The Journey of Chase Sapphire Preferred vs. Wells Fargo Autograph: The Battle of the Midsize Travel Cards

When it comes to mid-range travel cards, it’s hard to beat Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. It comes with a high earning rate, a host of convenient benefits, and a long list of valuable redemption options and transfer partners, all for a $95 annual fee.

But how does it compare to its newest competitor, Wells Fargo Signature Cruise Card℠ (see exchange rates and fees), also for an annual fee of $95? Read on to find out.

The Sapphire preferred is now offering 75,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening, a step up from the usual greeting. TPG value Final bonus points come in at 2.05 cents each, making this bonus worth around $1,537.

The Signature journeyMeanwhile, comes with an introductory offer of 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first three months. TPG values ​​Wells Fargo points at 1.6 cents each, making this bonus worth $960.

Winner: Prefer Sapphire. It offers 15,000 more points and more value than the Signature Journey.

Related: The best welcome offers this month

The Sapphire preferred comes with lots of great perks, including a $50 annual bonus Ultimate Rewards hotel credit and an account anniversary points bonus of 10% of the total purchases you made that year.

You’ll also get a free DoorDash DashPass subscription for at least a year (activate before December 31), six months of free Instacart+ membership (activate before July 31), and statement credits Instacart up to $15 per quarter through July.

The Signature journeyMeanwhile, comes with a $50 annual statement credit after a minimum $50 airline purchase, plus cell phone protection. There’s also a new perk called “Signature Card Perks,” which promises to provide access to concerts featuring “big-name artists in small venues.”

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Winner: Prefer Sapphire. The list of Autograph Journey perks may continue to grow, but Sapphire now surpasses it.

Related: Why is the Sapphire Preferred worth the $95 annual fee?

The Sapphire preferred Earn 5 points per dollar on travel booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards, Lyft rides (through March 2025), and Peloton equipment and accessories purchases over $150 (with a maximum total earnings of $25,000 point, until March 2025).

You’ll also get 3 points per dollar on dining, online grocery shopping and select online purchases, as well as 2 points per dollar on qualified travel purchases and 1 point per dollar on all other purchases.

With Signature journeyYou’ll get 5 points per dollar on hotels, 4 points per dollar on airlines, 3 points per dollar on other travel and dining, and 1 point per dollar on other purchases .

Winner: Prefer Sapphire. The earning rates on these cards are similar, but because Chase points are more valuable (see below), the Sapphire Preferred has the edge.

Related: Best credit cards for each type of bonus

Your most valuable redemption options with Sapphire preferred is transferring your points to any of Chase’s 14 airline and hotel partners. You can also use them to book travel through Chasing travel or use Chase’s Pay Yourself Back select.

Additionally, you can redeem your points for cash or gift cards, but you’ll get less value from your points when going this route, so we recommend using points to travel when possible.

The Signature journeyOn the other hand, there’s a much smaller list of redemption options and transfer partners at launch. However, it remains to be seen how these options will change – the publisher has promised to continue adding more transfer partners throughout this year (see more information below).

Winner: Prefer Sapphire. This may change if the Wells Fargo program continues to expand, but for now, the Sapphire Preferred once again has the upper hand.

Related: How to redeem Ultimate Rewards points for maximum value

Some of the most valuable transfer partners above Sapphire preferred including Air France-KLM Flying Blue, Air Canada Aeroplan and World of Hyatt.

As a budget traveler, TPG editor Emily Thompson like to transfer points to World of Hyatt and stretch them by staying at Category 1 Hyatt hotels as much as possible. She also regularly transfers points to Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards and gets great value by taking advantage of the airline’s frequent sales.

The Signature journey Currently allows cardholders to transfer points to 5 airline programs:

• Air France-KLM Fly Green
• AviancaMiles Life
• Club operates British Airways, Aer Lingus AerClub and Iberia Plus (all earn Avios)

You’ll also be able to switch to a hotel program, Choice Perks.

Winner: Prefer Sapphire. Once again, the current Wells Fargo transfer lineup isn’t quite on par with Chase’s.

Related: How to use Wells Fargo Go Far rewards points

If you want an established card with great benefits and redemption options, your best choice will definitely be Sapphire preferred. It has a valuable earnings rate, a long list of transfer partners, and great travel benefits for just a $95 annual fee. However, if you want more bonus categories and believe in the growing Wells Fargo travel program, the newly launched program Signature journey could be a good choice

Despite their differences, both Sapphire preferred And Signature journey are great travel rewards cards that offer great value in their mid-range annual fees. The Sapphire Preferred is hard for any competitor to beat, but Autograph Journey could give it a run for its money as its list of benefits and partners continues to grow.

For more details, read more about Sapphire preferred And Signature journey.

Register here: Chase Sapphire preferred

Register here: Journey to get Wells Fargo’s signature