I affiliate premium bank cards with luxurious journey perks and hefty annual charges. Many of those playing cards supply strong worth, particularly in the event you’re loyal to the underlying model.
There are two long-standing titans of the premium card market: The Platinum Card® from American Express and the Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see charges and charges). The former constructed the market for premium rewards playing cards a long time in the past, whereas the latter has grown its mass enchantment in below a decade since launching in 2016.
Since the Chase Sapphire Reserve was simply overhauled with new advantages and the next annual price, it is a good time to match it to the Amex Platinum, a card that’ll quickly obtain its personal set of modifications.
The battle for these two playing cards has by no means been fiercer, so let’s study whether or not the refreshed Sapphire Reserve deserves a spot in your pockets or in the event you ought to decide for the Amex Platinum as an alternative.
Related: Best journey bank cards
Amex Platinum vs. Sapphire Reserve comparability
| Card | Amex Platinum | Sapphire Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| Welcome supply | Find out your supply and see if you’re eligible to earn as excessive as 175,000 bonus factors after spending $8,000 on purchases throughout the first six months of card membership. Welcome presents fluctuate, and also you will not be eligible for a proposal. | Earn 100,000 bonus factors and a $500 Chase Travel℠ credit score* after spending $5,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening. |
| Annual price | $695 (see charges and charges) | $795 |
| Earning charges |
|
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| Notable advantages |
|
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*The Chase Travel credit score is a one-time credit score for new Sapphire Reserve cardholders. Any unused portion from the primary eligible transaction shall be forfeited.
**Enrollment is required, and terms apply.
Amex Platinum vs. Sapphire Reserve welcome supply
When contemplating a brand new premium bank card with a $600-plus annual price, you may need to be sure you begin off right with a big welcome supply that helps you recoup the hefty annual price right away.
For the Amex Platinum, discover out your supply and see if you’re eligible to earn as excessive as 175,000 bonus factors after spending $8,000 on purchases throughout the first six months of card membership. Welcome presents fluctuate, and also you will not be eligible for a proposal.
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This has the potential to be a extremely profitable welcome supply as a result of, in response to TPG’s June 2025 valuations, American Express Membership Rewards factors are price 2 cents every, probably making the welcome supply price as much as $3,500.
Just know that Amex solely permits you to earn a welcome supply as soon as per lifetime, so in the event you aren’t focused for the best supply, it might be price holding off till you might be.
Meanwhile, the Sapphire Reserve‘s welcome supply permits new cardholders to earn 100,000 bonus factors and a $500 Chase Travel credit score after spending $5,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.
We have not seen this excessive of a welcome supply because the card was initially launched in 2016. This elevated welcome supply is thanks, partly, to the latest modifications made to the cardboard.
If you’re a present cardholder of the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see charges and charges) or beforehand earned a welcome bonus on the Sapphire Reserve, you nearly definitely won’t be eligible for a second bonus. If you fall into this class, it is best to use for the Amex Platinum as an alternative.
TPG’s June 2025 valuations peg Chase Ultimate Rewards factors at 2.05 cents every, making this bonus price $2,550, together with the $500 Chase Travel credit score. This welcome bonus is simpler to achieve because of its barely decrease spending requirement than the Amex Platinum’s welcome supply.
Winner: Tie. If you are focused Amex Platinum supply is greater than 100,000 bonus factors, then go for it; in any other case, the Chase Sapphire Reserve is a better option.
Related: The greatest bank card welcome bonuses
Amex Platinum vs. Sapphire Reserve advantages
The Chase Sapphire Reserve and the Amex Platinum are the 2 most costly bank cards within the market. Thanks to a refresh, the Sapphire Reserve now holds the title of the costliest premium bank card with an annual price of $795, barely increased than the Amex Platinum’s $695 annual price.
Despite such excessive annual charges, you may discover every card gives advantages that aid you recoup greater than what you are paying. The Sapphire Reserve presents the next assertion credit:
- $500 annual lodge credit score: $500 annual assertion credit score for lodges booked by The Edit by Chase Travel (as much as $250 biannually)
- $300 annual journey credit score: Flexible $300 annual journey credit score for purchases; eligible purchases embrace airfare, pay as you go automotive rental bookings, lodge stays, mass transit, tolls and parking meters
- Expedited traveler program credit score: Up to $120 assertion credit score for a Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or Nexus software each 4 years
- Entertainment credit score: $300 annual assertion credit score for StubHub or Viagogo purchases by Dec. 31, 2027 (as much as $150 biannually)
- Apple TV+/Apple Music membership credit score: Up to a $250 worth; you may obtain complimentary memberships for Apple TV+ and Apple Music by June 22, 2027 (a one-time activation is required per service)
- Dining credit score: $300 annual eating credit score at Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables (as much as $150 biannually)
- Peloton credit score: $120 in annual assertion credit towards Peloton memberships (by Dec. 31, 2027)
- DoorDash credit score: Complimentary DoorDash SprintPass subscription price as much as $120 yearly (activate by Dec. 31, 2027) and as much as $25 in DoorDash promos every month whilst you have an lively SprintPass subscription
- Lyft credit score: $10 month-to-month credit score in-app (doesn’t apply to Wait & Save, bike or scooter rides; by Sept. 30, 2027)
As a Sapphire Reserve cardholder, you may additionally obtain complimentary IHG One Rewards Platinum Elite standing. You can unlock Diamond Elite standing with $75,000 in spending in your card throughout a calendar yr.
Additional spend-incentivized perks, together with a $250 Shops at Chase credit score, Southwest Rapid Rewards A-List standing and a $500 Southwest Airlines credit score when reserving by Chase Travel, are additionally out there after spending $75,000 in a calendar yr.
It’s vital to notice that these advantages can be found instantly to cardholders who open their accounts after June 23. For current cardholders, they are going to be out there beginning Oct. 26. The exceptions to this rule are the $300 journey credit score, the DoorDash promos and the Lyft in-app credit score.
Lounge entry perks embrace a Priority Pass Select membership and entry to Chase Sapphire Lounge by The Club places, with the flexibility to deliver as much as two friends. Cardholders additionally get entry to pick out Maple Leaf Lounges and Air Canada Cafes in Canada, the U.S. and Europe when departing on a Star Alliance member airline flight.
Additionally, the Sapphire Reserve comes with its industry-leading journey protections:
The Amex Platinum has its personal justifiable share of advantages, together with considerably extra assertion credit. These embrace:
- Up to $200 in assertion credit per calendar yr for incidental charges charged by one eligible airline you choose***
- Up to a $200 annual lodge credit score per calendar yr, within the type of a press release credit score, on pay as you go Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection bookings made throughout the Amex Travel portal if you pay along with your Amex Platinum (Hotel Collection stays require a two-night minimal)***
- Up to $200 in Uber Cash per calendar yr, legitimate on Uber rides and Uber Eats orders within the U.S., break up into month-to-month as much as $15 credit, plus an as much as $20 bonus in December*** (Uber Cash will solely be deposited into one Uber account if you add the Amex Platinum as a fee methodology and redeem with any Amex card)
- Up to $199 in assertion credit per calendar yr to cowl your Clear Plus annual membership***
- Up to $240 per calendar yr in annual digital leisure credit score break up up as as much as $20 month-to-month assertion credit with eligible retailers***
- Up to $300 in Equinox credit score per calendar yr for Equinox gymnasium and Equinox+ app memberships (topic to auto-renewal)***
- Up to $300 in assertion credit per calendar yr towards the acquisition of a SoulCycle bike (as much as 15 bikes per calendar yr); have to be enrolled in an Equinox+ membership to be eligible for this profit
- Up to a $155 assertion credit score per calendar yr (as much as $12.95 month-to-month, plus relevant taxes) to cowl the price of a month-to-month Walmart+ membership (on one membership, topic to auto-renewal; Plus Up excluded)
- A $120 assertion credit score for Global Entry each 4 years or an as much as $85 price credit score for TSA PreCheck each 4 1/2 years (relying on which software price is charged to your card first)
- Up to $100 per calendar yr in Saks Fifth Avenue credit score break up into two as much as $50 assertion credit (one between January and June, then one other from July by December)***
Terms apply to the advantages listed.
Amex Platinum’s lounge entry is properly revered. It consists of the American Express Global Lounge Collection, together with Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass lounges, Aspire lounges, Escape Lounges, Plaza Premium lounges and Delta Sky Clubs (when touring on same-day Delta Air Lines flights; eligible Platinum Card members will obtain 10 visits per eligible Platinum Card, per yr to the Delta Sky Club or to a grab-and-go location when touring on a same-day Delta-operated flight).***
Additional perks embrace complimentary Gold standing with Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy*** and the next complimentary automotive rental standing: Hertz Gold Plus Rewards President’s Circle, Avis Preferred Plus and National Emerald Club Executive.***
Travel and buy protections embrace journey delay****, journey cancellation and interruption insurance coverage****, prolonged guarantee***** and buy safety.***** Terms apply to those advantages.
***Enrollment is required for choose advantages.
****Eligibility and profit degree varies by card. Terms, circumstances and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for particulars. Policies are underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
*****Eligibility and profit ranges fluctuate by card. Terms, circumstances and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for particulars. Policies are underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.
The most difficult side of those titans is unpacking the advantages and seeing how they compete with one one other. As a cardmember of each playing cards, I discover super worth in each of them; nevertheless, with the Sapphire Reserve’s newest modifications, the cardboard might have the higher hand over the Amex Platinum.
When objectively evaluating the advantages, I’d say the Sapphire Reserve’s assertion credit are simply maximized and possibly relevant to most individuals. The Amex Platinum merely can’t compete with the Sapphire Reserve’s versatile $300 journey credit score, particularly when in comparison with the cardboard’s restrictive $200 airline credit score.
The Sapphire Reserve presents the next annual lodge credit score than the Amex Platinum, and the Sapphire Reserve’s eating credit score for use at Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables eating places seems fairly easy to redeem. It requires no reservation; you merely pay at a collaborating restaurant along with your Sapphire Reserve.
It goes with out saying that the Amex Platinum has extra way of life credit, however a whole lot of these credit do not imply a lot to each cardmember, and other people merely use them or exit of their approach to make use of them as a result of the cardboard presents them. Otherwise, these advantages usually aren’t on their radar.
For instance, in the event you should not have an Equinox gymnasium in your neighborhood or a necessity for an Equinox+ app, the $300 credit score is not helpful. I should not have a necessity for a Walmart+ membership; nevertheless, because the Amex Platinum totally covers it, I signed up. Otherwise, it is a perk I might reside with out.
As an Amex Platinum Card member, you obtain way more complete lounge entry, however the incapability to deliver friends to Centurion Lounges (with out spending $75,000 in a calendar yr) is overshadowed by the Sapphire Reserve, which permits as much as two free friends to its Sapphire lounges.
The Amex Platinum’s Uber credit score is way more versatile because it permits you to use it for Uber Eats, and the cardboard’s providing of elite standing with Hilton, Marriott and a number of other automotive rental corporations is one thing the Sapphire Reserve can’t compete with.
Chase has traditionally been the chief in journey insurance coverage, as its choices have beneficiant phrases. Amex has partially closed the hole, including a collection of journey safety advantages to the Amex Platinum Card.
Winner: Sapphire Reserve. It presents assertion credit which are simpler for most to maximise, together with main journey protections.
Related: How to determine if a bank card’s annual price is price paying
Earning factors on the Amex Platinum vs. Sapphire Reserve
Although the welcome bonus is a great way to start out your factors stability, you desire a card that’ll aid you rapidly rack up precious transferable factors.
The Amex Platinum earns:
- 5 factors per greenback spent on airfare bought immediately with airways or by Amex Travel (on as much as $500,000 of airfare purchases per calendar yr, then 1 level per greenback)
- 5 factors per greenback spent on pay as you go lodges booked with Amex Travel
- 1 level per greenback spent on all different purchases
The Sapphire Reserve presents a broader vary of bonus classes, together with journey purchases of airfare, lodges and eating, and earns:
- 10 factors per greenback spent on Peloton gear and accent purchases of $150 or extra (by Dec. 31, 2027), with a most of fifty,000 factors
- 8 factors per greenback spent on all Chase Travel purchases
- 5 factors per greenback spent on Lyft rides (by Sept. 30, 2027)
- 4 factors per greenback spent on flights and lodge purchases made immediately with the service provider
- 3 factors per greenback spent on eating purchases
- 1 level per greenback spent on all different purchases
While the Amex Platinum barely pulls forward for airfare booked immediately with airways (because it gives a terrific 10% return based mostly on TPG’s June 2025 valuations), the Chase Sapphire Reserve comes out in entrance in different areas by giving extra bonus factors on all Chase Travel bookings. Additionally, the Sapphire Reserve has extra bonus classes for incomes, reminiscent of lodges and eating.
Winner: Sapphire Reserve. This card is the perfect for incomes because of its favorable charges on Chase Travel bookings, lodges and eating purchases that aid you earn extra factors in the long run.
Related: Best reward bank cards
Redeeming factors on the Amex Platinum vs. Sapphire Reserve
With Chase Ultimate Rewards and Amex Membership Rewards factors price a really comparable 2.05 and a pair of cents apiece in TPG’s June 2025 valuations, it is price their totally different redemption companions to determine which forex most accurately fits your wants.
Let’s begin with the Sapphire Reserve. In addition to its 14 airline and lodge switch companions, current Sapphire Reserve clients get a 50% bonus when redeeming factors for journey immediately by Chase Travel till Oct. 26, 2027. This offers you an absolute minimal redemption worth of 1.5 cents per level. You can guide a seat on any flight that is for sale, even when there is not award area out there.
Starting June 23, current and new Sapphire Reserve cardholders will get entry to Points Boost, a brand new option to redeem as much as 2 factors per greenback spent with choose airways and top-booked lodges by Chase Travel. Points earned earlier than Oct. 26 will mechanically get the perfect supply out there, whether or not that is the Points Boost fee or the previous commonplace 1.5 cents per level, till Oct. 26, 2027.
If you choose to make use of your Amex factors immediately by American Express Travel, you will not get almost the worth you do by Chase. Flight bookings are a flat 1 cent per level, whereas lodge reservations clock in at simply 0.7 cents apiece. However, the Amex Platinum has 18 airline and three lodge switch companions, seven greater than Chase.
Points earned from the Amex Platinum and the Sapphire Reserve may be redeemed for nontravel redemptions reminiscent of money again, assertion credit and reward playing cards, however these redemptions usually yield poor worth.
Winner: Sapphire Reserve. The card has the next straight-up redemption worth for journey.
Transferring factors on the Amex Platinum vs. Sapphire Reserve
You’ll nearly all the time get higher worth at any time when transferring your factors to airline and lodge loyalty applications. All Chase accomplice transfers are at a 1:1 ratio, and most of them are immediate. Ultimate Rewards factors are particularly helpful as a result of they are often transferred to World of Hyatt, the place you may guide an award evening for as little as 3,500 factors per evening.
On the airline facet, fashionable switch companions embrace United MileagePlus, Southwest Rapid Rewards, British Airways Club, Virgin Atlantic Flying Club and Air France-KLM Flying Blue, although the final three additionally accomplice with Amex Membership Rewards.
The identical holds true for Air Canada Aeroplan, although in the event you additionally maintain the Aeroplan® Credit Card (see charges and charges), you may get pleasure from a ten% bonus on sure transfers from Chase Ultimate Rewards to your Aeroplan account.
Meanwhile, Amex Membership Rewards has an incredible 21 switch companions, however not all are worthwhile. Some switch ratios are under 1:1, and a few switch occasions are longer, which may be dangerous by way of award area disappearing whilst you wait.
As somebody who has each the Amex Platinum and the Sapphire Reserve, I favor transferring my factors to applications like ANA Mileage Club, Air Canada Aeroplan and British Airways Club. Recently, I transferred 50,000 factors from my Sapphire Reserve to Aeroplan to guide a multicity stopover ticket in enterprise class all through Europe for my household. The price would’ve been properly over $2,000 if I paid money for the flights because of increased summer season pricing.
Related: An entire checklist of switch bonuses over the previous decade — which issuer is probably the most beneficiant?
Winner: Tie. Although the Sapphire Reserve has higher switch ratios, the Amex Platinum has extra companions, together with some not discovered with different issuers.
Should I get the Amex Platinum or Sapphire Reserve?
Both playing cards supply their justifiable share of perks, with the Amex Platinum providing entry to a wider community of lounges worldwide and assertion credit suited for journey and an upscale way of life. With the Sapphire Reserve‘s latest refresh, the cardboard not solely beats its longtime rival in incomes charges but additionally in assertion credit, which provide higher worth and are higher suited for the avid luxurious traveler. For many, the Sapphire Reserve would be the higher choice, until you are not eligible for its welcome supply.
Bottom line
The Sapphire Reserve is a simple premium bank card with a powerful checklist of assertion credit and perks that really feel much less like a “coupon book” to me than the Amex Platinum. The card presents complete incomes charges for airfare, lodges and eating, one thing lacking on the Amex Platinum.
However, the Amex Platinum is higher suited for those that could make correct use of the cardboard’s assertion credit and are wanting for far higher lounge entry. With the Sapphire Reserve difficult the Amex Platinum, I do not anticipate American Express to easily sit again and never hit again with modifications of its personal.
To study extra, learn our full evaluations of the Sapphire Reserve and the Amex Platinum.
Apply right here: The Platinum Card from American Express
Apply right here: Chase Sapphire Reserve
For charges and charges of the Amex Platinum, click on right here.
