enrollment required)
  • Up to $10 monthly in Uber Cash for Uber Eats, Uber rides, and Uber groceries (on select markets) in the U.S. when you add your Amex Gold card to your Uber account (up to $120 per year)
  • Up to $100 Resy credit: $100 annual statement credit ($50 semiannually), redeemable at any U.S. Resy restaurant and other eligible Resy purchases. Enrollment required through your Amex account.
  • Up to $84 Dunkin’ credit: $84 annual statement credit ($7 a month), redeemable at U.S. Dunkin’ locations (enrollment required)

The shining star of this comparison is the $300 travel credit on the Chase Sapphire Reserve card. This benefit is easy to use and directly offsets some of the card’s higher annual fee.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve card offers many more statement credit opportunities than the Amex Gold card. Even if you can use just 2 or 3, you’d receive sufficient value from the card.

The Amex Gold card’s statement credits focus on dining, which may make the card’s credits easier to use.

Adding up the value of the statement credits you’ll actually use quickly tells you which card is better for you in this category.

Hot Tip:

Cardholders who spend $75,000 on a Chase Sapphire Reserve card in a calendar year unlock several perks, including IHG One Rewards Diamond Elite status, Southwest Airlines A-List status, a $500 Southwest Airlines credit (for bookings made through Chase Travel), and a $250 credit for the Shops at Chase.

Airport Lounge Access Advantages

Plaza Premium First Lounge Hong Kong - Primo Dining
Escape to a Priority Pass lounge during your travels with a complimentary membership that comes with your Chase Sapphire Reserve card. Image Credit: Greg Stone

Chase Sapphire Reserve Card

The Chase Sapphire Reserve card is one of the best premium credit cards and comes with some extraordinary travel benefits. One such benefit is worldwide airport lounge access to over 1,300 lounge properties.

The complimentary Priority Pass Select membership allows complimentary access for the cardholder plus up to 2 guests. Additional guests can gain access for $35 per person, per visit, based on capacity.

We find this one of the key benefits of having the Chase Sapphire Reserve card, as Priority Pass membership generally costs $469 for an annual pass. Also, unlike the Priority Pass Select membership that comes with the card, the purchased membership does not include complimentary guest access.

Amex Gold Card

The Amex Gold Card does not come with any airport lounge access membership.

Bottom Line: The Chase Sapphire Reserve card has complimentary worldwide airport lounge access for the cardholder and 2 guests. This Priority Pass Select membership, which grants access to over 1,300 properties, can be valued at a minimum of $469 (the cost of purchasing a single annual membership). The Amex Gold card does not offer lounge access. 

Hotel Program Privileges

Receiving perks during your hotel stay is always a welcome experience. Both cards have teamed up with hotel program partners to deliver complimentary benefits when you book with your eligible card.

Here are some of the benefits you can expect:

Chase Sapphire Reserve Card

The Chase Sapphire Reserve card has hotel program benefits that will make you feel like a VIP.

The Edit by Chase Travel

You have access to over 1,000 worldwide hotel and resort properties in the Edit. To receive benefits, use your card to book your 2-night stay, or longer, directly with Chase Travel.

  • Upgraded room at check-in, based on availability
  • $100 on-site property credit
  • Daily breakfast for 2
  • Early check-in and late checkout, when available
  • Complimentary Wi-Fi
  • A welcome gift

The card comes with an annual statement credit of up to $500 through the Edit, delivered in 2 separate $250 credits, January through June, and July through December.

You can redeem Chase Ultimate Rewards points for up to 2 cents each to book Edit properties.

Amex Gold Card

Amex Gold Card members receive several hotel program benefits, including guest privileges at the Hotel Collection and the lowest-rate guarantee.

The Hotel Collection

Amex Gold cardmembers enjoy privileged benefits at American Express Hotel Collection properties. Pay for your 2-night stay or longer with your Amex Gold card and receive the following benefits:

  • $100 credit per stay that can be used for eligible charges that vary by property
  • Room upgrade, when available
  • Pay with points for prepaid bookings, or pay with your card and receive 2x earnings.
  • Terms apply

Lowest Hotel Rate Guarantee

Book your hotel room on AmexTravel.com using your Amex Gold card, and if you find an identical room for less, before taxes and fees, you could receive a refund for the difference.

Bottom Line: If you like booking independent and boutique hotels, either card will meet your desires, as both provide elite-type perks with their partner hotel programs. Note that many hotel loyalty programs exclude benefits when booking through a third party rather than directly through the hotel chain. However, booking through the Edit can afford loyalty program benefits at some properties.

Car Benefits (Rentals, Ride-Sharing)

Chase Sapphire Reserve Card

  • Discounts and benefits with Avis
  • Emerald Club Executive Elite status with National Car Rental

The Chase Sapphire Reserve card earns 5x points on Lyft ride-sharing purchases, plus a $10 monthly in-app credit through September 30, 2027.

Amex Gold Card

The Amex Gold card offers member discounts and benefits with most major car rental companies, such as NationalAvis, and Alamo.

You can review car rental benefits and discounts by logging in to your account online and selecting the Benefits section.

Travel Insurance and Protection Comparison

While earning and redeeming rewards may be the prime motivation for selecting a specific card, travel benefits and protections can provide significant economic benefits when needed.

Here are the travel protections offered by our featured cards:

SCROLL FOR MORE

Travel benefit or protection

Chase Sapphire Reserve®American Express® Gold Card

Car rental insurance coverage

Primary auto rental coverage

Secondary car rental loss and damage insurance with the ability to purchase primary rental car insurance through Amex

Trip cancellation and interruption insurance

Receive up to $10,000 per person and up to $20,000 per trip for your prepaid, nonrefundable travel expenses.

None

Trip delay insurance

Delays over 6 hours, up to $500 in coverage per trip

If your trip is delayed more than 12 hours for a covered loss, you could receive up to $300 for reasonable additional expenses.

Baggage insurance

  • Up to $3,000 per person, per trip for lost, stolen, or damaged luggage (checked or carry-on)
  • Up to $500 in coverage for delayed baggage over 6 hours

Pay for your common carrier ticket with your card and receive coverage for lost, stolen, or damaged luggage up to $1,250 for carry-on and $500 for checked.

Emergency medical and dental

Up to $2,500 in coverage for emergency medical and dental, up to $75 for 5 days at a prescribed hotel

None

Roadside assistance

4 free service calls per year, up to $50 each

None

Emergency evacuation

Up to $100,000

None

Concierge service

24/7, included

24/7 included

Emergency travel assistance

Travel and emergency assistance services hotline

Global assist hotline

Foreign transaction fees

None

None

The Chase Sapphire Reserve card offers primary rental car insurance versus the Amex Gold card’s secondary coverage. However, a simple, inexpensive purchase of Amex’s premium car rental protection gives you the same primary car rental insurance when using the Amex Gold card. Coverage ranges from $12.25 to $24.95 and covers you for the entire rental period. Limits apply.

Bottom Line: The Chase Sapphire Reserve card has valuable travel benefits. With primary rental car insurance; trip interruption, cancellation, and delay coverage; roadside assistance; emergency evacuation; and emergency medical coverage, the card is a better choice for travel benefits and protections over the Amex Gold card.

Shopping Showdown: Protections and Benefits

While you wouldn’t select a travel rewards card for its shopping benefits and protections, it’s valuable to know what each card offers.

Chase Sapphire Reserve card

  • Extended warranty: On manufacturer’s warranties of 3 years or less, the warranty is extended by 1 year.
  • Purchase protection: Eligible items are covered for 120 days from the purchase date, up to $10,000 per item, for damage, theft, and “involuntary and accidental parting” (up to $50,000 per calendar year).
  • Return protection: Items not accepted for return by the selling merchant are covered for 90 days from the date of purchase, up to $500 per item, $1,000 per year.

Amex Gold card

  • Purchase protection: For up to 90 days from the purchase date, if a covered purchase is accidentally damaged, stolen, or lost, you may receive up to $10,000 per covered purchase, up to $50,000 per calendar year.
  • Extended warranty: Pay for an item using your Amex Gold card and receive up to 1 extra year on the original manufacturer’s warranty (applies to warranties of 5 years or less). The maximum coverage amount is $10,000, and no more than $50,000 per card account per calendar year.

Food and Grocery Delivery Benefits

Chase Sapphire Reserve Card

Receive a complimentary DoorDash DashPass membership and up to $300 in DoorDash credits each calendar year. Cardholders receive a $5 monthly credit for restaurants, and 2 $10 credits for uses other than restaurants (activate by December 31, 2027).

Amex Gold Card

The Amex Gold card comes with $10 Uber Cash per month (up to $120 annually) that can be used for Uber Eats. Just remember to add your card to your Uber account.

The card also has a monthly dining credit of up to $10 that can be used on purchases at Grubhub, the Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment is required. Just charge your order to your Amex Gold card, and up to $10 will be automatically refunded as a statement credit.

The most recent credits added include the up-to-$100 Resy annual statement credit ($50 semiannually), redeemable at any U.S. Resy restaurant and other eligible Resy purchases. Enrollment is required through your Amex account. The up-to-$84 Dunkin’ statement credit ($7 per month) is redeemable at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment is required.

Annual Fees and Additional Users

Annual Fees

While the Chase Sapphire Reserve card has a fee that is significantly higher than the Amex Gold card, at $795 compared to $325, it also comes with more usable benefits, including worldwide lounge access and the $300 travel statement credit. These more than make up for the annual fee difference.

Adding Additional Users

You can add authorized users to your Chase Sapphire Reserve card at $195 each. While this may seem expensive, keep in mind that authorized users receive many of the benefits as the primary cardholder. These benefits include Priority Pass Select membership; trip interruption, cancellation, and delay insurance; and car rental insurance. However, authorized users do not receive their own $300 travel credit.

There is no additional annual fee for adding up to 5 authorized users to the Amex Gold card. The sixth card and beyond costs $35 per year.

Final Thoughts

While the Chase Sapphire Reserve card is a premium credit card with plenty of earning power, flexible redemption options, and a long list of benefits, the Amex Gold card presents a respectable alternative with a much lower annual fee.

If you value worldwide lounge access, spend a lot on travel in general, and want to redeem your rewards for travel, the Chase Sapphire Reserve card is an excellent choice.

The Amex Gold card provides a balance between being an everyday spending card and a travel rewards card. If your spending is focused on groceries and dining out, the card allows you to earn plenty of rewards on those purchases. However, you can also receive elevated earnings on flight purchases. Additionally, you have several options at redemption time.

You can’t go wrong with either card when your highest spending matches the card’s specific bonus categories, and the redemptions available can help you realize your travel goals.

You’ll also want to evaluate which statement credits, benefits, and protections you’ll take advantage of to determine which card provides greater bottom-line value.

For the car rental loss and damage insurance benefit of the American Express® Gold Card,, car rental loss and damage insurance can provide coverage up to $75,000 for theft of or damage to most rental vehicles when you use your eligible card to reserve and pay for the entire eligible vehicle rental and decline the collision damage waiver or similar option offered by the commercial car rental company. This product provides secondary coverage and does not include liability coverage. Not all vehicle types or rentals are covered. geographic restrictions apply. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.

For the trip delay insurance benefit of the American Express® Gold Card, up to $300 per covered trip that is delayed for more than 12 hours; and 2 claims per eligible card per 12 consecutive month period. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.

For the baggage insurance plan benefit of the American Express® Gold Card, baggage insurance plan coverage can be in effect for eligible persons for eligible lost, damaged, or stolen baggage during their travel on a common carrier (e.g. plane, train, ship, or bus) when the entire fare for a common carrier vehicle ticket for the trip (one-way or round-trip) is charged to an eligible account. Coverage can be provided for up to $1,250 for carry-on baggage and up to $500 for checked baggage, in excess of coverage provided by the common carrier (e.g. plane, train, ship, or bus). For New York State residents, there is a $10,000 aggregate maximum limit for all covered persons per covered trip. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.

For the global assist hotline benefit of the American Express® Gold Card, you can rely on Global Assist Hotline 24 hours a day / 7 days a week for medical, legal, financial or other select emergency coordination and assistance services while traveling more than 100 miles away from your home. Third-party service costs may be your responsibility. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Card Members are responsible for the costs charged by third-party service providers.

For the purchase protection benefit of the American Express® Gold Card, purchase protection is an embedded benefit of your card membership and requires no enrollment. It can help protect covered purchases made on your eligible card when they’re accidentally damaged, stolen, or lost, for up to 90 days from the covered purchase date. The coverage is limited up to $10,000 per occurrence, up to $50,000 per card member account per calendar year. Coverage limits apply. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.

For the extended warranty benefit of the American Express® Gold Card, when an American Express® card member charges a covered purchase to an eligible card, extended warranty can provide up to one extra year added to the original manufacturer’s warranty. Applies to warranties of five (5) years or less. Coverage is up to the actual amount charged to your card for the item up to a maximum of $10,000; not to exceed $50,000 per card member account per calendar year. Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which card is better, the Chase Sapphire Reserve card or the Amex Gold card?

The Chase Sapphire Reserve card has a higher annual fee than the Amex Gold card, so the better card for you will be the one that earns the most rewards, offers benefits that offset the annual fee, and allows you to redeem rewards for your preferred travel.

The Amex Gold card will reward your supermarket, dining, and spending for flights, while the Chase Sapphire Reserve card focuses more on travel booked with Chase Travel, flights and hotels booked directly, and dining. The better card for earning will be the one that matches your spending habits.

Each card also earns different rewards currencies. The Amex Gold card earns Membership Rewards, while the Chase Sapphire Reserve card earns Ultimate Rewards. Fortunately, both currencies can be transferred to airline and hotel partners, where you can potentially get excellent value.

Membership Rewards points are worth 1 cent each when redeemed for flights on AmexTravel.com, while Ultimate Rewards points can be redeemed for up to 2 cents per point with Points Boost through Chase Travel.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve card offers a better collection of travel benefits, including primary car rental insurance and trip interruption and cancellation coverage. However, it does have a higher annual fee.

How does a statement credit work?

When you make a qualifying purchase using your card, you receive a statement credit. Statement credits appear on your monthly bill just like a payment, but as a credit on your account.

For example, if your card comes with a $300 travel statement credit, once you use your card for a qualifying purchase (like an airline ticket), you receive a credit for the same amount. If the purchase was $179, you receive an offsetting credit for that exact amount. Each subsequent travel purchase triggers a statement credit until the $300 limit is exhausted.

Some credits are valid for a calendar year, and some for a card anniversary year. A new credit will be available once the applicable time frame has expired.

How does Priority Pass membership work?

The Chase Sapphire Reserve card comes with a complimentary Priority Pass Select membership. Membership allows access to over 1,300 Priority Pass airport lounge properties worldwide, including access to Minute Suites.

A Priority Pass membership normally costs $429 per year for a single membership that does not include guest access. The Priority Pass Select membership with the Chase Sapphire Reserve card provides access for the cardholder and up to 2 guests at most locations.

You must register for the Priority Pass Select membership when you receive your new Chase Sapphire Reserve card, as the credit card cannot be used to access the lounges. To do this, access your online Chase card account and register under “Benefits.” You will then be given a digital Priority Pass membership card and mailed one to use for access.

Does the Amex Gold card have lounge access?

No, the Amex Gold card does not provide any lounge access membership. The Platinum Card® from American Express, however, does offer excellent worldwide lounge access membership to several lounge networks.

Christine Krzyszton's image

About Christine Krzyszton

Christine ran her own business developing and managing insurance and financial services offices. This stoked a passion for points and miles and she now has over 2 dozen credit cards and creates in-depth, detailed content for UP.

INSIDERS ONLY: UP PULSE

Deluxe Travel Provided by UP Pulse

Get the latest travel tips, crucial news, flight & hotel deal alerts...

Plus — expert strategies to maximize your points & miles by joining our (free) newsletter.

We respect your privacy. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA. Google's privacy policy  and terms of service  apply.

Deluxe Travel Provided by UP Pulse
DMCA.com Protection Status