I’m trying to choose between the Amex Trifecta and the Chase Trifecta card. How do I know which is better for my spending?
In terms of spending, the Amex Trifecta blows the Chase Trifecta out of the water with rewards. On their business cards, Chase returns more in terms of airline miles (3 miles for every dollar vs 2 with Amex), but for their consumer cards, both of Amex’s offerings have the leg up on spending for travel, groceries, and even things like streaming services.
The rates between the card offerings are very similar, with APRs really only differing by a couple of percentage points, in most cases. The Platinum Card from Amex is really a standout, as there is no APR to be paid, but this is because you are expected to pay down the full balance every single month. This quirk can be useful for disciplined spenders, but can just as easily become a barrier to financial mobility.
Also, to wrap up, the fees on Amex cards overall are higher, totaling about $150 in extra expenses every year. Both of them total about the same fee-wise for foreign transactions, but for you as a spender, you should think if that extra $150 is really something that you are willing to part with.
Overall, you can’t really go wrong with either, but if you can afford Amex, and are a disciplined spender, then that would probably be the way to go.
On the surface, Amex is more expensive than Chase based on the signing up costs and credit interest charged. Max Credit differs on the both cards and one should choose based on their credit needs. If you plan to max out your credit, Amex can be more cost- efficient than Chase and many credit on Uber, luxury dining and retail shopping are easy to use. But if you are not a huge spender, Chase is better for your frugal needs
Both cards offer lounge access through Priority pass but with Amex Cards you can receive Centurion lounge access while Chase can provide greater perks in airport restaurant and dining options but less options for lounging. Chase further offers other travel-based benefits such as lower introductory APR and extended warranty and purchase protection unlike Amex especially for your shopping interests
In terms of point redemption, Chase offer greater flexibility with 5x on airline travels versus Amex’s 3x return while cash bonuses up to 50% on dining options and these points accumulate fast. So if you want travel and eat more, choose Chase but for most other purchases such as garments and merchandise, Amex will do just fine.
Perhaps what is most important is which trifecta provides more rewards for your spending pattern as opposed to which trifecta offers more rewards in general. For instance, the Amex Trifecta provides the following annual credit:
• $300 worth of Airline fee credits
• $200 worth of Uber credit
• $120 worth of dining credit
• $100 credit for Saks Fifth Avenue
• $100 credit for TSA PreCheck every four years
The Chase trifecta provides the following annual credits:
• $300 credit for airline fees
• $60 credit DoorDash
• $100 credit for TSA PreCheck every four years
So although the Amex Trifecta provides more rewards, the Chase Trifecta might be the better choice for you if you are a frequent DoorDash user and an avid traveler. On the other hand, if you spend on various categories, the Amex trifecta my better fulfill your needs. If you are looking for a travel card, it is also important to look at which airline partners each card has, as only of the trifectas may be partnered with an airline company you frequently use. Similarly, also examine the categories being rewarded. Both cards offer rewards for dining and traveling, but the Amex’s trifecta’s Blue Business Plus Card has an emphasis on rewarding business expenses. Therefore, depending on your occupation and expenditure pattern, you may prefer one card over the other. For this reason, it is also important to examine the cards within each trifecta individually.
After you have carefully examined which trifecta best suits your spending behavior, it’s really important to look at the annual fees you are being charged. With the Amex trifecta, you will be charged a total of $800 annually, and with the Chase trifecta, you will be charged $550 annually. The Amex trifecta is more expensive but offers $720 in credit rewards, whereas the Chase trifecta only offers $360.