5 Ways the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card Got Easier To Use in 2026

The Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card recently underwent a major refresh, adding several useful new benefits and making it an even more compelling addition to your wallet.

Here is a look at the new benefits added to the Chase Sapphire Preferred card, making it easier to use than ever before.

1. New Earning Categories

One of the biggest improvements that makes the Chase Sapphire Preferred card easier to use is its new bonus categories, which include:

• 3x points on gas and EV charging
• 3x points on vacation rentals, including Airbnb, Vrbo, and similar platforms

BEST FIRST TRAVEL CARD

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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.

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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

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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

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Given that gas is often a large recurring expense for many households, this is a very welcome addition, as the Chase Sapphire Preferred card previously earned just 1x on these purchases.

Additionally, while the Chase Sapphire Preferred card was already primarily a travel-focused card, it got even better on that front, as it now earns 3x on vacation rentals like Airbnb.

These new 3x categories are in addition to all of the other bonus categories that the card offers, including 5x on Chase Travel purchases, 3x on dining, online grocery orders, and certain streaming subscriptions, and 2x on all other travel worldwide.

2. Improved Hotel Credit

Previously, the annual hotel credit on the Chase Sapphire Preferred card was $50, which was large enough to be somewhat useful but small enough to be easy to forget. Now, the hotel credit has been increased to $100 annually, doubling its usefulness and making it far more useful for booking.

The credit applies to any hotel booking made through Chase Travel. So, as long as you book at least 1 hotel stay per year of $100 or more, you should easily be able to make full use of this credit.

3. New Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS Credit

Another new addition to the card is a $120 credit for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS every 4 years, a perk usually offered only on premium cards.

Depending on what cards you have in your wallet, you might already have one of these programs. If not, then it is well worth taking advantage of.

If you’re not familiar with the different programs, Global Entry provides an expedited customs experience when reentering the U.S. from abroad, TSA PreCheck provides an expedited security experience when departing from eligible U.S. airports, and NEXUS provides expedited travel via land, air, or sea between the U.S. and Canada.

4. Improved Travel Insurance

The Chase Sapphire Preferred card already offered one of the most comprehensive combinations of travel insurance protections, including primary rental car insurance, trip delay insurance, baggage delay insurance, lost luggage insurance, no foreign transaction fees, and more.

It now adds emergency evacuation and transportation coverage to that list. While this is a benefit you hope never to use, it can provide peace of mind to know it is there in the unfortunate event you need it.

5. New Apple TV Credit

Finally, the last new benefit added to the Chase Sapphire Preferred card is a complimentary 1-year Apple TV+ subscription when you activate it by December 31, 2026. The usefulness of this benefit depends on whether you already subscribe to Apple TV or plan to do so in the future.

Still, a 1-year Apple TV subscription usually costs $99, so if your household is already paying for it, it’s another way to deliver real value by holding the Chase Sapphire Preferred card. It adds yet another benefit that can help offset the annual fee you pay for the card, all on its own, without factoring in the other card benefits.

Final Thoughts

The Chase Sapphire Preferred card was already one of the best travel rewards cards on the market, especially for those who are new to the world of credit card rewards.

Now, with these new benefits, the card is even better. You receive more value in the number of points you earn, the annual credits you receive, and the card’s travel protections, all for the same $95 annual fee. If you’ve been considering adding this card to your wallet, do so now to take advantage of its new benefits.