American Express® Gold Card vs Chase Sapphire Reserve®
Side by side on the numbers that decide it. The Money 8020 Score already weighs these. This page is the receipts.
Money 8020 pick AE American Express® Gold Card American Express 89/100 | JC Chase Sapphire Reserve® JPMorgan Chase 89/100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Tier | Essential | Essential |
| Rewards rate | 1X-5X | 1x-8x |
| Restaurants | 4X | — |
| Bonus | — | 100,000 bonus points |
| Regular APR | — | 19.74%-28.24% |
| Annual fee | $325 | $795 |
| Best for | People who spend heavily on dining and U.S. groceries | Frequent travelers who will use a $300 travel credit and lounges |
| View profile | View profile |
As of October 6, 2026, the American Express Gold Card costs $325 a year and earns 4X at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets (with caps). Chase Sapphire Reserve costs $795 a year and earns 8x on Chase Travel, 4x on flights and hotels booked direct and 3x on dining, with a $300 travel credit and lounge access. Gold suits heavy diners and grocery shoppers; Reserve suits frequent travelers who will use its credits. This is not financial advice.
Amex Gold vs Chase Sapphire Reserve is a mid-fee dining and grocery card against a high-fee travel card. Both appear on our best travel credit cards list. As of October 6, 2026, the American Express® Gold Card lists a $325 annual fee and earns 4X Membership Rewards points at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets, each with an annual cap. Chase Sapphire Reserve® lists a $795 annual fee and earns 8x on Chase Travel, 4x on flights and hotels booked direct and 3x on dining, with a $300 annual travel credit, airport lounge access and a 100,000-point bonus after $6,000 in purchases in the first 3 months.
Terms as of October 6, 2026. We checked every Amex Gold figure on American Express’s Gold Card page and every Sapphire Reserve figure on Chase’s Sapphire Reserve page on October 6, 2026. The Gold Card’s welcome offer and APR did not load on the Amex page we checked, so we do not state them. Card terms can change. This comparison is general information, not financial advice. Some links on Money 8020 are affiliate or partner links; see our advertiser and affiliate disclosure.
Amex Gold vs Chase Sapphire Reserve: how do the fees compare?
| Fee or term (as of Oct 6, 2026) | American Express® Gold Card | Chase Sapphire Reserve® |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $325 (Basic Card) | $795 |
| Extra cards | $0 for the first 5 Additional Cards, then $35 each | $195 per authorized user |
| Foreign transaction fee | None | None |
| Regular APR | Not shown on the page we checked | 19.74% to 28.24% variable |
| Sign-up bonus | Not shown on the page we checked | 100,000 points after $6,000 in 3 months |
| Airport lounge access | None, per Amex | Chase Sapphire Lounges and 1,300+ Priority Pass lounges |
The fee gap is $470 a year before any credits. A household that adds two authorized users would pay $795 plus $390 on Reserve, versus $325 on Gold. Credits only narrow that gap if you would have spent the money anyway, at those merchants, on the issuer’s schedule.
How do the earn rates compare?
| Spending category | Amex Gold (Membership Rewards points) | Sapphire Reserve (Ultimate Rewards points) |
|---|---|---|
| Restaurants and dining | 4X worldwide, on up to $50,000 a year, then 1X | 3x worldwide |
| U.S. supermarkets | 4X, on up to $25,000 a year, then 1X | 1x |
| Flights | 3X booked through Amex Travel or directly with airlines | 4x booked direct; 8x through Chase Travel |
| Hotels | 5X on prepaid hotels through Amex Travel | 4x booked direct; 8x through Chase Travel |
| Car rentals | 2X on prepaid rentals through Amex Travel | 8x through Chase Travel |
| Everything else | 1X | 1x |
Sources: Amex Gold Card page and Chase Sapphire Reserve page, October 6, 2026. Reserve’s 1x on groceries reflects Chase’s “all other purchases” rate; Chase lists no separate grocery category.
The dining and grocery gap. On restaurant spend, Gold earns one extra point per dollar over Reserve. On U.S. supermarket spend, Gold earns four points per dollar against Reserve’s one. A household spending $800 a month at U.S. supermarkets and $600 at restaurants would earn about 67,200 Membership Rewards points a year on Gold in those two categories, versus about 31,200 Ultimate Rewards points on Reserve (our arithmetic on the issuers’ listed rates).
The travel gap. Reserve earns 8x on everything booked through Chase Travel, including The Edit hotels, and 4x when you book flights or hotels directly. Gold earns 3X on flights and 5X only on prepaid hotels through Amex Travel. If most of your card spend is travel, Reserve’s earn rates are built for that job.
Point value is not equal. Membership Rewards and Ultimate Rewards points are different currencies. Amex says Gold points can be transferred to 20 airline and hotel travel partners. Chase says Reserve points transfer to leading airline and hotel programs and, through Points Boost, are worth up to 2x on top booked hotels and select flights through Chase Travel. What a point is worth depends on how you redeem.
What statement credits come with each card?
| Credit (as of Oct 6, 2026) | Amex Gold | Sapphire Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| Dining | Up to $120 a year ($10 a month) at Grubhub, Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory and Wonder | Up to $300 a year ($150 per half-year) at Sapphire Exclusive Tables restaurants on OpenTable |
| Rideshare | $120 a year in Uber Cash ($10 a month) | Up to $120 in Lyft credits ($10 a month) through 9/30/2027 |
| Travel | $100 credit on 2+ night Hotel Collection stays booked through Amex Travel | $300 annual travel credit each account anniversary year |
| Hotels | See Hotel Collection above | Up to $500 a year for prepaid stays with The Edit (up to $250 per booking), plus up to $250 on select Chase Travel hotels through 12/31/26 |
| Restaurant booking | Up to $100 a year at U.S. Resy restaurants ($50 per half-year) | Covered by dining credit above |
| Coffee | Up to $84 a year at U.S. Dunkin’ ($7 a month) | None |
| Trusted traveler | None | Up to $120 every four years for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or NEXUS |
| Entertainment and other | None listed | $300 StubHub credits, Apple TV and Apple Music, DashPass and DoorDash promos, Peloton credits (with dates and activation rules) |
Enrollment or activation is required for many of these credits. Monthly and half-year credits expire if unused.
What the credits mean for the fee. Gold’s four everyday credits (dining, Uber Cash, Resy and Dunkin’) add up to as much as $424 a year if you use every one. Reserve’s simplest credit is the $300 travel credit, which applies to travel purchases each account anniversary year, so for most travelers it works almost like cash. After that credit, Reserve’s effective fee is $495. After Gold’s four credits, its effective fee would be below zero, but only if you would buy from those merchants anyway. Be honest about which credits you would use without changing your habits.
Which card has better lounge access and travel perks?
Sapphire Reserve wins on travel perks. Chase lists complimentary access to Chase Sapphire Lounges by The Club and 1,300+ Priority Pass airport lounges with up to two guests, plus access to select Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounges with an eligible boarding pass. It also lists complimentary IHG One Rewards Platinum Elite status through December 31, 2027.
Amex Gold has no lounge access. American Express says plainly that the Gold Card does not currently have lounge access benefits. Gold’s travel perks are lighter: a complimentary upgrade to Hertz Five Star status (enrollment required), the $100 Hotel Collection credit, and the Global Assist Hotline when you travel more than 100 miles from home.
How do the travel and purchase protections compare?
| Protection | Amex Gold | Sapphire Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| Trip delay | Up to $300 per trip after a 12-hour delay, max 2 claims per 12 months | Up to $500 per covered traveler after a 6-hour delay or overnight stay |
| Trip cancellation and interruption | Not listed on the Gold page | Up to $10,000 per covered traveler and $20,000 per trip |
| Baggage | Up to $1,250 carry-on and $500 checked, in excess of carrier coverage | Lost luggage up to $3,000 per traveler; baggage delay up to $100 a day for 5 days |
| Rental car | Secondary coverage for damage and theft; no liability coverage | Primary coverage up to $75,000 for theft and collision on most rentals |
| Purchase protection | 90 days, up to $10,000 per item and $50,000 per calendar year | 120 days, up to $10,000 per item |
| Extended warranty | Up to one extra year on warranties of 5 years or less | One extra year on warranties of three years or less |
Sources: issuer card pages, October 6, 2026. Coverage is provided by third-party insurers and is subject to terms, limits and exclusions in each card’s benefit guide. New York residents have different limits on some Chase coverages.
Reserve’s protections are broader for travel, especially primary rental car coverage and trip cancellation. Gold’s purchase protection has a calendar-year cap that Chase does not list on its page.
Break-even: when does Reserve’s extra $470 pay off?
Start with the $470 fee gap. If you will use Reserve’s $300 travel credit in full, the gap shrinks to $170. Now count only what you would really use:
| Scenario | What tips the math |
|---|---|
| You use the $300 travel credit and visit lounges a few times a year | Reserve likely covers the $170 gap through lounge access and travel earn |
| You travel once or twice a year and book through airlines directly | Gold’s 4X dining and grocery earn likely outweighs Reserve’s 4x direct booking |
| You spend heavily at U.S. supermarkets | Gold earns 4X versus 1x, which can be worth more than Reserve’s travel credits |
| You would use Gold’s monthly dining, Uber and Dunkin’ credits anyway | Gold’s effective fee can approach zero |
| You add authorized users | Reserve’s $195 per user fee widens the gap quickly; Gold’s first five Additional Cards are $0 |
This is a framework, not a recommendation. The right answer depends on how you value each point currency and which credits you would use without changing your habits.
What does carrying a balance cost?
Neither card is built for carrying debt. Chase lists a regular APR of 19.74% to 28.24% variable on Sapphire Reserve. The Federal Reserve’s G.19 release shows commercial bank cards averaged 22.15% on accounts assessed interest in Q2 2026. At that rate, interest on a revolving balance can wipe out the value of 3X or 4X rewards in a few months. If you carry a balance, a 0% intro APR card will usually save more than any rewards card on this page.
Who might each card suit?
Amex Gold may fit if you:
- Spend a lot at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets, within the $50,000 and $25,000 yearly caps
- Will use the monthly dining, Uber Cash and Dunkin’ credits and the half-year Resy credit without stretching
- Want a lower fee and no-cost Additional Cards for family members
- Travel occasionally and do not need lounges
Chase Sapphire Reserve may fit if you:
- Travel several times a year and will use the $300 travel credit every year
- Value airport lounge access for yourself and up to two guests
- Book hotels or flights through Chase Travel or direct, or want The Edit hotel credits
- Want primary rental car coverage and trip cancellation insurance
Neither may fit if you carry a balance, rarely travel and rarely dine out, or want simple cash back with no annual fee. In that case, compare our best cash back credit cards.
How we verified this page
- Amex Gold: annual fee, Additional Card fees, earn rates and caps, statement credits, lounge FAQ, travel and purchase protections, transfer partner count and foreign transaction fee, from americanexpress.com, October 6, 2026. The welcome offer and APR did not load on the page, so we omit them.
- Chase Sapphire Reserve: annual fee, authorized user fee, APR range, bonus, earn rates, credits, lounge access, travel and purchase protections and foreign transaction fee, from chase.com, October 6, 2026.
- APR context: Federal Reserve G.19, release dated September 8, 2026.
We do not cite aggregator sites. Point totals and effective-fee figures are our arithmetic on the issuers’ listed numbers. For related comparisons, see Amex Gold vs Amex Platinum and Amex Platinum vs Chase Sapphire Reserve.
Key takeaways
- Gold is $325 a year; Reserve is $795 plus $195 per authorized user.
- Gold earns 4X at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets (capped); Reserve earns 8x on Chase Travel, 4x direct travel and 3x dining.
- Reserve includes lounge access and a $300 travel credit; Gold has no lounge access but up to $424 in everyday credits.
- Reserve’s travel protections are broader, including primary rental car coverage.
- Confirm every figure on the issuer’s page the day you apply.
Sources
- American Express® Gold Card, American Express, checked October 6, 2026
- Chase Sapphire Reserve®, JPMorgan Chase, checked October 6, 2026
- G.19 Consumer Credit, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, release dated September 8, 2026
For four more cards to weigh against the Reserve, see Chase Sapphire Reserve alternatives, checked on issuer pages October 18, 2026.
American Express® Gold Card vs Chase Sapphire Reserve®: FAQ
Which is better, Amex Gold or Chase Sapphire Reserve?
Neither is better for everyone. As of October 6, 2026, Gold costs $325 a year and earns 4X at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (with annual caps). Sapphire Reserve costs $795 and earns 8x on Chase Travel, 4x on flights and hotels booked direct and 3x on dining, with a $300 travel credit and airport lounge access. Gold fits heavy dining and grocery spend; Reserve fits frequent travelers. This is not financial advice.
What are the annual fees on Amex Gold and Chase Sapphire Reserve?
Per the issuers' card pages on October 6, 2026, the Amex Gold Card is $325 a year for the Basic Card, with $0 for the first five Additional Cards and $35 each after that. Chase Sapphire Reserve is $795 a year plus $195 for each authorized user. The gap is $470 a year before credits.
Does Amex Gold have airport lounge access?
No. American Express states the Gold Card does not currently have lounge access benefits and points to the Platinum Card or the Delta SkyMiles Reserve card for lounges. Chase Sapphire Reserve includes access to Chase Sapphire Lounges by The Club and 1,300+ Priority Pass lounges with up to two guests, per Chase on October 6, 2026.
Which card earns more at restaurants?
Amex Gold earns 4X Membership Rewards points at restaurants worldwide on up to $50,000 a year, then 1X. Sapphire Reserve earns 3x points on dining worldwide. On restaurant spend under Gold's cap, Gold earns one more point per dollar. Point values differ by program and redemption, so compare how you will redeem. This is not financial advice.
What is the Chase Sapphire Reserve sign-up bonus?
Chase's card page on October 6, 2026 lists 100,000 bonus points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Chase says the bonus may not be available if you have held the card or received a bonus for it before. The Amex Gold welcome offer did not load on the Amex page we checked, so confirm it on your own application.
Do Amex Gold and Chase Sapphire Reserve charge foreign transaction fees?
No. Both issuers list no foreign transaction fees on these cards as of October 6, 2026.
Can I hold both cards?
Issuers may approve you for both under their own rules. Holding both means paying $1,120 a year in combined annual fees before authorized users. Some people pair Gold for dining and groceries with Reserve for travel, but that only works if you would use both sets of credits. This is not financial advice.