Chase vs American Express bonuses
As of Sep 4, 2026, Chase has 23 live sign-up bonuses, up to $3,000. American Express has 9, up to $300. Here is how they compare, verified against each institution's own terms.
At a glance
| Chase | American Express | |
|---|---|---|
| Live sign-up bonuses | 23 | 9 |
| Biggest cash bonus | $3,000 | $300 |
| Bonus types | bank, card | card, bank |
| ChexSystems | Soft pull for checking; low new-account sensitivity | Not applicable. No consumer checking bonuses currently listed |
| Credit pull | Hard inquiry for cards. Experian most common | Hard inquiry; often waived for existing cardholders |
| Eligibility | Checking bonus: once per 24 months · Sapphire bonus: once per 48 months | Once per lifetime per card product (see rule) |
| House rules | The 48-month Sapphire rule, The 5/24 rule | American Express once-per-lifetime & the pop-up |
Current offers
What to know about each
The most rule-governed program of any issuer, and the most predictable. Chase publishes real end dates, honors them, and enforces 5/24 without exceptions. That cuts both ways: fewer surprises, but no loopholes. Checking bonuses run several times a year (currently elevated to $400). Card offers spike to historic levels once or twice a year, as with the current 100k Sapphire window.
The biggest bonuses, and the least clear rules. Public offers are often lower than what you can actually get through referral or targeted links. Eligibility comes down to the once-per-lifetime rule and its pop-up warning, not published criteria. The Platinum fee moved to $895 in the 2026 refresh.
Common questions
Chase has the bigger cash bonus right now, at $3,000. Figures change; both are checked against the source and shown above with the date.
The better pick is the offer whose requirement you can actually meet. Chase currently gives you more offers to choose from. Weigh each bonus against the deposit or spend it needs, not just the headline number.
New to this? Start with how bank sign-up bonuses work, weigh both by value with the easiest to earn list, and see more head-to-heads on the compare page. Reference information, not financial advice.