Why bother earning credit card points when you can use them to pay for flights on your favorite airlines? That’s the first question many people ask when they sign up for a credit card with rewards. But not all credit cards give you the same value in dividends and comparing the two most popular reward programs are Chase Ultimate Rewards and American Express Membership Rewards. In this article, we’ll look at the critical differences between Amex points vs chase points. Including how they can be used and how they can be earned.
Difference between Amex points vs chase points:
Many people do not know that two competing credit card programs with points systems can be used to purchase travel, goods, or services. The first is Amex, and their rewards program is Express Rewards points. The second is Chase, and their rewards program is called Chase Ultimate Rewards points. There are many differences between these amex points vs chase points programs. But a few include what they can be used for and how they are earned. As a rule, amex vs chase are more accessible than Chase points; you will have more success making them if you use your card for everyday purchases such as gas and groceries.
If you were making big purchases of items like electronics. Another difference in how easy it is to earn the different point types comes from comparing the sign-up bonuses. For example, you may only need 25000 chase ultimate reward points after spending $1000 in 3 months (50% bonus). Whereas Amex might offer 50,000 express rewards after signing up with $2000 in 3 months. So before deciding which card to use. You should consider what type of spender you are or someone who occasionally spends. And determine whether it would be easier for you to earn points vs chase points.
Are Aamex points vs chase points Worth More?
So now that you know, all these distinctions are amex points vs chase points worth more? It depends on what you value! For example, the American Express Membership Rewards Program might be better for you if you fly a lot. On the other hand, if you don’t travel much and don’t want to pay an annual fee. Then Chase Ultimate Rewards points could be more valuable to you because there is no annual fee. Weighing up both programs to determine which will suit your needs best can feel overwhelming. But this guide will make it easier. There’s no lousy redemption,” says Hull. “But there are redemptions that have less cash value than others.” A good rule of thumb is to aim for a redemption value of at least one cent per point.
But it’s important to know that you’ll most likely get the best value when redeeming travel points under either program. You’ll have a few options when you redeem your Amex points for travel. You can transfer to travel partners, typically at a 1:1 ratio. Though some partners may offer up to a 1:2 point-to-point ratio. You can also get up to 1 cent per point by booking travel through AmexTravel.com, the issuer’s travel portal. Other redemption options include up to 0.5 cents per point for merchant purchases, 0.5 – 1 cents per point for gift cards. And 0.6 cents per point for statement credits. American Express has a calculator on its website, which you can use to see exactly how much each redemption option is worth based on your card.
Amex vs. Chase Transfer Partners:
Amex vs chase points Transfer Partners. At this point, you might think that one is as good as another regarding their credit card programs. But while they may both have benefits and drawbacks, they’re not relatively equal when transferring partners. For example, let’s say you have an American Express Platinum card with 150,000 points on it and a Chase Sapphire Reserve card with 100,000 points on it. You’ll get twice as many United miles for your points if you use American Express points since United is a partner of Amex but not Chase. Likewise, Delta is a partner of Chase but not Amex.
If you want hotel stays in addition to airfare, then Amex has better options than Chase. For example, with Amex points, you can get free nights at Hilton or Marriott hotels, whereas with Chase points, you can only earn cash or 1/3 of a stay at Hyatt hotels. So, what are the bottom line differences between these two top credit card programs? The short answer: Amex offers more airline partners, hotel partners, and slightly more flexible redemption rates than Chase.
The best cards to earn Amex Membership Rewards:
The best cards to earn Amex membership rewards are those with a high annual fee, like the American Express Platinum Card, which has a $550 annual fee. By paying a yearly fee, cardholders receive more than twice as many points as they would if they had a card with no annual fee or one with a yearly fee of less than $250. For example, if you spend $1,000 on purchases in your first three months of owning the American Express Platinum Card, you’ll get 50,000 bonus points–a total value of $625 in airfare or other rewards.
Compare this to Chase’s Sapphire Preferred credit card and its lower-priced companion card, the Ink Business Preferred Credit Card (each with a $95 annual fee), where cardholders only get one point for every dollar spent. To break even when it comes to earning points, people who pay the $95 annual fee for these two cards would need to spend at least $10,000 annually on their cards. But those with the American Express Platinum Card don’t have to pay nearly as much before seeing significant earnings.
The best cards to earn Chase Ultimate Rewards:
Chase offers a variety of personal and small business credit cards that earn Ultimate Rewards points. Here are the most popular: These cards range from no-annual-fee cashback cards to luxury travel cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve card, which comes with premium benefits and a luxury price tag. Chase credit cards primarily earn Ultimate Rewards points in two ways: the one-time sign-up bonus and spending. One-time bonuses when you first apply can offer substantial rewards.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred card is one of the best travel credit cards. And it is currently offering a bonus of 60,000 points after spending $4,000 in the first three months. This bonus is worth up to $750 when booking travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards. The Chase Freedom Flex is an excellent $0 annual fee card for everyday purchases. It earns 5% on rotating quarterly categories (up to $1,500 spent) and travels purchased through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal; 3% at restaurants.
Pros and Cons of Amex points vs chase points:
Remember, every company has pros and cons; only you can decide which suits your needs best. Having a high-earning card doesn’t mean you’ll be happy with that company’s rewards program. Here are some questions to ask yourself when evaluating a credit card rewards program. And how do they relate to Amex and Chase points, respectively: Benefits of Amex points vs chase points? The most significant benefit of earning Amex points is simple convenience. Since all your purchases on eligible cards earn Express rewards points. With no annual fee and no expiration date for issues. You don’t have to worry about spending money to get your rewards.
On top of that, there are plenty of ways to redeem your points for things other than travel. So, you can customize them more closely to suit your lifestyle or interests. With Chase points, there may be an annual fee associated with certain cards. It might make sense if a big sign-up bonus and other perks like a free checked bag or priority boarding come into play. There also may not be any blackout dates for redeeming flights either. If the card issuer offers transfer partners like Delta or Virgin Atlantic, those could also come in handy!
Are Chase points worth more than Amex points?
It depends on your card, and what you’re redeeming for. In general, it is possible to get better value with one program over the other if you are saving for certain flights or hotels. Still, it might not be worth paying attention to that difference in other cases. To find out which points will give you the best bang for your buck. Consider how many issues you need to use before deciding which one to use. For example, Amex has a higher number of minimum points required than Chase when booking specific airline tickets or hotel rooms through their websites. If you only need a few hundred points to book an international flight. Then it may not be worth comparing because there would be no difference in the number of points required.
The general rule of thumb for a hotel room stay is that airfare redemptions offer more valuable miles per point than hotel stays do, meaning Amex points are often more practical for booking plane tickets than Chase points. But this varies depending on the airlines and hotels you’re looking at. For instance, Southwest Airlines offers a lower rate for frequent flyer miles than most other airlines. So, using Chase points could save you money on a Southwest ticket. Alternatively, Hilton offers significantly fewer bonus points when you spend $10,000 annually, so Amex points become more valuable here. Of course, the final consideration should always be where you plan to go. Since both programs have great deals in different destinations worldwide.
