Should you’re leaping into the journey rewards sport, choosing which bank card to start out with might be overwhelming. There are a whole lot of aggressive choices, every with its personal set of benefits and drawbacks.
On this information, we’ll stroll by means of two standard beginner travel credit cards — the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees) and the Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card. Each supply an entry level into incomes journey rewards, however which is finest in your pockets?
Chase Sapphire Most well-liked vs. Financial institution of America Journey Rewards comparability
Earlier than we dive deeper into how these playing cards stack up towards one another, let’s run by means of a fast overview of every card’s particulars.
| Chase Sapphire Preferred Card | Bank of America Travel Rewards | |
|---|---|---|
| Signal-up bonus | Earn 100,000 Final Rewards factors after spending $5,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening. |
Earn 25,000 factors after spending $1,000 within the first 90 days of account opening. |
| Annual price | $95 | $0 |
| Incomes charges |
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| Advantages |
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Sapphire Most well-liked vs. BofA Journey Rewards welcome supply
The Chase Sapphire Preferred clearly has a superior bonus when it comes to worth. You will earn 100,000 Final Rewards factors after spending $5,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening. This welcome supply is price $2,050 in accordance with TPG’s April 2025 valuations.
By comparability, you may solely get 25,000 factors after spending $1,000 within the first 90 days of account opening (a $250 worth) from the Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card.
Nevertheless, one thing to bear in mind right here is the spending necessities. Whilst you should spend $5,000 within the first three months to earn the Chase Sapphire Most well-liked bonus, you may solely have to spend $1,000 within the first 90 days with the Financial institution of America Journey Rewards bank card.
On the finish of the day, the worth of the bonus would not matter if you cannot fairly hit the spending necessities. For these on a smaller funds, the Financial institution of America Journey Rewards sign-up bonus is perhaps the extra attainable (and due to this fact extra helpful) choice — although you should definitely try our information on reaching minimum spending thresholds for tips about tips on how to hit a better requirement.
Winner: Sapphire Most well-liked. Its welcome supply supplies superior worth.
Associated: The best Bank of America cards
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Sapphire Most well-liked vs. BofA Journey Rewards advantages
Neither of those playing cards is a premium travel card, which implies they provide comparatively few advantages.
That stated, the Chase Sapphire Preferred stands forward on this class, because it does supply cardholders at least one complimentary year of DashPass service, which provides you $0 supply charges and decreased service charges on eligible DoorDash meals supply and takeout purchases (should activate by Dec. 31, 2027).
You will additionally get a $50 annual hotel statement credit for reservations booked by means of the Chase journey portal, plus a stable lineup of credit card protections, together with:
- prolonged guarantee
- major automotive rental protection, baggage delay insurance coverage
- buy safety
- journey and emergency help companies
- journey cancellation/interruption insurance coverage
- journey delay reimbursement
Lastly, Chase Sapphire Most well-liked cardholders get a ten% anniversary points bonus every year. You will earn at a price of 1 level for every $10 spent.
Alternatively, the Financial institution of America Journey Rewards card is rather more restricted. Although — just like the Sapphire Most well-liked — it’s a Visa Signature card, in order that will provide some benefits.
Winner: Sapphire Most well-liked additionally will get the sting right here with its longer record of advantages.
Associated: Why the Chase Sapphire Preferred remains the top travel rewards credit card year after year
Incomes factors on the Sapphire Most well-liked vs. BofA Journey Rewards
As soon as once more, the Chase Sapphire Preferred comes out forward within the incomes division.
You will earn 3 factors per greenback on dining, choose streaming and on-line grocery purchases (excluding Walmart, Goal and wholesale golf equipment). Then, you may earn 5 factors per greenback on journey booked by means of Chase Journey and Lyft rides (by means of September 2027) in addition to 2 factors on all different journey. Different purchases earn 1 level per greenback.
Alternatively, the Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card earns 3 factors per greenback on journey purchases booked by means of the Financial institution of America Journey Middle and 1.5 factors per greenback throughout all purchases.
Nevertheless, if you happen to’re already a Financial institution of America buyer, you might earn at elevated charges. By the Preferred Rewards® program, you possibly can earn as much as 5.25 factors per greenback on journey purchases by means of the Financial institution of America Journey Middle and as much as 2.62 factors per greenback on all different purchases.
That implies that those that are Platinum Honors Most well-liked Rewards members may find yourself getting extra worth from incomes this larger flat price throughout all purchases in the long run.
Winner: Sapphire Most well-liked. The Journey Rewards cannot compete with its incomes classes.
Associated: 7 reasons you should get (and keep) a no-annual-fee credit card
Redeeming factors on the Sapphire Most well-liked vs. BofA Journey Rewards
One other main distinction between the 2 playing cards is the redemption choices.
The Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card earns fixed-value factors, like money again on eligible purchases. You possibly can redeem your Financial institution of America Journey Rewards factors at a worth of 1 cent apiece as an announcement credit score to cowl journey and eating purchases. In any other case, you may get 0.6 cents worth from every level by requesting a test or deposit from the financial institution.
With the Sapphire Most well-liked, you possibly can redeem your factors at a 25% bonus for journey whenever you e-book by means of the Chase journey portal, plus you get many extra choices when transferring factors (see beneath).
Winner: Sapphire Most well-liked. Its redemption choices are rather more diversified.
Associated: Better together: The ultimate guide to the best credit card combinations
Transferring factors on the Sapphire Most well-liked vs. BofA Journey Rewards
The Chase Sapphire Preferred provides much more flexibility in its redemption choices. You possibly can switch factors at a 1:1 price to one in all Chase’s 14 useful transfer partners. At a minimal, you will get a 1.25-cent worth out of your factors by means of the Chase portal, however transferring to the proper companion may get you much more worth.
Whereas there’s one thing to be stated concerning the simplicity of Financial institution of America’s redemption course of, particularly for TPG editor Emily Thompson, Chase takes the cake with extra potential worth and adaptability.
Winner: Sapphire Most well-liked, because it provides the choice to switch factors to lodge and airline companions.
Associated: How to redeem Chase Ultimate Rewards points for maximum value
Ought to I get the Sapphire Most well-liked or BofA Journey Rewards?
The Chase Sapphire Preferred comes with a better sign-up bonus, a extra strong incomes price and extra worth and adaptability in redemption choices. The Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card is an easy card that is nice for rookies, however for essentially the most half, it could possibly’t compete with the Sapphire Most well-liked.
Backside line
For individuals who hope to construct a sturdy travel credit card technique and study tips on how to maximize switch companions and card pairings, the Chase Sapphire Preferred is a superb beginning place.
But when the considered navigating transferring factors to a particular airline makes you get away into hives, the simplicity of the Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card makes it a stable alternative, too.
To be taught extra, learn our full critiques of the Chase Sapphire Preferred and the Bank of America Travel Rewards.
Apply right here: Chase Sapphire Preferred
Apply right here: Bank of America Travel Rewards
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