United States card comparison
American Express® Gold Card vs Chase Sapphire Reserve®
The Amex Gold and the Chase Sapphire Reserve are not direct competitors on the lounge-access axis, but they are often compared because both anchor a points strategy. The Gold has no lounge access by itself; its strength is the highest-in-class earning rate at restaurants and US supermarkets. The Sapphire Reserve has Priority Pass and the Sapphire Lounge network plus a meaningfully higher annual fee.
Last reviewed: . Card information is summarized from issuer benefit pages and is reviewed periodically. Always verify current terms with the issuer before applying.
American Express
American Express® Gold Card
Chase
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
Side-by-side comparison
| Dimension | American Express® Gold Card | Chase Sapphire Reserve® |
|---|---|---|
| Issuer | American Express | Chase |
| Issuing country | United States | United States |
| Annual fee | $325 | $795 |
| Lounge networks |
| |
| Lounges this card opens (tracked) | 0 lounges across 0 airports | 345 lounges across 172 airports |
| Guest policy | Cardholder only | 2 guests per visit (Priority Pass & Sapphire Lounge) |
| Credit score | Good/Excellent | Excellent (740+) |
| Purchase APR | See Pay Over Time APR | 19.49% - 27.99% Variable |
Who should pick which
Pick the American if
Best for travelers who eat out and grocery shop on a US-issued card, who want Membership Rewards points without the Platinum-tier fee, and who do not need lounge access from the card itself.
See full American Express® Gold Card detailsPick the Chase if
Best for travelers who specifically want lounge access included, value the Sapphire Lounge network, and will use the $300 travel credit to offset the fee.
See full Chase Sapphire Reserve® detailsStrengths and trade-offs
American Express® Gold Card
Strengths
- Welcome Bonus: 60,000-100,000 Points (Spend $6k in 6 months)
- 4X Points at Restaurants Worldwide ($50k cap)
- 4X Points at U.S. Supermarkets ($25k cap)
- Over $400 in annual credits (Uber, Dining, Resy, Dunkin')
- 3X Points on Flights
Trade-offs
- Annual Fee $325
- Credits are monthly/semi-annual (Use it or lose it)
- No Lounge Access
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
Strengths
- Welcome Bonus: 125,000 Points (Spend $6k in 3 months) - Value $2,500+
- Over $1,500 in annual lifestyle credits (DoorDash, Lyft, Peloton, Apple)
- Best-in-class Travel Protection (Primary Rental, Trip Cancellation/Delay)
- Most Flexible $300 Travel Credit in the market
- Access to Sapphire Lounges and 1,300+ lounges worldwide
Trade-offs
- High Annual Fee ($795) + $195 per additional Authorized User
- Credits split semi-annually or monthly (requiring tracking)
- Strict approval rules (5/24 rule)
- The Edit credit requires prepaid booking (2-night min)
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