The Credit Ledger Annual fee analysis
Is the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card worth it in 2026?
The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card costs $95 a year. Whether that fee pays for itself comes down to one question: will you use enough of the credits and rewards to clear it? Here is the honest math.
The break-even math
| Annual fee | $95 |
|---|---|
| First-year welcome value (estimate) | About $1250 |
| Recurring credits to offset the fee | 2 listed below |
Credits that offset the fee
- $100 Chase Travel hotel credit each account anniversary year
- Up to $120 Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS credit every four years
Add up only the credits you will genuinely use. If they cover the $95 fee on their own, everything you earn in rewards is upside. If you would not use them, a no-annual-fee card is probably the smarter pick.
The bottom line
The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card is worth the $95 fee if best mid-tier travel card with transferable points and you will use its recurring credits. It scores 4.2 out of 5 in our rubric. If you want to avoid an annual fee or will not touch the credits, skip it.
Read the full Chase Sapphire Preferred Card reviewFees, credits, and offers verified 2026-07. Confirm the current terms on the issuer's site before applying.