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The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card offers great perks for occasional to frequent travelers like a generous welcome bonus and rich rewards on travel purchases made through Chase Travel℠ and on eligible dining and food delivery services
We recommend applicants have good to excellent credit scores before applying for this card. Card issuers consider many factors when you apply for a credit card, and no score guarantees approval.
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Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
On Chase Bank USA, NA's Website
5.0
Forbes Advisor created additional star ratings so that you can see the best card for specific needs. This card shines for this use, but overall the star ratings may differ when compared to other cards.
On Chase Bank USA, NA's Website
Up to 5x Reward Rate
Earn 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on allRead More
Welcome Bonus
60,000 bonus points
Annual Fee
$95
Regular APR
21.49%-28.49% Variable
Credit Score
Excellent, Good(700 - 749)
Editorial Review
Offering a rare mix of high rewards rates and redemption flexibility, this card is a dream for frequent spenders on travel & dining – while charging a modest annual fee.
Pros & Cons
- Earn high rewards on several areas of spending
- Transfer points to travel partners at 1:1 rate
- Many travel and shopping protections
- Annual fee
- No intro APR offer
- Best travel earning rates are only for bookings through the Chase Travel℠ portal
Card Details
- Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
- Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
- Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
- Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2027.
- Member FDIC
Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
Credit Score ranges are based on FICO® credit scoring. This is just one scoring method and a credit card issuer may use another method when considering your application. These are provided as guidelines only and approval is not guaranteed.
What Credit Score Do You Need for the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card?
Chase does not offer recommendations on its website regarding minimum credit scores, but applicants should have good to exceptional credit scores for the reward-and perk-heavy Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card.
FICO categorizes good credit as 670-739, very good as 740-799 and exceptional as 800 and up. Those seeking the card will likely have a better chance with a credit score closer to the very good range or better. Remember that multiple versions of credit scores are available, and the score you check may not be the score used by Chase.
Note that the Sapphire Preferred card is the little sibling of the $550 annual fee premium Chase Sapphire Reserve®, which may make the Preferred a more appealing card to apply for since the highest-end cards tend to be recommended for those with excellent credit.
Card issuers examine other factors in an applicant’s credit history to determine qualification. Payment history, the number of recent inquiries, the amount of debt you’re carrying and annual income are all important aspects of a card application.
What Factors Do Card Issuers Consider?
An applicant’s credit score is the first indication of credit status, but card issuers also evaluate other factors like:
- On-time payment history. While not as heavily weighted as other factors, too many late payments count against a credit score and appear in a credit report for up to seven years.
- Credit utilization rate. A credit utilization rate is the percentage of credit a cardholder is carrying against the total credit they have available across all accounts. Large balances carried over month-to-month can quickly snowball into a high credit utilization rate. It’s generally recommended that, if possible, you keep your credit utilization rate below 30%.
- Number of open accounts (including age of accounts). Card issuers want to know how many credit or loan accounts an applicant has open, including how many were opened in the last 12 to 24 months. Too many accounts opened within a short period is a major red flag to issuers. It tells a lender that an applicant may be “churning and burning” credit cards to gain access to rewards or sign-up bonuses.
- Income and monthly bills. Card issuers also analyze an applicant’s annual gross income and monthly bill payments like rent, mortgages or loans. Lenders want to know that the applicant can make regular, on-time payments.
- Age. Cardholders between the ages of 18 to 22 may find it difficult to qualify for an ultra-premium rewards card like the Sapphire Reserve because of a short credit history. Issuers want to make sure an applicant has a sufficient credit history.
Chase may also consider whether the applicant has a relationship with the institution like a different credit card, loan or checking account. Another financial account in good standing is a major positive indicator to an issuer.
Can You Apply for Chase Sapphire Preferred With a Bad Credit Score?
Credit card companies will never prohibit you from applying for any credit card in their portfolio, but considering the factors that issuers use, you might have trouble being approved if your credit report has a few issues.
How To Get Approved for the Chase Sapphire Preferred With a Bad Credit Score
As with many premium credit card offerings, being approved with a bad credit score can be challenging. Don’t be discouraged; with a little work and time, you can have a better chance of being approved.
Take the time to work on improving your credit score, make your payments on time and focus on responsible credit card usage. This will greatly improve your odds of being approved for a Chase Sapphire Preferred.
What To Do If Your Chase Sapphire Preferred Card Application Is Rejected
When an application is rejected, you can petition for approval by contacting Chase’s reconsideration line or by calling the number listed in the rejection letter. By law, card issuers must inform rejected applicants of the reason(s) why an application has been denied. Applicants can respond to this information and make their case to a Chase representative using whatever valid evidence they can provide.
It’s been widely reported that Chase has a strict policy against too many accounts open within a short period (referred to as the 5/24 rule). Under this rule, a card application will likely be rejected if an applicant has opened five or more accounts in the last 24 months. To avoid being denied for the Sapphire Preferred card for having too much activity on your credit profile, make sure you’ve opened fewer than five accounts in the last two years before submitting a new application. This information is readily available on a free credit report from one of the major credit bureaus (Experian, Transunion or Equifax).
Other Cards To Consider If You’re Rejected for the Chase Sapphire Preferred
- Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card
- Discover it® Cash Back
- Chase Slate Edge®*
- Chase Freedom Flex®
- Chase Freedom Unlimited®
Bottom Line
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is a great option for frequent travelers looking for a high-value card, but applicants should have good-to-excellent credit scores if they’re considering applying. A score of 700 or higher is recommended. It may be slightly easier to be approved for the Sapphire Preferred than the Sapphire Reserve card, but Sapphire Preferred cardholders can request a product upgrade later as their credit profile improves. If your application is rejected and you don’t believe it should have been, contact a Chase representative to ask for reconsideration.
