These two answer different questions. The Amex Gold, at $325, earns 4x on dining and U.S. groceries, and about $424 in credits cover the fee, so it wins for heavy food spenders. The Chase Sapphire Preferred, at $95, is the cheaper all-around points card, with 3x dining and a $100 hotel credit that covers its fee. If dining and groceries are your top spend, choose the Gold; otherwise the Preferred.
Amex Gold vs Sapphire Preferred, head to head
| Category | Amex Gold | Sapphire Preferred |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $325 | $95 |
| Dining | 4x points | 3x points |
| U.S. groceries | 4x points | 1x points |
| Travel | 3x flights via Amex Travel | 5x Chase Travel, 2x other travel |
| Credits | About $424: dining, Uber, Resy, Dunkin | $100 Chase Travel hotel credit |
| Transfer partners | Amex Membership Rewards partners | Chase Ultimate Rewards partners |
Pick by your spend
Get the Gold for heavy dining and grocery spend; get the Preferred as a low-fee all-rounder. Figures are current as of 2026. Confirm the current welcome offer at the issuer before you apply.
Which should you pick
Advertisement
Get the Amex Gold if your biggest categories are restaurants and groceries, since 4x in both plus the credits beat the $325 fee. Get the Sapphire Preferred if you want the lowest-fee entry to transferable points, value travel flexibility, and do not spend enough on food to justify the Gold. Households that spend heavily on groceries lean Gold; everyone else leans Preferred. The head-to-head is in Bilt vs Chase Sapphire Preferred.
The honest tradeoff
The Gold earns far more on food but costs $325 and rewards groceries the Preferred ignores. The Preferred is cheaper, its credit covers its fee, and it earns more on travel through the Chase portal, but it does not reward groceries. The deciding factor is whether your dining and grocery spend is large enough to earn back the Gold fee.
More card guides
FAQ
Amex Gold or Chase Sapphire Preferred?
Get the Gold if you spend heavily on dining and groceries, where 4x plus the credits beat the $325 fee. Get the Preferred as a lower-fee all-rounder whose $100 hotel credit covers its $95 fee. It comes down to how much you spend on food.
Which earns more on groceries?
The Amex Gold, at 4x on U.S. supermarkets up to $25,000 a year. The Sapphire Preferred earns only 1x on groceries.
Which has the lower annual fee?
The Sapphire Preferred, at $95, versus $325 for the Amex Gold. The Preferred credit covers its fee, and the Gold credits cover its larger fee only if you use them.
Do they earn the same points?
No. The Gold earns Amex Membership Rewards and the Preferred earns Chase Ultimate Rewards. Each transfers to its own set of airline and hotel partners.
Last reviewed October 2026. We verify every rule, ratio, and figure against issuer terms and current reporting, and date each one. See our editorial standards for how we research and correct guides.
We re-check these guides as issuer rules and award charts change. 2 ways to follow along, no account needed.