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 Reserve $795/yr, Fidelity Rewards Visa Signature Card $0/yr. Strongest bonus categories: Chase Sapphire Reserve on travel, Fidelity Rewards Visa Signature Card on everyday spending.
Card data as of September 27, 2026.
Annual Fee
Welcome Bonus
| Category | Chase Sapphire Reserve | Fidelity Rewards Visa Signature Card |
|---|---|---|
| Flights | 4X | 1X |
| Hotels |
The Chase Sapphire Reserve wins in 3 of 3 categories. The Fidelity Rewards Visa Signature Card leads in 0. 1 more category depend on booking channel or caps.
Travel
Depends: via Chase Travel portal
Chase Sapphire Reserve earns 8X when conditions are met; Fidelity Rewards Visa Signature Card earns 1X (1X without restrictions)
Hotels
Chase Sapphire Reserve earns 4X vs 1X
Dining
Chase Sapphire Reserve earns 3X vs 1X
Flights
Chase Sapphire Reserve earns 4X 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.
Close — depends on how much of the credits you use
| Scenario | Chase Sapphire Reserve | Fidelity Rewards Visa Signature Card | Ongoing winner | Year-one winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Light spender: $1,000/month | Rewards: $281 Credits (our usable estimate): $1,218 |
Close — depends on how much of the credits you use
Published annual fees: Chase Sapphire Reserve $795/yr, Fidelity Rewards Visa Signature Card $0/yr — a $795 difference before welcome offers and credits.
| 1X |
| Dining | 3X | 1X |
| Everything Else | 1X | 1X |
Network
Key Benefits
Pros
Cons
Rewards: $240 Credits (our usable estimate): $0 − Annual fee ($0) Ongoing: $240 Year one: $390 |
| Close — depends on how much of the credits you use |
| Chase Sapphire Reserve |
| Heavy spender: $4,000/month | Rewards: $1,123 Credits (our usable estimate): $1,218 − Annual fee ($795) Ongoing: $1,546 Year one: $3,396 | Rewards: $960 Credits (our usable estimate): $0 − Annual fee ($0) Ongoing: $960 Year one: $1,110 | Close — depends on how much of the credits you use | Chase Sapphire Reserve |
The Chase Sapphire Reserve costs $795/yr — that's $795 more than the Fidelity Rewards Visa Signature Card (no annual fee). To justify that gap, you need to extract at least $795 in annual value from the card's higher earn rates and benefits.
The Chase Sapphire Reserve includes travel credits, dining credits, lounge access, Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit. Those perks are not included in the earn-rate scenario table above — compare their dollar value to the $795 fee gap for your own usage.
Bottom line: Use the year-one vs ongoing table for modeled earn value at your spend level. The $795 fee gap means the Chase Sapphire Reserve needs roughly $795 more in annual rewards (or credits you will use) to break even on travel and hotels and everyday spend.
Choosing one card means missing out on these benefits from the other.
Choosing Fidelity Rewards Visa Signature Card means losing:
Get the Chase Sapphire Reserve 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.
