Amex Platinum vs Sapphire Reserve
The Sapphire Reserve comes out ahead for all three spending profiles we tested. Below: what each card pays after fees for three spending profiles, the break-even, and a live calculator for your own numbers. Card terms verified Oct 5, 2026.
Simulated results
Five years, welcome offers counted when the profile's own spending reaches them, points valued for travel (Amex points at 1.5¢, Chase points at 1.5¢). Merchant credits like Uber or DoorDash aren't counted for typed profiles; they show up in the break-even instead.
| Profile | Amex Platinum: year 1 | then yearly | 5 years | Sapphire Reserve: year 1 | then yearly | 5 years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Everyday spender About $2,000 a month, mostly groceries and errands, one trip a year. | $2,119 | −$506 | $94 | $1,493 | −$7 | $1,464 |
| Balanced About $3,500 a month with a few trips a year and regular dining out. | $2,540 | −$85 | $2,200 | $2,076 | $576 | $4,380 |
| Frequent traveler About $5,000 a month, heavy on flights, hotels and restaurants, some trips abroad. | $3,134 | $509 | $5,170 | $2,949 | $1,449 | $8,745 |
The break-even
Everyday spender
Amex Platinum trails Sapphire Reserve by $274 a year. It wins only if its lounge access, Global Entry credit, elite status and credits you'd have to use are worth more than $274 a year to you.
With about 2 lounge visits a year at the airports you fly through, that's $162 a visit.
This flips if Amex points are worth more than 1.95¢ each to you (we're using 1.5¢).
Balanced
Amex Platinum trails Sapphire Reserve by $436 a year. It wins only if its lounge access, Global Entry credit, elite status and credits you'd have to use are worth more than $436 a year to you.
With about 5 lounge visits a year at the airports you fly through, that's $86 a visit.
This flips if Amex points are worth more than 1.99¢ each to you (we're using 1.5¢).
Frequent traveler
Amex Platinum trails Sapphire Reserve by $715 a year. It wins only if its lounge access, Global Entry credit, elite status and credits you'd have to use are worth more than $715 a year to you.
With about 14 lounge visits a year at the airports you fly through, that's $53 a visit.
This flips if Amex points are worth more than 2.06¢ each to you (we're using 1.5¢).
Try it with your spending
Starts from the Balanced profile. Change any number, or drop in your statements; they're read on this device and never uploaded.
The live calculator needs JavaScript. The tables above are precomputed.
The live calculator needs JavaScript. The tables above are precomputed.
Side by side
| Term | Amex Platinum | Sapphire Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| Issuer and network | American Express, American Express | Chase, Visa |
| Annual fee | $895 | $795 |
| Requires | Nothing extra | Nothing extra |
| Welcome offer | 175,000 points after $12,000 in 6 months (as high as; offers vary) | 100,000 points after $6,000 in 3 months |
| Earning | 5x on flights booked directly with airlines or through Amex Travel, on up to $500,000 a calendar year · 5x on prepaid hotels (and prepaid vacation rentals) booked through Amex Travel · 2x on prepaid car rentals and cruises booked through Amex Travel · 1x on everything else | 8x on all purchases through Chase Travel (including The Edit) · 4x on flights booked direct with airlines · 4x on hotels booked direct · 3x on dining worldwide (incl. takeout and eligible delivery) · 5x total on Lyft rides/products in the Lyft app through 9/30/2027 · 10x total on Peloton equipment/accessory purchases over $150, on up to $5,000 in total purchases (promo 4/1/2025-12/31/2027) · 1x on everything else |
| Rewards currency | American Express Membership Rewards points | Chase Ultimate Rewards points |
| Statement credits | $200 Uber Cash ($15 a month, $35 in December) · $120 Uber One membership credit · $200 airline incidental fee credit · $600 hotel credit ($300 semi-annually) on Fine Hotels + Resorts / The Hotel Collection · $400 Resy credit ($100 a quarter) · $300 digital entertainment credit ($25 a month) · $300 lululemon credit ($75 a quarter) · Walmart+ monthly membership credit (up to $12.95 a month) · $219 CLEAR+ credit · $200 Oura Ring credit · $300 Equinox credit | $300 annual travel credit · $500 credit for stays with The Edit (up to $250 per booking) · $250 credit for select Chase Travel hotels (2026 only) · $300 dining credit at Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables restaurants ($150 each half-year) · $300 StubHub/viagogo credit ($150 each half-year) · $10 monthly Lyft in-app ride credit · $10 monthly Peloton membership credit · Complimentary Apple TV and Apple Music subscriptions ($288/year value) · $15 monthly DoorDash promo (any eligible order) · Two $10 monthly DoorDash promos on non-restaurant orders · Complimentary DashPass membership ($120 value) |
| Lounges | American Express Centurion Lounge, Priority Pass member lounge (lounges only; restaurants, spas, sleep pods, gaming excluded), Delta Sky Club, Plaza Premium Lounge, Escape Lounges (The Centurion Studio Partner) | Chase Sapphire Lounge by The Club, Priority Pass member lounge (lounges only; restaurants, spas, sleep pods, gaming excluded) |
| Foreign transaction fee | None | None |
| Authorized users | $195 each | $195 each |
| Availability | Open to new applicants | Open to new applicants |
| Verified | Oct 5, 2026 | Oct 5, 2026 |
Is the Amex Platinum worth its $895 fee? · Is the Sapphire Reserve worth its $795 fee? · Compare every card with your statements