Is the Sapphire Preferred worth $95 a year?
A fee card has to beat the best no-fee card by more than its fee before it earns you anything. Below is the annual spend, category by category, where the Sapphire Preferred’s extra rewards clear the $95. Points are valued at 1.25¢ each; transfer partners can beat that, cashing out won't.
| Category | This card | Best no-fee card | Spend to clear the fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Groceries | 3× | Double Cash at 2% | $5,429/yr |
| Entertainment | 3× | Double Cash at 2% | $5,429/yr |
| Transit | 3× | Double Cash at 2% | $5,429/yr |
| Dining | 3× | Freedom Unlimited at 3% | $12,667/yr |
| Travel | 2× | Double Cash at 2% | $19,000/yr |
Categories can combine: spending across several bonus categories clears the fee sooner than any single row suggests. Portal-only rates and perks (credits, lounges) are excluded — this is the rewards math only.
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