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

Key Takeaways

• The Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card earns 3x points on dining, online grocery, and select streaming services, 2x points on travel, and 1x points on everything else.
• The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card earns 5x miles on hotels, vacation rentals, and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 2x miles on everything else.
• Both cards have similar benefits, but the Chase Sapphire Preferred card provides higher point redemption value through Chase Ultimate Rewards.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card is a very popular travel rewards card that receives many accolades. It’s often recommended as a desirable first travel rewards card because it serves as a solid foundation for earning flexible travel rewards, offers redemptions that provide good value, and hosts a long list of benefits.

So you might wonder why we’ve chosen to pit the Chase Sapphire Preferred card against the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card. The Chase Sapphire Preferred card, after all, is a reigning champ in its category. But like any reigning champ, challengers surface that require the champ to defend their title.

In this battle, there isn’t a clear winner or loser — both cards measure up well when we look at earnings, redemption options, and benefits. Today, we’ll break down how each card delivers in all the categories that matter when you’re considering a travel rewards card.

Overview

Let’s take a look at the high-level features of both the Chase Sapphire Preferred card and Capital One Venture card:

Welcome Bonus Comparison

Receiving a welcome offer bonus when you meet the spending requirements on your credit card can jump-start your earnings with points that are worth hundreds of dollars when redeemed for travel. The bonus is usually achieved by meeting a designated minimum spend within the first few months after you’re approved for the card.

Don’t miss out on the welcome bonus when you get a card — it’s the quickest way to begin building a bank of valuable rewards points.

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card

BEST BEGINNER CARD

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs 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 great welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.

Apply Now(at Chase's secure site)

Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card

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

Welcome Offer

Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

60,000 points

UP's Offer Valuation*:

$1,200

Annual Fee

$95

APR

19.99% - 28.24% 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

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
• 3x points on dining purchases, online grocery purchases, and select streaming services
• 2x points on all other travel worldwide

Cons

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

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
• 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.
• Earn up to $50 in statement credits each account anniversary year for hotel stays through Chase Travel℠
• 10% anniversary points boost - each account anniversary you'll earn bonus points equal to 10% of your total purchases made the previous year.
• Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
• Complimentary DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees & lower service fees for a min. of one year when you activate by 12/31/27. Plus, a $10 promo each month on non-restaurant orders.
• Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 19.99% - 28.24% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Chase Ultimate Rewards

Capital One Venture Card

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs 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.

Get 2x miles plus some of the most flexible redemptions offered by a travel credit card!

Apply Now(at Capital One's secure site)

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Get 2x miles plus some of the most flexible redemptions offered by a travel credit card!

Welcome Offer

Earn 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.

75,000 miles

UP's Offer Valuation*:

$1,350

Annual Fee

$95

APR

Purchases: 19.99% - 29.24% (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 Credit (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is one of the most popular rewards cards on the market. It’s perfect for anyone in search of a great welcome offer, high rewards rates, and flexible redemption options.

Frequent travelers with excellent credit may benefit from this credit card that offers a lot of bells and whistles. And it offers easy-to-understand rewards earning and redemption.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 5x miles per $1 on hotels, vacation rentals, and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
• 2x miles per $1 on all other purchases
• Up to a $120 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit

Cons

• $95 annual fee (rates & fees)
• Limited elite benefits

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
• Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
• Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
• Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
• Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck^®
• Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
• Enjoy a $50 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Lifestyle Collection
• Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs

Financial Snapshot

• APR: Purchases: 19.99% - 29.24% (Variable)
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Capital One Miles

Hot Tip: Securing the initial welcome bonus is the fastest way to accumulate valuable points. Planning the timing of your credit card application to take advantage of a large upcoming purchase or expense ensures you’ll be able to meet this important spending requirement in the first 3 months after card approval. 

Ultimate Rewards Points vs. Capital One Miles

The Chase Sapphire Preferred card earns rewards in the form of Ultimate Rewards points, while the Capital One Venture card earns Capital One miles.

Earning Potential

A frequent traveler could fare well with either of these travel rewards cards, as both deliver respectable earnings on travel and dining purchases.

Also, if your spending is not primarily in the bonus categories of the Chase Sapphire Preferred card, receiving 2x miles on every purchase with the Capital One Venture card versus 1 point per dollar spent on the Chase Sapphire Preferred card is a genuine advantage.

Bottom Line: If you’re a frequent traveler who spends a lot on travel and dining purchases, either card will work well for you since both earn in these bonus category purchases. If your spending is outside of these bonus categories, the Capital One Venture card with 2x miles per dollar earnings on every purchase may be a better match. 

Redemption Options

How you earn points and miles for spending on your card is important, but when it comes time to redeem those rewards, it’s just as important to make sure you’re getting the highest value possible. Once again, the frequent traveler wins with either card.

While the Capital One Venture card earns 2x miles per dollar spent on all purchases, each point is worth 1 cent toward travel at redemption time. Chase Sapphire Preferred card points are worth 1.25 cents each when redeemed for travel.

Both cards allow you to maximize your points and miles by transferring these rewards to a long list of airline and hotel partners. It is possible to far exceed 1 or 1.25 cents per point/mile when utilizing this redemption option.

Hot Tip: For creative ideas on how to redeem your Ultimate Rewards points for maximum value and get the most value for your Capital One miles, check out our in-depth guides. 

Statement Credits

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card

• $50 Hotel Credit: Receive an annual statement credit of $50 towards hotel stays booked through the Chase travel portal.

Capital One Venture Card

• Global Entry and TSA PreCheck: Receive up to $120 as a statement credit when you charge your Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee to your Capital One Venture card.

Hotel Program Privileges

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card

The Chase Sapphire Preferred card provides access to the Luxury Hotel and Resort Collection. There are over 1,000 worldwide properties in the collection and cardholders receive special amenities when staying at these hotels.

Benefits include:

• Access to early check-in and late checkout, if available
• Breakfast each day of your stay for 2 guests
• Free internet
• A special local amenity worth at least $100
• Upgraded room when available

You must use your Chase Sapphire Preferred card to pay for your reservation and book through the hotel program website.

Bottom Line: While you won’t find complimentary hotel elite status with these cards, the Chase Sapphire Preferred card offers its cardholders access and perks with a luxury hotel program. 

Concierge and Travel Assistance

Since both offer a 24/7 dedicated phone line.

The concierge can assist with securing event tickets, making dinner reservations, helping purchase a special gift, or even making travel arrangements.

Travel Insurance and Protection Perks

While you might not select a travel rewards credit card based solely on its ancillary travel benefits, there’s value to be found in these complimentary perks. Let’s take a look at how our selected cards compare when it comes to travel benefits and protections.

Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance

There are similarities between the car rental insurance coverage on these cards. Both cards require that you reserve and pay for the rental car with your card and decline the rental car agency’s collision loss damage waiver (CDW or LDW) for coverage to be valid.

Both cards offer coverage for the primary cardholder and any driver listed on the rental agreement.

Coverage provided on both cards includes damage to or theft of the rental car, loss of use charges imposed by the rental company, and reasonable towing charges.

You’ll also find that some types of vehicles — such as commercial vehicles, exotic vehicles, and large passenger vans — are excluded from both plans.

When we compare coverage further, there are differences between the 2 cards:

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card

The Chase Sapphire Preferred card is known for having one of the best car rental insurance benefits of any travel rewards card. The coverage is complimentary and available worldwide.

For any rental period of 31 days or less, you’ll receive primary rental car coverage for damage, theft, and loss of use. Primary coverage (as opposed to secondary coverage) means you won’t have to file a claim with your auto insurance before the card’s coverage kicks in.

Capital One Venture Card

MasterRental Insurance* – Use your card to rent an eligible vehicle and you may be covered for physical damage and theft of the rental vehicle.

Bottom Line: Both the Chase Sapphire Preferred card and Capital One Venture card offer primary rental car insurance outside of your country of residence. The Chase Sapphire Preferred card extends this primary coverage worldwide, including your country of residence, while the Capital One Venture card does not. 

Trip Interruption, Cancellation, and Delay Coverage

The travel protections and benefits that come with your credit card can’t replace a comprehensive travel insurance policy.

However, complimentary trip interruption, cancellation, and delay benefits can replace some of those hard-earned travel dollars should you experience a covered loss during your travels.

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card

Use your Chase Sapphire Preferred card or the associated Ultimate Rewards points to pay for at least a portion of your trip, and you’ll receive trip interruption, trip cancellation, and trip delay benefits.

If your trip is disrupted by illness, weather, or another covered event, you could receive up to $10,000 per claim (up to $20,000 per trip) for prepaid expenses lost. The maximum for a 12-month period is $40,000.

Your immediate family members will also be covered, even if you are not accompanying them on their trip. You’ll also receive trip delay coverage that provides up to $500 per person per trip when a covered delay disrupts your travels for more than 12 hours.

Capital One Venture Card

The Capital One Venture card does not come with trip interruption, cancellation, or delay benefits.

Lost and Delayed Baggage Coverage

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card

Pay for even a portion of your trip with your card or Ultimate Rewards points and you can receive up to $500 per trip when your baggage is delayed for more than 6 hours. Baggage that is lost or damaged is also covered up to $3,000 per person per trip.

Capital One Venture Card

Lost or Damaged Luggage Reimbursement* – You may be eligible for reimbursement for the actual cost of repairing or replacing your checked or carry-on luggage and personal property contained therein that is lost or damaged.

Bottom Line: The Chase Sapphire Preferred card offers superior travel benefits, including primary worldwide rental car insurance, trip interruption, cancellation, and delay coverage, and lost, stolen, or damaged baggage coverage.

Roadside Assistance Service/Master RoadAssist^®

With complimentary roadside dispatch service, cardholders of the Chase Sapphire Preferred card receive access to a dedicated phone number to use in case of a roadside emergency.

There is no cost for using roadside dispatch service, and the service call is charged at a pre-negotiated flat fee (currently $69.95). For this flat fee, cardholders can receive the following services:

• Towing (5 miles at no charge)
• Flat tire changing with an inflated spare
• Jumpstart service
• Lockout service
• Free fuel delivery up to 5 gallons (cost of fuel not included)
• Standard winching

The Capital One Venture card can take advantage of Master RoadAssist^® which offers 24 hour toll-free assistance to help with services like towing, gas delivery, jumpstarts, and tire changes.

Travel Assistance

Both the Chase Sapphire Preferred card and Capital One Venture card come with travel assistance services. This can help with accessing local emergency and assistance resources 24/7 during your travels.

You’ll receive help with legal or medical referrals, emergency transportation, translation services, trip assistance, and more. Cardholders are responsible for the cost of the services provided, but the referral service is complimentary.

Travel Accident Insurance

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card

The Chase Sapphire Preferred card has 2 different accident insurance benefits. First, on a common carrier, you could receive up to $500,000 for loss of life or serious injury.

Another benefit offers up to $100,000 for severe injury or death when not on a common carrier.

Hot Tip: If you’re looking for other cards, explore the best cards to offer travel accident insurance. 

Shopping Benefits Showdown

We all use our credit cards to shop. Fortunately, when you use your card to make a purchase, you may find additional value in the benefits that come complimentary with your card.

You may be able to earn additional rewards for your shopping purchases.

Let’s review how these cards compare to earn bonus rewards for shopping.

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card

Earn up to 20 additional Ultimate Rewards points per dollar spent when you make a purchase through the Chase Ultimate Rewards shopping portal. Just log in to your account via chase.com/ultimaterewards and select the store where you’d like to shop.

Sample retailers include Sears, Macy’s, Walmart, JCPenney, Staples, and more.

Points you earn from shopping through the Ultimate Rewards portal are in addition to any rewards you would already be earning on the card.

Capital One Venture Card

With Capital One Offers, cardholders can log in to their account and click through Capital One Offers to earn cash-back on purchases at select retailers.

Shopping Protection Perks

You may be able to seek compensation if your purchase becomes damaged or the product fails to perform as designed.

Let’s review how these cards compare in shopping protections.

Purchase Protection

Both the Chase Sapphire Preferred card and Capital One Venture card provide purchase protection coverage for damage or theft of eligible items purchased with your card.

Coverage limits for the Chase Sapphire Preferred card provides $500 per claim for a maximum of $50,000 per cardholder account.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred card provides coverage for the first 120 days from the purchase date, while the Capital One Venture card provides its purchase assurance coverage for just 90 days.

Extended Warranty/Purchase Assurance

Original manufacturer’s warranties expire way too quickly, so it’s great to have an extended plan.

Qualifying items purchased in full with your Chase Sapphire Preferred card will have the manufacturer’s warranty extended by 1 year whereas the Capital One Venture card offers Purchase Assurance, which doubles the time period of your covered purchase’s original warranty, up to a maximum of twenty-four months

Both the cardholder and gift recipients of eligible items are covered.

Fees and Adding Additional Users

Annual Fees

When it comes to annual fees, the Chase Sapphire Preferred card charges $95 and the Capital One Venture card charges $95 (rates & fees) annually.

Adding Additional Users

There is no charge to add additional authorized users to either the Chase Sapphire Preferred card.

All authorized user charges are the responsibility of the primary cardholder, but these additional purchases also earn rewards in the primary cardholder’s account.

No Foreign Transaction Fees

Both cards are great to carry in your wallet when you travel, as neither charges foreign transaction fees. See Capital One Venture card rates & fees.

Final Thoughts

When we compare these 2 cards, we find a lot of similarities. For example, both cards have strong earnings on travel and dining.

The Capital One Venture card has an edge when it comes to everyday spending since it earns 2x miles per dollar on every purchase (vs. just 1x points with the Chase Sapphire Preferred card).

At redemption time, you have flexible options with both cards, but overall more value with the Chase Sapphire Preferred card — including 1.25 cents per point for travel, 1 cent per point for any statement credit (not just travel like the Capital One Venture card), and the option to transfer to airline and hotel partners.

As for benefits, you can’t beat the Chase Sapphire Preferred card’s rental car and travel insurance coverages.

It’s also worth noting that Capital One pulls from all 3 credit bureaus when you submit an application.

Before applying, we suggest using the CardMatch tool or Capital One pre-qualification tool to see if you have offers available.

When it comes down to it, the best card for you will be the one that matches your spending mix, allows you to redeem rewards for travel goals that are important to you, and comes with benefits you can actually use.

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.