Because of its strong earning rates and current sky-high 100,000-point welcome offer, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card has won our recommendation as to the best travel rewards card with an annual fee under $100.
The Preferred is now one of the best credit cards for dining, thanks to the addition of new benefits and earning rates for the same annual fee.
On August 16, new and current Chase Sapphire Preferred cards will receive 3 Ultimate Rewards points per dollar spent on restaurants, qualified delivery services, and takeout, up from 2 points per dollar before.
When you activate your Sapphire Preferred card by December 31, 2021, you’ll get a 12-month complimentary DoorDash Dash Pass membership (normally $9.99 per month). It includes free delivery and cheaper service fees on qualified products.
All of this for a $95 annual fee, giving the American Express® Gold Card a run for its money as the best card for individuals who use their credit cards primarily for dining.
This is on top of the 5 points per dollar earned on travel booked through the Chase Ultimate Rewards travel portal, 3 points per dollar earned on select streaming services and groceries (excluding Target, Walmart, and wholesale clubs), $50 statement credit for hotel stays booked through the portal, and a 10% anniversary points bonus.
You can use your Chase Ultimate Rewards points to get free or discounted travel in the future.
The American Express Gold card (See rates & fees) earns 4 Membership Rewards points for every dollar spent at U.S. restaurants, but it comes with a $250 annual fee, which is more than double the Chase Sapphire Preferred’s.
It also includes a $120 annual eating credit that can be used over the course of a year. The Cheesecake Factory, participating Shake Shack locations, and GrubHub/Seamless are among the restaurants and services eligible for this credit.
Both of these cards are excellent for dining. In fact, one of our most often asked questions is how to choose between the Chase Sapphire Preferred and the Amex Gold cards.
However, the Chase Sapphire Preferred has recently become a lot better dining card. With these new enhancements, you’ll be able to see your Ultimate Rewards points stack up rapidly if you spend a significant amount of your budget on eating out or ordering takeout/delivery.
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