Amex Gold vs Chase Sapphire Reserve
The Gold costs $470 less than the Reserve ($325 against $795) and earns 4× at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets. The Reserve earns 3× at restaurants and 4× on flights and hotels booked directly, and has a $300 travel credit. For most households with real grocery and dining bills, the Gold comes out ahead; the Reserve needs heavy travel spend or credits you would use to close the gap.
Which card earns more on your spending?
Enter what you spend in a typical month. We estimate a year of rewards on each card, after its annual fee.
Estimated rewards per year, after the annual fee
Amex Gold Wins on your numbers
4× dining and U.S. supermarkets, 3× flights
+$815
Rewards $1,140 · Fee −$325
Sapphire Reserve
4× flights and hotels booked direct, 3× dining
+$140
Rewards $935 · Fee −$795
Amex Gold comes out ahead by $675 a year on these numbers.
Break-even: about $1,060 a month on hotels, with your other amounts as entered. Above that, Sapphire Reserve wins. Below it, Amex Gold does.
How we estimate
- Points are valued at The Points Guy’s October 2026 figures: Amex Membership Rewards 2¢, Chase Ultimate Rewards (Sapphire and Ink Preferred) 2.05¢, Citi ThankYou (Strata Premier and Elite) 1.9¢, Capital One 1.85¢, Bilt 2.2¢, SkyMiles 1.2¢ and Hilton points 0.4¢. Cash back is valued at 1¢, and so are Chase Freedom, no-fee Citi Strata and Double Cash points on their own; pooled with a premium card in the same program they are worth that program’s value.
- Net is a year of rewards minus the annual fee. Credits count only when you turn them on, and only the ones listed under each card.
- Welcome bonuses are left out so the numbers reflect an ordinary year.
- Amex Gold: 4× at restaurants worldwide (first $50,000 a year) and U.S. supermarkets (first $25,000 a year), 3× flights booked with airlines or Amex Travel, 1× else. Hotels booked directly earn 1×.
- Chase Sapphire Reserve: 4× flights and hotels booked direct, 3× dining, 1× else. Chase Travel bookings are left out.
- Credits are off until you turn them on, including the Gold’s Resy and Dunkin’ credits and the Reserve’s lifestyle credits.
- Earn rates checked with issuers in October 2026. Offers change, so confirm terms with the issuer before you apply. Educational estimate, not financial advice.
- Point values from The Points Guy’s October 2026 valuations.
Two cards are only part of the picture. Take these amounts to the full calculator to see which wallet wins across all your spending, including cards you already hold.
Compare every card on your spending →{"a":{"key":"amex-gold","name":"Amex Gold","fee":325,"cpp":0.02,"base":1,"earn":[{"inputs":["dining"],"rate":4,"cap":50000,"above":1},{"inputs":["groceries"],"rate":4,"cap":25000,"above":1},{"inputs":["airfare"],"rate":3}],"creditItems":[{"key":"dining","name":"$120 dining credit","value":120},{"key":"uber","name":"$120 Uber Cash","value":120},{"key":"resy","name":"$100 Resy credit","value":100},{"key":"dunkin","name":"$84 Dunkin’ credit ($7 a month)","value":84}]},"b":{"key":"chase-sapphire-reserve","name":"Sapphire Reserve","fee":795,"cpp":0.0205,"base":1,"earn":[{"inputs":["airfare","hotels"],"rate":4},{"inputs":["dining"],"rate":3},{"inputs":["portal"],"rate":8}],"creditItems":[{"key":"travel","name":"$300 annual travel credit","value":300},{"key":"hotel","name":"$500 The Edit hotel credit","value":500},{"key":"dining","name":"$300 Exclusive Tables dining credit","value":300},{"key":"stubhub","name":"$300 StubHub and viagogo credit","value":300},{"key":"lyft","name":"$120 Lyft credit","value":120},{"key":"peloton","name":"$120 Peloton credit","value":120},{"key":"dashpass","name":"$120 DoorDash DashPass membership","value":120},{"key":"doordash","name":"$300 DoorDash monthly promos","value":300},{"key":"apple","name":"$288 Apple TV and Apple Music (through June 2027)","value":288},{"key":"select","name":"$250 select Chase Travel hotels credit (through 2026)","value":250},{"key":"priority_pass","name":"Priority Pass lounges (counted at $100, not the $469 list price)","value":100}]},"focus":"","inputs":[{"key":"dining","prefill":"dining","noun":"dining"},{"key":"groceries","prefill":"groceries","noun":"groceries"},{"key":"airfare","prefill":"airfare","noun":"flights"},{"key":"hotels","prefill":"hotels","noun":"hotels"},{"key":"other","prefill":"other","noun":"everyday spending"}],"max":20000,"path":"/credit-card-rewards-calculator","pivot":"","step":10}Which one should you get?
Pick Amex Gold if…
- You spend a lot at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets.
- You want a premium points card for $470 a year less.
- You would use the dining and Uber credits.
Pick Sapphire Reserve if…
- You book flights and hotels directly and want 4× on them.
- You would use the $300 travel credit on any travel purchase.
- You want Chase’s transfer partners, such as Hyatt and United.
What actually differs
Checked with the issuers in October 2026. Terms change, so confirm with the issuer before you apply.
Annual fee
Amex Gold
$325
Sapphire Reserve
$795 ($195 per authorized user)
Earning
Amex Gold
4× restaurants worldwide (first $50,000 a year) and U.S. supermarkets (first $25,000 a year); 3× flights booked with airlines or Amex Travel; 5× prepaid hotels on Amex Travel; 1× else
Sapphire Reserve
4× flights and hotels booked direct; 3× dining; 8× Chase Travel; 1× else
Credits
Amex Gold
$120 dining credit, $120 Uber Cash, $84 Dunkin’
Sapphire Reserve
$300 travel credit; dining, StubHub, Peloton and other lifestyle credits
Points
Amex Gold
Amex Membership Rewards
Sapphire Reserve
Chase Ultimate Rewards
| Feature | Amex Gold | Sapphire Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $325 | $795 ($195 per authorized user) |
| Earning | 4× restaurants worldwide (first $50,000 a year) and U.S. supermarkets (first $25,000 a year); 3× flights booked with airlines or Amex Travel; 5× prepaid hotels on Amex Travel; 1× else | 4× flights and hotels booked direct; 3× dining; 8× Chase Travel; 1× else |
| Credits | $120 dining credit, $120 Uber Cash, $84 Dunkin’ | $300 travel credit; dining, StubHub, Peloton and other lifestyle credits |
| Points | Amex Membership Rewards | Chase Ultimate Rewards |
FAQ
For everyday spending, usually. The Gold earns 4× at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets and costs $470 less. The Reserve is stronger when most of your spending is on flights and hotels booked directly.
The Gold, at 4× on up to $50,000 a year, against the Reserve’s 3×.
The Reserve earns 4× on flights and hotels booked directly. The Gold earns 3× on flights booked with airlines or Amex Travel and 1× on hotels booked directly.
Yes, they come from different issuers. Together they cost $1,120 a year, so check that the spending and credits justify both. Chase’s 5/24 rule can affect approval for the Reserve.