The Card That Started It All — and Still Leads the Pack
If you've ever asked a seasoned traveler, a personal finance blogger, or a points-and-miles enthusiast which rewards credit card you should get first, chances are you heard the same answer: the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. After more than 16 years on the market, this iconic card continues to be the go-to recommendation for beginners and experienced travelers alike — and for very good reason.
The travel rewards credit card space is crowded. New products launch every year, promising higher earning rates, flashier perks, and eye-catching bonuses. Yet despite all that competition, the Chase Sapphire Preferred has not only survived — it has thrived. A recent 2025 refresh has made the card even more compelling, all while keeping its remarkably reasonable $95 annual fee intact.
In a world where the cost of almost everything has gone up, the Sapphire Preferred is one of the rare exceptions: a product that has actually gotten better without costing you more. That alone is worth talking about.
What Makes the Chase Sapphire Preferred the Best Starter Travel Card?
For anyone just stepping into the world of travel rewards, choosing a first card can feel overwhelming. There are premium cards with $500+ annual fees, co-branded airline and hotel cards that lock you into a single loyalty program, and cash-back cards that offer simplicity but limit your upside. The Chase Sapphire Preferred threads the needle perfectly — it delivers serious rewards value without the intimidating cost or complexity.
Here's why it consistently earns the top spot for first-time rewards cardholders:
- Flexible rewards currency: The card earns Chase Ultimate Rewards® points, one of the most versatile and valuable points currencies available. You can redeem them for travel through Chase's portal, transfer them to more than a dozen airline and hotel partners, or use them for cash back and gift cards.
- Strong earning categories: Cardholders earn elevated points on travel, dining, streaming services, and online grocery purchases — categories that naturally align with how most people spend their money day to day.
- Travel protections: Despite its modest annual fee, the Sapphire Preferred includes a suite of travel insurance benefits, including trip cancellation and interruption insurance, baggage delay coverage, and primary car rental insurance. These protections alone can save you hundreds of dollars in a single trip.
- No foreign transaction fees: A must-have feature for international travelers, and one that the Sapphire Preferred has always included.
- A gateway to the Chase ecosystem: Starting with the Sapphire Preferred gives you a foothold in the Chase Ultimate Rewards ecosystem, making it easy to later add complementary cards like the Chase Freedom Flex® or Chase Freedom Unlimited® to maximize your earning across even more categories.
The 2025 Refresh: What's New and Why It Matters
Long-standing cards can sometimes feel like they're coasting on reputation alone. The Chase Sapphire Preferred is not that card. Its 2025 refresh introduced meaningful improvements that make it even easier to justify carrying in your wallet year after year.
While the $95 annual fee remains unchanged — a number that has held steady for over 16 years — the card now offers enhanced benefits that bring more day-to-day value to cardholders. This approach reflects a broader philosophy: rather than simply raising prices to fund premium perks, the Sapphire Preferred evolves thoughtfully, targeting upgrades that matter to real people living real lives.
This kind of consistent improvement without cost inflation is genuinely rare in the financial products space. Think about it — what else in your life costs the same today as it did 16 years ago and has actually improved over time? It's a short list, and the Sapphire Preferred earns its place on it.
A Limited-Time Welcome Bonus You Don't Want to Miss
If there was ever a moment to apply for the Chase Sapphire Preferred, it's right now. For a limited time, new cardholders can earn 100,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
To put that into perspective: 100,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points can be worth anywhere from $1,000 when redeemed through Chase Travel to potentially $1,500 or more when transferred to airline and hotel partners at peak value. For a card with a $95 annual fee, that's an extraordinary return on your first few months of spending.
The $5,000 spending requirement over three months works out to roughly $1,667 per month — achievable for most households when you factor in groceries, utilities, dining out, and everyday expenses. The key is to make the Sapphire Preferred your go-to card for all purchases during that window and let the spending add up naturally.
Who Should Apply for the Chase Sapphire Preferred?
The Sapphire Preferred is an ideal fit for a wide range of people. You'll get the most value from this card if you travel at least occasionally, dine out or order takeout regularly, and want to build toward free or discounted flights and hotel stays over time. It's also a great choice if you're new to rewards programs and want a flexible, beginner-friendly entry point rather than a card that ties you to one airline or hotel brand.
That said, even seasoned rewards enthusiasts often keep the Sapphire Preferred in their wallet as a cornerstone card, pairing it with others in the Chase ecosystem to maximize points across every spending category.
The Bottom Line
Sixteen-plus years is a long time in the credit card industry. Products come and go, programs devalue their currencies, and annual fees creep steadily upward. The Chase Sapphire Preferred has defied those trends at every turn — remaining affordable, evolving meaningfully, and continuing to deliver genuine value to the people who carry it.
Whether you're booking your first international trip, trying to earn free flights for your family, or simply looking for a smarter way to spend on everyday purchases, the Chase Sapphire Preferred is the right place to start. With a refreshed set of benefits, a $95 annual fee that hasn't budged in over a decade and a half, and a limited-time 100,000-point welcome bonus on the table, there has never been a better time to make it your first — or next — rewards card.