Editorial disclosure: CardRewards.ai is an independent comparison service. Card data comes from issuers' published terms; data as of September 27, 2026. Card issuers do not influence our rankings or content.
Annual fees: Chase Sapphire Preferred Card $95/yr, USAA Cashback Rewards Plus American Express Card $0/yr. Strongest bonus categories: Chase Sapphire Preferred Card on travel, USAA Cashback Rewards Plus American Express Card on gas stations.
Card data as of September 27, 2026.
Annual Fee
Welcome Bonus
| Category | Chase Sapphire Preferred Card | USAA Cashback Rewards Plus American Express Card |
|---|---|---|
| Gas Stations | 3X | 5X |
| Military Base | 1X |
The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card wins in 6 of 8 categories. The USAA Cashback Rewards Plus American Express Card leads in 2.
Travel
Chase Sapphire Preferred Card earns 5X vs 1X
5X via Chase Travel portal
Dining
Chase Sapphire Preferred Card earns 3X vs 1X
Gas Stations
USAA Cashback Rewards Plus American Express Card earns 5X vs 3X
Electric Vehicle Charging
Chase Sapphire Preferred Card earns 3X vs 1X
Vacation Rentals
Chase Sapphire Preferred Card earns 3X vs 1X
Streaming
Chase Sapphire Preferred Card earns 3X vs 1X
Grocery Stores
Chase Sapphire Preferred Card earns 3X vs 2X
Military Base
USAA Cashback Rewards Plus American Express Card earns 5X vs 1X
Modeled net value (bonus categories at unconditional rates, caps applied). Spend mix: dining 15%, groceries 15%, gas 10%, travel 10%, everything else 50%. Statement credits use the same recurring usable estimates as each card's detail page; first-year-only credits count in year one only. Welcome offers valued at each card's program rate shown on this page.
Both scenarios favor the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card on net value (rewards, usable credits, fees, and welcome offer).
Published annual fees: Chase Sapphire Preferred Card $95/yr, USAA Cashback Rewards Plus American Express Card $0/yr — a $95 difference before welcome offers and credits.
| 5X |
| Dining | 3X | 1X |
| Electric Vehicle Charging | 3X | 1X |
| Grocery Stores | 3X | 2X |
| Streaming | 3X | 1X |
| Vacation Rentals | 3X | 1X |
| Travel | 2X | 1X |
| Everything Else | 1X | 1X |
Network
Key Benefits
Pros
Cons
Both scenarios favor the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card on net value (rewards, usable credits, fees, and welcome offer).
| Scenario | Chase Sapphire Preferred Card | USAA Cashback Rewards Plus American Express Card | Ongoing winner | Year-one winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Light spender: $1,000/month | Rewards: $410 Credits (our usable estimate): $109 − Annual fee ($95) Ongoing: $424 Year one: $1,774 | Rewards: $186 Credits (our usable estimate): $0 − Annual fee ($0) Ongoing: $186 Year one: $186 | Chase Sapphire Preferred Card | Chase Sapphire Preferred Card |
| Heavy spender: $4,000/month | Rewards: $1,642 Credits (our usable estimate): $109 − Annual fee ($95) Ongoing: $1,656 Year one: $3,006 | Rewards: $744 Credits (our usable estimate): $0 − Annual fee ($0) Ongoing: $744 Year one: $744 | Chase Sapphire Preferred Card | Chase Sapphire Preferred Card |
The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card costs $95/yr — that's $95 more than the USAA Cashback Rewards Plus American Express Card (no annual fee). To justify that gap, you need to extract at least $95 in annual value from the card's higher earn rates and benefits.
Bottom line: Use the year-one vs ongoing table for modeled earn value at your spend level. The $95 fee gap means the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card needs roughly $95 more in annual rewards (or credits you will use) to break even on travel and dining and everyday spend.
Get the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card if you:
Editorial disclosure: CardRewards.ai is an independent comparison service. Card data comes from issuers' published terms; data as of September 27, 2026. Card issuers do not influence our rankings or content.
