Capital One Venture X Card vs. Chase Sapphire Preferred Card [Detailed Comparison]

We’ve long hailed the Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card as perhaps the perfect first-time travel rewards card. The card earns valuable transferrable rewards, offers flexible redemption options, and has a long list of travel insurance benefits. Plus, with all its attributes, the card still manages to charge just a modest annual fee.

But today, we welcome the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card as a worthy adversary. We found a lot of similarities between the 2 cards and decided that a closer look was warranted to see if the Chase Sapphire Preferred card is still our favorite.

As with any rewards card selection, the better card for you may not be the better card for the next person.

With that in mind, we’ll look closely at the best each card has to offer in all the key card categories, and then you can make your own decision based on your particular circumstances.

Here’s how our 2 featured cards compare.

Capital One Venture X vs. Chase Sapphire Preferred Card — Summary

While similar in structure, the Capital One Venture X card and Chase Sapphire Preferred card are very different cards offering different levels of benefits.

Let’s take all the information we’ll cover in detail and stack it up side-by-side to look closer at the overall value of each card:

The Value of a Welcome Bonus

Welcome bonus offers allow you to jumpstart your rewards with a one-time offer to earn a large number of rewards in the first few months after card approval. The Capital One Venture X card and Chase Sapphire Preferred card each offer a valuable welcome offer you can earn after meeting minimum spending requirements.

The amount of the welcome bonus offered and the valuation will change. For these reasons, you’ll want to check the current offers for our featured cards before applying:

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

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)

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

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

Welcome Offer

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

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$1,350

Annual Fee

$395

APR

19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)

Credit Recommended

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 purchased through Capital One Travel
• 2x miles per $1 on all other purchases
• $300 annual travel credit on bookings made through Capital One Travel
• Unlimited complimentary access for cardholder and 2 guests to 1,300+ lounges, including Capital One Lounges and the Partner Lounge Network
• 10,000 bonus miles awarded on your account anniversary each year
• Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit
• Add authorized users for no additional annual fee (rates & fees)
• No foreign transaction fees (rates & fees)

 

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 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
• Elevate every hotel stay from the Premier or Lifestyle Collections with a suite of cardholder benefits, like an experience credit, room upgrades, and more
• Receive up to a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck^®

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Card Categories

• Credit Card Reviews
• Travel Rewards Credit Cards
• Best Sign Up Bonuses

Rewards Center

Capital One Miles

 

More Reads

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• Best Ways to Use Venture X Points
• Capital One Venture X Credit Score and Approval Odds
• Capital One Venture X Lounge Access
• Capital One Venture X Travel Insurance Benefits
• Capital One Venture vs Venture X
• Capital One Venture X vs Amex Platinum
• Capital One Venture X vs Chase Sapphire Reserve
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POPULAR FIRST CARD

Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card

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.

A fantastic travel card with a huge welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.

Learn More(at Chase's secure site)

Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card

A fantastic travel card with a huge welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.

Welcome Offer

Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards^®.

60,000 points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$1,200

Annual Fee

$95

APR

21.49%-28.49% Variable

Credit Recommended

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 Chase Sapphire Preferred^® card is one of the best travel rewards cards on the market. Its bonus categories include travel, dining, online grocery purchases, and streaming services, which gives you the opportunity to earn lots of bonus points on these purchases.

Additionally, it offers flexible point redemption options, no foreign transaction fees, and excellent travel insurance coverage including primary car rental insurance. With benefits like these, it’s easy to see why this card is an excellent choice for any traveler.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 5x points on all travel booked via the Chase Travel portal
• 5x points on select Peloton purchases over $150 (through March 31, 2025)
• 5x points on Lyft purchases (through March 31, 2025)
• 3x points on dining purchases, online grocery purchases, and select streaming services
• 2x points on all other travel worldwide
• $50 annual credit on hotel stays booked through the Chase Travel portal
• 6 months of complimentary Instacart+ (activate by July 31, 2024), plus up to $15 in statement credits each quarter through July 2024
• Excellent travel and car rental insurance
• 10% annual bonus points
• No foreign transaction fees
• 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs like United MileagePlus and World of Hyatt

Cons

• $95 annual fee
• No elite benefits like airport lounge access or hotel elite status

Card Highlights

• Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
• Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
• Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
• Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
• Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2024.
• Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 21.49%-28.49% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Card Categories

• Credit Card Reviews
• Credit Cards
• Travel Rewards Credit Cards
• Best Sign Up Bonuses

Rewards Center

Chase Ultimate Rewards

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• Chase Sapphire Preferred Credit Score Requirements
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• Chase Freedom Unlimited vs Sapphire Preferred
• Chase Sapphire Preferred vs Reserve
• Amex Gold vs Chase Sapphire Preferred

Bottom Line: Both the Capital One Venture X card and Chase Sapphire Preferred card offer generous welcome bonuses that can be earned by meeting minimum spending requirements within the specified period immediately following card approval. The actual value of your welcome bonus will vary depending on how you redeem the rewards. But you may for example be able to get a 80k-100k welcome bonus offer for the Chase Sapphire Preferred.

Capital One Miles vs. Chase Ultimate Rewards Points

While the Capital One Venture X card and Chase Sapphire Preferred card earn different rewards currencies, both rewards programs are similar in how rewards are earned and subsequently, in the options you’ll have at redemption time.

Earning and redeeming rewards can be 2 significant factors in selecting the right travel rewards card for your situation.

Let’s look at how our featured cards compare in each of these key categories.

Earning Potential

You’ll earn rewards when you make a purchase with your card, but all purchases do not earn the same number of rewards. The Capital One Venture X card and Chase Sapphire Preferred card are travel rewards cards and as such, earn elevated bonus rewards on travel purchases.

Since you’ll want a card that earns rewards on every purchase you make, let’s look at how these 2 cards compare in earning potential and which spending categories help you earn rewards at a faster pace.

The Capital One Venture X card earns well on travel purchases via Capital One Travel. However, additional purchases, including travel purchased outside of the portal, earn 2x miles. If your additional spending is significant in categories other than travel, you’ll still have strong earning potential with the card.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred card also earns well on travel purchases via Chase Travel but offers a 3x earning option for dining, streaming services, and online grocery stores.

If you spend a lot in these categories, the Chase Sapphire Preferred card may be a better choice from an earning perspective. However, the 1x point per dollar spent on all other purchases may be a key factor in whether the card offers better bottom-line value compared to the 2x miles per dollar on all other purchases Capital One Venture X card, if most of your spending falls in this category.

Bottom Line: The Capital One Venture X card and Chase Sapphire Preferred card earn well on travel purchases via the associated travel portals. Both cards also earn 2x rewards on travel purchased outside of the portals. But outside of the 3x bonus earnings on dining, select streaming services, and online grocery stores, the Chase Sapphire Preferred card earns just 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases versus the Capital One Venture X card’s 2x earnings. 

Redemption Options

Earning rewards is quite satisfying, but redeeming rewards can be thrilling, especially if you’re redeeming rewards for travel. Fortunately, the Capital One Venture X card and Chase Sapphire Preferred card were designed with travelers in mind, so you’ll find flexible redemption options and good value.

Here are your options when you’re ready for the excitement of redeeming your hard-earned rewards:

Before applying for either of our featured cards, you may want to review the list of airline and hotel partners available on the Capital One Venture X card and the Chase Sapphire Preferred card, as the list differs depending on the card.

Bottom Line: Both the Capital One Venture X card and Chase Sapphire Preferred card have similar travel redemption options. The Chase Sapphire Preferred card has an edge when redeeming points via the Chase travel portal, as points are worth 25% more. The card also allows you to receive 1 cent in value when redeeming points for a general statement credit, while the Capital One Venture X card offers just 0.5 cents per mile in value for this redemption option. 

Travel Benefits and Protections

Both the Capital One Venture X card and Chase Sapphire Preferred card come with several useful travel benefits and protections.

Here is a list of those benefits and protections that you’ll find on both cards:

• No Foreign Transaction Fees — Be sure to pack either of our featured cards when traveling abroad, as there are no additional fees charged for foreign purchases (Capital One Venture X card (rates & fees))
• Primary Car Rental Collision Damage Waiver — Pay for your entire car rental with your card, decline the rental agency’s CDW/LDW coverage, and receive coverage for damage or theft.
• Trip Cancellation and Trip Interruption — While both cards offer this coverage, the Capital One Venture X card has a limit of $2,000 per trip, and the Chase Sapphire Preferred card has a limit of $10,000 per person, $20,000 per trip.
• Trip Delay — Use your card to purchase at least a portion of your trip and receive up to $500 per ticket if your trip is delayed more than 6 hours with the Capital One Venture X card, or 12 hours with the Chase Sapphire Preferred card.
• Baggage Insurance — Receive up to $3,000 if your luggage is stolen or damaged.

In addition to the common benefits found on the cards, you’ll find that each card offers its own set of travel benefits and protections.

Capital One Venture X Card

• Lounge Access: Cardholders receive a Priority Pass Select Membership which grants access to over 1,400 properties worldwide, including airport lounges, participating restaurants, and Minute Suites. Membership also extends to authorized users added to your card. Cardholders also get access for themselves and up to 2 guests at Capital One Lounges and Plaza Premium Lounges.
• Global Entry/TSA PreCheck Fee Reimbursement — Pay your application or renewal fee with your card and receive up to $100 as a statement credit.
• $300 Travel Credit — Receive $300 as a credit each year for travel purchased via Capital One Travel.
• Hertz Gold Plus Rewards Elite Status — Receive complimentary President’s Circle status as long as you hold the card.
• Visa Infinite Luxury Hotel Benefits — Use your card to book your stay via the link found in your online card account and enjoy VIP treatment, an upgraded room (when available), daily breakfast for 2, late checkout (if available), and an onsite amenity.
• Gravity Haus Benefits — Cardholders receive a $300 discount toward a membership. This entitles you to discounted hotel stays near top ski resorts, exclusive events, and discounts on your ski or snowboarding gear. This partnership will last through January 19, 2024.

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card

• $50 Hotel Statement Credit — Book a hotel via the Chase travel portal and receive up to $50 as a statement credit each card anniversary year.
• Delayed Luggage — Receive up to $100 per day for a maximum of 5 days if your luggage is delayed more than 6 hours.
• Roadside Dispatch — If you are stranded on the side of the road, roadside dispatch is available 24/7 to provide assistance. Cardholders are responsible for actual services received.

Bottom Line: While the Capital One Venture X card clearly offers more travel benefits and protections, the Chase Sapphire Preferred card has a respectable list of core travel insurance benefits and comes with a lower annual fee. 

Shopping Benefits and Protections

Shopping benefits can save you money or help you earn elevated rewards on your purchases. Shopping protections can be there to provide coverage if you should experience a covered loss to an eligible purchase you make with your card.

Here are the shopping benefits and protections that come complimentary with the Capital One Venture X card and the Chase Sapphire Preferred card:

• Purchase Security and Purchase Protection — Purchase an eligible item with your card, and if that item is damaged or stolen within the first 120 days from the purchase date, you could receive up to $500 per item, $10,000 per account with the Chase Sapphire Preferred card and up to $10,000 per item, $50,000 per year with Capital One Venture X card.
• Extended Warranty — Eligible items purchased with your card that have a manufacturer’s warranty of 3 years or less will receive an extension for 1 additional year.

In addition to the benefits mentioned above and protections, each card offers its unique collection:

Capital One Venture X Card

• Cell Phone Protection — Pay your monthly cell phone bill with your card and receive coverage for theft or damage up to $800 per claim. There is a $50 deductible per claim and a limit of 2 claims per 12-month period.
• Return Protection — If the merchant does not accept an eligible item purchased with your card for return within 90 days of the purchase date, you could receive up to $300 per item, $1,000 maximum per account.
• Capital One Offers — Sign in to your online card account to see offers.

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card

• Chase Offers — Sign in to your online card account and review offers to earn statement credits for specific purchases.
• Shop through Chase — Shop via the Shop through Chase shopping portal and receive bonus earnings for each purchase.
• Instacart Benefits — Cardholders are eligible for a free 6-month Instacart+ membership plus a $15 quarterly credit.

Bottom Line: In addition to purchase security and purchase protection and extended warranty coverage offered by both cards, the Capital One Venture X card offers cell phone protection and return protection. 

Annual Fees and Authorized Users

The cost of card ownership is an important factor to consider when selecting a travel rewards card. Annual fees can add up, and if you need to add authorized users, fees to do so can also increase the annual cost of having the card.

Here’s how the Capital One Venture X card and Chase Sapphire Preferred card compare in these categories:

Annual Fees

The Capital One Venture X card charges an annual fee of $395 (rates & fees), while the Chase Sapphire Preferred card charges $95.

Authorized Users

You can add up to 4 authorized users to your Capital One Venture X card for no additional charge (rates & fees). The Chase Sapphire Preferred card does not charge for authorized users and has no set limit.

Bottom Line: While the Capital One Venture X card has a higher annual fee, it can be worth it if you can utilize the additional benefits. The Chase Sapphire Preferred card with a modest $95 annual fee offers excellent value considering its long list of benefits and extra value at redemption time. Neither card charges a fee to add authorized users (Capital One Venture X card rates & fees). However, the Capital One Venture X card does offer worldwide lounge access for those additional users — albeit, with a higher annual fee (rates & fees).

Final Thoughts

The Capital One Venture X card and Chase Sapphire Preferred card are both excellent choices for a travel rewards card. However, if you’re applying for your first travel rewards card, you may want to consider the Chase Sapphire Preferred card.

According to MyFico Forums, My BankTracker, and cardholder data points, Capital One normally does a hard pull with all 3 credit bureaus when you apply for a card. If this is an issue for you, especially if you’re a first-time cardholder, you may prefer to start with the Chase Sapphire Preferred card.

We like the Chase Sapphire Preferred card for its ability to earn valuable and flexible Ultimate Rewards points, the added 25% value at redemption time, and its long list of travel insurance benefits. Plus, we like the lower annual fee.

However, if you can afford the $395 annual fee (rates & fees), the Capital One Venture X card can be a great way to not only accrue valuable rewards, but also improve the quality of your travels.

Enrollment required through Capital One website or mobile app. Upon enrollment, eligible cardholders will remain at upgraded status level through December 31, 2024.  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.

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