VisaChase Sapphire (Original)
By Alex Compton · Last verified
The no-fee Sapphire that started the dynasty, then vanished into Freedom Unlimited.
Welcome Bonus
None recorded
Last recorded offer
Spend Requirement
None recorded
Last recorded requirement
Annual Fee
$0
Last recorded · 3% FTF
Credit Score
670+
(Good)
Common Questions
Is the Chase Sapphire (Original) discontinued?
Yes. Discontinued. The no-fee Sapphire that started the dynasty, then vanished into Freedom Unlimited.
What can I use instead of the Chase Sapphire (Original)?
The closest open alternatives we track are the Chase Sapphire Reserve, Chase Sapphire Preferred, World of Hyatt Credit Card. Each links to our full review with its current offer and complete breakdown.
Open Alternatives
The Sapphire is gone, but these cards do a similar job and are still accepting applications.
The flagship premium travel card, rebuilt in 2025 with a credit stack that can out-earn its fee.
The best first travel card in the game. Full transfer partner access for $95.
The only hotel card whose free night reliably beats the annual fee.
Historical Offers Chart
Every public offer change we've tracked. Hover for details, timing your application is worth hundreds of dollars.
| Observed | Offer | Requirement | What changed | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017-06 | 20,000 | $3,000 in 3 mo | Terms reconfirmedFinal years before Chase pulled the card | Archive record · no attached snapshot |
| 2012-03 | 20,000 | $3,000 in 3 mo | Bonus increased: 10,000 → 20,000 · Spend: $500 → $3,000Peak public offer | Archive record · no attached snapshot |
| 2009-08 | 10,000 | $500 in 3 mo | Earliest recordLaunch offer for the new Sapphire brand | Archive record · no attached snapshot |
Primary-source verification log
Append-only evidence ledgerEvent-level primary-source attachments begin with the September 2026 verification system. Older records remain visible but are not retroactively presented as evidenced.
Historical record · spot an outdated offer? Report a correction above.
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Last Recorded Earning Rates
These terms are historical context and are not presented as current.
- 2xDining
- 1xEverything else
Last Recorded Credits
No statement credits, this card wins on earn rates, not coupons.
Last Recorded Benefits
Confirm availability and enrollment requirements with the issuer.
- ✦Introduced the Sapphire brand and the Ultimate Rewards ecosystem to the mass market
- ✦No annual fee version of the dining bonus before that was common
Why it earns its spot
- +Launched the most important premium card franchise in the industry
- +Kept points alive for downgraders who would not pay a Sapphire fee
Where it costs you
- −Points were fixed value without a premium Sapphire alongside it
- −Chase converted remaining accounts to Freedom Unlimited rather than preserve it
The Compound Verdict
Before the Preferred and the Reserve there was just Sapphire, a no-fee 2009 card with 2x dining that introduced Ultimate Rewards to the world. Once its paid siblings took over the brand, the original lingered as a downgrade shelf until Chase closed it to new applicants and converted the leftover accounts to Freedom Unlimited in 2019. It matters as an ancestor: every CSR story starts here.
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