Is the Chase Sapphire Preferred worth it?
$95 annual fee. The 'beginner Sapphire' — solid earning, primary CDW, transfer partners. Easiest credit-card-points pick for most travelers.
Annual fee
$95
Auto-offsets
$146
$146 credits · $0 auto-perks
Net cost
+$51Pays you to hold
Annual credits & free nights
- redeem
DashPass Membership
$96
Complimentary DoorDash DashPass
- redeem
$50 Hotel Credit
$50
Annual hotel statement credit via Chase Travel
- redeem
Lyft 5x Points
$0
5x on Lyft rides through Sept 2027
- redeem
Trip Cancellation Insurance
$0
Up to $10K per trip for non-refundable expenses
Earning rates
| Category | Multiplier | Effective return |
|---|---|---|
| hotelsVia Chase Travel portal · forfeits hotel loyalty points & elite status | 5x | 10.00% |
| airlinesVia Chase Travel portal | 5x | 10.00% |
| dining | 3x | 6.00% |
| travelRideshares, car rentals, tolls, parking, trains | 2x | 4.00% |
| other | 1x | 2.00% |
The honest answer
Auto-offsets exceed the annual fee — the Chase Sapphire Preferred pays you to hold it before you swipe once. Almost always a hold.
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