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Chase Sapphire Preferred vs Bank of America Travel Rewards: Which Is Better In 2025?
July 1, 2025
Editor's Picks
- The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is ideal for earning valuable points on travel and dining that can be transferred to airline and hotel partners.
- The Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card is a great choice for beginners or occasional travelers who want a simple, no-annual-fee card that earns a flat rewards rate on all purchases.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Breakdown
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Why We Like It
Here’s a closer look at why the Chase Sapphire Preferred® stands out in a crowded field of travel cards.
- The card offers strong rewards rates across popular spending categories like dining, travel, and select streaming services.
- It comes packed with valuable travel protections, including trip cancellation insurance and an auto rental collision damage waiver, offering peace of mind on the road.
- After using the $50 annual hotel credit, you only need to spend about $1,500 on dining per year to offset the remaining annual fee with rewards (publisher-formulated estimate).
Pros
- A generous welcome offer and strong rewards rates on travel, dining, and more.
- Highly flexible rewards that can be transferred to numerous airline and hotel loyalty programs.
- Comprehensive travel insurance and purchase protections provide peace of mind.
Cons
- An annual fee makes it less ideal for infrequent travelers or those who prefer straightforward cash back.
- Lacks premium travel perks like airport lounge access, which are common on higher-tier travel cards.
- The welcome offer requires a significant initial spend, and strict application rules can make it difficult to qualify for.
Bank of America® Travel Rewards Breakdown
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Why We Like It
This card is a solid choice for beginner travelers, and here’s a quick look at why.
- It's a great entry-level travel card with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees, making it a cost-effective option for trips abroad.
- The card offers a simple rewards structure, earning an unlimited 1.5 points per dollar on all purchases with no categories to track.
- With a flat 1.5x earning rate, a $500 flight earns 750 points, which is equivalent to $7.50 in travel credits (publisher-formulated estimate).
Pros
- Points can be redeemed as statement credits for a wide range of travel and dining purchases, including less common expenses like amusement parks and campgrounds.
- You can book travel through any website or vendor you choose, with no blackout dates or portal restrictions.
- Existing Bank of America customers may be eligible for a rewards bonus, significantly increasing the points earned on every purchase.
Cons
- The flat rewards rate is relatively modest, and there are no bonus categories to accelerate earnings on specific purchases like travel or dining.
- It lacks premium travel benefits, such as airport lounge access, and points can't be transferred to airline or hotel loyalty programs.
- The card's highest earning potential is reserved for customers with Bank of America Preferred Rewards status, making it less valuable for those who don't bank with them.
Bank of America® Travel Rewards vs Chase Sapphire Preferred®
Categories
Deciding which is better, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® or the Bank of America® Travel Rewards, comes down to your travel frequency and reward preferences. Each card excels in its own niche, catering to different types of travelers.
- Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: This card is best for entry-level travel, suiting those who are new to travel rewards or want strong value without a premium annual fee.
- Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card: This card is ideal for occasional travelers, serving as a great starter card for beginners or those who only travel a few times a year.
Redemption
Chase Sapphire Preferred®: Points can be transferred to various airline and hotel partners or used to book travel directly through the Chase portal, offering flexible options for maximizing value.
Bank of America® Travel Rewards: This card offers a straightforward redemption process, allowing you to use your points as a statement credit to cover any travel or dining purchases.
Travel Perks
- Travel Portal: The Chase Sapphire Preferred® card provides access to the Chase Ultimate Rewards® portal, where points are worth more when redeemed for travel. The Bank of America® Travel Rewards card has its own portal, the Bank of America Travel Center, for booking travel.
- Foreign Transaction Fees: Both cards are good companions for international trips as neither charges a foreign transaction fee.
- Transfer Partners: A key difference is that the Chase Sapphire Preferred® allows you to transfer points to numerous airline and hotel partners, which can significantly increase their value. The Bank of America® Travel Rewards card does not offer this feature.
- Travel Protections: The Chase Sapphire Preferred® comes with a robust set of travel insurance benefits, including trip cancellation/interruption insurance, an auto rental collision damage waiver, and baggage delay insurance. The Bank of America® Travel Rewards card offers more limited travel protections.
- Airport Lounge Access: Neither of these cards offers complimentary airport lounge access as a standard perk.
Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos
Kudos offers a comprehensive tool for comparing top-rated credit cards, with a database of nearly 3,000 options to help you find the perfect match for your spending habits.
- Test drive credit cards using your real spending data to see potential earnings before you apply.
- Receive a detailed analysis of your approval odds based on your credit report.
- Get a welcome offer guarantee, ensuring that if you find a better offer within three months, Kudos will match it.
- Track your progress toward credit card sign-up bonuses and monitor your credit score for free.
- Maximize rewards at checkout with a feature that autofills the best card for your purchase.
Who Should Choose the Chase Sapphire Preferred®?
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is an excellent choice for frequent travelers looking to maximize rewards without committing to a premium annual fee. It's also a great entry-level travel card for newcomers to the points and miles world, as well as for anyone who values flexible redemption options. Those who want robust travel protections will also find significant value, making it a top choice for a wide range of spenders, as detailed in this comprehensive review.
Who Should Choose the Bank of America® Travel Rewards?
The Bank of America® Travel Rewards card is an excellent choice for beginners and casual travelers who want a simple, no-annual-fee way to earn travel rewards. It’s especially powerful for existing Bank of America customers, as those enrolled in the Preferred Rewards program can earn up to a 75% bonus on all points. Ultimately, whether you're a student building credit or someone who prefers a single card for all purchases, this card is a solid choice for earning flexible rewards without complex rules.
Alternatives to Consider
So, our Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card vs. Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card comparison didn't reveal your perfect match? No problem. Let's explore a few other top-tier travel cards that could be a better fit for your spending style.
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Tips for Application Success
Before You Apply
- Check your credit score - Most travel cards require a good to excellent credit history to qualify.
- Review application rules - Be aware of issuer-specific policies, like the Chase 5/24 rule, that could impact your approval.
- Plan your spending - Ensure you can naturally meet the spending requirement to earn the welcome offer without forcing purchases.
Application Strategy
- Time your application - Apply before a large purchase or international trip to maximize immediate value.
- Leverage existing relationships - Some issuers, like Bank of America, offer better rewards to existing customers.
- Don't settle - If you receive a lesser welcome offer, you can often decline and try again later.
Our Methodology
We evaluate nearly 3,000 credit cards across the U.S. market — far more than the ~150 cards commonly featured on sites that focus only on products tied to affiliate commissions. Our goal is to provide a comprehensive, unbiased view of the credit card landscape so you can make confident, data-driven decisions.
Our editorial team combines deep industry experience with rigorous verification standards. While our experts surface the most relevant recommendations in our guides, you can also explore the full dataset yourself through our card explorer tool, which includes thousands of cards — more than 95% of which do not provide us with commissions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which card is better for beginners?
The Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card is often a better choice for beginners because it has no annual fee and a simple rewards program. The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card offers more potential value but comes with a learning curve to maximize its benefits.
Can I have both the Chase Sapphire Preferred and Bank of America Travel Rewards cards?
Yes, it is possible to have both cards at the same time since they are from different issuers. This strategy allows you to leverage the distinct advantages of each card's rewards program and benefits.
What are the annual fees for these cards?
The Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card does not have an annual fee. In contrast, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card has a $95 annual fee.
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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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