Compare Cards | The Stack

Compare Cards

See which card actually wins for your spend.

This page compares year-one value, ongoing value, welcome-offer difficulty, usable credits, and transfer flexibility under your own assumptions instead of generic rankings.

Build around Chase Sapphire Reserve

Card A

Card B

Assumptions

Pressure-test the math

Rewards use your annual spend mix. Credits are discounted by your usage slider. Points and miles use your valuation assumption.

Dining

$/mo

Groceries

$/mo

Travel

$/mo

Gas

$/mo

Online Shopping

$/mo

Streaming

$/mo

General

$/mo

Point Value1.5 cpp

Used for points and miles cards. Cash-back cards stay fixed.

Credit Usage70%

This discounts recurring credits so the page does not assume perfect usage.

Verdict

Chase Sapphire Reserve is the stronger fit under these assumptions.

It wins on both year-one value and the keep-or-cancel math after the welcome offer is gone.

Year One Winner

Chase Sapphire Reserve

Keeper Winner

Chase Sapphire Reserve

• Has about $850 more welcome-offer value in year one.
• Lets you realize about $643 more in usable recurring credits.
• Comes with a particularly strong welcome offer.

American Express Green Card

• Carries a $645 lower annual fee.
• Stays usable for international purchases.

Long-term breakeven: the higher-reward option needs roughly $316 per year in this spend mix to overcome the fee and credit gap.

Chase

Chase Sapphire Reserve

Best if you use the creditsPersonal

Year One

$2,019

Welcome offer + annual rewards + usable credits - fee

Ongoing Year

$769

Annual rewards + usable credits - fee

Annual Rewards

$922

3.11% effective return

Welcome Offer

$1,250

Current listed first-year bonus value

Usable Credits

$643

Discounted by your credit-usage assumption

Bonus Hurdle

$2,000/mo is doable

Needs Excellent credit

Why it wins

• Comes with a particularly strong welcome offer.
• Earns well on the spend mix you entered.
• Your expected credit usage offsets most of the annual fee.

Watch for

• The points value case is thinner without transfer-partner flexibility.

Build a plan around this card View offer details

American Express

American Express Green Card

Travel-friendly everyday cardPersonal

Year One

$947

Welcome offer + annual rewards + usable credits - fee

Ongoing Year

$547

Annual rewards + usable credits - fee

Annual Rewards

$697

2.35% effective return

Welcome Offer

$400

Current listed first-year bonus value

Usable Credits

None

Discounted by your credit-usage assumption

Bonus Hurdle

$1,000/mo feels comfortable

Needs Good+ credit

Why it wins

• Stays usable for international purchases.

Watch for

• The annual fee is harder to justify if you do not use the credits consistently.
• The points value case is thinner without transfer-partner flexibility.

Build a plan around this card View offer details

Spend Mix Math

Where the value actually comes from

Category returns are based on the spend mix you entered, your point-value assumption, and a discounted view of recurring credits.

CategoryAnnual SpendChase Sapphire ReserveAmerican Express Green Card

Dining

$5,400

$243

4.50%

$243

4.50%

Groceries

$7,800

$117

1.50%

$117

1.50%

Travel

$3,000

$360

12.00%

$135

4.50%

Gas

$1,920

$29

1.50%

$29

1.50%

Online Shopping

$2,640

$40

1.50%

$40

1.50%

Streaming

$480

1.50%

General

$8,400

$126

Chase Sapphire Reserve

American Express Green Card

Foreign Tx Fee

NoneNone

Credit Needed

excellentgood

Network

visaamex

Reward Type

pointspoints