Should you’re leaping into the journey rewards recreation, selecting which bank card to begin with could be overwhelming. There are plenty of aggressive choices, every with its personal set of benefits and downsides.
On this information, we’ll stroll by means of two standard newbie journey bank cards — the Chase Sapphire Most popular® Card (see charges and charges) and the Financial institution of America® Journey Rewards bank card. Each provide an entry level into incomes journey rewards, however which is greatest on your pockets?
Chase Sapphire Most popular vs. Financial institution of America Journey Rewards comparability
Earlier than we dive deeper into how these playing cards stack up in opposition to one another, let’s run by means of a fast overview of every card’s particulars.
| Chase Sapphire Most popular Card | Financial institution of America Journey 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 popular vs. BofA Journey Rewards welcome provide
The Chase Sapphire Most popular clearly has a superior bonus by way of 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 provide is price $2,050 based on TPG’s April 2025 valuations.
By comparability, you will solely get 25,000 factors after spending $1,000 within the first 90 days of account opening (a $250 worth) from the Financial institution of America Journey Rewards bank card.
Nonetheless, 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 popular bonus, you will 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 does not matter if you cannot moderately hit the spending necessities. For these on a smaller finances, the Financial institution of America Journey Rewards sign-up bonus could be the extra attainable (and subsequently extra useful) possibility — although you’ll want to try our information on reaching minimal spending thresholds for tips about the best way to hit a better requirement.
Winner: Sapphire Most popular. Its welcome provide offers superior worth.
Associated: One of the best Financial institution of America playing cards
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Sapphire Most popular vs. BofA Journey Rewards advantages
Neither of those playing cards is a premium journey card, which suggests they provide comparatively few advantages.
That mentioned, the Chase Sapphire Most popular stands forward on this class, because it does provide cardholders no less than one complimentary yr of DashPass service, which provides you $0 supply charges and lowered service charges on eligible DoorDash meals supply and takeout purchases (should activate by Dec. 31, 2027).
You will additionally get a $50 annual resort assertion credit score for reservations booked by means of the Chase journey portal, plus a strong lineup of bank card protections, together with:
- prolonged guarantee
- major automotive rental protection, baggage delay insurance coverage
- buy safety
- journey and emergency help providers
- journey cancellation/interruption insurance coverage
- journey delay reimbursement
Lastly, Chase Sapphire Most popular cardholders get a ten% anniversary factors bonus annually. You will earn at a price of 1 level for every $10 spent.
Then again, the Financial institution of America Journey Rewards card is far more restricted. Although — just like the Sapphire Most popular — it’s a Visa Signature card, in order that will present some advantages.
Winner: Sapphire Most popular additionally will get the sting right here with its longer checklist of advantages.
Associated: Why the Chase Sapphire Most popular stays the highest journey rewards bank card yr after yr
Incomes factors on the Sapphire Most popular vs. BofA Journey Rewards
As soon as once more, the Chase Sapphire Most popular comes out forward within the incomes division.
You will earn 3 factors per greenback on eating, choose streaming and on-line grocery purchases (excluding Walmart, Goal and wholesale golf equipment). Then, you will 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.
Then again, the Financial institution of America Journey Rewards bank card earns 3 factors per greenback on journey purchases booked by means of the Financial institution of America Journey Heart and 1.5 factors per greenback throughout all purchases.
Nonetheless, if you happen to’re already a Financial institution of America buyer, chances are you’ll earn at elevated charges. By means of the Most popular Rewards® program, you may earn as much as 5.25 factors per greenback on journey purchases by means of the Financial institution of America Journey Heart and as much as 2.62 factors per greenback on all different purchases.
That signifies that those that are Platinum Honors Most popular Rewards members would possibly find yourself getting extra worth from incomes this larger flat price throughout all purchases in the long run.
Winner: Sapphire Most popular. The Journey Rewards cannot compete with its incomes classes.
Associated: 7 causes you need to get (and preserve) a no-annual-fee bank card
Redeeming factors on the Sapphire Most popular vs. BofA Journey Rewards
One other main distinction between the 2 playing cards is the redemption choices.
The Financial institution of America Journey Rewards bank card earns fixed-value factors, like money again on eligible purchases. You may redeem your Financial institution of America Journey Rewards factors at a price of 1 cent apiece as an announcement credit score to cowl journey and eating purchases. In any other case, you will get 0.6 cents worth from every level by requesting a test or deposit from the financial institution.
With the Sapphire Most popular, you may redeem your factors at a 25% bonus for journey if you guide by means of the Chase journey portal, plus you get many extra choices when transferring factors (see under).
Winner: Sapphire Most popular. Its redemption choices are far more various.
Associated: Higher collectively: The final word information to one of the best bank card mixtures
Transferring factors on the Sapphire Most popular vs. BofA Journey Rewards
The Chase Sapphire Most popular presents much more flexibility in its redemption choices. You may switch factors at a 1:1 price to one in all Chase’s 14 useful switch companions. 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 appropriate associate might get you much more worth.
Whereas there’s one thing to be mentioned in regards to 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 popular, because it presents the choice to switch factors to resort and airline companions.
Associated: The way to redeem Chase Final Rewards factors for max worth
Ought to I get the Sapphire Most popular or BofA Journey Rewards?
The Chase Sapphire Most popular comes with a better sign-up bonus, a extra strong incomes price and extra worth and adaptability in redemption choices. The Financial institution of America Journey Rewards bank card is an easy card that is nice for inexperienced persons, however for probably the most half, it will probably’t compete with the Sapphire Most popular.
Backside line
For many who hope to construct a strong journey bank card technique and study the best way to maximize switch companions and card pairings, the Chase Sapphire Most popular is a good beginning place.
But when the considered navigating transferring factors to a particular airline makes you escape into hives, the simplicity of the Financial institution of America Journey Rewards bank card makes it a strong alternative, too.
To be taught extra, learn our full evaluations of the Chase Sapphire Most popular and the Financial institution of America Journey Rewards.
Apply right here: Chase Sapphire Most popular
Apply right here: Financial institution of America Journey Rewards
