Our in-depth review of the Chase Sapphire Preferred card. See how the 75,000-point bonus ($937 in travel) and 3x points on dining make this the #1 travel card.

Chase Sapphire Preferred Review [2025]: Is the 75,000 Point ($937) Bonus Worth It?

Let’s be honest. You spend money every day. You buy groceries, you pay for Netflix, you go out to dinner, and you dream of taking a vacation.

But what if all that regular spending was paying for that vacation?

That’s the exact promise of the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card.

For years, this card has been the undisputed “king” of travel rewards for beginners. It’s the one card that every travel expert recommends as the perfect starting point. Why?

Because its sign-up bonus is so massive, it single-handedly pays for your next trip.

We’ve done a deep dive into this card. If you have good-to-excellent credit and want to stop leaving free money on the table, this review is for you.

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The $937+ Hook: Deconstructing the 75,000 Point Bonus

This is the main event. This is why you get this card.

When you are approved, you can earn 75,000 bonus Chase Ultimate Rewards® points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months.

“75,000 points” sounds nice, but what is that really worth?

• As cash back, it’s worth $750. (Good)
• But when you book travel (flights, hotels, cars) through the Chase Travel℠ portal, you get a 25% boost. That means your 75,000 points are worth $937.50. (Excellent)

Let’s be clear: you are getting $937.50 in free travel just for using the card on your normal spending (like groceries, gas, and bills) for 3 months.

This bonus alone pays for the card’s $95 annual fee almost 10 times over in the first year. It’s the single best welcome offer in the travel rewards world.

How You Earn Points (The “Multipliers”)

The bonus is great for Year 1. The earning rates are what make you keep the card forever. This card is a powerhouse for daily spending:

• 5x POINTS on travel purchased through the Chase Travel℠ portal.
• 3x POINTS on Dining (This includes restaurants, takeout, and eligible delivery services).
• 3x POINTS on Online Groceries (This is a huge, modern perk. Excludes Target & Walmart).
• 3x POINTS on Select Streaming Services (Netflix, Spotify, Disney+, etc.).
• 2x POINTS on all other travel purchases (like flights booked directly with airlines, hotels, Ubers, and subways).
• 1x POINT on all other purchases.

This isn’t just a “travel card.” It’s a “dining and grocery” card that pays you in travel.

How You Use Your Points (The 25% Boost)

This is the card’s second superpower. Your points are worth more when you own this card.

You have three main options for using your points:

1. Cash Back (Bad Value): 1 point = 1 cent. (Your 75k bonus = $750).
2. Chase Travel℠ Portal (Great Value): 1 point = 1.25 cents. Your points get a 25% value boost. This is how your 75k bonus becomes $937.50.
3. Transfer Partners (Pro-Level Value): This is the best feature. You can transfer your points 1:1 to top airline and hotel programs like United Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and Hyatt Hotels. Transferring 75,000 points to Hyatt could get you 3-4 nights at a luxury resort, a value that could easily be worth $1,200+.

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Is the $95 Annual Fee Worth It? (Let’s Do the Math)

Yes, the card has a $95 annual fee. Let’s see if it’s worth it.

In Year 1: The $937.50 bonus pays for the fee 9.8 times. This is a complete no-brainer.

In Year 2 and Beyond: This is where the other perks kick in.

• $50 Annual Hotel Credit: Every year, you get a $50 statement credit for a hotel stay booked through the Chase Travel℠ portal.
• If you use this one perk—just one hotel night per year—your $95 annual fee effectively becomes $45.

Can you earn $45 in rewards per year? If you spend just $1,500 on dining (at 3x points), you’ve already covered it.

Who is the Chase Sapphire Preferred For? (And Who Should Skip It?)

This card is not for everyone.

✅ This card is perfect for you if:

• You are a “Travel Beginner” who wants the single best, most flexible travel card.
• You spend money on dining, online groceries, and streaming.
• You have Good-to-Excellent Credit (Typically a FICO score of 700+).
• You want to earn one big bonus for an upcoming trip.

❌ You should probably look elsewhere if:

• You have “Fair” or “Bad” Credit (a score below 700). You will likely be denied.
• You refuse to pay an annual fee, no matter what. (Consider its $0 fee cousin, the Chase Freedom Unlimited®).
• You are a “super-commuter” who spends more on gas than food (other cards are better for gas).

Our Final Verdict

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® remains the king of travel cards for a reason.

For a $95 annual fee, you are getting a sign-up bonus worth $937.50 and a $50 annual hotel credit that makes the real cost of the card only $45 per year.

If you have good credit and want to start traveling for (almost) free, this is the card you get. Period.