Advertiser Disclosure

Many of the credit card offers that appear on this site are from credit card companies from which we receive financial compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). However, the credit card information that we publish has been written and evaluated by experts who know these products inside out. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse. This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers that are on the market. See our advertising policy here where we list advertisers that we work with, and how we make money. You can also review our credit card rating methodology.

Amex Green Card vs. Capital One Venture X Card [Detailed Comparison]

Jarrod West's image
Jarrod West
Jarrod West's image

Jarrod West

Senior Content Contributor

486 Published Articles 1 Edited Article

Countries Visited: 21U.S. States Visited: 24

Boasting a portfolio of over 20 cards, Jarrod has been an expert in the points and miles space for over 6 years. He earns and redeems over 1 million points per year and his work has been featured in o...
Edited by: Keri Stooksbury
Keri Stooksbury's image

Keri Stooksbury

Editor-in-Chief

52 Published Articles 3470 Edited Articles

Countries Visited: 50U.S. States Visited: 28

With years of experience in corporate marketing and as the executive director of the American Chamber of Commerce in Qatar, Keri is now editor-in-chief at UP, overseeing daily content operations and r...
& Stella Shon
Stella Shon's image

Stella Shon

Senior Features Editor

150 Published Articles 865 Edited Articles

Countries Visited: 28U.S. States Visited: 30

With a degree in media and journalism, Stella has been in the points and miles game for more than 6 years. She most recently worked as a Corporate Communications Analyst for JetBlue. Find her work in ...
Jump to Section

We may be compensated when you click on product links, such as credit cards, from one or more of our advertising partners. Terms apply to the offers below. See our Advertising Policy for more about our partners, how we make money, and our rating methodology. Opinions and recommendations are ours alone.

Upgraded Points: Expertise You Can Trust

Our seasoned and experienced team brings years of expertise in the credit card and travel sectors. Committed to integrity, we offer data-driven guides to help you find the card(s) that best fit your requirements. See details on our intensive editorial policies and card rating methodologies.

  • Content by Leading Industry Experts
  • Routine Updates and Fact-Checks
  • First-Hand Credit Card Experience
  • Shared Across 200+ Top Outlets
  • Methodical “U.P. Rating” System
  • 1090+ Expert Credit Card Guides

Trying to decide which credit card is best for you can be challenging. Different bonus categories, reward ecosystems, perks, and fees … there can be quite a bit to dissect in order to determine which card is the best match for your lifestyle.

In this guide, we will provide a detailed comparison of the American Express® Green Card* and the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card to help you decide which card you should add to your wallet next.

*The information regarding the American Express® Green Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.

Overview

Before we do a deep dive into everything you need to know about each card, here is a quick head-to-head comparison.

SCROLL FOR MORE

Benefit or Feature

American Express® Green CardCapital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

Welcome Bonus Offer

Earn 40,000 points after spending $3,000 within the first 6 months.

Earn 75,000 miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months.

Earning Potential

3x points at restaurants (including takeout and delivery in the U.S.), on transit (including rideshares, trains, subways, parking, and more), and on travel (including airfare, hotels, and car rentals)

  • 10x miles for hotel and rental car booked via Capital One Travel
  • 5x miles for flights booked via Capital One Travel
  • 2x miles on all other purchases

Redemption Options

  • Capital One transfer partners
  • Capital One Travel bookings
  • Cash-back via statement credit, gift cards, and shopping with select retailers

Annual Credits

  • Up to $199 annual CLEAR Plus credit
  • Up to $100 annual LoungeBuddy credit
  • $300 annual travel credit for Capital One Travel bookings
  • Global Entry or TSA PreCheck fee reimbursement

Travel Benefits and Protections

Baggage insurance, trip delay reimbursement, secondary rental car insurance, and more

  • Priority Pass, Capital One Lounges, and Plaza Premium Lounge access
  • Hertz Gold Plus Rewards President’s Circle elite status
  • 10,000-mile bonus at each card anniversary
  • Trip cancellation/interruption insurance, trip delay reimbursement, primary rental car insurance, and more

Shopping Benefits and Protections

Amex Offers, purchase protection, extended warranty

Capital One Offers, Cell phone protection, return protection, purchase protection, and extended warranty

Annual Fee

$150$395 (rates & fees)

Authorized User Fee

$0 for the first 5 cardholders, then $35 

Add cardholders to your account for no additional fee (rates & fees)

Welcome Offer Comparison

A great welcome offer is one of the best ways to kickstart your rewards balance and get you one step closer to booking your next trip. Take a look at the welcome offers from each card below.

Amex Green Card

American Express® Green Card
Star rating iconStar rating iconStar rating iconStar rating iconStar rating iconStar rating iconStar rating iconStar rating iconStar rating iconStar rating icon
U.P. Rating 
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

This card can provide a great way to accumulate Membership Rewards points on eligible travel, transit, and at restaurants.

All information about American Express® Green Card has been collected independently by Upgraded Points.

Apply With Confidence

Know if you're approved with no credit score impact

If you're approved and accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.

This card can provide a great way to accumulate Membership Rewards points on eligible travel, transit, and at restaurants.
Earn 40,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your American Express® Green Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
40,000 points
$880
$150
See Pay Over Time APR
Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.
Good to Excellent (670-850)
Why We Like This Card

The American Express® Green Card is an excellent all-around travel rewards card thanks to earning 3x Membership Rewards® points on eligible travel and transit purchases and at restaurants, access to American Express transfer partners, and a reasonable annual fee.

Pros & Cons
Pros
  • 3x points per $1 spent at restaurants worldwide, on all eligible travel purchases, and transit purchases
  • Up to $199 per calendar year in statement credits after you pay for a CLEAR® Plus membership with the Card.
  • Up to $100 in statement credits annually when you purchase airport lounge access through LoungeBuddy with the Card.
Cons
  • $150 annual fee
  • No elite benefits like airport lounge access or hotel elite status
Card Highlights
  • Earn 40,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your American Express® Green Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on travel, including airfare, hotels, cruises, tours, car rentals, campgrounds, and vacation rentals.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® Points on transit purchases, including trains, taxicabs, rideshare services, ferries, tolls, parking, buses, and subways.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on eligible purchases at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the US.
  • $199 CLEAR Plus Credit: Receive up to $199 per calendar year in statement credits when you pay for your CLEAR Plus membership (subject to auto-renewal) with the American Express® Green Card.
  • $100 LoungeBuddy: No airport lounge membership? No problem! Purchase lounge access through the LoungeBuddy app using the American Express® Green Card and receive up to $100 in statement credits annually.
  • Payment Flexibility: When it comes to paying your bill, you have options. You can always pay in full. You also have the flexibility to carry a balance with interest or use Plan It® to split up large purchases into monthly payments with a fixed fee, up to your Pay Over Time Limit. You may be able to keep spending beyond your limit – you’ll just need to pay for any new purchases in full when your bill is due.
  • Trip Delay Insurance: If a round-trip is paid for entirely with your Eligible Card and a covered reason delays your trip more than 12 hours, Trip Delay Insurance can help reimburse certain additional expenses purchased on the same Eligible Card, up to $300 per trip, maximum 2 claims per eligible account per 12 consecutive month period. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Coverage is provided by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees: No matter where you’re traveling, when you use your American Express® Green Card there are no foreign transaction fees.
  • $150 annual fee.
  • Terms Apply.
Financial Snapshot
  • APR: See Pay Over Time APR
  • Foreign Transaction Fees: None
Rewards Center

American Express Membership Rewards

Capital One Venture X Card

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit CardTerms Apply / Rates & Fees
Star rating iconStar rating iconStar rating iconStar rating iconStar rating iconStar rating iconStar rating iconStar rating iconStar rating iconStar rating icon
U.P. Rating 
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

The Capital One Venture X card is an excellent option for travelers looking for an all-in-one premium credit card.

Learn More(at Capital One's secure site)
The Capital One Venture X card is an excellent option for travelers looking for an all-in-one premium credit card.
Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.
75,000 miles
$1,350
$395
19.99% - 29.74% (Variable)
Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.
Excellent (740-840)
Why We Like This Card

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is the premium Capital One travel rewards card on the block.

Points and miles fans will be surprised to see that the Capital One Venture X card packs quite the punch when it comes to bookings made through Capital One, all while offering the lowest annual fee among premium credit cards.

Depending on your travel goals and preferences, the Capital One Venture X card could very well end up being your go-to card in your wallet.

 

Pros & Cons
Pros
  • 10x miles per $1 on hotels and rental cars purchased through Capital One Travel
  • 5x miles per $1 on flights and vacation rentals purchased through Capital One Travel
  • 2x miles per $1 on all other purchases
Cons
  • $395 annual fee (rates & fees)
  • Does not offer bonus categories for flights or hotel purchases made directly with the airline or hotel group, the preferred booking method for those looking to earn elite status
Card Highlights
  • Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
  • Receive a $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
  • Get 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 towards travel) every year, starting on your first anniversary
  • Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel
  • Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases
  • Unlimited complimentary access for you and two guests to 1,300+ lounges, including Capital One Lounges and the Partner Lounge Network
  • Use your Venture X miles to easily cover travel expenses, including flights, hotels, rental cars and more—you can even transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
  • Enjoy a $100 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Premier Collection
  • Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
Financial Snapshot
  • APR: 19.99% - 29.74% (Variable)
  • Foreign Transaction Fees: None
Rewards Center

Capital One Miles

 

Bottom Line:

Our valuations of Amex Membership Rewards points and Capital One miles are relatively close, at 2.2 cents per point and 1.8 cents per mile, respectively. However, the welcome bonus offers for both of these cards can vary, so determining which bonus provides more value will depend heavily on the current welcome offer at the time.

Earning Potential Analysis

Birdseye view of restaurant dining
Your dinner out could earn up to 3x points. Image Credit: Faces of Travel via Adobe Stock

One of the best ways to determine if a card is a good fit for you is if its bonus categories match your spending habits, which will help you rack up significantly more points.

SCROLL FOR MORE

Bonus Category

Amex Green Card

Capital One Venture X Card

Eligible Travel

3x points

2x miles

Dining

3x points

2x miles

Transit (Trains, Ferries, Buses, Subways, Rideshares, etc.)

3x points

2x miles

Hotels and Rental Cars Through Capital One Travel

N/A

10x miles

Airfare Through Capital One Travel

N/A

5x miles

All Other Purchases

1x points

2x miles

Once again, you’ll want to examine the bonus categories closely to determine which card will help you earn more points. If you spend more on travel, dining, and transit purchases, then there is a good chance that the Amex Green card will earn you more rewards overall.

However, if your purchase habits don’t regularly fall into certain categories, you prefer to not have to worry about bonus categories at all, and/or you travel often and don’t mind booking your travel through Capital One, then the Capital One Venture X card is a stellar option.

Redemption Options

Air France A350 Business Class Seat From Above
Utilize transfer partners for amazing awards in business class! Image Credit: Air France

Amex Green Card

The Amex Green card earns American Express Membership Rewards points, which gives you multiple redemption options. With these points, you’ll have the ability to use Amex’s transfer partners, book through the AmexTravel.com portal, redeem for cash-back via a statement credit, redeem for gift cards, or shop with select merchants.

When it comes to getting as much value as possible out of your points, our favorite way to redeem Amex points is with Amex’s hotel and airline transfer partners. Thanks to these partnerships you can use your points for luxury travel experiences for a fraction of what it would normally cost.

For example, when transferring your points to ANA Mileage Club, you can book round-trip business class awards between the U.S. and Europe on Star Alliance carriers like United, Lufthansa, and Swiss for just 88,000 Amex points. If you were to pay cash for the same ticket, you could easily shell out $3,000 or more.

Capital One Venture X Card

Similarly, Capital One miles are also a flexible rewards currency that gives cardholders multiple redemption options. These options include Capital One transfer partners, travel purchases through Capital One Travel, cash-back via a statement credit, gift cards, and shopping with select retailers.

Like with other transferable currencies, our favorite way to redeem our Capital One miles is through the Capital One transfer partners. For instance, you could transfer your miles to the Air Canada Aeroplan program and book a one-way business class flight between New York and Los Angeles in United Polaris business class for 25,000 miles.

Hot Tip:

If you’re new to points and miles, read our guides on the best ways to use Amex Membership Rewards points and the best ways to use Capital One miles to learn how to maximize the value of your points.

Comparing Travel Credits

Amex Green Card — CLEAR Plus and LoungeBuddy

When you hold the Amex Green card, you’ll receive an annual CLEAR Plus credit of up to $199.

If you’re not familiar with CLEAR, the service provides an expedited security experience at select airports and stadiums nationwide using your biometrics like your fingerprint or eye. This allows you to go right to the front of the ID check line. If you’re someone who would purchase a CLEAR Plus membership otherwise, then this single perk can negate the Amex Green card’s $150 annual fee for you.

Amex Green cardholders also receive an annual LoungeBuddy credit of up to $100. This credit can be used toward any of the 300+ LoungeBuddy airport lounges worldwide. The cost to enter an eligible lounge can vary, but at the very least the credit should get you at least 2 to 3 visits per year.

Capital One Venture X Card — Annual Travel Credit and Global Entry or TSA PreCheck

With your Capital One Venture X card, you’ll receive an annual travel credit of $300 that can be redeemed for flights, hotels, and rental cars through the Capital One Travel portal.

If you were planning to spend at least $300 on travel throughout the year anyway, this annual credit makes the $395 annual fee (rates & fees) of the Capital One Venture X card an effective $95.

Additionally, your Capital One Venture X card comes with a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck statement credit. Keep in mind that applying for Global Entry includes TSA PreCheck, but applying for TSA PreCheck does not include Global Entry, so we recommend you use your statement credit to apply for Global Entry to get access to 2 great timesavers for the same credit.

Travel Benefits and Protection Comparison

SCROLL FOR MORE

Benefit or Protection

Amex Green Card

Capital One Venture X Card

Rental Car Insurance

Secondary

Primary

Baggage Protection

Checked luggage and carry-on luggage

Checked luggage and carry-on luggage

Trip Delay Reimbursement

Up to $300 in coverage for flights delayed by 12 hours or more

Up to $500 in coverage for flights delayed by 6 hours or more

Airport Lounge Access

Up to $100 annual LoungeBuddy credit

Access to Priority Pass, Capital One Lounges, and select Plaza Premium Lounges

Rental Car Status

None

Hertz Gold Plus Rewards President’s Circle status

Unsurprisingly, the Capital One Venture X card offers far more travel benefits and protections than the Amex Green card, which is to be expected given the difference in the annual fees of each card. Given that, if having a full airport lounge membership and excellent travel protections are a must-have for you, then the Capital One Venture X card would be the better option by far. 

Comparing Shopping Protection and Benefits

Here is how each product keeps you covered when purchasing items with your card.

Amex Green Card

  • Amex Offers — Discounts and opportunities to earn more points and statement credits with 100 merchants each month
  • Purchase Protection — Coverage of up to 90 days from the date of purchase toward stolen or damaged items
  • Extended Warranty — Adds up to 1 year of additional warranty to extended warranties of 5 years or less
  • American Express Experiences — Exclusive access to ticket presales

Capital One Venture X Card

  • Capital One Offers — Discounts with select merchants
  • Cell Phone Protection — Pay your monthly cell phone bill with your card and receive coverage for theft or damage, with a $50 deductible per claim, and up to 2 claims per 12-month period
  • Return Protection — Eligible returns that merchants won’t accept within 90 days of purchase can receive reimbursement
  • Purchase Protection — Coverage up to 90 days from the date of purchase towards stolen or damaged items
  • Extended Warranty — Up to 1 year of additional warranty protection on items with eligible warranties of 3 years or less purchased with your card
  • Capital One Entertainment — Exclusive access to ticket presales

Annual Fees and Adding Authorized Users

Annual Fees

The annual fee of the Amex Green card is $150 while the annual fee of the Capital One Venture X card is $395 (rates & fees). Given there is a big difference in fees, you’ll want to ensure that you value the benefits you’d receive from the Capital One Venture X card outweigh the additional cost you’ll need to pay.  

Authorized Users

Amex Green cardholders can add up to 5 cards for no additional cost, and any additional cards beyond that are $35 each (rates & fees). With the Capital One Venture X card, you can add cardholders to your account for no authorized user fee (rates & fees).

Final Thoughts

Both the Amex Green card and Capital One Venture X card are great options to add to your wallet thanks to their unique combinations of strong rewards-earning on spending and travel benefits. 

Those who want a premium travel rewards card with well-rounded points-earning categories and thorough travel benefits would be better off with the Capital One Venture X card. However, if you don’t travel often enough to justify the annual fee on the Capital One Venture X card, then the Amex Green card might make more sense for you. 


For the car rental loss and damage insurance benefit of the American Express® Green Card, eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.

For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the benefits may be provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.

Upon enrollment, accessible through the Capital One website or mobile app, eligible cardholders will remain at that status level through the duration of the offer. Please note, enrolling through the normal Hertz Gold Plus Rewards enrollment process (e.g. at Hertz.com) will not automatically detect a cardholder as being eligible for the program and cardholders will not be automatically upgraded to the applicable status tier. Additional terms apply.

The information regarding the American Express® Green Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better, the Amex Green card or the Capital One Venture X card?

Objectively speaking, the Capital One Venture X card offers far more benefits and protections than the Amex Green card, but it also has a much larger annual fee (rates & fees).

Knowing that, deciding which card is better for you comes down to what you value out of a card. Consider each card’s bonus categories, perks, protections, fees, and redemption options, and then select the card that makes the most sense for your needs and spending habits.

What are the benefits of the Capital One Venture X card?

The top benefits of the Capital One Venture X card include airport lounge access, an annual travel credit of $300, a 10,000-mile bonus at each card anniversary, at least 2x miles on every purchase you make, Hertz elite status, and more.

What are the benefits of the Amex Green card?

The top benefits of the Amex Green card include the ability to earn 3x points on travel, transit, and dining purchases, an annual LoungeBuddy statement credit, an annual CLEAR Plus statement credit, and more.

What is the annual fee of the Amex Green card?

The annual fee of the Amex Green card is $150.

What is the annual fee of the Capital One Venture X card?

The annual fee of the Capital One Venture X card is $395 (rates & fees).

Jarrod West's image

About Jarrod West

Boasting a portfolio of over 20 cards, Jarrod has been an expert in the points and miles space for over 6 years. He earns and redeems over 1 million points per year and his work has been featured in outlets like The New York Times.

INSIDERS ONLY: UP PULSE

Deluxe Travel Provided by UP Pulse

Get the latest travel tips, crucial news, flight & hotel deal alerts...

Plus — expert strategies to maximize your points & miles by joining our (free) newsletter.

We respect your privacy. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA. Google's privacy policy  and terms of service  apply.

Deluxe Travel Provided by UP Pulse
DMCA.com Protection Status