Is Citi Prestige or Chase Sapphire Reserve better?

If you compare Chase Sapphire Reserve vs Citi Prestige, Reserve brings home the win because of its 60,000-point bonus for spending $4,000 in the first 3 months and its 3 points per $1 on all travel and dining. In addition, Sapphire Reserve is the only one of the cards that is currently open to new applicants. Citi Prestige has been discontinued, although existing cardholders can still enjoy their benefits.

The cards are identical in some respects, like their excellent credit approval requirement. But Reserve really outshines Prestige in terms of perks, from its more valuable points to its bigger sign-up bonus and annual travel credit.

Citi Prestige vs. Chase Sapphire Reserve:

• Availability: Chase Sapphire Reserve is open to new applicants. Citi Prestige is not.
• Annual fee. Citi Prestige charges $495 per year and Chase Sapphire Reserve charges $550. So that’s a tie.
• Credit score requirement. Both cards require excellent credit. It’s a tie.
• Initial bonus. Chase Sapphire Reserve offers 60,000 points for spending $4,000 in the first 3 months. They’re worth 1.5 cents each toward travel, a $900 value in travel through Chase.
• Travel credit. Reserve comes with a $300 annual credit for any travel expenses. Prestige has a $250 air travel credit. Reserve wins with its versatility and higher amount.
• Earning rate. Reserve offers a total of 10 points per $1 spent on hotels and car rentals booked through Chase, a total of 10 points per $1 spent on prepaid restaurant reservations or takeout orders made through Chase, a total of 5 points per $1 spent on flights purchased through Chase, 3 points per $1 spent on all other travel and dining purchases, and 1 point per $1 on all other purchases. Prestige offers 3 points per $1 spent on air travel and hotels, 2 on dining and entertainment and 1 on everything else. While these rates may seem comparable, Reserve wins because each of its points is worth 1.5 cents toward travel or 1 cent in cash back. Prestige points are only worth 1 cent apiece in travel or 0.5 cents in cash back.
• Lounge access. Both cards offer free membership in Priority Pass Select, which gets you into more than 1,000 lounges across the world. It’s a tie.
• Application fee credit. Prestige reimburses your $100 application fee for Global Entry, which allows you to move through customs faster. Reserve offers the same credit, but also allows you to get a credit for TSA Pre-Check instead. Reserve wins.
• Free hotel stay. When you book a hotel for at least 4 consecutive nights with Prestige via ThankYou.com or the Citi Prestige Concierge, the fourth night is free. Reserve doesn’t offer this benefit. Prestige wins.

While both cards do have some stellar benefits, especially when it comes to travel, Chase Sapphire Reserve takes more categories overall. Since both cards cost the same and have about the same approval requirements, Reserve is the better pick. And for the time being, the question of Citi Prestige vs. Chase Sapphire Reserve is made easy by the fact that only Reserve is open to new applicants.

Reserve is better. Citi has the 4th Night Free, $250 airline credit, and great trip delay coverage, but the card is no match for the Chase Sapphire Reserve. And with the lack of a signup bonus, it feels almost as if Citi doesn't want to compete on the same front with Chase's offering.

Hands down, Sapphire Reserve is better. Just on the initial bonus alone there's no competition.