Dedicated comparison page

The Platinum Card from American Express vs Chase Sapphire Reserve

The Platinum Card from American Express vs Chase Sapphire Reserve on Luminxo. Compare annual fees, rewards, welcome offers, credit requirements, and who each card is best for.

Lowest annual feeChase Sapphire Reserve$550
Highest reward rateThe Platinum Card from American Express1.0%
Lowest starting credit rangeThe Platinum Card from American Express720+

Quick Take

The Platinum Card from American Express

by American Express

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The Platinum Card from American Express is a travel card from American Express with a $695 annual fee, 80,000 points after $8,000 in 6 months, and good to excellent credit.

Best for: People focused on travel rewards who can justify a $695 annual fee and who typically have good to excellent credit.

  • 5% on Travel
  • 80,000 points after $8,000 in 6 months
  • No foreign transaction fee
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Chase Sapphire Reserve

by Chase

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Chase Sapphire Reserve is a travel card from Chase with a $550 annual fee, 60,000 points after $4,000 in 3 months, and good to excellent credit.

Best for: People focused on travel rewards who can justify a $550 annual fee and who typically have good to excellent credit.

  • 10% on Travel
  • 60,000 points after $4,000 in 3 months
  • No foreign transaction fee
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Side-by-Side Facts

MetricThe Platinum Card from American ExpressChase Sapphire Reserve
Annual Fee$695$550
Reward Rate1.0%1.0%
Signup Bonus80,000 points after $8,000 in 6 months60,000 points after $4,000 in 3 months
Foreign Transaction FeeNoneNone
Recommended CreditGood to excellent creditGood to excellent credit
Rewards SummaryEarn elevated rewards with 5% on Travel and 1% on Dining, plus 1% on other purchases.Earn elevated rewards with 10% on Travel and 3% on Dining, plus 1% on other purchases.

Who Should Pick Which Card?

The Platinum Card from American Express

Its strongest earning category is Travel at 5%, backed by 1% on general spending. It also avoids foreign transaction fees.

Best for: People focused on travel rewards who can justify a $695 annual fee and who typically have good to excellent credit.

Pros

  • 80,000 points after $8,000 in 6 months
  • Potentially worthwhile if you use the card enough to cover the $695 annual fee
  • Earns 5% on Travel
  • Earns 1% on Dining

Tradeoffs

  • Annual fee of $695 means you need ongoing value from the card
  • Typically requires good to excellent credit
  • Signup bonus requires $8000 in spending within 6 months
  • Base rewards on non-bonus spending are relatively modest

Chase Sapphire Reserve

Its strongest earning category is Travel at 10%, backed by 1% on general spending. It also avoids foreign transaction fees.

Best for: People focused on travel rewards who can justify a $550 annual fee and who typically have good to excellent credit.

Pros

  • 60,000 points after $4,000 in 3 months
  • Potentially worthwhile if you use the card enough to cover the $550 annual fee
  • Earns 10% on Travel
  • Earns 3% on Dining

Tradeoffs

  • Annual fee of $550 means you need ongoing value from the card
  • Typically requires good to excellent credit
  • Signup bonus requires $4000 in spending within 3 months
  • Base rewards on non-bonus spending are relatively modest

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the main difference between The Platinum Card from American Express and Chase Sapphire Reserve?

The biggest tradeoffs are annual fee, reward concentration, and the level of credit usually needed to qualify. This page compares those inputs directly so you can choose the card that fits your spending and tolerance for annual fees.

Which card is easier to qualify for?

The Platinum Card from American Express has the lowest published starting credit range in this comparison at 720.

Which card has the lowest annual fee?

Chase Sapphire Reserve has the lowest annual fee in this comparison at $550.