JPMorgan Chase has announced a significant increase in the annual fee for its premium Chase Sapphire Reserve credit card, raising it from $550 to $795. This change, effective June 23, 2025, marks a 77% increase since the card's initial $450 fee in 2016. Despite the higher cost, Chase claims users will receive over $2,700 in annual benefits.
The fee hike positions the Chase Sapphire Reserve as one of the most expensive credit cards on the market, surpassing the American Express Platinum card's annual fee of $695 . This move reflects a growing trend among credit card issuers to cater to high-end travelers with premium benefits.
New Sapphire reserve changes
The revamped Chase Sapphire Reserve card introduces several new benefits across travel, dining, and lifestyle categories:
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Travel benefits:
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8x points on Chase Travel bookings, including flights, hotels, rental cars, cruises, activities, and tours.
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4x points on direct airline and hotel bookings.
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$500 annual credit for select hotel bookings through The Edit by Chase Travel.
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Complimentary IHG Platinum Elite status through 2027.
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$300 annual travel credit for purchases via StubHub or Viagogo.)
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Dining benefits:
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3x points on dining.
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Up to $300 annual dining credit through the Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables program.
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Complimentary Apple TV+ and Apple Music subscriptions ($250 value).
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Lifestyle benefits:
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$120 in Peloton credits plus 10x points on purchases.
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Continued access to DoorDash DashPass membership through December 31, 2027.
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$120 in Lyft credits.
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Points boost system:
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Points redemptions will be more valuable via a new Points Boost system, allowing redemptions at a 2x rate on certain premium bookings.
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These enhancements aim to provide more value to cardholders, especially those who can maximize the new benefits.
New Chase Sapphire reserve for business at a glance
Chase has also introduced a new business version of the Sapphire Reserve card, offering similar benefits tailored for business owners:
| Feature | Chase Sapphire reserve for business |
|---|---|
| Annual fee | $795 |
| Authorized user fee | $195 |
| Points earning Rates | 8x on Chase Travel bookings |
| 4x on direct airline and hotel bookings | |
| 3x on dining | |
| 1x on other purchases | |
| Travel benefits | $500 hotel credit via the edit by Chase travel |
| complimentary IHG platinum elite status | |
| $300 annual travel credit for purchases via StubHub or Viagogo | |
| Dining benefits | Up to $300 annual dining credit through the Sapphire reserve exclusive tables program |
| Lifestyle benefits | Complimentary Apple TV+ and apple music subscriptions ($250 value) |
| $120 in peloton credits plus 10x points on purchases | |
| Continued access to Door Dash Dash pass membership through December 31, 2027 | |
| $120 in Lyft credits | |
| Points boost system | Points redemptions at a 2x rate on certain premium bookings |
This business version aims to provide business owners with enhanced rewards and benefits to support their travel and dining needs.
You’ll need to spend a year’s salary to maximize the new Chase Sapphire reserve card
To fully maximize the benefits of the new Chase Sapphire reserve card, cardholders would need to spend a substantial amount annually. The enhanced benefits, including the $500 hotel credit, $300 dining credit, $300 entertainment credit, and other perks, are designed to offset the higher annual fee. However, achieving the full value requires significant spending in the card's bonus categories.
For frequent travelers and diners who can leverage these benefits, the card offers substantial value. However, for those who do not spend heavily in these categories, the high annual fee may outweigh the benefits.
Is the Chase Sapphire preferred card still worth it in 2025?
The Chase Sapphire Preferred card is still a top-notch pick for travel rewards, particularly if the Reserve's $795 annual price tag seems a touch steep. For an annual fee of $95, here are the advantages of the Sapphire Preferred:
5x points on travel purchased through Chase Travel.
3x points on dining, streaming (select services) and online grocery spending.
2x points on all other travel spending.
60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
Plus, each point is worth 1.25 cents when redeemed for travel through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal, earning you even more value. The Sapphire Preferred also provides travel protections, including trip cancellation/interruption insurance and primary auto rental collision damage waiver.
For casual globetrotters who are eager to earn valuable rewards but aren’t willing to cough up a high annual fee, the Sapphire Preferred remains a formidable choice.
Chase Sapphire preferred vs. capital one venture: which offers more value?
When comparing the Chase Sapphire preferred to the capital one venture rewards card, several factors come into play:
| Feature | Chase Sapphire preferred | Capital One venture rewards |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $95 | $95 |
| Sign-up bonus | 60,000 points after spending $4,000 in 3 months | 75,000 miles after spending $4,000 in 3 months |
| Points earning rates | 5x on travel through Chase Travel | 5x on hotels and rental cars booked through capital one travel |
| 3x on dining, select streaming services, and online grocery purchases | 2x on all other purchases | |
| Redemption value | 1.25 cents per point for travel through Chase ultimate rewards | 1 cent per mile for travel through Capital One Travel |
| Travel protections | Trip cancellation/interruption insurance, primary auto rental collision damage waiver | Trip cancellation/interruption insurance, primary auto rental collision damage waiver |
| Additional benefits | 10% annual points bonus, $50 annual hotel credit | Global entry/TSA pre check fee credit up to $100 |
| Complimentary DoorDash DashPass membership | Hertz five star status |
Both cards offer valuable rewards and benefits. The Sapphire Preferred provides higher earning rates on travel and dining, along with more valuable point redemptions. The Venture Rewards card offers a flat 2x miles on all purchases, providing simplicity for those who prefer not to track bonus categories.
Ultimately, the choice between the two depends on individual spending habits and preferences. Travelers who spend heavily in the card's bonus categories may find the Sapphire Preferred more rewarding, while those seeking simplicity may prefer the Venture Rewards card.
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