The 3 Best Cards To Pair With the Capital One Venture X Card [2025]

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is easily one of the best credit cards out there today and is a favorite at Upgraded Points, for good reason.

This premium credit card comes with an enticing welcome offer, decent rewards earning, numerous travel benefits (including lounge access and purchase protections), and is an excellent card for non-category spending. Cardholders also get access to Capital One’s fantastic transfer partners. The Capital One Venture X card provides all this value while offering the lowest annual fee (rates & fees) among premium credit cards.

However, as valuable as the Capital One Venture X card, it has drawbacks. When it comes to credit cards, there isn’t 1 single credit card with everything. It’s always a good idea to have multiple credit cards that can help you maximize your rewards as much as possible.

For example, someone whose biggest expense is restaurants and takeout may prefer to have a card that earns more points and miles on dining. Someone who spends a lot on airfare may need a completely different credit card focused on maximizing flight rewards.

Let’s look at some of the benefits and drawbacks of the Capital One Venture X card and review other cards that could pair nicely to help earn rewards even faster.

Capital One Venture X Card Snapshot

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 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.

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

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 Offer Valuation*:

$1,350

Annual Fee

$395

APR

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.

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

Read Full Review

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
• Enjoy complimentary access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide, including Capital One Lounge locations 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% - 29.24% (Variable)
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Capital One Miles

 

Benefits of the Capital One Venture X Card

Capital One made a huge splash when it introduced its flagship credit card in late 2021. The Capital One Venture X card is an all-around great card with many benefits you would expect with a premium travel credit card.

If you are not pursuing hotel elite status, or if you book a lot of rental cars, the Capital One Venture X card is ideal to have. It comes with an extraordinary return of up to 10x Capital One miles for hotels, rental cars, or flights booked via Capital One Travel.

The Capital One Venture X card also offers lounge access to Priority Pass lounges and Capital One Lounges.

You’ll receive 10,000 bonus miles, equal to $100 towards travel, every year, starting on your first anniversary.

The Capital One Venture X card does come with a substantial $395 fee (rates & fees), although this is mitigated by the $300 annual travel credit for bookings made through Capital One Travel. Although the annual fee is a bit higher than most other travel rewards credit cards, the Capital One Venture X card is a nice middle ground compared to cards with significantly higher fees.

Where the Capital One Venture X Card Is Weakest

As wonderful as the Capital One Venture X card is, it does come with some notable drawbacks. To receive the best earning potential, you will need to utilize Capital One Travel, which isn’t beneficial if you are looking to earn hotel elite status. Capital One Travel is considered a third party, which excludes any hotel elite status benefits or elevated earnings you may get as compared to booking directly.

The Capital One Venture X card also does not offer any bonus categories for flights or hotels booked directly with an airline or hotel group, which is the preferred booking method for those looking to earn elite status. This is a significant downside.

The 3 Best Cards To Pair With the Capital One Venture X Card

Let’s take a look at some of the best cards that you can pair with the Capital One Venture X card to maximize your earnings.

1. Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Capital One Savor Cash 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.

The Capital One Savor card is a great no-annual fee card for those who regularly spend on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services, and at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart and Target).

Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card

The Capital One Savor card is a great no-annual fee card for those who regularly spend on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services, and at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart and Target).

Welcome Offer

Earn a one-time $200 cash bonus once you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening.

$200

Annual Fee

$0

APR

19.24% - 29.24% (Variable),0% intro on purchases for 15 months

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 Capital One Savor card is a phenomenal option when it comes to no-annual-fee cash-back credit cards. With popular bonus categories like dining, grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart and Target), entertainment, and popular streaming services, and the ability to earn 3% cash-back on these purchases, it is easy to see why those who use the card can earn some serious cash-back throughout the year.

The card also allows you to take your rewards and experiences even further by offering access to Capital One Travel, Capital One Dining, and Capital One Entertainment.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases
• 5% cash-back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you’ll get Capital One’s best prices on thousands of trip options. Terms apply
• 3% cash-back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services, and at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart and Target)

Cons

• Rewards are purely cash-back, so there is no option for miles transfers to transfer partners for redemptions

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn a one-time $200 cash bonus once you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening
• Earn unlimited 3% cash back at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart^® and Target^®), on dining, entertainment and popular streaming services, plus 1% on all other purchases
• Earn 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases
• Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options. Terms apply
• No rotating categories or sign-ups needed to earn cash rewards; plus cash back won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how much you can earn
• 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months; 19.24% - 29.24% variable APR after that; balance transfer fee applies
• No foreign transaction fee
• No annual fee

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 19.24% - 29.24% (Variable),0% intro on purchases for 15 months
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

The Capital One Savor card is a fantastic all-around card as you can earn an unlimited 3% cash-back on dining, entertainment, and popular streaming services, and grocery stores (excluding superstores), and 1% on all other purchases. If you like to order in food to Netflix and chill, this is a perfect card to have.

Why This Card Pairs Well With the Capital One Venture X Card

The Capital One Savor card is an excellent card to pair with the Capital One Venture X card. Although the Capital One Savor card earns cash-back, cardholders can transfer rewards from Capital One cash-back cards to Capital One miles-earning cards (such as the Capital One Venture X card) at a rate of 1 cent to 1 mile. This makes the cash-back earned significantly more valuable as you can transfer the card’s rewards from higher earning categories to Capital One’s airline and hotel partners.

Being able to earn cash-back and redeem it as miles makes this pairing quite appealing. For example, instead of just earning 2x miles for dining with your Capital One Venture X card, you can use the Capital One Savor card to earn a higher rate of 3% cash-back, which you can then turn into 3x miles.

2. American Express^® Gold Card

BEST FOR DINING

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

American Express^® Gold 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.

This is the best card for food lovers who dine out at restaurants (worldwide), order take-out and want big rewards at U.S. supermarkets!

Apply Now(at Amex's secure site)

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.

American Express^® Gold Card

This is the best card for food lovers who dine out at restaurants (worldwide), order take-out and want big rewards at U.S. supermarkets!

Welcome Offer

Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards^® Points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.

60,000 points

UP's Offer Valuation*:

Up to $1,200

Annual Fee

$325

APR

See Pay Over Time APR

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 American Express^® Gold Card is a game-changer.

With this card, you can earn 4x Membership Rewards points at restaurants, up to $50,000 per calendar year, and you’ll also earn 4x Membership Rewards points at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 per calendar year, then 1x.

There isn’t another card on the market that offers a 1-2 punch like this. Of course, there are several other benefits of the Gold Card as well, including extra monthly dining rewards and more.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 4x points per dollar at restaurants worldwide, up to $50,000 per calendar year; then 1x thereafter
• 4x points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets, up to $25,000 per calendar year; then 1x thereafter
• 3x points per dollar on flights purchased directly from airlines or at AmexTravel.com

Cons

• $325 annual fee (rates and fees)
• No lounge access

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards^® Points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
• Earn 4X Membership Rewards^® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
• Earn 4X Membership Rewards^® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
• Earn 3X Membership Rewards^® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
• Earn 2X Membership Rewards^® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
• Earn 1X Membership Rewards^® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
• $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards^® points for Uber Eats purchases made at restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
• $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express^® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations.
• $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express^® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
• $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express^® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
• Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
• No Foreign Transaction Fees.
• Annual Fee is $325.
• Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
• Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

• APR: See Pay Over Time APR
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

American Express Membership Rewards

Hot Tip: Check to see if you’re eligible for a welcome bonus offer of up to 90k points with the Amex Gold card. The current public offer is 60,000 points. (This targeted offer was independently researched and may not be available to all applicants.)

The Amex Gold card has a nice balance as a travel rewards credit card and an everyday spending card and should be the go-to card for those who dine out at restaurants and want big rewards at U.S. supermarkets. Although the Capital One Savor card earns an unlimited 3% cash-back on dining, we still prefer the Amex Gold card as it earns our favorite transferrable points currency: American Express Membership Rewards points.

With the Amex Gold card, you can earn 4x Membership Rewards points at restaurants on up to $50,000 per calendar year in purchases (then 1x) and U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases (then 1x). You’ll also earn 3x points on flights purchased directly from airlines or at AmexTravel.com.

In addition to the excellent earning structure, the Amex Gold card comes with some credits to help offset the annual fee:

• Up to $120 in annual dining credits, which are broken into monthly statement credits of up to $10 when you use your Amex Gold card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys.
• Up to $120 in annual Uber Cash, issued as $10 monthly in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S. when you add your Amex Gold card to your Uber account; however, you can use any Amex card for payment.
• Up to $100 Resy credit redeemable at any U.S. Resy restaurant and other eligible Resy purchases (distributed as $50 semi-annually)
• Up to $84 Dunkin’ credit redeemable at U.S. Dunkin’ locations (distributed as $7 per month)
• A $100 experience credit with a 2-night minimum stay when you book The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com; the experience credit varies by property

Note that enrollment is required for some benefits, so make sure you’re enrolled to get the most out of your card’s benefits. The Amex Gold card comes with a $325 annual fee (rates & fees).

Why This Card Pairs Well With the Capital One Venture X Card

The Amex Gold card’s high earning rates make it ideal to pair with the Capital One Venture X card.

You could use the Amex Gold card at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets to earn 4x points (up to the maximum limit per year) and to book airfare directly with airlines to earn 3x points. You could then use the Capital One Venture X card to earn 2x miles on everything else.

Hot Tip:

Check out our guide for the best ways to redeem your Amex Membership Rewards points to get the most out of your points. As many of the Amex transfer partners are also Capital One transfer partners, you could pool rewards from both programs for 1 redemption.

3. Citi Strata Premier℠ Card

Citi Strata Premier℠ 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.

Citi Strata Premier℠ Card

Welcome Offer

For a limited time: Earn 75,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening, redeemable for $750 in gift cards or travel rewards on thankyou.com.

75,000 points

UP's Offer Valuation*:

$1,200

Annual Fee

$95

APR

20.24% - 28.24% Variable APR

Why We Like This Card

The Citi Strata Premier℠ Card is a great all-around travel rewards card that allows you to earn big rewards on a variety of purchases like air travel, at restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, and more, along with flexible redemption options, all for a modest annual fee.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 10x points on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked through CitiTravel.com
• 3x points on air travel, other hotel purchases, restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, and EV charging stations
• $100 annual hotel benefit

Cons

• $95 annual fee

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• For a limited time: Earn 75,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening, redeemable for $750 in gift cards or travel rewards on thankyou.com.
• Earn 10X points per $1 spent on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked on CitiTravel.com.
• Earn 3X points per $1 on air travel and other hotel purchases, at restaurants, supermarkets, gas and EV charging stations.
• Earn 1X point per $1 spent on all other purchases.
• $100 Annual Hotel Benefit: Once per calendar year, enjoy $100 off a single hotel stay of $500 or more (excluding taxes and fees) when booked through CitiTravel.com. Benefit applied instantly at time of booking.
• No expiration and no limit to the amount of points you can earn with this card.
• No foreign transaction fees on purchases.

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 20.24% - 28.24% Variable APR
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

The Citi Strata Premier card is underrated for those looking for an all-around travel rewards credit card for everyday spending. The Citi Strata Premier card comes with excellent bonus categories for a card with a reasonable $95 annual fee.

The Citi Strata Premier card has some valuable bonus categories, earning 3x ThankYou Points at restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, EV charging stations, air travel, and hotels, making it an excellent card for everyday spending. The card earns 1x points for everything else. The Citi Strata Premier card has no foreign transaction fees or additional fees for authorized users.

The Citi Strata Premier card also comes with a unique annual hotel savings benefit. This perk offers $100 off a single hotel stay of $500 or more, excluding taxes and fees. The booking must be made through thankyou.com and paid with your Citi Strata Premier card.

Why This Card Pairs Well With the Capital One Venture X Card

The Citi Strata Premier card pairs nicely with the Capital One Venture X card as it has elevated earnings on many everyday spending categories. You could use the Citi Strata Premier card for purchases at restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, and EV charging stations to earn 3x ThankYou Points and use the Capital One Venture X card for spending on everything else.

If you wanted to book air travel or hotels directly and did not want to use Capital One Travel, you could use the Citi Strata Premier card to earn 3x ThankYou Points.

Hot Tip:

Citi ThankYou Points can be incredibly valuable when used correctly; check out our guide for the best ways to redeem Citi ThankYou Points for maximum value. As with Amex, many Citi transfer partners are also shared with Capital One.

Detailed Card Comparisons

Bonus Category Earnings

Combining the right credit cards for your spending mix can help you earn more on your purchases. This can speed up your progress towards your next travel rewards redemption and ensure you are getting the most rewards on your spending. Let’s take a look at the earning rates on some common spending categories and which card is best to use.

Welcome Offer and Annual Fee

Now that we know what cards to use for common spending categories, let’s take a look at the current welcome offers and annual fees for each of the travel rewards cards discussed.

Final Thoughts

Pairing the right credit cards together can help you earn thousands of extra points and miles every year. You can maximize your credit cards by using each card for a specific bonus category. 

The Capital One Venture X card is a tremendous all-around premium credit card but lacks in some key places. Pairing it with 1 or more of the cards mentioned will be a great way to boost your points-earning strategy.

The credit cards that work best together all depend on your unique situation. It’s essential to look at your spending habits as that will make the decision of which cards to carry with you that much easier. 

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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.