Chase Sapphire Preferred Card vs. Prime Visa Card [Detailed Comparison]

The Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card and the Prime Visa appeal to very different types of cardholders.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred card offers flexible travel rewards and benefits, and the Prime Visa card is a cash-back card that earns well on Amazon.com and Whole Foods purchases. Both are Chase cards, but there is another important distinction: the Prime Visa card requires an active Amazon Prime membership.

Quick Overview: Chase Sapphire Preferred Card vs. Prime Visa Card

The Chase Sapphire Preferred card carries a $95 annual fee and earns Ultimate Rewards points transferable to 14 airline and hotel partners. It earns 3x points on restaurants worldwide and 5x points on Chase Travel purchases. The Prime Visa card earns 2% on dining at restaurants and 5% back on Amazon.com, Whole Foods Market, and Chase Travel with an eligible Prime membership (Source: Chase).

The Prime Visa card has a $0 annual fee, but an active Amazon Prime membership is required to open the card, which costs around $139 per year (Source: Amazon).

As a travel-focused card, the Chase Sapphire Preferred card excels at offering travel insurance benefits such as trip cancellation and interruption as well as primary auto rental car coverage. The Prime Visa offers some travel and purchase protections, but the coverage isn’t as comprehensive and does not include trip cancellation and interruption.

Prime Visa rewards can be redeemed for cash-back, Amazon.com purchases, travel, gift cards, and other options. Ultimate Rewards points earned with the Chase Sapphire Preferred card offer additional value through transfer partners such as United MileagePlus. It’s best to avoid redeeming Ultimate Rewards points for Amazon.com purchases, as you’ll typically receive 0.8 cents per point in value when other options provide at least 1 cent per point (Source: Chase).

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card vs. Prime Visa Card: Full Comparison

Welcome Bonus Offer Comparison

When you’re approved for either the Chase Sapphire Preferred card or the Prime Visa card, you can earn a welcome offer — these are the current ones available on each card:

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card

BEST FIRST TRAVEL CARD

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card

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 fantastic travel card with a great welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.

Apply Now(at Chase's secure site)

Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card

A fantastic travel card with a great welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.

Welcome Offer

Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

75,000 points

UP's Offer Valuation*:

$1,500

Annual Fee

$95

APR

19.24% - 27.49% Variable

Credit Recommended

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 card application.

Good to Excellent

Why We Like This Card

The Chase Sapphire Preferred^® card is one of the best travel rewards cards on the market. Its bonus categories include travel, dining, online grocery purchases, gas, EV charging, vacation homes, and streaming services, which gives you the opportunity to earn lots of bonus points on these purchases.

Additionally, it offers flexible point redemption options, no foreign transaction fees, and excellent travel insurance coverage including primary car rental insurance and emergency evacuation. With benefits like these, it’s easy to see why this card is an excellent choice for any traveler.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 5x points on all travel booked via the Chase Travel portal
• 3x points on dining purchases, online grocery purchases (excluding Walmart, Target, and wholesale clubs), gas, EV charging, vacation homes (such as Airbnb and Vrbo), and select streaming services
• 2x points on all other travel worldwide

Cons

• $95 annual fee
• No elite benefits like airport lounge access or hotel elite status

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
• Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase TravelSM, 3x on dining, 3x on vacation homes, 3x on gas & EV charging, 3x on top streaming services and online groceries (excluding Walmart, Target, and wholesale clubs), 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases
• Earn up to $100 in statement credits each account anniversary year for hotel stays through Chase Travel
• Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Emergency Evacuation and Transportation and more
• Get a year of complimentary Apple TV when activated by December 31, 2026 – a value of $156.
• Complimentary DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees & lower service fees for 12 months when you activate by 12/31/27. Plus, a $10 promo each month on non-restaurant orders.
• Receive one statement credit of up to $120 every four years as reimbursement for the application fee charged to your card for a Global Entry, TSA Precheck^® or NEXUS application.
• Transfer points to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
• Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 19.24% - 27.49% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Chase Ultimate Rewards

Prime Visa Card

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Prime Visa

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.

The information regarding the Prime Visa card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.

Prime Visa

The information regarding the Prime Visa card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.

Welcome Offer

Get a $150 Amazon Gift Card instantly upon approval exclusively for Prime members.

$150 Amazon Gift Card

UP's Offer Valuation*:

$150

Annual Fee

$0

APR

18.74% - 27.49% Variable

Credit Recommended

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 card application.

Good to Excellent

Why We Like This Card

We all do our fair share of shopping on Amazon, some of us more than others, and when we shop with Amazon, we obviously want to get the best deal possible. Now, with the Prime Visa card, you can add a credit card to your wallet that will help you do just that.

You’ll not only earn rewards on all of your Amazon and Whole Foods purchases, but on 4 other bonus categories as well, along with flexible redemption options, all for no annual fee!

When you consider everything that the Prime Visa card offers, it is basically a no-brainer for those who frequently shop with Amazon. Let’s dig a little deeper to see just how much the card can save you.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Earn 5% back at Amazon.com, Amazon Fresh, Whole Foods Market and on Chase Travel purchases with an eligible Prime membership
• Earn 2% back at gas stations, restaurants and on local transit and commuting (including rideshare)
• Earn 1% back on all other purchases

Cons

• Amazon Prime membership required

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Get a $150 Amazon Gift Card instantly upon approval exclusively for Prime members
• Earn unlimited 5% back at Amazon.com, Amazon Fresh, Whole Foods Market and on Chase Travel purchases with an eligible Prime membership
• Prime Card Bonus: Earn 10% back or more on a rotating selection of items and categories on Amazon.com with an eligible Prime membership
• Earn unlimited 2% back at gas stations, restaurants, and on local transit and commuting (including rideshare)
• Earn unlimited 1% back on all other purchases
• No annual credit card fee
• No more waiting. Redeem daily rewards at Amazon.com as soon as the next day
• Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 18.74% - 27.49% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Bottom Line:

Both the Chase Sapphire Preferred card and the Prime Visa card offer the chance to earn a welcome bonus after meeting minimum spending requirements. The Chase Sapphire Preferred card bonus can exceed $1,000 in value, which can be substantially more than a Prime Visa card welcome offer.

Earning Potential

The Chase Sapphire Preferred card earns flexible Ultimate Rewards points, and the Prime Visa card earns Amazon points that can be used for Amazon purchases, cash-back, and more.

Both cards earn rewards on every purchase you make, but bonus-earning categories ultimately determine the rewards you’ll earn on your specific spending.

Keep in mind your highest spending categories and how those expenses would be rewarded as we review the earning categories for our featured cards.

If you’re a frequent traveler, you can earn well with the Chase Sapphire Preferred card. The card offers elevated earnings on travel purchases and on everyday expenses such as dining, gas and EV charging, online groceries, and select streaming services.

If your spending mix consists mostly of Amazon.com purchases, Whole Foods, transit, and commuting, you’ll earn more with the Prime Visa card.

Bottom Line:

The Chase Sapphire Preferred card earns well on travel, dining, gas and EV purchases, online grocery purchases, and select streaming services. The Prime Visa card offers elevated earnings on Amazon, Chase travel portal, and select everyday purchases such as Whole Foods, dining, gas stations, and transit/commuting.

Redemption Options

The Chase Sapphire Preferred card is known for its flexible redemption options and the potential value you can receive when redeeming points for travel with airline and hotel partners.

The Prime Visa card also offers choices at redemption time, but at a fixed value.

Let’s look at your redemption options for these cards:

Redeeming Ultimate Rewards points earned on the Chase Sapphire Preferred card by transferring to airline or hotel partners can give you the most value.

Amazon points earned on the Prime Visa card have a fixed value of 1 cent each for Amazon purchases at checkout, a statement credit, or a direct deposit of equal value.

You can redeem Amazon points for travel via Chase and Ultimate Rewards points for shopping at Amazon, but these redemption options don’t have good value. Amazon points have a fixed value of 1 cent each, so if redeeming for travel, a statement credit to wipe out any previous travel purchase would make more sense.

You could use Chase Ultimate Rewards to shop at Amazon, but you’ll receive poor value, with your points being worth less than 1 cent each.

Bottom Line:

The best use of Ultimate Rewards points is to transfer them to airline or hotel partners and redeem them for award tickets or free hotel nights. The best potential value for Amazon points is for Amazon purchases or cash-back.

Travel Advantages

Travel protections and benefits can add significant value to cardholders and save you money.

Both the Chase Sapphire Preferred card and the Prime Visa card offer:

• Visa Signature Luxury Hotel Collection Benefits — Book your stay via the Visa Signature Luxury Hotel Collection website using your card and get several perks upon availability, including an upgraded room and late checkout, complimentary breakfast for 2, complimentary Wi-Fi, and a $25 food and beverage credit.
• No Foreign Transaction Fees — Neither card charges a foreign transaction fee.

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card

• $100 Annual Hotel Credit — Book your hotel via the Chase travel portal and receive a $100 statement credit each year.
• Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS credit — Pay for your Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS application fee with your card and receive an up to $120 statement credit every 4 years.

Travel Insurance and Protection Perks

Travel protections can give you peace of mind during your travels, provide assistance if something should go wrong, and even save you money.

Here are the key protections from the Chase Sapphire Preferred card and the Prime Visa card:

• Car Rental Insurance — Reserve and pay for your entire car rental with your card, decline the rental agency’s CDW/LDW coverage, and receive coverage for damage and theft. The Chase Sapphire Preferred card comes with primary car rental insurance, and the Prime Visa card comes with secondary coverage. Primary coverage means that you do not have to file a claim with any other applicable insurance before card coverage kicks in.
• Roadside Dispatch — Receive access to 1-call assistance when stranded on the roadside in the U.S., and pay just 1 pre-negotiated fee for a service call. Services include limited towing, standard winching, jumpstarts, lockout assistance, emergency fuel, and flat-tire changing with an inflated spare. Services beyond those covered will be billed to your card.
• Baggage Delay Insurance — If your baggage is delayed 6 hours or more, you could receive up to $100 per day reimbursement for eligible expenses. There is a maximum of 5 days ($500) with the Chase Sapphire Preferred card and 3 days ($300) with the Prime Visa card.
• Lost Luggage Reimbursement — If your luggage is lost, stolen, or damaged, you could receive up to $3,000 per covered person, per trip.
• Travel and Emergency Services — Receive 24/7 assistance during your travels for emergency transportation, medical/legal services, translation services, and more.

In addition to the travel protections and benefits listed above, the Chase Sapphire Preferred card has these distinct features:

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card

• Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance and Trip Delay Reimbursement — You could receive up to $10,000 per person, and up to $20,000 per covered trip, if your trip needs to be canceled or is disrupted for a covered reason. If your trip is delayed by more than 12 hours, you could receive up to $100 per day, up to $500 total, for eligible expenses, with a limit of 1 claim each year (Source: Chase).
• Emergency Evacuation and Transportation — For trips paid for with your card that are 100 miles or more from home, coverage of up to $100,000 may be available for medical services and transportation related to an illness or injury that requires emergency evacuation.

Bottom Line:

Both the Chase Sapphire Preferred card and Prime Visa card have key travel protections and benefits, including car rental insurance, roadside dispatch, baggage delay insurance, Visa Signature Luxury Hotel Collection benefits, and no foreign transaction fees. The Chase Sapphire Preferred card offers additional benefits: primary car rental insurance versus secondary, trip cancellation/interruption insurance, trip delay reimbursement, emergency evacuation and transportation coverage, a Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS statement credit, and an annual $100 hotel credit.

Shopping Benefits

Shopping benefits can save you money, add convenience, or help you earn additional rewards on your purchases.

Here are the shopping benefits of both the Chase Sapphire Preferred card and the Prime Visa card:

• Chase Offers — Sign in to your Chase online card account and select from cash-back offers at select retailers. Add the offers you like to your card, make the associated purchase, and receive cash-back as a statement credit.
• Visa Signature Shopping Benefits — Visa Signature shopping benefits vary, but normally you’ll find car rental, hotel, and golf discounts.

You’ll find these additional benefits on each individual card:

Prime Visa Card

• 10% Cash-Back or More on Select Amazon Purchases — Receive elevated cash-back when using your card to purchase items from a special rotating categories list published by Amazon.

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card

• DoorDash DashPass — Receive a 1-year complimentary membership that includes free delivery and reduced fees. Activate by December 31, 2027.
• Shop through Chase — Earn additional rewards when you use the Chase shopping portal to make purchases with your favorite retailers and service providers.
• Apple TV Subscription — Receive a complimentary 1-year subscription to Apple TV if activated by December 31, 2026.

Shopping Protection Perks

Shopping protections can provide coverage if something goes wrong with an eligible purchase you make with your card.

Here are the protections you’ll find on both the Chase Sapphire Preferred card and the Prime Visa card:

• Purchase Protection — Purchase an eligible item with your card and receive protection against theft and accidental damage. Both cards cover items for up to 120 days from the purchase date, up to $500 per eligible item, and up to $50,000 per card account.
• Extended Warranty — For eligible items purchased with either card, manufacturer’s warranties of 3 years or less will be extended 1 additional year.

Bottom Line:

Both the Chase Sapphire Preferred card and the Prime Visa card come with key shopping protections, including purchase protection and extended warranty coverage. The Chase Sapphire Preferred card has additional benefits with DoorDash, Apple TV, and shopping offers via Chase. A key shopping benefit of the Prime Visa card is the elevated cash-back offers for Amazon Prime rotating category items.

Annual Fees and Authorized Users

The Chase Sapphire Preferred card has an annual fee of $95, which is low for a travel rewards credit card with so many protections and benefits.

The Prime Visa card has a $0 annual fee, but you must be an Amazon Prime member to earn 5% cash-back.

Neither card charges a fee to add an authorized user.

Everything Else You Need To Know

Both the Chase Sapphire Preferred card and the Prime Visa card are Visa Signature cards issued by Chase. Before applying for either card, review Chase’s 5/24 rule, which can affect card approvals.

You must have an Amazon Prime membership to be approved for the Prime Visa card. If you open the card as an Amazon Prime member but later decide to cancel your membership, your card will automatically be downgraded to the Amazon Visa with fewer benefits.

A good to excellent credit score is recommended for approval for either card. A good credit score is generally considered 670 to 739, and an excellent score is considered 740 to 850.

To use the Shop With Points feature or any Amazon promotions, you must first link your eligible credit card to your Amazon account.

The benefit descriptions in this article have been abbreviated, and not all features and benefits are listed. The Guide to Benefits for each card is the official source for full descriptions and the applicable terms and conditions.

Which Card Is Right For You?

The Chase Sapphire Preferred card is the right choice if you travel regularly, want access to transfer partners and comprehensive travel insurance, or want to earn rewards across a broad range of spending categories beyond Amazon.

The Prime Visa card is better suited for Amazon Prime members who already shop frequently at Amazon.com and Whole Foods Market. The simple cash-back may be more appealing than transferable points, and the card is a good choice for those who don’t travel frequently enough to justify paying an annual fee.

Some travelers may benefit from applying for both cards to maximize the 5% earning rate on Amazon.com and Whole Foods, while the Chase Sapphire Preferred card offers better rewards on travel and dining. The 2 cards cover different earning categories with little overlap.

Final Thoughts

The Chase Sapphire Preferred card is best for travelers who want redemption flexibility and travel insurance. The Prime Visa card suits frequent Amazon.com and Whole Foods shoppers who have an Amazon Prime membership.

Each card covers different spending categories that can complement one another. Some cardholders hold both, using the Chase Sapphire Preferred card for travel and dining purchases and the Prime Visa card for their everyday Amazon.com and Whole Foods grocery spending.