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Chase Sapphire Reserve® Credit Card Review: Is This Premium Travel Card Worth It?
September 27, 2026
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The content on this page is accurate as of the posting date; however, some of the offers mentioned may have expired.
What Is the Chase Sapphire Reserve®?
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is Chase's flagship premium travel rewards card. It has a $795 annual fee ($195 for each authorized user), and Chase offsets that fee with a long list of travel and lifestyle credits: up to $2,718 a year if you use every one of them.
Calculation formulated by Kudos, based on the maximum annual value of the credits and memberships listed in the pros below, including $120 for 12 months of DashPass.
That's the catch. The value is spread across a dozen credits that reset monthly, semi-annually, annually, or on your account anniversary. Getting your money's worth depends on using them on time, which is where the Kudos Benefits Tracker comes in.
Earning Rates
- 8x points on all purchases through Chase Travel℠, including The Edit℠
- 4x points on flights booked directly with airlines
- 4x points on hotels booked directly
- 3x points on dining worldwide
- 1x point on everything else
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For the Chase Sapphire Reserve®: points are not earned until after the first $300 is spent annually on travel purchases. The first $300 goes toward the $300 Annual Travel Credit.
Chase Sapphire Reserve® Pros & Cons
Pros:
- 10th anniversary offers (limited time): up to $1,050 back for existing cardholders with IHG, JSX, World of Hyatt, SIXT, and Wander. Each offer requires activation and payment with the card, and deadlines are October 16 and December 14, 2026. See all five offers and their deadlines.
- $300 annual travel credit: statement credits for travel purchases each account anniversary year
- Up to $500 for The Edit℠: up to $250 per prepaid booking with Chase's handpicked hotel collection, two-night minimum
- Up to $250 for select Chase Travel hotels: on prepaid stays with IHG, Montage, Pendry, Omni, Virgin, Minor, and Pan Pacific hotels through 12/31/26, two-night minimum
- Up to $300 in dining credits: $150 from January through June and again from July through December at Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables restaurants on OpenTable
- Up to $300 in StubHub credits: $150 from January through June and again from July through December on StubHub and viagogo through 12/31/2027 (activation required)
- Apple TV and Apple Music: complimentary subscriptions through 6/22/2027, a $288 annual value
- DoorDash: free DashPass through 12/31/29 when activated by 12/31/28, plus a $15 monthly promo and two $10 monthly non-restaurant promos
- Up to $120 in Lyft credits: up to $10 a month in Lyft in-app credits through 9/30/2027, plus 5x total points on Lyft rides
- Up to $120 in Peloton credits: $10 a month on eligible Peloton memberships through 12/31/2027 (activation required), plus 10x total points on eligible equipment and accessories over $150
- Airport lounge access: Priority Pass™ Select membership and access to Chase Sapphire Lounges by The Club
- Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck application fee credit
- 1:1 point transfers to Chase airline and hotel partners
- No foreign transaction fees
Cons:
- $795 annual fee, plus $195 for each authorized user
- Credits take work: many require activation, apply only at specific merchants, and reset on different schedules
- Several credits are time-limited, with end dates from October 16, 2026 (the IHG anniversary offer) to 12/31/2027
- The anniversary offers require spending: each one has a minimum purchase, so they're only worth it for bookings you'd make anyway
- Requires excellent credit for approval
With a dozen credits on different schedules, the Sapphire Reserve is easy to underuse. The Kudos Benefits Tracker shows your progress on every credit and what's about to reset, so you get the full value of your $795 annual fee.
Never miss a credit again. See how the Kudos Benefits Tracker works across every card in your wallet. Read the Benefits Tracker guide.
Who Is the Chase Sapphire Reserve® For?
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is ideal for frequent travelers who will actually use its credits. It particularly suits:
- Travelers who book through Chase Travel or The Edit and will use the $300 travel credit and hotel credits
- Diners and DoorDash users who will use the OpenTable dining credits and three monthly DoorDash promos
- Anyone who values airport lounge access through Priority Pass™ Select and Chase Sapphire Lounges
- Points enthusiasts who want to transfer to airline and hotel partners
- Cardholders who are organized enough, or have a tool, to keep track of a dozen credits on different schedules
The Sapphire Reserve turns 10. Chase is offering existing cardholders up to $1,050 back with five travel partners, with the first deadline on October 16. See the offers and deadlines.
Comparing the Chase Sapphire Reserve® with Other Premium Cards
When considering the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, it's helpful to compare it with other popular options in the premium travel card category:
The Platinum Card® from American Express (See Rates & Fees)
[[ SINGLE_CARD * {"id": "106", "isExpanded": "false", "bestForCategoryId": "15", "bestForText": "Frequent Travelers", "headerHint": "Serious Points on Flights"} ]]
Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card (See Rates & Fees)
[[ SINGLE_CARD * {"id": "2888", "isExpanded": "true", "bestForCategoryId": "52", "bestForText": "Frequent Travelers", "headerHint" : "Luxurious Travel Benefits" } ]]
Key Takeaways:
- The Chase Sapphire Reserve® offers the widest mix of travel and lifestyle credits, from The Edit to DoorDash and StubHub
- The Platinum Card® from American Express offers premium travel perks and lounge access
- The Capital One Venture X has a lower annual fee and simpler travel rewards
Track Every Sapphire Reserve Credit With Kudos
The Sapphire Reserve's credits run on at least four different schedules: monthly (DoorDash, Lyft, Peloton), semi-annually (dining and StubHub), annually (The Edit), and on your account anniversary (the $300 travel credit). Chase won't remind you before any of them reset.
The Kudos Benefits Tracker does it for you. Connect your Sapphire Reserve and Kudos automatically pulls in every credit on the card, then tracks your progress as you use them.
- Progress bars on every credit: see how much of your travel, dining, StubHub, and DoorDash credits you've used
- Annual fee vs. value: see whether the credits you've used are covering the $795 fee
- Step-by-step redemption: tap any credit to see how to use it, with a direct link to redeem
- Every card in one place: all your other cards' credits live in the same tracker
Kudos Premium also auto-activates card-linked offers from Chase and other issuers. The Benefits Tracker and offer auto-activation are part of Kudos Premium. Kudos also recommends your best card at checkout for free.
New to Kudos? Save up to $70 when you join with code GET70: $50 off Kudos Premium, plus $20 after your first eligible Kudos Boost purchase of $30 or more. Sign up for free.
Our Expert Takeaway
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® remains one of the most compelling premium travel cards for people who use its credits. The $300 travel credit alone covers a big part of the fee for frequent travelers, and the dining, DoorDash, StubHub, and Apple credits can cover much of the rest.
The flip side: at $795, the card only makes sense if you use those credits on schedule. If you pair it with the Kudos Benefits Tracker so nothing resets unused, it's a strong keeper. If you don't travel much or won't track the credits, a lower-fee card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® will likely serve you better.
Chase Sapphire Reserve® FAQ
What is the Chase Sapphire Reserve annual fee?
The annual fee is $795, plus $195 for each authorized user. Some existing cardholders paid a lower renewal fee during the transition to the new fee.
What credit score do you need for the Chase Sapphire Reserve®?
You'll generally need excellent credit for approval. Kudos Approval Odds can show how likely you are to qualify before you apply.
How do I keep track of all the Sapphire Reserve credits?
The easiest way is the Kudos Benefits Tracker. It pulls in every credit on your card, shows your progress on each one, and tells you how to redeem what's left before it resets. It's included with Kudos Premium.
How does the $300 travel credit work?
You get up to $300 in statement credits for travel purchases each account anniversary year. Purchases that the credit covers don't earn points.
What DoorDash benefits does the Sapphire Reserve include?
Free DashPass through 12/31/29 when activated by 12/31/28, plus a $15 monthly promo and two $10 monthly promos for non-restaurant orders. See our full guide to Chase DoorDash benefits.
How do I maximize Chase Ultimate Rewards points?
Transfer points to airline and hotel partners, or book through Chase Travel, where Points Boost offers can make your points worth more on select flights and hotels.
Can I get the Sapphire Reserve welcome offer if I've had a Sapphire card before?
It depends on your history with Sapphire cards. See our Sapphire Reserve bonus eligibility guide for the current rules.
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Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are those of Kudos alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
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