Is the Chase Sapphire Reserve worth the higher annual fee?

The Chase Sapphire Reserve costs $795/yr vs $695/yr for the United Club Card. Compare the year-one vs ongoing value table on this page — the $100 gap must be offset by higher earn rates, welcome offers, or credits you will use (the Chase Sapphire Reserve also lists lounge access, travel credits, dining credits).

Which card earns more rewards, the Chase Sapphire Reserve or United Club 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 Reserve have that the United Club Card doesn't?

The Chase Sapphire Reserve offers lounge access, travel credits, dining credits. The United Club Card offers lounge access, travel credits.

Should I get the Chase Sapphire Reserve or the United Club Card?

Use the spend scenarios on this page: the United Club Card has a lower $695/yr fee; the Chase Sapphire Reserve must earn enough extra (or offer a larger welcome bonus) to justify $795/yr.

Chase Sapphire Reserve vs United Club Card

Annual fees: Chase Sapphire Reserve $795/yr, United Club Card $695/yr. Strongest bonus categories: Chase Sapphire Reserve on travel, United Club Card on hotels.

Card data as of October 12, 2026.

Credit card comparison
Overview
	Chase Sapphire Reserve Chase · $795/yr	United Club Card Chase · $695/yr
Annual fee	$795	$695 Lowest
Welcome offerCurrent public offer	100,000 points	Up to 100,000 miles
Rewards	Chase Ultimate Rewards	United MileagePlus
Foreign transaction fee	None	None
Network	Visa Infinite	Visa Infinite
Earn ratesPer $1 spent
Flights	4x Highest	1x
Hotels	4x Highest	2x
Dining	3x Highest	2x
Ridesharing	1x	2x Highest
Transit	1x	2x Highest
Travel	1x	2x Highest
Everything else	1x	1x
Statement creditsAs the issuer states them · — means none on record
Travel	$300 travel credit $500 hotel credit $250 select hotels · $250 one-time $120 Global Entry/TSA PreCheck · $120 every 4 years	$200 Renowned Hotels $100 Avis/Budget travel $200/yr JSX flights $120 Global Entry/TSA PreCheck 25% United inflight purchases · $25 per transaction
Rideshare & transit	$10/mo Lyft credit · $10 monthly	$150/yr rideshare · $13 monthly
Dining & delivery	$300 dining at 275+ restaurants $35/mo DoorDash + DashPass · $35 monthly	$20/mo Instacart+ · $20 monthly
Entertainment & streaming	$300 event tickets StubHub $27/mo Apple TV & Music · $27 monthly	—
Shopping & wellness	$10/mo Peloton credits · $10 monthly	—
Perks & access— means none on record
Lounges	Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge on Star Alliance (1 guest) 1,300+ Priority Pass lounges with 2 free guests 8 Chase Sapphire Lounges with 2 free guests	United Club membership with guest access
Hotel status & programs	IHG Platinum Elite with 60% bonus points, no stays	IHG One Rewards Platinum Elite status
Airline perks	—	Earn up to 20,000-miles in award flight discounts each year Premier Access priority boarding and security lanes Free first and second checked bags for you plus companion Premier upgrades on award tickets
Car rental	—	Avis President's Club®
Other perks	$750 in credits plus elite status at $75k spend Dedicated Customer Support with 24/7 priority service No foreign transaction fees on international purchases Roadside Assistance with $50 reimbursement per incident Sapphire Reserve Experiences and Venue Benefits Travel and Emergency Assistance Services 24/7 Show 1 more Reserve Travel Designer complimentary planning service	10% or more off United awards MileagePlus miles don't expire United Card Events from Chase and United MileagePlus Events Earn up to 28,000 Premier® qualifying points (PQP) No foreign transaction fees
Protections & insuranceLimits where published · — means none on record
Trip insurance	Emergency Evacuation up to $100,000 coverage Emergency Medical and Dental up to $2,500 Travel Accident Insurance up to $1,000,000 Trip cancellation insurance up to $10,000 per person Trip delay coverage up to $500 per ticket after 6 hours	Trip cancellation coverage up to $10,000 per traveler Trip delay coverage up to $500 after 12 hours
Baggage	Baggage insurance up to $3,000 for lost luggage	Baggage delay coverage $100/day up to 3 days Lost baggage coverage up to $3,000 per traveler
Rental car	Primary rental car insurance up to $75,000	Primary car rental insurance up to $60,000
Purchase & returns	Purchase protection up to $10,000 per claim for 120 days Return protection up to $500 per item within 90 days	Return Protection · up to $500 Purchase protection up to $10,000 per item for 120 days
Extended warranty	Extended warranty adds 1 year to manufacturer coverage	Extended warranty adds 1 year to manufacturer warranty
Pros & cons
Pros	Up to $2,060 in annual credits and promos can more than cover the $795 fee Priority Pass Select with 2 guests included Exclusive Chase Sapphire Lounge access Primary rental car coverage saves $15-30/day Points Boost values points at up to 2 cents each on select flights and hotels through Chase Travel	Full United Club membership included ($750/year value) with 1 adult guest Highest PQP earning: 1 PQP per $15 spent, 28,000 annual cap, plus 1,500 bonus PQPs Two free checked bags for cardholder plus companion 5x miles on United purchases (highest among United cards) Save 10% or more when booking flights with miles
Cons	$795 annual fee is substantial commitment 5/24 rule restricts applicants with recent cards Credits require specific spending patterns to use $195 authorized user fee with no free users No 0% intro APR offer	$695 annual fee is the highest among United cards United Club access only useful at airports with United presence Guest policy limited to 1 adult (plus children under 18) Renowned Hotels credit requires booking through specific portal No direct TravelBank credit like Quest card offers
	Card details	Card details

Chase Sapphire Reserve
Chase · $795/yr
United Club Card
Chase · $695/yr

Overview

Annual fee: Chase Sapphire Reserve
$795
United Club Card
$695
Lowest
Welcome offerCurrent public offer: Chase Sapphire Reserve
100,000 points
United Club Card
Up to 100,000 miles
Rewards: Chase Sapphire Reserve
Chase Ultimate Rewards
United Club Card
United MileagePlus
Foreign transaction fee: Chase Sapphire Reserve
None
United Club Card
None
Network: Chase Sapphire Reserve
Visa Infinite
United Club Card
Visa Infinite

Earn ratesPer $1 spent

Flights: Chase Sapphire Reserve
4x
Highest
United Club Card
1x
Hotels: Chase Sapphire Reserve
4x
Highest
United Club Card
2x
Dining: Chase Sapphire Reserve
3x
Highest
United Club Card
2x
Ridesharing: Chase Sapphire Reserve
1x
United Club Card
2x
Highest
Transit: Chase Sapphire Reserve
1x
United Club Card
2x
Highest
Travel: Chase Sapphire Reserve
1x
United Club Card
2x
Highest
Everything else: Chase Sapphire Reserve
1x
United Club Card
1x

Statement creditsAs the issuer states them · — means none on record

Travel: Chase Sapphire Reserve
$300 travel credit
$500 hotel credit
$250 select hotels · $250 one-time
$120 Global Entry/TSA PreCheck · $120 every 4 years
United Club Card
$200 Renowned Hotels
$100 Avis/Budget travel
$200/yr JSX flights
$120 Global Entry/TSA PreCheck
25% United inflight purchases · $25 per transaction
Rideshare & transit: Chase Sapphire Reserve
$10/mo Lyft credit · $10 monthly
United Club Card
$150/yr rideshare · $13 monthly
Dining & delivery: Chase Sapphire Reserve
$300 dining at 275+ restaurants
$35/mo DoorDash + DashPass · $35 monthly
United Club Card
$20/mo Instacart+ · $20 monthly
Entertainment & streaming: Chase Sapphire Reserve
$300 event tickets StubHub
$27/mo Apple TV & Music · $27 monthly
United Club Card
—
Shopping & wellness: Chase Sapphire Reserve
$10/mo Peloton credits · $10 monthly
United Club Card
—

Perks & access— means none on record

Lounges: Chase Sapphire Reserve
Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge on Star Alliance (1 guest)
1,300+ Priority Pass lounges with 2 free guests
8 Chase Sapphire Lounges with 2 free guests
United Club Card
United Club membership with guest access
Hotel status & programs: Chase Sapphire Reserve
IHG Platinum Elite with 60% bonus points, no stays
United Club Card
IHG One Rewards Platinum Elite status
Airline perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve
—
United Club Card
Earn up to 20,000-miles in award flight discounts each year
Premier Access priority boarding and security lanes
Free first and second checked bags for you plus companion
Premier upgrades on award tickets
Car rental: Chase Sapphire Reserve
—
United Club Card
Avis President's Club®
Other perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve
$750 in credits plus elite status at $75k spend
Dedicated Customer Support with 24/7 priority service
No foreign transaction fees on international purchases
Roadside Assistance with $50 reimbursement per incident
Sapphire Reserve Experiences and Venue Benefits
Travel and Emergency Assistance Services 24/7
Show 1 more
Reserve Travel Designer complimentary planning service
United Club Card
10% or more off United awards
MileagePlus miles don't expire
United Card Events from Chase and United MileagePlus Events
Earn up to 28,000 Premier® qualifying points (PQP)
No foreign transaction fees

Protections & insuranceLimits where published · — means none on record

Trip insurance: Chase Sapphire Reserve
Emergency Evacuation up to $100,000 coverage
Emergency Medical and Dental up to $2,500
Travel Accident Insurance up to $1,000,000
Trip cancellation insurance up to $10,000 per person
Trip delay coverage up to $500 per ticket after 6 hours
United Club Card
Trip cancellation coverage up to $10,000 per traveler
Trip delay coverage up to $500 after 12 hours
Baggage: Chase Sapphire Reserve
Baggage insurance up to $3,000 for lost luggage
United Club Card
Baggage delay coverage $100/day up to 3 days
Lost baggage coverage up to $3,000 per traveler
Rental car: Chase Sapphire Reserve
Primary rental car insurance up to $75,000
United Club Card
Primary car rental insurance up to $60,000
Purchase & returns: Chase Sapphire Reserve
Purchase protection up to $10,000 per claim for 120 days
Return protection up to $500 per item within 90 days
United Club Card
Return Protection · up to $500
Purchase protection up to $10,000 per item for 120 days
Extended warranty: Chase Sapphire Reserve
Extended warranty adds 1 year to manufacturer coverage
United Club Card
Extended warranty adds 1 year to manufacturer warranty

Pros & cons

Pros: Chase Sapphire Reserve
Up to $2,060 in annual credits and promos can more than cover the $795 fee
Priority Pass Select with 2 guests included
Exclusive Chase Sapphire Lounge access
Primary rental car coverage saves $15-30/day
Points Boost values points at up to 2 cents each on select flights and hotels through Chase Travel
United Club Card
Full United Club membership included ($750/year value) with 1 adult guest
Highest PQP earning: 1 PQP per $15 spent, 28,000 annual cap, plus 1,500 bonus PQPs
Two free checked bags for cardholder plus companion
5x miles on United purchases (highest among United cards)
Save 10% or more when booking flights with miles
Cons: Chase Sapphire Reserve
$795 annual fee is substantial commitment
5/24 rule restricts applicants with recent cards
Credits require specific spending patterns to use
$195 authorized user fee with no free users
No 0% intro APR offer
United Club Card
$695 annual fee is the highest among United cards
United Club access only useful at airports with United presence
Guest policy limited to 1 adult (plus children under 18)
Renowned Hotels credit requires booking through specific portal
No direct TravelBank credit like Quest card offers

Card details

Add a 3rd or 4th card to this comparison →

Category-by-Category Winner

Both cards win in 2 categories each — it comes down to which categories matter most to you. 2 more categories depend on booking channel or caps.

Travel

Depends: via Chase Travel portal

Chase Sapphire Reserve earns 8X when conditions are met; United Club Card earns 2X (2X without restrictions)

Hotels

Depends: via issuer travel portal

United Club Card earns 5X when conditions are met; Chase Sapphire Reserve earns 4X (4X without restrictions)

Dining

Chase Sapphire Reserve earns 3X vs 2X

Flights

Chase Sapphire Reserve earns 4X vs 1X

Ridesharing

United Club Card earns 2X vs 1X

Transit

United Club Card earns 2X vs 1X

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 Reserve on net value (rewards, usable credits, fees, and welcome offer).

Scenario	Chase Sapphire Reserve	United Club Card	Ongoing winner	Year-one winner
Light spender: $1,000/month	Rewards: $281 Credits (our usable estimate): $995 − Annual fee ($795) Ongoing: $481 Year one: $2,406	Rewards: $180 Credits (our usable estimate): $440 − Annual fee ($695) Ongoing: -$75 Year one: $1,005	Chase Sapphire Reserve	Chase Sapphire Reserve
Heavy spender: $4,000/month	Rewards: $1,123 Credits (our usable estimate): $995 − Annual fee ($795) Ongoing: $1,323 Year one: $3,248	Rewards: $720 Credits (our usable estimate): $440 − Annual fee ($695) Ongoing: $465 Year one: $1,545	Chase Sapphire Reserve	Chase Sapphire Reserve

Is the Fee Difference Worth It?

The Chase Sapphire Reserve costs $795/yr — that's $100 more than the United Club Card ($695/yr). To justify that gap, you need to extract at least $100 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 $100 fee gap for your own usage.

Bottom line: Use the year-one vs ongoing table for modeled earn value at your spend level. The $100 fee gap means the Chase Sapphire Reserve needs roughly $100 more in annual rewards (or credits you will use) to break even on travel and hotels and everyday spend.

What You Give Up

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

Choosing Chase Sapphire Reserve means losing:

-Free checked bags

The Bottom Line

Both scenarios favor the Chase Sapphire Reserve on net value (rewards, usable credits, fees, and welcome offer).

Published annual fees: Chase Sapphire Reserve $795/yr, United Club Card $695/yr — a $100 difference before welcome offers and credits.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Chase Sapphire Reserve worth the higher annual fee?: The Chase Sapphire Reserve costs $795/yr vs $695/yr for the United Club Card. Compare the year-one vs ongoing value table on this page — the $100 gap must be offset by higher earn rates, welcome offers, or credits you will use (the Chase Sapphire Reserve also lists lounge access, travel credits, dining credits).
Which card earns more rewards, the Chase Sapphire Reserve or United Club 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 Reserve have that the United Club Card doesn't?: The Chase Sapphire Reserve offers lounge access, travel credits, dining credits. The United Club Card offers lounge access, travel credits.
Should I get the Chase Sapphire Reserve or the United Club Card?: Use the spend scenarios on this page: the United Club Card has a lower $695/yr fee; the Chase Sapphire Reserve must earn enough extra (or offer a larger welcome bonus) to justify $795/yr.

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Official issuer pages: Chase cards

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.