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 Shield Visa Card. The higher fee and travel credits that can offset the cost for frequent travelers.

Which card earns more rewards, the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card or U.S. Bank Shield Visa Card?

The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card has a higher base earn rate (1X vs 0X), but both cards have different bonus categories where they excel.

What benefits does the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card have that the U.S. Bank Shield Visa Card doesn't?

The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card offers travel credits. The U.S. Bank Shield Visa Card focuses more on earn rates than premium perks.

Should I get the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card or the U.S. Bank Shield Visa Card?

Choose the U.S. Bank Shield Visa Card if you want lower fees and solid rewards. Pick the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card if you spend enough to justify the $95/yr fee through its premium benefits and higher earn rates.

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 Shield Visa Card. The higher fee and travel credits that can offset the cost for frequent travelers.

Which card earns more rewards, the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card or U.S. Bank Shield Visa Card?

The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card has a higher base earn rate (1X vs 0X), but both cards have different bonus categories where they excel.

What benefits does the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card have that the U.S. Bank Shield Visa Card doesn't?

The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card offers travel credits. The U.S. Bank Shield Visa Card focuses more on earn rates than premium perks.

Should I get the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card or the U.S. Bank Shield Visa Card?

Choose the U.S. Bank Shield Visa Card if you want lower fees and solid rewards. Pick the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card if you spend enough to justify the $95/yr fee through its premium benefits and higher earn rates.

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 Shield Visa Card. The higher fee and travel credits that can offset the cost for frequent travelers.

Which card earns more rewards, the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card or U.S. Bank Shield Visa Card?

The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card has a higher base earn rate (1X vs 0X), but both cards have different bonus categories where they excel.

What benefits does the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card have that the U.S. Bank Shield Visa Card doesn't?

The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card offers travel credits. The U.S. Bank Shield Visa Card focuses more on earn rates than premium perks.

Should I get the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card or the U.S. Bank Shield Visa Card?

Choose the U.S. Bank Shield Visa Card if you want lower fees and solid rewards. Pick the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card if you spend enough to justify the $95/yr fee through its premium benefits and higher earn rates.

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card vs U.S. Bank Shield Visa Card

The U.S. Bank Shield Visa Card ($0/yr) is better for everyday value, while the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card ($95/yr) is worth it for frequent travelers who can use its premium perks. Here's the full comparison.

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card

Chase

U.S. Bank Shield Visa Card

U.S. Bank

Fees & Welcome Offer

Annual Fee

$95

Welcome Bonus

75,000 Flex point

—

Earn Rates

Category	Chase Sapphire Preferred Card	U.S. Bank Shield Visa Card
Dining	3X	1X

Category-by-Category Winner

The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card wins in 5 of 5 categories. The U.S. Bank Shield Visa Card leads in 0.

Dining

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card earns 3X vs 1X

Streaming

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card earns 3X vs 1X

Online Groceries

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card earns 3X vs 1X

Grocery Delivery

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card earns 3X vs 1X

Travel

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card earns 2X vs 1X

Is the Fee Difference Worth It?

The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card costs $95/yr — that's $95 more than the U.S. Bank Shield Visa 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.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card offers travel credits. Whether that justifies the fee depends on how often you use these benefits.

Bottom line: The $95 difference is small enough that the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card's extra perks make it worth considering for most cardholders.

What You Give Up

Choosing one card means missing out on these benefits from the other.

Choosing U.S. Bank Shield Visa Card means losing:

Annual travel credit

The Bottom Line

The U.S. Bank Shield Visa Card has a lower annual fee ($0 vs $95), making it the more accessible option.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card justifies its higher fee with premium perks like travel credits.

Choose the U.S. Bank Shield Visa Card if you want solid rewards with a lower cost of entry. Choose the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card if you travel frequently and can maximize its premium benefits.

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 Shield Visa Card. The higher fee and travel credits that can offset the cost for frequent travelers.
Which card earns more rewards, the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card or U.S. Bank Shield Visa Card?: The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card has a higher base earn rate (1X vs 0X), but both cards have different bonus categories where they excel.
What benefits does the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card have that the U.S. Bank Shield Visa Card doesn't?: The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card offers travel credits. The U.S. Bank Shield Visa Card focuses more on earn rates than premium perks.
Should I get the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card or the U.S. Bank Shield Visa Card?: Choose the U.S. Bank Shield Visa Card if you want lower fees and solid rewards. Pick the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card if you spend enough to justify the $95/yr fee through its premium benefits and higher earn rates.

Related Comparisons

Amex Gold vs Chase Sapphire Preferred Amex Green vs Chase Sapphire Preferred Amex Platinum vs Chase Sapphire Preferred Capital One Venture vs Chase Sapphire Preferred

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Chase Sapphire Preferred Card — Full Review All Chase Cards

U.S. Bank Shield Visa Card — Full Review All U.S. Bank Cards

Browse all comparisons →Browse all card categories →

Official issuer pages: Chase cards · U.S. Bank cards

Editorial disclosure: The analysis on this page is based on publicly available card data and is updated regularly. CardRewards.ai is an independent comparison service. Card issuers do not influence our rankings or editorial content. Last updated: May 2026.

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card vs U.S. Bank Shield Visa Card

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card

Chase

U.S. Bank Shield Visa Card

U.S. Bank

Fees & Welcome Offer

Annual Fee

$95

Welcome Bonus

75,000 Flex point

—

Earn Rates

Category	Chase Sapphire Preferred Card	U.S. Bank Shield Visa Card
Dining	3X	1X

Category-by-Category Winner

The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card wins in 5 of 5 categories. The U.S. Bank Shield Visa Card leads in 0.

Dining

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card earns 3X vs 1X

Streaming

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card earns 3X vs 1X

Online Groceries

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card earns 3X vs 1X

Grocery Delivery

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card earns 3X vs 1X

Travel

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card earns 2X vs 1X

Is the Fee Difference Worth It?

The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card offers travel credits. Whether that justifies the fee depends on how often you use these benefits.

Bottom line: The $95 difference is small enough that the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card's extra perks make it worth considering for most cardholders.

What You Give Up

Choosing one card means missing out on these benefits from the other.

Choosing U.S. Bank Shield Visa Card means losing:

Annual travel credit

The Bottom Line

The U.S. Bank Shield Visa Card has a lower annual fee ($0 vs $95), making it the more accessible option.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card justifies its higher fee with premium perks like travel credits.

Choose the U.S. Bank Shield Visa Card if you want solid rewards with a lower cost of entry. Choose the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card if you travel frequently and can maximize its premium benefits.

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 Shield Visa Card. The higher fee and travel credits that can offset the cost for frequent travelers.
Which card earns more rewards, the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card or U.S. Bank Shield Visa Card?: The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card has a higher base earn rate (1X vs 0X), but both cards have different bonus categories where they excel.
What benefits does the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card have that the U.S. Bank Shield Visa Card doesn't?: The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card offers travel credits. The U.S. Bank Shield Visa Card focuses more on earn rates than premium perks.
Should I get the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card or the U.S. Bank Shield Visa Card?: Choose the U.S. Bank Shield Visa Card if you want lower fees and solid rewards. Pick the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card if you spend enough to justify the $95/yr fee through its premium benefits and higher earn rates.

Related Comparisons

Amex Gold vs Chase Sapphire Preferred Amex Green vs Chase Sapphire Preferred Amex Platinum vs Chase Sapphire Preferred Capital One Venture vs Chase Sapphire Preferred

Explore More

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card — Full Review All Chase Cards

U.S. Bank Shield Visa Card — Full Review All U.S. Bank Cards

Browse all comparisons →Browse all card categories →

Official issuer pages: Chase cards · U.S. Bank cards

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card vs U.S. Bank Shield Visa Card

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card

Chase

U.S. Bank Shield Visa Card

U.S. Bank

Fees & Welcome Offer

Annual Fee

$95

Welcome Bonus

75,000 Flex point

—

Earn Rates

Category	Chase Sapphire Preferred Card	U.S. Bank Shield Visa Card
Dining	3X	1X

Category-by-Category Winner

The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card wins in 5 of 5 categories. The U.S. Bank Shield Visa Card leads in 0.

Dining

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card earns 3X vs 1X

Streaming

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card earns 3X vs 1X

Online Groceries

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card earns 3X vs 1X

Grocery Delivery

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card earns 3X vs 1X

Travel

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card earns 2X vs 1X

Is the Fee Difference Worth It?

The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card offers travel credits. Whether that justifies the fee depends on how often you use these benefits.

Bottom line: The $95 difference is small enough that the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card's extra perks make it worth considering for most cardholders.

What You Give Up

Choosing one card means missing out on these benefits from the other.

Choosing U.S. Bank Shield Visa Card means losing:

Annual travel credit

The Bottom Line

The U.S. Bank Shield Visa Card has a lower annual fee ($0 vs $95), making it the more accessible option.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card justifies its higher fee with premium perks like travel credits.

Choose the U.S. Bank Shield Visa Card if you want solid rewards with a lower cost of entry. Choose the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card if you travel frequently and can maximize its premium benefits.

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 Shield Visa Card. The higher fee and travel credits that can offset the cost for frequent travelers.
Which card earns more rewards, the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card or U.S. Bank Shield Visa Card?: The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card has a higher base earn rate (1X vs 0X), but both cards have different bonus categories where they excel.
What benefits does the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card have that the U.S. Bank Shield Visa Card doesn't?: The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card offers travel credits. The U.S. Bank Shield Visa Card focuses more on earn rates than premium perks.
Should I get the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card or the U.S. Bank Shield Visa Card?: Choose the U.S. Bank Shield Visa Card if you want lower fees and solid rewards. Pick the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card if you spend enough to justify the $95/yr fee through its premium benefits and higher earn rates.

Related Comparisons

Amex Gold vs Chase Sapphire Preferred Amex Green vs Chase Sapphire Preferred Amex Platinum vs Chase Sapphire Preferred Capital One Venture vs Chase Sapphire Preferred

Explore More

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card — Full Review All Chase Cards

U.S. Bank Shield Visa Card — Full Review All U.S. Bank Cards

Browse all comparisons →Browse all card categories →

Official issuer pages: Chase cards · U.S. Bank cards

Pros & Cons

Pros

+75,000 point welcome bonus worth $937+ via transfers
+$95 annual fee offset by $50 hotel credit
+1:1 transfer to 13+ airline and hotel partners including Hyatt
+5X on Chase Travel, 3X dining, streaming, online groceries
+Trip cancellation, delay, and lost luggage insurance included

+0% intro APR for 24 billing cycles on purchases and balance transfers
+No annual fee
+4% cash back on prepaid travel (air, hotel, car) through U.S. Bank Travel Center
+$20 annual statement credit for 11 consecutive months of purchases
+Cell phone protection up to $600 when paying monthly bill with card

Cons

−$95 annual fee vs $0 Freedom cards
−No lounge access included
−Secondary rental car coverage only (not primary)
−5/24 rule restricts applicants with 5+ cards in 24 months
−No 0% intro APR offer

−3% foreign transaction fee makes it poor for international use
−High variable APR (21.74%-28.74%) after intro period ends
−No rewards on general purchases outside travel portal
−Travel rewards require booking through U.S. Bank portal (not direct with airlines/hotels)
−Good to Excellent credit required

Pros & Cons

Pros

+75,000 point welcome bonus worth $937+ via transfers
+$95 annual fee offset by $50 hotel credit
+1:1 transfer to 13+ airline and hotel partners including Hyatt
+5X on Chase Travel, 3X dining, streaming, online groceries
+Trip cancellation, delay, and lost luggage insurance included

+0% intro APR for 24 billing cycles on purchases and balance transfers
+No annual fee
+4% cash back on prepaid travel (air, hotel, car) through U.S. Bank Travel Center
+$20 annual statement credit for 11 consecutive months of purchases
+Cell phone protection up to $600 when paying monthly bill with card

Cons

−$95 annual fee vs $0 Freedom cards
−No lounge access included
−Secondary rental car coverage only (not primary)
−5/24 rule restricts applicants with 5+ cards in 24 months
−No 0% intro APR offer

−3% foreign transaction fee makes it poor for international use
−High variable APR (21.74%-28.74%) after intro period ends
−No rewards on general purchases outside travel portal
−Travel rewards require booking through U.S. Bank portal (not direct with airlines/hotels)
−Good to Excellent credit required

Pros & Cons

Pros

+75,000 point welcome bonus worth $937+ via transfers
+$95 annual fee offset by $50 hotel credit
+1:1 transfer to 13+ airline and hotel partners including Hyatt
+5X on Chase Travel, 3X dining, streaming, online groceries
+Trip cancellation, delay, and lost luggage insurance included

+0% intro APR for 24 billing cycles on purchases and balance transfers
+No annual fee
+4% cash back on prepaid travel (air, hotel, car) through U.S. Bank Travel Center
+$20 annual statement credit for 11 consecutive months of purchases
+Cell phone protection up to $600 when paying monthly bill with card

Cons

−$95 annual fee vs $0 Freedom cards
−No lounge access included
−Secondary rental car coverage only (not primary)
−5/24 rule restricts applicants with 5+ cards in 24 months
−No 0% intro APR offer

−3% foreign transaction fee makes it poor for international use
−High variable APR (21.74%-28.74%) after intro period ends
−No rewards on general purchases outside travel portal
−Travel rewards require booking through U.S. Bank portal (not direct with airlines/hotels)
−Good to Excellent credit required

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card vs U.S. Bank Shield Visa Card

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card

U.S. Bank Shield Visa Card

Fees & Welcome Offer

Earn Rates

Category-by-Category Winner

Is the Fee Difference Worth It?

What You Give Up

The Bottom Line

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Comparisons

Explore More

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card vs U.S. Bank Shield Visa Card

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card

U.S. Bank Shield Visa Card

Fees & Welcome Offer

Earn Rates

Category-by-Category Winner

Is the Fee Difference Worth It?

What You Give Up

The Bottom Line

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Comparisons

Explore More

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card vs U.S. Bank Shield Visa Card

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card

U.S. Bank Shield Visa Card

Fees & Welcome Offer

Earn Rates

Category-by-Category Winner

Is the Fee Difference Worth It?

What You Give Up

The Bottom Line

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Comparisons

Explore More

Benefits & Features

Pros & Cons

Which Card Is Right for You?

Benefits & Features

Pros & Cons

Which Card Is Right for You?

Benefits & Features

Pros & Cons

Which Card Is Right for You?