Chase Sapphire Preferred

Annual Fee: $95

Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

Our thoughts: The Chase Sapphire Preferred is often referred to as the best beginner card, and it continues to be a staple in each of our wallets. We love the signup bonus, low annual fee, and valuable rebates that erase the annual fee when used. Not to mention, the Chase Sapphire allows you to transfer your Ultimate Reward points to many of our favorite airline and hotel loyalty programs (including Hyatt, Southwest, and United). 

How to earn points:

5x- travel booked through the Chase Travel Portal

3x- restaurants, streaming services, and online groceries (excluding Target, Walmart, and wholesale clubs). 

2x- travel purchases

1x- all other purchases

Notable rebates and perks:

You’ll earn a 10% points bonus annually based on how many Ultimate Reward points you earn.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred comes with a $50 annual hotel credit (must be booked through the Chase Travel Portal).

You’ll be refunded the first $15 spent on Instacart purchases each quarter.

Travel Insurance: Trip Cancellation/ Interruption, Baggage Delay, and Auto Rental Collision