How to apply for the card Chase Sapphire Preferred®

Learn how to apply for the Chase Sapphire Preferred®.

Understand its annual fee, rewards categories, hotel credit rules, travel protections, transfer partners, and key approval factors.

Overview of the Chase Sapphire Preferred®

Chase Sapphire Preferred® is a rewards credit card that earns points through the Chase Ultimate Rewards program.

The card’s identity is built around travel flexibility, because you can redeem points for several options and you can transfer points to select airline and hotel partners.

Who this card is designed for

Chase Sapphire Preferred® is typically a fit for people who spend consistently on dining and travel and want rewards that can be used in more than one way.

It can also fit people who prefer a single “primary” card but still want travel protections that can matter when plans go sideways.

If your spending includes restaurants, trips, and some everyday categories like streaming and online grocery, the category structure is designed to reward those patterns.

Credit card vs charge card

Chase Sapphire Preferred® is a credit card.

That means it comes with a credit line and allows revolving balances, although interest charges can apply if you do not pay your balance in full by the due date.

The value equation in one paragraph

The value equation usually comes down to whether your real spending and travel habits can offset the $95 annual fee through the points you earn, the $50 annual hotel credit when used correctly, and the card’s built-in protections and partner perks.

If you rarely travel, avoid tracking categories, or tend to carry balances, the “math” can look very different in practice.

Quick facts (scannable summary)

This section is meant to be skimmed quickly.

Use it to sanity-check the basics before you go deeper.

Key fees for the Chase Sapphire Preferred®

• Annual fee: $95.
• Foreign transaction fees: None.
• Purchase APR: 19.49% to 27.74% variable, based on creditworthiness and other factors.
• Cash advance APR: 28.74% variable.
• Penalty APR: Up to 29.99% variable.
• Late payment fee: Up to $40.
• Returned payment fee: Up to $40.
• Balance transfer fee: $5 or 5% of each transfer, whichever is greater, and the account may not be eligible for balance transfers.
• Cash advance fee: $10 or 5% of each transaction, whichever is greater.
• Chase Pay Over Time fee: A monthly fee of up to 1.72% of the eligible purchase amount selected for a plan.

Reward structure for the Chase Sapphire Preferred®

• 5X total points on travel purchased through Chase Travel, excluding hotel purchases that qualify for the $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit.
• 2X points on other travel purchases.
• 3X points on dining, including eligible delivery services, takeout, and dining out.
• 3X points on online grocery purchases, excluding Target, Walmart, and wholesale clubs.
• 3X points on select streaming services.
• 1X point per dollar on all other purchases.

Each account anniversary, you earn bonus points equal to 10% of your total purchases made the previous year.

Core benefits (top 5 bullets)

• $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit for hotel stays purchased through Chase Travel, with specific rules about how it applies.
• Ability to transfer points to select airline and hotel loyalty programs.
• No foreign transaction fees.
• Travel and purchase coverage, including trip cancellation and interruption insurance and auto rental coverage, with restrictions and exclusions.
• Partner benefits like DashPass and boosted earning with select partners for limited time periods.

Eligibility and approval: what typically matters

Approval is never guaranteed.

Card issuers can evaluate applications using multiple factors, and outcomes can vary.

Credit profile expectations for the Chase Sapphire Preferred®

Cards that offer transferable points and travel protections generally target applicants with stronger credit profiles than beginner cards.

In practical terms, that often means lenders pay attention to on-time payment history, total revolving debt, and how much of your available credit you are using.

It is also normal for issuers to verify information and review credit bureau reports during the application process.

Income and spend patterns that may help

Issuers commonly consider ability to repay.

That can include your reported income, monthly obligations, and overall debt-to-income picture.

A stable profile and consistent payment behavior often matter as much as the raw income number.

Application flow notes that matter for Sapphire cards

The official offer language states the card is unavailable if you currently have one open.

The bonus may not be available if you currently have any other personal Sapphire cards open, previously held this card, or received a new cardmember bonus for this card.

The official offer language also notes offers may vary depending on where you apply and can change over time.

Fees and costs you must understand first

Rewards can be exciting.

Costs are what determine whether those rewards feel worth it after a few months of real use.

Annual fee breakdown and what’s included

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® annual fee is $95.

What you receive in exchange is not a single “one big thing,” but a bundle of earning rates, redemption flexibility, and protections.

A simple way to evaluate the annual fee is to estimate how often you will use Chase Travel for hotels, how much you spend in the 2X and 3X categories, and whether the protections would realistically help in your travel life.

Authorized user costs and household planning

Authorized users can affect how a household manages spending and points.

Any authorized user fees and the specific rules for who earns points and who can redeem them are typically shown during application and in your account materials.

If you plan to add authorized users mainly to consolidate points, it helps to confirm how redemption control works before you rely on it.

Late fees, APR, and “Pay Over Time” costs

If you carry a balance, interest charges can reduce or outweigh the value of points.

The card also includes Chase Pay Over Time for eligible purchases, which can involve a fixed monthly fee instead of interest, and that fee can be as high as 1.72% per month depending on the plan.

Even when a plan is described as “no interest,” the monthly fee is still a cost that should be considered.

Fees and terms can change, so it is smart to review the most current pricing information during your application.

Rewards: earning and redemption (the real math)

Most people focus on earning first.

Redemption is where the value actually becomes real.

How you earn with the Chase Sapphire Preferred®

Earning is category-based.

The card emphasizes travel through Chase Travel at 5X, broad travel at 2X, and everyday categories like dining, select streaming, and online grocery at 3X.

If your spending naturally fits those categories, you may not need to change your routines to see higher earning.

Redemption basics and what “flexible” actually means

Chase describes multiple redemption options through the Ultimate Rewards program.

Redemption values can vary depending on how you redeem, so it helps to decide what style you prefer before you stockpile points.

For many cardholders, the most important flexibility feature is the option to transfer points to select airline and hotel loyalty programs, because it opens up award bookings inside those programs.

Transfer partners you should recognize

The card lists airline partners such as Aer Lingus, Air Canada, British Airways, Air France KLM Flying Blue, Iberia, JetBlue, Singapore Airlines, Southwest, United, and Virgin Atlantic.

The card lists hotel partners such as IHG, Marriott Bonvoy, and World of Hyatt.

Partner lists can change, and loyalty programs can change, so the most reliable habit is to check the current list inside official materials before planning a transfer.

Example: what a realistic year of spending can earn

• Assume $6,000 per year on dining at 3X: That earns 18,000 points.
• Assume $3,000 per year on online grocery at 3X: That earns 9,000 points.
• Assume $2,000 per year on other travel purchases at 2X: That earns 4,000 points.
• Assume $2,000 per year on travel through Chase Travel at 5X: That earns 10,000 points.
• Assume $7,000 per year on all other purchases at 1X: That earns 7,000 points.

In this simplified example, category earning adds up to 48,000 points.

If total purchases for the year were $20,000, the 10% anniversary points would add 2,000 points, because the bonus is equal to 10% of total purchases made the previous year.

That would bring the example total to 50,000 points before any welcome offer is considered.

Benefits deep dive

Benefits are only valuable when you can actually use them.

This section breaks the main benefits into practical buckets.

Travel benefits

The card offers a $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit.

The credit is described as a statement credit that applies to hotel accommodation purchases made through Chase Travel, up to $50 each account anniversary year.

The official rules also state that the first $50 in Chase Travel hotel purchases each year will not earn rewards points.

If you typically book at least one hotel stay per year and you do not mind booking through the required channel, this credit can be one of the easiest benefits to use.

Lifestyle and partner benefits

DoorDash DashPass is described as complimentary for 12 months when activated by December 31, 2027.

DashPass members are also described as receiving a $10 promo each month to save on groceries, retail orders, and more through December 31, 2027.

The card also describes 5X total points on Lyft rides through September 30, 2027.

The card also describes 5X total points on eligible Peloton equipment and accessory purchases over $150 through December 31, 2027.

Partner benefits are time-bound and can change, so they are best treated as “extras” rather than the sole reason to apply.

Credits and what counts

The primary recurring credit highlighted is the $50 annual hotel credit described above.

Credits usually have specific merchant and booking rules, and statement credit timing can depend on when transactions post, not just when you make the purchase.

Purchase protections

Purchase Protection is described as covering eligible new purchases for 120 days from the date of purchase against damage or theft up to $500 per item.

Extended Warranty Protection is described as extending the time period of the manufacturer’s U.S. warranty by an additional year, on eligible warranties of three years or less, up to four years from the date of purchase.

Protections commonly require documentation and include exclusions, so keeping receipts and understanding the claim process can matter.

Travel protections

Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance is described as reimbursement up to $10,000 per covered traveler and $20,000 per trip for prepaid, non-refundable travel expenses for covered situations.

Baggage Delay Insurance is described as reimbursement up to $100 a day for up to 5 days for essential purchases when baggage is delayed over 6 hours.

Trip Delay Reimbursement is described as covering unreimbursed expenses such as meals and lodging up to $500 per covered traveler when common carrier travel is delayed more than 12 hours or requires an overnight stay.

Auto Rental Coverage is described as primary coverage when you decline the rental company’s collision insurance and charge the entire rental cost to the card, with reimbursement up to $60,000 for theft and collision damage for most rental vehicles with an MSRP of $125,000 or less.

The benefit disclosures also note restrictions, limitations, exclusions, and documentation requirements, and they mention specific limitations for New York residents.

Concierge and service level

This card emphasizes practical support rather than luxury concierge positioning.

The card describes 24/7 access to a customer service specialist.

It also describes Travel and Emergency Assistance that can provide legal and medical referrals and access to other services, while noting you are responsible for the cost of goods or services obtained.

Pros and cons (fast decision section)

This section is intentionally direct.

It is designed to help you decide whether to keep reading or move on.

Pros

• Clear bonus categories for dining and travel-focused spending.
• 5X earning on travel purchased through Chase Travel.
• $50 annual hotel credit for Chase Travel hotel purchases, with clear rules.
• Transfer options to multiple airline and hotel loyalty programs.
• A strong set of travel protections for a mid-fee travel card.
• No foreign transaction fees.

Cons

• The hotel credit requires booking hotels through Chase Travel, and the first $50 in hotel purchases each year does not earn points.
• The best “value” redemptions often require learning how transfers and award bookings work.
• Partner perks have end dates and activation requirements, so they are not guaranteed forever.
• Carrying a balance can quickly reduce or outweigh rewards value due to APR and fees.

Who this card is best for (and who should skip)

There is no universal best card.

There is only the best match for your habits.

Best-fit profiles

1. You spend consistently on dining and want elevated earning there without needing multiple cards.
2. Take at least a few trips per year and value protections like trip delay and rental coverage.
3. Like the idea of transferring points to airline and hotel programs, even if you start slowly.

Not a fit if…

1. You want a no-annual-fee card and do not want to track credits or categories.
2. Rarely travel and do not value travel protections.
3. Tend to carry balances month to month and mainly need low-cost financing rather than rewards.

Head-to-head comparisons (SEO powerhouse)

Comparisons work best when you compare how you actually spend.

A higher annual fee can be worth it in the right lifestyle, and unnecessary in the wrong one.

Chase Sapphire Preferred® vs Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Chase Sapphire Reserve® is positioned as a higher-tier card with a significantly higher annual fee.

The published pricing information lists a $795 annual fee and a $195 annual fee for each authorized user for that product.

The Reserve card page also highlights benefits such as a $300 annual travel credit, lounge access through Priority Pass and Chase Sapphire Lounges, and higher earning rates in certain travel categories.

If you want premium travel experiences and can consistently use premium credits and perks, the Reserve tier may align better.

If you want transferable points, solid category earning, and core protections with a much lower annual fee, Sapphire Preferred® is often the simpler starting point.

Chase Sapphire Preferred® vs Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Capital One Venture Rewards is positioned as a simpler “earn everywhere” travel card.

The Venture card page highlights unlimited 2X miles per dollar on every purchase and 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals, and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.

• It also lists a $95 annual fee and a welcome offer structure based on spending within the first three months.
• If you want simple earning with minimal category tracking, Venture can feel straightforward.
• If you want specific everyday categories like dining at 3X and a hotel credit structure tied to Chase Travel, Sapphire Preferred® may feel more tailored to that pattern.

What you give up and gain at each price tier

Higher annual fees can come with premium credits and experiences, but they can also create pressure to “use everything” to justify the cost.

Lower annual fees can offer more breathing room and still deliver meaningful value if the earning categories match your routine.

The best tier is usually the one that fits your habits without forcing behavior changes just to chase perks.

How to apply (step-by-step)

Applying is not complicated.

Preparing well can make the process feel smoother.

Application steps

1. Review the current offer details and confirm any eligibility restrictions described for Sapphire products.
2. Decide whether to apply while signed in or as a guest, because issuers often offer a faster flow for existing customers who sign in.
3. Complete the application with accurate personal information and income information.
4. Submit the application and be prepared for an instant decision or a request for additional verification.
5. If approved, follow the account setup steps and activate any benefits that require enrollment or activation.

What to prepare before you apply

A realistic estimate of your income and monthly obligations.

Your identification details needed for identity verification.

A plan for meeting any welcome offer spend requirement without overspending or carrying a balance.

A simple checklist of benefits you plan to activate, such as DashPass, so they do not get forgotten.

What happens after approval

You receive account materials that govern rewards, rates, fees, and benefit details.

You can typically add the card to a digital wallet for faster use if eligible, depending on issuer policies and verification outcomes.

It can help to review your first statement cycle carefully so you understand your due date, statement closing date, and how your rewards are posting.

Alternatives if you want similar value for less

If the $95 annual fee feels unnecessary for your routine, there are other approaches.

Two common approaches are “no annual fee travel categories” and “simple flat rewards.”

Best travel-category alternative with no annual fee

Wells Fargo Autograph℠ is described as having no annual fee and earning unlimited 3X points in categories like restaurants, travel, gas stations, transit, popular streaming services, and phone plans.

It is an example of a card style that targets everyday categories without charging an annual fee.

Best simplicity-first approach

A flat-rate rewards card can reduce tracking and mental overhead.

If you value simplicity more than transfer partners and travel protections, a simpler earning model may feel easier to maintain long term.

FAQs

Is Chase Sapphire Preferred® worth it?

It depends on whether you will use the $50 annual hotel credit, benefit from the earning categories, and value protections and transfers enough to offset the annual fee.

Does Chase Sapphire Preferred® charge foreign transaction fees?

The published pricing information lists foreign transaction fees as none.

How does the $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit work?

It is described as a statement credit for hotel accommodation purchases made through Chase Travel, up to $50 per account anniversary year.

It is also described that the first $50 in Chase Travel hotel purchases each year will not earn rewards points.

What does 5X on travel through Chase Travel mean?

It means purchases made through the issuer’s travel booking channel can earn 5 points per dollar, with exclusions noted for hotel purchases that qualify for the $50 hotel credit.

Can points be transferred to airline and hotel partners?

The card materials list transfer partners across airlines and hotels, and transfers are described as available within the Ultimate Rewards ecosystem.

What travel insurance protections are included?

The card describes trip cancellation and interruption insurance, trip delay reimbursement, baggage delay insurance, and auto rental coverage, among other protections, with caps and requirements.

What is the minimum credit line if approved?

The pricing information states that if approved for an account, the credit access line will be at least $5,000.

Is Chase Pay Over Time the same as paying interest?

It is described as a plan that can involve a fixed monthly fee rather than interest, and the fee depends on the plan and purchase.

Are partner perks like DashPass permanent?

They are described with end dates and activation requirements, which means they are time-bound and can change.

Can offers change depending on where I apply?

The offer language states offers may vary depending on where you apply and can change over time.

Disclosures

Rates and fees disclaimer

Rates, fees, offers, and benefits can change.

Always review the most current pricing information and benefit details during the application flow and in the account materials after approval.

Editorial and affiliation disclosure

This article is for informational and educational purposes only.

We are not affiliated with Chase, and we do not represent any bank, issuer, or loyalty program mentioned.