For more than a decade, the *chase sapphire preferred* has been one of the easiest recommendations in travel rewards. A $95 card that punches so far above its weight class that the annual fee conversation almost feels like a formality.

That's still true in 2026, and after a significant benefits update that went live earlier this month, the case has genuinely gotten stronger.

The card now earns 3x points per dollar spent at gas stations and on EV charging, 3x points per dollar spent on vacation rentals like Airbnb and Vrbo, and comes with a new Global Entry, TSA PreCheck®, or NEXUS credit worth up to $120 – benefits you'd typically expect to find on a card costing two or three times as much.

Add in the current limited-time welcome offer of 100,000 points after spending $5,000 in the first three months, and it's hard to find a better deal in travel rewards cards at any price, let alone $95.

Here's why it's worth every penny.

Read our full review of the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card! 

 

Earn a Massive Welcome Bonus Offer

When it comes to getting outsized value from the *chase sapphire preferred*, it all starts with earning a massive sign-up bonus. And right now, you can earn 100,000 points after spending $5,000 in the first three months.

To put that in perspective: 100,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points are worth at least $1,000 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Travel℠. But if you transfer those points to one of Chase's airline or hotel partners, you can almost certainly do better than that.

The welcome bonus alone is worth many times the $95 annual fee. For most people, it's the single best argument for getting the card – and right now, the offer is as strong as it's ever been.

Here are some highlights on how you can use these points for maximum value. 

  • World of Hyatt remains one of the best uses of Chase points, with award rates that still put Marriott and Hilton to shame on aspirational properties. Note: Sapphire Preferred cardholders now transfer to Hyatt at a 4:3 ratio rather than 1:1 – meaning 40,000 Chase points become 30,000 Hyatt points. It's a real downgrade worth knowing about, though Hyatt points are valuable enough that the math often still works.
  • Air France/KLM Flying Blue is one of the most versatile partners in the Chase lineup, useful for booking Delta flights domestically and Air France or KLM flights to Europe at rates that can be significantly cheaper than what Delta charges in SkyMiles.
  • British Airways Avios opens the door to Qatar Qsuites starting at 70,000 Avios each way – and through the Avios transfer network, you can also book Finnair, Iberia, and Aer Lingus redemptions.

 

qatar qsuite

 

Read more: 9 Great Ways to Use Chase Ultimate Rewards Points

 

How the Sapphire Preferred Pays for Itself

The Sapphire Preferred welcome bonus does the heavy lifting in year one … but the card has enough recurring benefits that the $95 annual fee is easy to justify well beyond that.

Here's what's available.

 

Up to a $100 Annual Hotel Credit

Every year you hold the card, you'll get up to $100 back as a statement credit when you book a hotel through Chase Travel℠. There's no minimum stay required. Simply book the hotel, pay with your Sapphire Preferred, and the credit posts automatically.

Use it up, and that single benefit wipes out the annual fee on its own (and then some). Combined with anything else on this list, you're already way ahead.

A few things to know:

  • The credit resets on your account anniversary date, not Jan. 1. So if you opened the card in June, you'd get another $100 to use next once your annual fee posts.
  • You must book through Chase Travel℠ – booking directly with the hotel won't qualify.
  • The credit does not apply to hotel purchases that earn the 5x bonus rate through the portal.

Read more: How to Use the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Credit Card's $100 Hotel Credit

 

Up to $120 for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS

This is a new benefit as of June 15, 2026 … and a meaningful one. The Sapphire Preferred now covers the full cost of a Global Entry ($120), TSA PreCheck ($85), or NEXUS ($50) membership every four years. Just put the charge on your card, and the credit applies automatically.

Global Entry costs $120 and is valid for five years, meaning this benefit alone more than covers the card's annual fee in the year you use it. And since the benefit refreshes every four years, it's effectively a recurring offset for most travelers.

 

Complimentary Apple TV Subscription

New as of June 15, 2026: Sapphire Preferred cardholders can activate a complimentary 12-month Apple TV subscription. It's worth $99 and activates through your Chase account.

One important caveat: You must activate it by Dec. 31, 2026. If you already pay for Apple TV, your subscription will pause during the complimentary period and resume automatically once it ends.

 

Complimentary DashPass + $10 Monthly Coupon

Sapphire Preferred cardholders get a complimentary DashPass membership (a $120/year value) through Dec. 31, 2027, plus a monthly coupon of up to $10 off non-restaurant DoorDash orders – groceries, convenience, and more. The up to $10 monthly coupon alone adds up to $120 in potential savings per year.

Use both, and you're looking at up to $240 in value from this benefit alone. Even if you only use DashPass occasionally, it more than covers the annual fee.

 

Chase Offers

Chase Offers are deals on dining, shopping, entertainment, and other purchases exclusive to Chase cardholders. You can add these digital coupons to your account to save at select stores and travel companies. These offers are targeted, so not every cardholder will see every offer.

Scroll through your available offers and add any you want to your card. Once you make a qualifying purchase with that merchant, you'll automatically get cash back in the form of a statement credit. Generally, with these offers, you can expect to get about 10% back up to a specific dollar amount. 

 

Chase Offers

 

While not quite as lucrative as, say, Amex Offers, the money you can save through Chase Offers can add up fast – and help make that annual fee easier to stomach.

 

Travel Insurance

This doesn't show up as an easily quantifiable benefit, but the travel insurance the card provides has real value. Here's what it comes with:

  • Trip cancellation & interruption coverage – up to $10,000 per person, $20,000 per trip for non-refundable travel expenses
  • Trip delay coverage – up to $500 per ticket if your flight is delayed 12+ hours or overnight
  • Primary rental car insurance – covers collision and theft up to the car's cash value; you can decline the rental counter's coverage entirely
  • Baggage delay coverage – up to $100/day for five days if your bags are delayed more than six hours
  • Emergency evacuation coverage – up to $100,000 for emergency medical transport on trips 100+ miles from home

Primary rental car coverage alone can save you $15–$30 per day every time you rent. One delayed flight reimbursement covers the annual fee for years. These protections are often the most underrated part of the Sapphire Preferred's value proposition … and most cards at this price point don't come close.

 

Bottom Line

The *chase sapphire preferred* current 100,000 point bonus makes it a no-brainer in year one for nearly every traveler. But after that first year, the card's annual credits and benefits make it a keeper for the long run. 

Simply put: Don't let a credit card's annual fee scare you off before digging into all the perks that come with it. When all things are considered, the Chase Sapphire Preferred is well worth its $95 annual fee … and deserves a place in your wallet.