Unless you’re a regular user, you might not be aware of the differences between Amex points vs Chase points. In short, Chase points are typically worth more than Amex points, so if you have the choice, you should usually go with Chase.
So, why have we written a whole article about this? Because there are some situations in which Amex is a better option. Let’s take a closer look at how the two compare.
Chase or American Express?
If you’re looking to travel hack using credit card rewards, then you’ve probably come across the two main contenders: Amex points and Chase points. Both offer great benefits and can help you save a lot of money on travel expenses.
To see which one is better, let’s look at Chase Ultimate Rewards vs Amex Membership Rewards.
| Amex Membership Rewards | Chase Ultimate Rewards | |
| Points value | 0.5 cents per point | 1 cent per point |
| Number of transfer partners | 21 | 14 |
| Redemption options | Online checkout
Gift cards Statement credit Travel Travel transfers Online shopping |
Travel portal
Transfer Gift card Pay with points Cash back Experiences |
| Redemption value for travel | 0.7 to 1 cent each | 1 to 1.5 cents each |
Now, let’s get into more detail.
Points Value
Chase rewards points are generally worth more than Amex points: 1 cent vs. 0.5 cents per point.
Moreover, with Chase, you’ll get:
- 1 cent per point on checks, direct deposits, and statement credits
- 1.5 cents per point if you use Chase’s travel portal for booking
- 0.8 cents per point on Amazon
- 1.1 cents per point on gift cards
On the other hand, with Amex, you’ll get:
- 1.53 cents per point if use Amex Travel for booking
- 0.6 cents per point on statement credits
- 0.7 cents per point on Amazon
- 0.5–1 cent per point on gift cards
So, which one should you choose? Chase or Amex? You should go with Chase if you’re planning to use its points to make purchases.
Transfer Partners
While both Amex and Chase credit cards allow you to transfer points to various hotel and airline loyalty programs, Amex offers a slightly longer list of transfer partners.
| Amex | Chase | |
| Total partners | 21 | 14 |
| Airline partners | AeroMexico
Air Canada Alitalia Aer Lingus Air France/KLM ANA Avianca British Airways Cathay Pacific Delta Air Lines Emirates Etihad Airways Hawaiian Airlines Iberia JetBlue Qantas Singapore Airlines Virgin Atlantic |
Aer Lingus
Air Canada Air France/KLM British Airways Emirates Iberia Plus JetBlue Singapore Airlines Southwest Airlines United Airlines Virgin Atlantic |
| Hotel partners | Choice Privileges
Hilton Honors Marriott Bonvoy |
IHG Rewards Club
Marriott Bonvoy World of Hyatt |
So, who is the winner in this Amex vs Chase battle? Amex has more airline transfer partners, which makes it a bit more valuable than Chase in the travel niche.
Travel Portals
Chase and American Express both enable you to book travel using points, cash, or a mix of the two via their travel sites.
The value of your Amex travel points will be determined by the type of reservation you’re attempting to make. For example, if you’re booking vacation packages, prepaid hotel rooms, or car rentals, your points will be worth 0.7 cents each.
On the other hand, the points are worth 1 cent each when used for flights and hotel reservations. However, you can’t use your points for Airbnb bookings, tours, or other types of travel reservations.
When it comes to Chase travel points, depending on the credit card you have, your points might be worth anywhere from 1 cent to 1.5 cents each.
Types of Credit Cards
There are several different Amex and Chase credit card types, from basic to premium, that can help you build your rewards points account. You can earn big welcome bonuses and other perks and services depending on the card you choose.
Here’s a list of the best Amex and Chase credit cards:
| American Express credit cards | Chase credit cards |
| American Express Gold Card
American Express Green Card Amex EveryDay Preferred Credit Card The Platinum Card from American Express The Blue Business Plus Credit Card from American Express The Business Platinum Card from American Express |
Chase Freedom Flex
Chase Freedom Unlimited Chase Sapphire Preferred Chase Sapphire Reserve Chase Ink Business Unlimited Chase Ink Business Preferred |
Amex Gold vs Chase Sapphire Reserve Credit Card
Here are the main differences between the Sapphire Reserve and the American Express Gold card:
| Sapphire Reserve | American Express Gold | |
| Annual fee | $550 | $250 |
| Welcome offer | 50,000 points for spending $4,000 in the first three months | 60,000 points for spending $4,000 in the first six months |
| Rewards | 10x points on hotels and car rentals
10x points on dining booked via Chase Dining 5x points on flights 1x points on other purchases |
4x points at US supermarkets
4x points on dining 3x points on flights 1x points on other purchases |
| Recommended credit score | 740–850 | 670–850 |
Who is the winner in this Chase vs Amex clash? Compared to the Amex Gold card, the Sapphire Reserve card offers a better earning rate for dining (10x vs 4x points), but only if you book via Chase Dining. Otherwise, you’ll get only three points per dollar.
When it comes to booking flights, the Sapphire Reserve card takes the cake again. Why? Because you’ll get 10x points on hotels and car rentals, and you’ll earn more points on flights (5x vs 3x points).
On the other hand, the Amex Gold card has a significantly smaller annual fee ($250 vs $550), and you don’t need to have an excellent credit score to obtain one.
Expiration
Your points won’t expire as long as you keep your Chase and Amex cards open. Canceling your cards will result in losing your points.
However, if you have other cards open, you may be eligible for a 30-day grace period to spend your points after cancellation.
Conclusion
So, which credit card issuer should you choose: Amex or Chase? The answer really depends on what you’re looking for. If you want to transfer your points to a variety of different airline and hotel partners, go with Amex.
However, if you want more options for redeeming your points, then Chase may be a better choice.
FAQs
How much are 50,000 Amex points worth?
Depending on how the points are redeemed, you can get between $250 and $500 after earning 50,000 Amex points. If each point amounts to 0.65 cents, the average value will be $325.
What does 100,000 Amex points get you?
100,000 Amex points can get you a first-class flight to Europe or two domestic economy flights. To be more precise, for 87,000 membership rewards points, you can book a one-way first-class ticket with Lufthansa and travel from the US to Europe.
You could also redeem them for a stay at a luxury hotel (such as Hilton Honors or Marriott Bonvoy), or for several nights at a mid-range hotel, given that 100,000 points are worth about $2,200 in this particular niche.
Are Chase points worth more than Amex points?
Yes, generally, Chase points are worth more than Amex points. Chase’s average point value is 1 cent per point, while Amex’s average point value is 0.5 cents per point.
Moreover, Chase points are worth more if you’re redeeming them for travel through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal (1 to 1.5 cents each vs 0.7 to 1 cent each).
On the other hand, when it comes to redeeming merchandise or gift cards, when we compare Amex points vs Chase points, Amex points are worth more.
