Sapphire Preferred vs Delta Reserve
Side-by-side comparison: signup bonus, annual fee, benefits, transfer partners. Updated daily from issuer pages.
Quick Answer
For year-one net value (welcome bonus minus annual fee), Sapphire Preferred comes out ahead at ~$1,443 at a lower $95 annual fee vs $650. Sapphire Preferred sits in Chase UR; Delta Reserve sits in Delta SkyMiles. The right pick still depends on which credits and category multipliers fit your spending pattern — full breakdown below.
Delta Reserve
Highest first-year value among the 2 cards you're comparing — $2,375 after annual fee.
Chase
Sapphire Preferred
Annual Fee
$95/yr
Signup Bonus
75,000 Ultimate Rewards
Bonus Value
~$1,538
Benefits Value
~$270/yr
Spend Req.
$5,000 / 3mo
Rewards Currency
Chase UR
Network
Visa
Card Type
Personal
Benefits
✈️ travel credit
Global Entry / TSA PreCheck Credit
$100/yr
🍽️ dining credit
DashPass Membership
$120/yr
🏨 hotel credit
Annual Hotel Credit
$50/yr
Amex
Delta Reserve
Annual Fee
$650/yr
Signup Bonus
100,000 Delta SkyMiles
Bonus Value
~$1,200
Benefits Value
~$1,825/yr
Spend Req.
$6,000 / 6mo
Rewards Currency
Delta SkyMiles
Network
Amex
Card Type
Personal
Benefits
✈️ travel credit
Rideshare Credit
$120/yr
🍽️ dining credit
Resy Restaurant Credit
$240/yr
🛫 airline credit
Annual Companion Certificate
$500/yr
First Checked Bag Free
$70/use
Priority Boarding
🏛️ lounge
Delta Sky Club Access
$695/yr
Amex Centurion Lounge (Delta flyers)
$200/yr
⭐ status
MQD Boost
Quick winners by category
The fast answer if you came here looking for one specific thing.
Best for Travel
Delta Reserve
Wins on bigger travel credit ($300 vs $100) you can actually spend on flights and hotels.
Best for Dining
Sapphire Preferred
Dedicated dining credit plus strong restaurant earning multiplier.
Best for Lounge Access
Delta Reserve
Includes Delta Sky Club (unlimited) access — the other card has none.
Best for Transfer Partners
Sapphire Preferred
Chase UR has 14+ transfer partners — better redemption flexibility.
Best for Beginners
Sapphire Preferred
Lower $95 annual fee makes the math safer for newer cardholders.
Best Overall Value
Delta Reserve
~$2,375 of first-year value after annual fee — wins the math.
Best for Premium Travel
Delta Reserve
Premium hotel credits, top-tier lounge access, and travel insurance built in — the luxury-travel pick.
Best for Hyatt Transfers
Sapphire Preferred
Transfers points to World of Hyatt 1:1 — the highest-CPP redemption in the points game. Chase UR owns this advantage.
Biggest Credit Stack
Delta Reserve
Bigger statement-credit stack (~540/yr in tracked credits) — high ceiling if you use them.
What it's worth for your spending
Estimated first-year value (welcome bonus + benefits − annual fee) for four common spending profiles.
| Profile | Sapphire Preferred | Delta Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| Light spender, building credit | $1,925 | $2,551 |
| Everyday family ($40K/yr spend) | $2,469 | $2,915 |
| Frequent traveler (2-3 trips/yr) | $2,829 | $2,915 |
| Premium traveler (5+ trips/yr) | $3,945 | $3,275 |
Year-one value = welcome bonus + tracked benefits + estimated points value from spending − annual fee. Points valued at 1.5¢ each (transferable) or 1¢ each (cashback). Real-world value depends on how you redeem.
Side-by-side: every spec that matters
Higher value highlighted in green per row.
| Sapphire Preferred | Delta Reserve | |
|---|---|---|
| Welcome bonus | 75,000 Ultimate Rewards (~$1,538) | 100,000 Delta SkyMiles (~$1,200) |
| Annual fee | $95/yr | $650/yr |
| Authorized user fee | $0 | $0 |
| Transfer partners | 14+ partners (Chase UR) | None (single program) |
| Travel credits | $100/yr | $690/yr |
| Lounge access | None | Delta Sky Club (unlimited) |
| Dining rewards | 3x 3x on dining including delivery and takeout | 1x |
| Grocery rewards | 1x | 1x |
| Hotel rewards | $50/yr 5x on Chase Travel hotels | 1x |
| Travel insurance | Comprehensive | Comprehensive |
| Cell phone protection | Included | Included |
| Foreign transaction fee | $0 | $0 |
| Mobile wallet | Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay | Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay |
| Network | Visa | Amex |
Who should get the Sapphire Preferred?
- ✓You're currently under Chase 5/24 (≤4 new personal cards in the last 24 months) — this is the right window to claim the SUB.
- ✓Hyatt redemptions are your endgame — CSP transfers UR to World of Hyatt at 1:1 (3–5 cpp at peak Park Hyatt / Andaz properties).
- ✓You're not ready for CSR's $795 AF — CSP gives 80%+ of the points-game value at $95.
- ✓You're comfortable with a $95 annual fee in exchange for stronger earning and welcome bonus value.
- ✓Travel is one of your top 3 spending categories and you want to earn faster on flights, hotels, and ride-shares.
- ✓You eat out regularly and want bonus points on restaurants worldwide.
- ✓You're past the cashback phase and ready to learn transfer partners — programs with deep partner lists pay off when you book aspirational redemptions 1–2× a year.
Who should get the Delta Reserve?
- ✓You're a frequent traveler willing to absorb a $650 annual fee for premium credits and lounge access.
- ✓You fly a specific airline 4+ times per year and want elite-style perks (free bags, priority boarding).
- ✓You book aspirational hotels and want elite status, suite upgrades, and resort credits without earning them through stays.
- ✓You fly enough that airport lounge access alone justifies the annual fee.
- ✓You take 10+ flights a year and want Centurion / Priority Pass / Sapphire / Capital One Lounge access — not just the marketing line, but actually visiting lounges.
- ✓You enjoy stacking multipliers, calendaring statement credits, and treating your wallet like a small portfolio — the extra cognitive load is worth real $ to you.
- ✓You're already over 5/24 — Chase approvals are unlikely for now, so Amex / Cap One / Citi cards are the realistic next move.
Frequently asked questions
Which has a better welcome bonus, Sapphire Preferred or Delta Reserve?
Sapphire Preferred currently offers the stronger welcome bonus by estimated cash value (~1,538 vs ~1,200). Welcome bonus offers change frequently — check the current offer on each card's detail page before applying.
Is the Sapphire Preferred worth the 95 annual fee?
For first-year cardholders the answer is usually yes — the welcome bonus (~1,538) and statement credits alone typically cover the 95 fee several times over. After year one, the math depends on your spending patterns. Use our Annual Fee Calculator with your actual numbers to verify before renewing.
Is the Delta Reserve worth the 650 annual fee?
For first-year cardholders the answer is usually yes — the welcome bonus (~1,200) and statement credits alone typically cover the 650 fee several times over. After year one, the math depends on your spending patterns. Use our Annual Fee Calculator with your actual numbers to verify before renewing.
Can I have both the Sapphire Preferred and the Delta Reserve?
Yes — these cards are from different issuers (Chase and Amex), so holding both is fine. Each card has its own welcome bonus and benefits with no overlap rules between the two issuers.
Which card is better for transferring points to Hyatt?
Sapphire Preferred transfers to World of Hyatt at 1:1 through its Chase UR ecosystem — one of the highest-CPP redemptions in the points game. Delta Reserve doesn't transfer to Hyatt — Delta SkyMiles has no Hyatt partnership.
Which card has better airport lounge access?
Delta Reserve includes Delta Sky Club (unlimited). Sapphire Preferred doesn't include lounge access — you'd need to pay for it separately or upgrade to a premium card.
Which card has the better overall value?
Based on first-year math (welcome bonus + tracked statement credits − annual fee), Delta Reserve comes out ahead at ~2,375 of net value vs ~1,713 for the other card. After year one, the better card for YOU depends on how naturally you'll use the credits and category bonuses.
Does Chase's 5/24 rule affect approval for these cards?
Yes — Sapphire Preferred is issued by Chase, so the 5/24 rule applies. If you've opened 5 or more cards in the last 24 months, Chase will likely deny your application. Delta Reserve is issued by Amex and isn't subject to 5/24.
Ready to apply?
Click through to the issuer's secure application page. Welcome bonus offers are confirmed at the time of approval, not at click time.
Chase
Sapphire Preferred
Welcome: 75,000 Ultimate Rewards · ~$1,538 est. value
Amex
Delta Reserve
Welcome: 100,000 Delta SkyMiles · ~$1,200 est. value
Run your own numbers
These calculators use the same data this comparison runs on — plug in your spending and see net value.
Last reviewed
2026-05-29
Data sources
Issuer pages (verified via Playwright on this date), TPG monthly valuations, public award charts.
Methodology
Editorial note: CreditPoints may earn a commission when you apply through some of the links on this page, but the side-by-side ranking, Quick Winners and Real-World Scenarios are algorithmic and identical for all readers. We never accept payment to change ordering.
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