Can you have both chase sapphire reserve and preferred

If you already have a Chase Sapphire card and are itching to get another, we have bad news for you.

A policy spelled out in the issuer's Sapphire card agreements prevents cardholders from applying for multiple cards in the Chase Sapphire family. This includes the Chase Sapphire (which is no longer taking new applications), the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and the Chase Sapphire Reserve®. Chase confirmed that the rule was implemented on Aug. 27, 2017. It mostly prevents cardholders from collecting multiple large sign-up bonuses.

In addition, the Sapphire cards are still subject to Chase's 5/24 rule, which makes it harder for people who have recently applied for several credit cards to get approved for one.

Here’s what the "One Sapphire Card" rule means for you:

If you have a Sapphire card: You can’t get another

You might want multiple Sapphire cards for the big sign-up bonuses, which you can move between your accounts and redeem from whichever offers the best point value. You won’t be able to do that — at least not with the Sapphire cards. However, you can still move points from the Chase Freedom®, Chase Freedom Flex℠ or Chase Freedom Unlimited® to your Sapphire card to get a higher redemption value.

If you already have multiple Sapphire cards: You Aren't affected

If you already have multiple Sapphire cards, you can continue using them. You just can't apply for more.

If you’re trying to upgrade or downgrade a Sapphire card: You won’t earn a welcome bonus

If you’ve had a change of heart — or a change of spending habits — and want to turn your Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card into a Chase Sapphire Reserve®, you might still be eligible to make the switch, but you won’t collect a sign-up bonus. Call Chase's customer service line if you want to change products.

If you’ve closed a Sapphire account recently: You might not qualify for a new card

Cardholders who have earned a sign-up bonus within the last 48 months won’t be eligible for a new Sapphire card — even if their previous Sapphire card has since been closed. Before you close an account, make sure you really want to go through with it. You might not qualify for a new Sapphire card right away if you change your mind.

Chase Sapphire Preferred

Can you have both chase sapphire reserve and preferred

Current Offer

Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.

Recommended Credit

Score Our recommended ranges are based off of the FICO® Score 8 credit-scoring model. Credit score is one of the many factors lenders review in considering your application.

350 579

580 669

670 739

740 799

800 850

Good - Excellent

Regular APR (%) 18.99% - 25.99% variable
Annual Fee $95
Rewards Earning Rate Enjoy benefits such as a $50 annual Ultimate Rewards Hotel Credit, 5x on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3x on dining and 2x on all other travel purchases, plus more.
Balance Transfer Fee Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
Foreign transaction fee (%) 0%

If you like to eat out or order in, Chase Sapphire Preferred is a great pick with tons of meal-related and travel perks for you to enjoy.

Pros

  • 3x points on restaurants

  • Exclusive travel benefits

  • No foreign transaction fees

  • Transfer rate of 1:1

Cons

  • No introductory APR offer

  • Annual fee of almost $100

  • Strict limits on airlines for travel rewards

Chase Sapphire Reserve

Can you have both chase sapphire reserve and preferred

Current Offer

Earn 80,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $1,200 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.

Recommended Credit

Score Our recommended ranges are based off of the FICO® Score 8 credit-scoring model. Credit score is one of the many factors lenders review in considering your application.

350 579

580 669

670 739

740 799

800 850

Excellent

Regular APR (%) 19.99% - 26.99% variable
Annual Fee $550
Rewards Earning Rate Earn 10x total points on chase Dining purchases with Ultimate Rewards®. Earn 5x total points on flights and 3x on other travel worldwide. Earn 3x points on other dining at restaurants, including eligible delivery services, takeout and dining out. Plus, earn 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases.
Balance Transfer Fee Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
Foreign transaction fee (%) 0%

Chase Sapphire Reserve offers even more perks with three times the point on dining and travel purchases, but with a higher membership fee, frequent travelers are best served by this card.

Pros

  • 3x the dining and travel rewards

  • $300 Annual Travel Credit

  • No foreign transaction fees

  • Even more points through Chase Ultimate Rewards

Cons

  • Very expensive membership fee

  • No introductory APR

  • Excellent credit required

  • Restricted rewards categories

Chase Sapphire Preferred vs. Reserve: Eligibility 

Although similar in name, these two Chase Sapphire cards vary when it comes to credit requirements. The Sapphire Preferred is more forgiving, although it still requires cardholders to have good credit to qualify. However, to qualify for the Chase Sapphire Reserve, you will need excellent credit as the requirements for approval are very discriminating.

However, be sure about your decision before you apply. Chase limits the number of credit cards for which you can apply during a certain period. It usually does not approve more than two personal credit cards or more than one business card in a single month. Applicants also often receive denials when they have opened five or more credit card accounts within the last 24 months.

Chase Sapphire Preferred vs. Reserve: Rewards and Benefits

No matter which card you pick, Chase delivers some pretty fantastic rewards and benefits. The Reserve card does come with more perks that are designed around the regular traveler, but the Preferred still rewards its cardholders, too.

Chase offers Sapphire cardholders a 1:1 Point Transfer. This means that with Chase Ultimate Rewards, you receive full value when you transfer your points to eligible loyalty programs from leading airlines and hotels.

Your Sapphire card delivers peace of mind in other ways, too. If you use your card to pay for your travel, Chase will offer added protection with its travel accident insurance. It provides up to $500,000 in accidental death or dismemberment coverage.

Chase Sapphire Preferred vs. Reserve: Rewards and Benefits
 Chase Sapphire PreferredChase Sapphire Reserve
Annual fee $95 $550
Sign-up bonus 60,000 bonus points after $4,000 in purchases during 3 three months from account opening 80,000 bonus points after $4,000 in purchases during first three months 
Travel rewards 2x  3x 
Dining rewards 3x  3x 
Lyft rewards 5x  10x 
Regular purchase rewards 1x  1x

Chase Sapphire Preferred vs. Reserve: Intro Offer

Chase Sapphire credit cards come with a ton of bonus points when you open your account. To be eligible, you must spend a minimum of $4,000 within the first three months of opening your account.

Chase redeems each point for $0.01 credit or 100 points for one dollar. However, if you book travel through the Chase Ultimate Rewards program, the value is worth $.0125, which means that 100 points equal $1.25 in redemption value. The 80,000 introductory points equal $750 for the Chase Preferred card and $900 for the Chase Reserve card in travel purchases with the Ultimate Rewards Program or $600 in cash.

However, it’s important to note that Chase does not offer any introductory APRs. What you get when you sign up is your regular rate, unless you are able to requalify for a better rate later on.

Chase Sapphire Preferred vs. Reserve: Fees 

The Reserve card matches the Preferred card in many ways when it comes to fees. However, the Reserve runs slightly higher in a few key areas.

Membership is significantly more expensive with the Reserve card. The annual membership fee is a steep $550, while the Preferred card costs less than $100. Plus, there’s an additional fee of $75 per authorized user that gets tacked onto your bill.

The APR is different between the two cards as well, with the Reserve running a full percentage point above the Preferred. While the Preferred ranges from 18.24% to 25.24%, the Reserve starts at 19.24% and runs up to 26.24%. The balance transfer APR is also the same, and there is no introductory APR for either card.

Otherwise, both cards charge a balance transfer fee of $5 or 5% of your total transfer, whichever is more. Cash advances hold a minimum of $10 per transaction or up to 5%. There are no transaction or returned check fees for either card, and both assess a 27.24% penalty on cash advances and up to $40 for late or returned payments.

 Chase Sapphire PreferredChase Sapphire Reserve
Annual fee $95 $550; $75 per authorized user
APR 18.24% to 25.24%  19.24% to 26.24% 
Intro APR N/A  N/A 
Balance transfer APR 18.99% to 25.99%  19.24% to 26.24% 
Balance transfer fee  $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater 
Cash advances  $10 or 5% of the amount of each transaction, whichever is greater  $10 or 5% of the amount of each transaction, whichever is greater 
Foreign transaction  N/A  N/A 
Cash advance  27.24%  27.24% 
Penalty APR  Up to 29.99%  Up to 29.99% 
Minimum interest charge  N/A  N/A 
Late payment  Up to $40  Up to $40 
Return payment  Up to $40  Up to $40 
Return check  None  None

Chase Sapphire Preferred vs. Reserve: Security 

Both the Chase Sapphire Preferred and Reserve credit cards come with a host of security protections to ensure that your account is safe, no matter what happens.

Zero Liability Protection

Chase offers zero liability protections on its credit cards to protect you from credit card fraud. With this benefit, you don’t have to pay for unauthorized charges made using your account. Once you report the charge using the number on the back of your card, Chase will take care of the rest.

Fraud Protection

The Sapphire Preferred and Reserve credit cards come with cutting-edge fraud monitoring that’s available in real-time. Even if you aren’t paying attention to your account, you can take comfort in knowing that there is a professional keeping an eye on things so your account is protected.

Fraud Alerts

If suspicious or fraudulent activity is detected on your account, Chase will notify Sapphire Preferred and Reserve cardholders immediately. Notifications can be sent via text, email, or phone. You can then sign in to your account via Chase.com to review your account and correct any potential fraudulent activity that is being made.

Chip-Enhanced Security

Regardless of whether you open a Chase Sapphire Preferred or Reserve card, you will receive a new credit card with an embedded chip. Not only will your card be accepted by more businesses globally, but you’ll also enjoy Chase’s signature security protections, no matter where you are in the world. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I Have Both Chase Sapphire Preferred and Reserve Cards?

Unfortunately, Chase does not allow the same cardholder to have both a Chase Sapphire Preferred credit card and a Chase Sapphire Reserve credit card. You will need to choose one card and then close one account before you can be approved for the other card.

Can I Downgrade From the Chase Sapphire Reserve or Preferred?

When you have a Chase Sapphire Reserve credit card, you have the option of downgrading to a Sapphire Preferred card. Chase requires you to stay within the same family of credit cards when downgrading, which, in this case, includes the Reserve, Preferred, Freedom, and Freedom Unlimited credit cards.

Is the Chase Sapphire Reserve Card Worth It?

The Chase Sapphire Reserve card comes with excellent perks that can benefit the busy traveler on the go. Instead of two times the points with the Preferred card, you’ll earn three times the points with the Reserve, allowing you to stack up travel credit or cash value fairly quickly. There’s no introductory APR, but you still get an excellent head start on your points, with up to 80,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.

Will Chase Sapphire Preferred or Reserve Waive the Annual Fee?

Chase offers some military discounts, which could waive the annual fee. Otherwise, members can expect to pay the regular annual fee, with an additional $75 fee per authorized user for the Reserve card.

Do Chase Sapphire Preferred and Reserve Card Offer Travel Insurance?

Chase offers travel insurance with both the Chase Sapphire Preferred and Reserve cards. As a cardholder, you will receive up to $500,000 in accidental death or dismemberment coverage to keep you covered on your travels.

How We Evaluated Chase Sapphire Preferred vs. Reserve 

To evaluate Chase Sapphire Preferred as compared with the Reserve, we reviewed in detail the latest offerings and incentives for 2021. We read the fine print, looking for benefits and potential issues that can affect your account once you become a policyholder.

We also assessed the fees, looking far beyond the base APR to see how various charges and fees can stack up, eating away at your rewards. Finally, we analyzed security prowess to ensure that you are protected with all of the coverage you need to safeguard not only your finances but also your identity.

Can you get Sapphire Reserve bonus if you have preferred?

In general, you cannot get another bonus if you upgrade your Chase Sapphire Preferred card to the Chase Sapphire Reserve card. You generally also can't apply for the Chase Sapphire Reserve card if you already have the Chase Sapphire Preferred card.

Can you get 2 Chase credit cards at once?

Chase doesn't have a hard limit on the number of cards you can have at once. Instead, there's a maximum amount of total credit they'll extend you. Some of us on the MMS team have six or more Chase credit cards.

Can I refer Chase preferred if I have reserve?

Yes. After you log on to the app, scroll to find your Chase Sapphire Reserve card and tap the card. Next, scroll down and tap "Refer friends" on the screen. Finally you can choose your method of invitation.

Does it make sense to have Amex Gold and Chase Sapphire Reserve?

The Chase Sapphire Reserve card earns Ultimate Rewards points and the Amex Gold card earns Membership Rewards points. Both points currencies are very valuable due to their flexibility at redemption time.