Chase Sapphire Bonus Categories: Everything You Need to Know
Chase Sapphire cards are widely regarded as some of the best travel rewards credit cards on the market today. Whether you're a casual traveler or a frequent flyer, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and the Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card both offer compelling bonus category structures that can help you rack up Ultimate Rewards points fast. But understanding exactly what qualifies under each bonus category — and how the two cards differ — can save you a significant amount of money over time.
In this guide, we break down the bonus categories for both the Chase Sapphire Preferred and the Chase Sapphire Reserve, explain how each category is defined, and help you figure out which card is the smarter choice for your spending habits. We've also incorporated the updated Sapphire Preferred lineup following its June 2026 refresh, which added two brand-new bonus categories.
What Are Chase Ultimate Rewards Points?
Before diving into the bonus categories, it's worth quickly explaining why these categories matter. Every dollar you spend in a bonus category earns you more Ultimate Rewards points than everyday purchases. Ultimate Rewards points are Chase's proprietary currency and are among the most versatile travel points available. You can redeem them through the Chase travel portal, transfer them to airline and hotel partners like United Airlines, Hyatt, British Airways, and many more, or use them for cash back and gift cards.
The more points you earn per dollar spent, the faster you can redeem for free flights, hotel stays, and other travel perks. That's why understanding your card's bonus categories is so critical.
Chase Sapphire Preferred Bonus Categories
The Chase Sapphire Preferred has long been a favorite for travelers who want solid rewards without a steep annual fee. Following its June 2026 refresh, the card now offers an even stronger category lineup that makes it one of the best everyday rewards cards available.
- 5x points on travel purchased through Chase Travel: Booking flights, hotels, car rentals, and more directly through the Chase Travel portal earns you the highest points rate on the Preferred card.
- 3x points on dining: This includes restaurants, cafes, food delivery services, and eligible takeout orders. Whether you're dining in or ordering in, you'll earn at an accelerated rate.
- 3x points on online grocery purchases: Online grocery shopping (excluding Target, Walmart, and wholesale clubs) earns 3x, making it a strong card for households that frequently order groceries online.
- 3x points on select streaming services: Popular streaming platforms qualify for 3x points, making this card ideal for cord-cutters who spend on digital entertainment.
- 2x points on all other travel: Travel purchases made outside of Chase Travel — including flights, hotels, trains, taxis, and rideshares — still earn double points.
- 2x points on gas stations and EV charging: This is one of the two brand-new categories added in the June 2026 refresh. Whether you're filling up at a traditional gas station or charging an electric vehicle, you'll now earn 2x points.
- 2x points on vacation rentals: The second new category from the 2026 update covers vacation rental platforms, giving cardholders more flexibility when booking accommodations outside of traditional hotels.
- 1x points on all other purchases: Everything outside the bonus categories still earns a base rate of 1 point per dollar.
Chase Sapphire Reserve Bonus Categories
The Chase Sapphire Reserve comes with a higher annual fee, but it compensates with an elevated earning structure and premium travel benefits. Here's how its bonus categories stack up.
- 10x points on hotels and car rentals through Chase Travel: When you book hotels or car rentals via the Chase Travel portal, you earn a massive 10x points per dollar — one of the highest earning rates available on any travel card.
- 10x points on Chase Dining: Purchases made through Chase's curated dining program also qualify for 10x points.
- 5x points on flights through Chase Travel: Flying booked directly through Chase Travel earns 5x points, making the Reserve a powerhouse for frequent flyers who prefer booking through the portal.
- 3x points on all other travel: Any travel purchase made outside of Chase Travel — from Airbnb bookings to subway fare — still earns a generous 3x points.
- 3x points on dining: Like the Preferred, the Reserve earns 3x on restaurants, food delivery, and eligible dining experiences worldwide.
- 1x points on all other purchases: Base earning rate applies to everything outside the elevated categories.
How the Two Cards Compare on Bonus Categories
At a glance, the Chase Sapphire Reserve clearly wins on travel categories — particularly if you book frequently through Chase Travel and want to maximize points on hotels and flights. The 10x earning rate on hotels and car rentals is genuinely hard to beat. However, the Reserve's higher annual fee means you need to spend strategically to justify the cost.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred, on the other hand, now covers a broader range of everyday spending categories after its 2026 update. The addition of gas stations, EV charging, and vacation rentals means the Preferred is no longer just a card for travelers — it's a well-rounded everyday rewards card. For cardholders who don't spend enough on travel to offset the Reserve's annual fee, the Preferred offers tremendous value at a much lower cost.
Which Card Is Right for You?
Choosing between the Chase Sapphire Preferred and the Chase Sapphire Reserve comes down to your lifestyle and spending patterns. If you travel frequently, especially booking hotels and flights through Chase Travel, and you can leverage the Reserve's $300 annual travel credit to offset its annual fee, the Reserve is likely the better long-term investment.
If you're a more occasional traveler who also wants strong rewards on everyday spending like dining, streaming, groceries, gas, and vacation rentals, the Preferred's refreshed category lineup makes it an exceptional value proposition. With a lower annual fee and a diverse set of bonus categories, the Preferred is one of the most accessible premium travel cards available today.
Either way, both cards earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points, which remain one of the most flexible and valuable rewards currencies in the industry. The key is matching the right card to how and where you actually spend your money — because that's ultimately what will earn you the most points and the most rewarding travel experiences.