Chase Sapphire Reserve vs. American Specific Gold: A high luxurious journey card in opposition to a high foodie card

On the subject of journey rewards playing cards, you normally get what you pay for by way of bonus classes and perks. For this reason we normally examine playing cards inside a single class to attempt to discover the most effective premium rewards card or the most effective no-annual-fee playing cards.

The issue is that the American Specific® Gold Card does not match neatly into any class. It straddles the road between midlevel and premium, providing high-value bonus classes for the foodie at a $325 annual charge (see charges and costs). Then there’s the premium Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see charges and costs) that only in the near past acquired a main overhaul.

Should you’re a foodie and traveler making an attempt to resolve between the Amex Gold and the Chase Sapphire Reserve — among the finest playing cards for journey and eating general — here is what to contemplate that will help you resolve which card is a greater match in your wants.

Sapphire Reserve vs. Amex Gold comparability

Let’s begin with a fast overview of every card’s highlights:

	Chase Sapphire Reserve^	Amex Gold
Annual charge	$795	$325
Welcome supply	Earn 100,000 factors and a $500 Chase Journey℠ credit score after spending $5,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.	Discover out your supply and see if you’re eligible to earn as excessive as 100,000 Membership Rewards factors after spending $6,000 on purchases inside the first six months of card membership. Welcome presents range, and also you might not be eligible for a proposal.
Bonus classes	Earn 10 factors per greenback spent on Peloton tools and accent purchases of $150 or extra (by Dec. 31, 2027), with a most of fifty,000 factors. Earn 8 factors per greenback spent on purchases made by Chase Journey, together with The Edit. Earn 5 factors per greenback spent on Lyft rides (by Sept. 30, 2027). Earn 4 factors per greenback spent on flights and motels booked straight. Earn 3 factors per greenback spent on eating worldwide. Earn 1 level per greenback spent on all the pieces else. Notice that elevated earnings on journey are acquired after spending your first $300 on journey every calendar 12 months. Elevated incomes charges on flights and motels booked straight and Chase Journey purchases apply solely after exhausting the $300 annual journey credit score and the $500 Chase Journey credit score featured as a part of the welcome bonus. Current Sapphire Reserve cardholders will not get entry to the brand new incomes charges till Oct. 26.	Earn 4 factors per greenback spent on as much as $50,000 per calendar 12 months on eating at eating places worldwide (then 1 level per greenback). Earn 4 factors per greenback spent on as much as $25,000 in purchases at U.S. supermarkets per calendar 12 months (then 1 level per greenback). Earn 3 factors per greenback spent on flights booked straight with the airline or by amextravel.com. Earn 2 factors per greenback spent on pay as you go motels and different eligible purchases booked by amextravel.com. Earn 1 level per greenback spent on all different eligible purchases.
Annual assertion credit	$500 annual credit score (as much as $250 assertion credit score biannually; two-night minimal keep required) to make use of on The Edit through Chase Journey $300 annual journey credit score $300 annual StubHub and Viagogo credit score (as much as $150 assertion credit score biannually)(by Dec. 31, 2027) $300 annual eating credit score (as much as $150 in assertion credit biannually at Sapphire Reserve Unique Tables) $300 in annual DoorDash credit: Cardholders obtain as much as $25 in month-to-month promos with two $10 nonrestaurant promos and one $5 restaurant promo, and a complimentary DashPass membership for not less than one 12 months value $120 (should activate by Dec. 31, 2027) As much as $250 yearly within the type of complimentary Apple TV+ and Apple Music subscriptions (by June 22, 2027; one-time activation per service by chase.com or the Chase Cellular app is required) As much as $120 yearly in Lyft in-app credit: Cardholders obtain as much as $10 every month; the credit score doesn’t apply to Wait & Save, bike or scooter rides (by Sept. 30, 2027) As much as $120 in Peloton credit score (by Dec. 31, 2027; activation required) As much as $120 in International Entry, TSA PreCheck or Nexus utility charge assertion credit score (as soon as each 4 years)	As much as $10 in month-to-month eating assertion credit score on the following companions: 5 Guys, Grubhub, the Cheesecake Manufacturing unit, Goldbelly and Wine.com (as much as $120 per calendar 12 months) As much as $10 in month-to-month Uber credit score within the type of Uber Money that can be utilized on U.S. Uber rides and Uber Eats orders (as much as $120 per calendar 12 months); you will need to add the cardboard to your Uber account and might redeem with any Amex card As much as $100 in assertion credit for purchases at U.S. Resy-affiliated eating places per calendar 12 months (as much as $50 semiannually) As much as $7 in month-to-month assertion credit score for U.S. Dunkin’ purchases (as much as $84 per calendar 12 months) Enrollment is required for choose advantages; phrases apply
Different card advantages	Chase and Precedence Move lounge entry for the first cardholder and as much as two friends, plus entry to pick out Air Canada Maple Leaf lounges for you and one visitor when flying on a Star Alliance airline IHG One Rewards Platinum elite standing Complimentary standing upgrades and reductions with Avis and Nationwide Journey cancellation/interruption insurance coverage Baggage loss and delay insurance coverage Buy protections No overseas transaction charges Plus, you’ll be able to unlock these advantages after spending $75,000 or extra in a calendar 12 months: Southwest Airways A-Record standing IHG One Rewards Diamond elite standing $500 Southwest credit score $250 Retailers at Chase credit score	As much as $100 in credit for qualifying resort actions at The Lodge Assortment*** properties every calendar 12 months (minimal two-night keep required) Journey delay reimbursement* Baggage loss or injury reimbursement** Enrollment is required for choose advantages; phrases apply No overseas transaction charges (see charges and costs)

*Eligibility and profit degree range by card. Phrases, circumstances and limitations apply. Go to americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for particulars. Insurance policies are underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance coverage Firm, an AIG Firm.

**Eligibility and profit degree range by card. Phrases, circumstances and limitations apply. Go to americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for particulars. Insurance policies are underwritten by AMEX Assurance Firm.

***Eligible costs range by property.

^It is also necessary to notice that present Sapphire Reserve cardholders who utilized earlier than June 23 won’t have entry to the brand new advantages and earnings fee till Oct. 26.

Associated: Is the Amex Gold definitely worth the annual charge?

Sapphire Reserve vs. Amex Gold welcome supply

Each playing cards supply helpful welcome presents that may assist fund your subsequent large journey.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve presents new candidates 100,000 bonus factors and a $500 Chase Journey credit score after they spend $5,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.

It is necessary to notice that the phrases for the journey credit score state: “The promotional credit score is legitimate for a one-time use solely, if you happen to apply the promotional credit score to a transaction lower than $500, you’ll forfeit the remaining stability.”

When factoring within the Chase Journey credit score, that is the very best welcome supply we have seen because the card was initially launched again in 2016.

TPG’s July 2025 valuations peg Final Rewards factors at 2.05 cents every, making the Sapphire Reserve bonus value as much as $2,550 whenever you embody the $500 Chase Journey credit score.

In the meantime, with the Amex Gold, new candidates can discover out their supply and see if they’re eligible to earn as excessive as 100,000 Membership Rewards factors after spending $6,000 on purchases inside the first six months of card membership. Welcome presents range, and also you might not be eligible for a proposal.

TPG’s July 2025 valuations peg Membership Rewards factors at 2 cents a bit, making this welcome supply value as much as $2,000.

After all, the bonus worth is just one piece of the equation. You additionally have to be sure to’re eligible to use for both of those playing cards, as Chase and Amex have completely different restrictions on welcome bonus eligibility.

Chase has carried out new guidelines for welcome bonus eligibility on its Sapphire playing cards. Now you can maintain multiple Sapphire product on the identical time, however if you happen to’re a present cardholder of the Chase Sapphire Most well-liked® Card (see charges and costs) or beforehand earned a welcome bonus on a Sapphire product — excluding the Chase Sapphire Reserve for Enterprise℠ (see charges and costs) — you virtually undoubtedly won’t be eligible for a second Sapphire card bonus.

With the Amex Gold, you might be topic to Amex’s once-in-a-lifetime rule and household restrictions.

Winner: Chase Sapphire Reserve. Its welcome supply is the upper and extra helpful one.

Associated: Finest welcome presents of the month

Sapphire Reserve vs. Amex Gold advantages

Here is a breakdown of the advantages offered on every card at first look.

Assertion credit	$500 annual credit score (as much as $250 biannually; two-night minimal keep required) to make use of on The Edit through Chase Journey $300 annual journey credit score $300 annual StubHub and Viagogo credit score (as much as $150 biannually) $300 annual eating credit score (as much as $150 biannually at Sapphire Reserve Unique Tables) $300 in annual DoorDash credit score: Cardholders obtain as much as $25 in month-to-month promos with two $10 nonrestaurant promos and one $5 restaurant promo, and a complimentary DashPass membership for not less than one 12 months value $120 (should activate by Dec. 31, 2027) As much as $250 yearly in complimentary Apple TV+ and Apple Music subscriptions (by June 22, 2027; one-time activation per service by chase.com or the Chase Cellular app is required) As much as $120 in annual in-app Lyft credit: Cardholders obtain as much as $10 every month; the credit score doesn’t apply to Wait & Save, bike or scooter rides (by Sept. 30, 2027) $120 Peloton credit score: By way of Dec. 31, 2027; activation required $120 International Entry, TSA PreCheck or Nexus utility charge assertion credit score (as soon as each 4 years)	As much as $10 in month-to-month eating assertion credit score on the following companions: 5 Guys, Grubhub, the Cheesecake Manufacturing unit, Goldbelly and Wine.com (as much as $120 each calendar 12 months) As much as $10 in month-to-month Uber credit score within the type of Uber Money that can be utilized on U.S. Uber rides and Uber Eats orders (as much as $120 per calendar 12 months). You could add the cardboard to your Uber account and might redeem with any Amex card. As much as $100 in assertion credit for purchases at U.S. Resy-affiliated eating places per calendar 12 months (as much as $50 semiannually) As much as $7 in month-to-month assertion credit score for U.S. Dunkin’ purchases (as much as $84 per calendar 12 months) Enrollment is required for choose advantages; phrases apply.
Different card advantages	Chase and Precedence Move lounge entry for the first cardholder and as much as two friends, plus entry to pick out Air Canada Maple Leaf lounges for you and one visitor when flying on a Star Alliance airline IHG One Rewards Platinum elite standing Complimentary standing upgrades and reductions with Avis and Nationwide Journey cancellation/interruption insurance coverage Baggage loss and delay insurance coverage Major automotive rental insurance coverage Baggage delay insurance coverage Journey delay insurance coverage Journey cancellation/interruption insurance coverage An emergency medical and dental profit Buy protections No overseas transaction charges Plus, you’ll be able to unlock these advantages after spending $75,000 or extra in a calendar 12 months: Southwest A-Record standing IHG One Rewards Diamond elite standing $500 Southwest credit score $250 Retailers at Chase credit score	As much as $100 in credit for qualifying resort actions at The Lodge Assortment*** properties every calendar 12 months (minimal two-night keep required) Journey delay reimbursement Baggage loss or injury reimbursement No overseas transaction charges Enrollment is required for choose advantages; phrases apply.

That is the place we begin to see the largest variations come up, because the Chase Sapphire Reserve is a premium, luxurious journey card with the perks to match.

Let’s begin with an important profit that may assist offset the cardboard’s $750 annual charge: a $300 annual journey credit score. This credit score is routinely utilized to a variety of journey purchases, together with airfare and motels. Bookings don’t should be made through a journey portal and no activation is required.

The Sapphire Reserve’s different standout profit is lounge entry. You may have entry to Chase Sapphire Lounges and a Precedence Move Choose membership for you and as much as two friends. Plus, you and one visitor will obtain entry to pick out Air Canada Maple Leaf lounges when flying on a Star Alliance airline.

Moreover, Sapphire Reserve cardholders obtain a number of different assertion credit, together with a eating credit score; an leisure credit score with StubHub and Viagogo; complimentary Apple Music and Apple TV+ subscriptions; and a International Entry, TSA PreCheck or Nexus utility charge credit score, and a number of other helpful journey and baggage insurance coverage insurance policies.

Cardholders additionally get pleasure from a complimentary DoorDash DashPass membership and $25 in month-to-month DoorDash promos. (Should activate by Dec. 31, 2027.)

The Amex Gold rewards foodies with as much as $10 in month-to-month eating credit score legitimate on the following retailers: 5 Guys, Grubhub, the Cheesecake Manufacturing unit, Goldbelly and Wine.com (as much as $120 per calendar 12 months). Cardmembers additionally obtain as much as $120 in annual Uber Money every calendar 12 months, issued in $10 month-to-month increments, which is legitimate on Uber rides or Uber Eats purchases. Your Amex Gold have to be added to your Uber account, and you’ll redeem it with any Amex card.

As well as, cardmembers can rise up to $100 in assertion credit each calendar 12 months for purchases made at U.S. Resy-affiliated eating places (as much as $50 in assertion credit biannually). As a remaining foodie profit, the Amex Gold gives as much as $7 in month-to-month assertion credit for U.S. Dunkin’ purchases (as much as $84 every calendar 12 months).

The Sapphire Reserve presents extra lifestyle- and travel-oriented advantages, whereas the Amex Gold is solely targeted on meals and eating. Should you maximize these accessible advantages, you may wind up with $424 in annual worth, simply justifying the cardboard’s $325 annual charge and leaving you within the inexperienced. Enrollment is required for choose advantages; phrases apply.

Winner: Chase Sapphire Reserve. It presents extra substantial perks, together with lounge entry and industry-leading journey protections. Nevertheless, if you happen to’re on the lookout for a extra food-focused card, the Amex Gold must be your high choose.

Associated: Chase Sapphire Reserve assertion credit: What they’re and methods to use them

Incomes factors on the Sapphire Reserve vs. Amex Gold

Each playing cards earn helpful versatile rewards in quite a lot of bonus classes.

With the Chase Sapphire Reserve you may earn:

• 10 factors per greenback spent on Peloton tools and accent purchases of $150 or extra (by Dec. 31, 2027), with a most of fifty,000 factors
• 8 factors per greenback spent on purchases made by Chase Journey, together with The Edit
• 5 factors per greenback spent on Lyft rides (by Sept. 30, 2027)
• 4 factors per greenback spent on flights and motels booked straight
• 3 factors per greenback spent on eating worldwide
• 1 level per greenback spent on all the pieces else

Notice that the elevated incomes fee on journey kicks in after spending your first $300 on journey every calendar 12 months with the Sapphire Reserve.

In the meantime, with the Amex Gold you may earn:

• 4 factors per greenback spent at eating places and U.S. supermarkets (U.S. supermarkets capped at $25,000 per calendar 12 months, then 1 level per greenback; eating places capped at $50,000 per calendar 12 months, then 1 level per greenback)
• 3 factors per greenback spent on flights booked straight with the airline or by amextravel.com
• 2 factors per greenback spent on pay as you go motels and different journey purchases made by Amex Journey
• 1 level per greenback spent on all different purchases

The Amex Gold is clearly focused as a foodie-friendly card, and that is mirrored within the bonus classes. The 4 factors per greenback spent at U.S. supermarkets (an 8% return based mostly on TPG’s July 2025 valuations, on as much as $25,000 per calendar 12 months) is among the finest incomes charges you may discover from any card.

The Amex Gold additionally has an edge when eating at eating places, as its 4 factors per greenback spent (on as much as $50,000 per calendar 12 months) once more wins out over 3 factors per greenback spent on the Sapphire Reserve, which is not any slouch both (an 8% versus 6.15% return based mostly on our July 2025 valuations).

For journey earnings, the Sapphire Reserve takes the cake because it earns 4 factors per greenback spent on motels and flights booked straight, whereas the Amex Gold earns 3 factors per greenback spent on airfare booked straight or on amextravel.com.

Whereas the Sapphire Reserve is best suited to journey purchases, when you’ve got larger spending on meals and groceries, you are higher suited with the Amex Gold card.

Winner: Chase Sapphire Reserve, because it has barely extra bonus classes.

Associated: Which purchases rely as journey with the Chase Sapphire Reserve?

Redeeming factors on the Sapphire Reserve vs. Amex Gold

Each playing cards share related methods of redeeming factors.

TPG’s July 2025 valuations peg Chase Final Rewards factors at 2.05 cents every and Amex Membership Rewards factors at 2 cents every, however the packages every have strengths and weaknesses that might trigger you to select one over the opposite.

With the Chase Sapphire Reserve, factors will be redeemed for journey by Chase Journey at a price of as much as 2 cents per level, relying on the particular redemption, with the Factors Increase function. With Factors Increase, you’ll be able to obtain elevated redemption charges of greater than 1 cent per level on choose Chase Journey redemptions. Choose flight and resort redemptions will be made at a fee between 1.5 and a couple of cents per level.

Moreover, you may as well redeem your factors for present playing cards, merchandise or assertion credit score.

With the Amex Gold Card, you’ll be able to redeem your factors for journey by amextravel.com or for present playing cards or money again as a press release credit score. It is necessary to notice that you simply obtain a redemption fee of 1 cent per level when reserving flights by Amex Journey.

All different redemption choices, together with these by Amex Journey, present a price of underneath 1 cent per level, effectively beneath TPG’s July 2025 valuation of two cents per level, and should not advisable.

With each playing cards, you may usually be higher off transferring your factors to one in every of Chase’s or Amex’s switch companions for max worth.

Winner: Chase Sapphire Reserve. Its factors are value not less than 1 cent per level, whatever the redemption technique, whereas with the Amex Gold, there aren’t any redemption strategies which have a fee of 1 cent per level.

Associated: Amex Platinum vs. Chase Sapphire Reserve

Transferring factors on the Sapphire Reserve vs. Amex Gold

Each playing cards have glorious rosters of switch companions.

With the Chase Sapphire Reserve, you may have entry to the Chase roster of 14 airline and resort companions.

With the Amex Gold, you may have entry to Amex’s roster of 20 airline and resort companions, together with Avianca LifeMiles and Qantas Frequent Flyer.

Each playing cards share some switch companions, together with Air Canada Aeroplan, Air France-KLM Flying Blue, Emirates Skywards, British Airways Membership, Virgin Atlantic Flying Membership and Singapore Airways KrisFlyer.

Moreover, every card has two home airways as a switch companion, with Chase having United MileagePlus and Southwest Speedy Rewards and Amex having Delta SkyMiles and JetBlue TrueBlue.

Chase has fewer airline switch companions however is significantly better for these trying to redeem factors for resort stays, as World of Hyatt presents the best-value resort redemptions, as Hyatt nonetheless makes use of a fastened award chart. Each playing cards share Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors as resort switch companions.

TPG Credit score Playing cards Author Chris Nelson likes to switch his Amex factors to Delta SkyMiles to reap the benefits of flash gross sales on award flights. Moreover, he likes to switch his Chase factors to Air Canada Aeroplan to ebook long-haul business-class flights on Star Alliance companions.

Switch companions are one of the best ways to maximise your factors, particularly if you wish to keep at luxurious motels or fly in fancy premium cabins.

Winner: Chase Sapphire Reserve. The Sapphire Reserve takes the slight edge regardless of Aemx having extra switch companions, as Chase has World of Hyatt as a switch companion.

Associated: Why all vacationers ought to earn transferable factors

Ought to I get the Sapphire Reserve or Amex Gold?

Should you’re eligible for each of those playing cards, they make an all-star pairing, and there is a actual case for having each in your pockets, as Credit score Playing cards Editor Daisy Hernandez can attest to: “I get a ton of worth from each my Sapphire Reserve and my Amex Gold as journey, eating and groceries are amongst my greatest bills.”

These two playing cards complement one another very effectively by way of advantages and incomes and redeeming factors. However if you happen to should choose one, you may need to resolve in order for you higher incomes charges on meals and eating and a decrease annual charge with the Amex Gold or luxurious journey advantages with the Sapphire Reserve.

Should you’re on the lookout for a extra travel-oriented card, the Sapphire Reserve is your most suitable option, however if you happen to spend so much on meals and eating, the Amex Gold will doubtless be a greater match.

Associated: How to decide on the most effective bank card for you

Backside line

Regardless of not technically being a premium card, the Amex Gold provides the Chase Sapphire Reserve a run for its cash in a number of completely different classes.

These two playing cards complement one another fairly effectively, but in addition goal barely completely different audiences. The Amex Gold is a go-to card for all issues food-related, whereas the Sapphire Reserve focuses on luxurious journey experiences. Both card may make a wonderful addition to your pockets.

To be taught extra, take a look at our full critiques of the Amex Gold and the Chase Sapphire Reserve.

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Apply right here: Amex Gold
Apply right here: Chase Sapphire Reserve

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Associated: Amex Platinum vs. Chase Sapphire Reserve

For charges and costs of the Amex Gold card, click on right here.