Chase Sapphire Preferred Card vs U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card
Annual fees: Chase Sapphire Preferred Card $95/yr, U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card $0/yr. Strongest bonus categories: Chase Sapphire Preferred Card on travel, U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card on car rentals.
Card data as of October 12, 2026.
Chase Sapphire Preferred CardChase · $95/yr
U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature CardU.S. Bank · No annual fee
Overview
- Annual fee
- Chase Sapphire Preferred Card$95U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card$0Lowest
- Welcome offerCurrent public offer
- Chase Sapphire Preferred Card75,000 pointsU.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card20,000 points
- Rewards
- Chase Sapphire Preferred CardChase Ultimate RewardsU.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature CardU.S. Bank Altitude points
- Foreign transaction fee
- Chase Sapphire Preferred CardNoneU.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature CardNone
- Network
- Chase Sapphire Preferred CardVisa SignatureU.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature CardVisa Signature
Earn ratesPer $1 spent
- Gas Stations
- Chase Sapphire Preferred Card3xU.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card4xHighest
- Travel
- Chase Sapphire Preferred Card2xU.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card4xHighest
- Dining
- Chase Sapphire Preferred Card3xHighestU.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card2x
- Electric Vehicle Charging
- Chase Sapphire Preferred Card3xHighestU.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card1x
- Grocery Stores
- Chase Sapphire Preferred Card3xHighestU.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card2x
- Streaming
- Chase Sapphire Preferred Card3xHighestU.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card2x
- Vacation Rentals
- Chase Sapphire Preferred Card3xHighestU.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card1x
- Everything else
- Chase Sapphire Preferred Card1xU.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card1x
Statement creditsAs the issuer states them · — means none on record
- Travel
- Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
- $120 Global Entry/TSA PreCheck/NEXUS credit · $120 every 4 years
- $100 hotel credit
U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card- $100 Global Entry/TSA PreCheck · $100 every 4 years
- Entertainment & streaming
- Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
- A year of Apple TV, valued at $180 · $180 one-time
U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card—
Perks & access— means none on record
- Lounges
- Chase Sapphire Preferred Card—U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card
- Airport lounge access
- Hotel status & programs
- Chase Sapphire Preferred Card—U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card
- 900+ luxury hotel properties with exclusive perks
- Other perks
- Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
- Complimentary DashPass after activation
- Up to $10 monthly on a non-restaurant DoorDash order
- No Foreign Transaction Fees on international purchases
U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card- 24/7 Visa Signature Concierge service
- Free unlimited international mobile data
- Zero foreign transaction fees on international purchases
Protections & insuranceLimits where published · — means none on record
- Trip insurance
- Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
- Travel Accident Insurance up to $500,000
- $10,000 Trip Cancellation Insurance per person
- $500 Trip Delay Reimbursement per traveler
U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card- Up to $2,000 trip cancellation coverage
- Up to $300 trip delay reimbursement coverage
- Baggage
- Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
- $500 Baggage Delay Insurance ($100 per day)
- $3,000 Lost Luggage Reimbursement per traveler
U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card— - Rental car
- Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
- Auto Rental Coverage
U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card— - Purchase & returns
- Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
- 120-day Purchase Protection up to $500 per item
U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card— - Extended warranty
- Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
- Extended Warranty Protection adds 1 extra year
U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card— - Other protections
- Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
- Travel and Emergency Assistance Services
U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card- 24/7 worldwide travel and emergency assistance
- 24/7 roadside dispatch assistance (pay-per-use)
Pros & cons
- Pros
- Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
- 75,000 point welcome bonus after $5,000 in purchases in the first 3 months
- $95 annual fee partly offset by a $100 Chase Travel hotel credit each account anniversary year
- 1:1 transfer to 14 airline and hotel partners including Hyatt
- 5X on Chase Travel, 3X dining, streaming, online groceries
- Trip cancellation, delay, and lost luggage insurance included
U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card- 5X points on prepaid hotels/cars via U.S. Bank Travel Center
- 4X points on travel and gas (up to $1,000/quarter on gas)
- 2X points on dining, streaming, and groceries
- No annual fee
- No foreign transaction fees
- Cons
- Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
- $95 annual fee vs $0 Freedom cards
- No lounge access included
- 5/24 rule restricts applicants with 5+ cards in 24 months
- No 0% intro APR offer
U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card- 5X rate requires booking through U.S. Bank portal
- $1,000 quarterly cap on 4X gas rewards
- Grocery/gas bonus excludes big-box stores and warehouse clubs
- Points expire after 12 months of no activity
Category-by-Category Winner
The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card wins in 4 of 4 categories. The U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card leads in 0. 5 more categories depend on booking channel or caps.
Travel
Depends: via Chase Travel portal
Chase Sapphire Preferred Card earns 5X when conditions are met; U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card earns 4X (4X without restrictions)
Dining
Chase Sapphire Preferred Card earns 3X vs 2X
Gas Stations
Depends: up to $1,000/quarter
U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card earns 4X when conditions are met; Chase Sapphire Preferred Card earns 3X (3X without restrictions)
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 2X
Grocery Stores
Depends: Online purchases only. Excludes Target, Walmart, Wholesale Clubs. Grocery pickup or delivery must be ordered online and qualify under Chase's online grocery category. Excludes membership and subscription fees, supermarket pharmacies, gift cards and gift baskets.
Chase Sapphire Preferred Card earns 3X when conditions are met; U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card earns 2X (2X without restrictions)
Car Rentals
Depends: via the Altitude Rewards Center
U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card earns 5X when conditions are met; Chase Sapphire Preferred Card earns 1X (1X without restrictions)
Hotels
Depends: via the Altitude Rewards Center
U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card earns 5X when conditions are met; Chase Sapphire Preferred Card earns 1X (1X without restrictions)
Year One vs Ongoing Value
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).
| Scenario | Chase Sapphire Preferred Card | U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card | Ongoing winner | Year-one winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Light spender: $1,000/month | Rewards: $346 Credits (our usable estimate): $75 − Annual fee ($95) Ongoing: $326 Year one: $1,784 | Rewards: $192 Credits (our usable estimate): $25 − Annual fee ($0) Ongoing: $217 Year one: $417 | Chase Sapphire Preferred Card | Chase Sapphire Preferred Card |
| Heavy spender: $4,000/month | Rewards: $1,382 Credits (our usable estimate): $75 − Annual fee ($95) Ongoing: $1,362 Year one: $2,820 | Rewards: $768 Credits (our usable estimate): $25 − Annual fee ($0) Ongoing: $793 Year one: $993 | Chase Sapphire Preferred Card | Chase Sapphire Preferred Card |
Is the Fee Difference Worth It?
The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card costs $95/yr — that's $95 more than the U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature 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.
What You Give Up
Choosing one card means missing out on these benefits from the other.
Choosing Chase Sapphire Preferred Card means losing:
- -Airport lounge access
Which Card Is Right for You?
Get the U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card if you:
- +Fly frequently and value airport lounge access
The Bottom Line
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, U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card $0/yr — a $95 difference before welcome offers and credits.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card worth the higher annual fee?
- The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card costs $95/yr vs $0/yr for the U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card. Compare the year-one vs ongoing value table on this page — the $95 gap must be offset by higher earn rates, welcome offers, or credits you will use.
- Which card earns more rewards, the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card or U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card?
- Both cards earn 1X on everyday purchases. The difference is in bonus categories — check the earn rate comparison above for a full breakdown.
- What benefits does the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card have that the U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card doesn't?
- The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card focuses on earn rates, while the U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card offers lounge access.
- Should I get the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card or the U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card?
- Use the spend scenarios on this page: the U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card has a lower $0/yr fee; the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card must earn enough extra (or offer a larger welcome bonus) to justify $95/yr.
Editorial disclosure: CardRewards.ai is an independent comparison service. Card data comes from issuers' published terms; catalog last published October 12, 2026, and each card page shows when its terms were last checked. Card issuers do not influence our rankings or content.