Capital One Venture X vs. Chase Sapphire Preferred Card: It’s Hard To Go Wrong With Either if You Travel
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Written by
Meghan Hunter
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Edited by
Emily Gadd
Comparing the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card to the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is like comparing your family’s sedan to a sports car — they’ll both get you where you want to go, but the experience might be slightly different.
The Venture X is Capital One’s premium credit card, featuring higher-end perks for a hefty annual fee. In contrast, the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card has a reputation as the gold standard for mid-tier travel rewards cards.
Let’s look at welcome bonuses, rewards structures, travel benefits and fees to help you clearly understand if the Sapphire Preferred Card or Venture X aligns with your travel style and financial goals.
How The Cards Compare: Capital One Venture X vs. Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
Side By Side Comparison
Annual Fee
Purchase and Balance Transfer APR
Welcome Bonus
Ongoing Rewards
Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases.
Pros & Cons
- Earn bonus miles with a new cardmember offer
- 10,000 bonus miles each account anniversary
- Lounge access
PROS
- High annual fee
- No intro APR period on purchases or balance transfers
- No bonus categories outside of travel
CONS
- Generous intro bonus
- Primary rental car coverage
- 10% Anniversary Bonus
PROS
- Lounge access or free checked bags are not available
- No intro APR for purchases or balance transfers
- Complicated rewards
CONS
Learn More
Welcome Bonuses
Both cards offer attractive welcome bonuses, though meaningful differences exist in their value and each card’s spending requirements.
Capital One Venture X Welcome Bonus
The Capital One Venture X offers 75,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening. The bonus alone is worth at least $750 when redeemed for travel, but potentially more when transferred to travel partners.
While the spending requirement is substantial, it averages to about $1,333 per month, which is probably doable for someone in the market for a premium travel card.
Chase Sapphire Preferred Card Welcome Bonus
New Chase Sapphire Preferred Card holders can earn 75,000 points after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. When redeemed through Chase Travel℠, these points are worth up to $1,312 (thanks to up to 75% more value through Points Boost).
Like the Venture X, the points can be worth even more when transferred to Chase’s airline and hotel partners.
CardCritics™ Opinion
While both offers require a similar minimum spending threshold, the Venture X’s 75,000-mile welcome offer edges out the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card.
Earning Rewards
Both cards offer solid reward structures, but are better suited to cardholders with different spending patterns.
How To Earn Rewards With Capital One Venture X
The Venture X features a straightforward rewards structure that appeals to those who don’t want the hassle of multiple bonus categories.
Cardholders earn:
- 10x miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- 5x miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel
- 2x miles on all other purchases
How To Earn Rewards With Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card offers a more diverse rewards structure that rewards several everyday spending categories. Cardholders earn:
- 5x points on travel purchased through Chase Travel (excluding hotel purchases that qualify for the $50 annual Chase Travel hotel credit)
- 3x points on dining (including eligible delivery services)
- 3x points on select streaming services
- 3x points on online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs)
- 2x points on other travel purchases
- 1x points on all other purchases
CardCritics™ Opinion
For travelers who primarily want to earn on travel and general purchases, the Venture X’s flat 2x rate on most spending provides simplicity and value.
However, the Sapphire Preferred Card offers higher earning potential for those who dine out frequently and spend money on streaming services and online groceries. The right card for you depends on your specific spending habits.
Redeeming Rewards
Both cards offer flexible redemption options, but these options differ regarding eligible travel partners and the value you’ll get from your redemptions.
How To Redeem Rewards With Capital One Venture X
The Capital One Venture X provides several redemption options. To start, you can book travel through Capital One Travel and redeem miles at a fixed value of 1 cent each with no blackout dates. Alternatively, you can transfer your Capital One miles to 15+ travel partners. Lastly, you can use your miles to cover any eligible travel purchase — think train tickets and rental cars — by purchasing with your card and “erasing” it with miles within 90 days.
How To Redeem Rewards With Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
You can transfer your Chase Ultimate Rewards® points at a 1:1 ratio to over a dozen airline and hotel partners, or book travel through Chase Travel at a rate of 1 to 1.75 cents each. Additionally, you can redeem your points for cash back at 1 cent per point. Other options include gift cards and experiences (typically at 1 cent per point) and shopping with points at Amazon or Apple. However, these redemptions aren’t recommended due to the lower value you’ll receive.
CardCritics™ Opinion
Both cards are solid contenders for maximizing value through transfer partners, but consider which partners you use most when choosing between the cards. Chase’s Points Boost through its travel portal gives the Sapphire Preferred Card an edge regarding flexible redemptions. However, the Venture X provides more flexibility for retroactively applying miles to any travel purchase, which some cardholders may prefer.
Card Benefits
Both cards offer travel protections and perks, but the Venture X has a broader range of benefits.
Capital One Venture X Benefits
The Capital One Venture X includes several premium benefits:
- $300 annual travel credit for bookings through Capital One Travel
- 10,000 bonus miles every account anniversary (worth $100+ in travel)
- Access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide, including Capital One Lounge locations and Priority Pass lounges, after enrollment
- $100 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Premier Collection
- Up to a $120 credit for the Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee every four years
- Cell phone protection (up to $800 per claim with a $50 deductible)
- Travel protections include primary rental car insurance, trip cancellation/interruption insurance (up to $2,000 per person), trip delay reimbursement (up to $500 per ticket for delays of over six hours), and lost luggage reimbursement (up to $3,000 per covered trip)
Chase Sapphire Preferred Card Benefits
The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card offers cardholders solid perks, especially considering its relatively low annual fee:
- Up to $50 in statement credits each account anniversary year for hotel stays purchased through Chase Travel
- 10% anniversary point bonus on total purchases made the previous year
- Up to 75% more value when points are redeemed through Chase Travel
- Complimentary DoorDash DashPass subscription for 12 months
- Travel benefits like primary rental car insurance, trip cancellation/interruption insurance (up to $10,000 per person, $20,000 per trip), trip delay reimbursement (up to $500 per ticket for delays of 12+ hours), baggage delay insurance (up to $100 per day for five days), and lost luggage reimbursement (up to $3,000 per passenger)
- Purchase protection and extended warranty
CardCritics™ Opinion
The Venture X offers more benefits, particularly lounge access, annual travel credit and anniversary miles bonus, which can significantly offset the annual fee. This makes it more valuable for frequent travelers who value airport lounge access. However, the Sapphire Preferred Card provides impressive travel protections for a mid-tier card, with superior trip cancellation coverage.
Fees and Costs
The cards have very different annual fees, which is a major consideration for many applicants.
Capital One Venture X Fees and Costs
The Capital One Venture X has an annual fee of $395 and does not charge foreign transaction fees. Late payment fees can reach up to $40, while balance transfers incur a 4% fee of the transferred amount. Cash advances cost $5 or 5% of each cash advance, whichever is greater. The APR ranges from 19.99% - 29.24% (Variable) for purchases and balance transfers.
Chase Sapphire Preferred Card Fees and Costs
The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card has a significantly lower $95 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees. Late payments can result in a fee of up to $40. Balance transfers cost either $5 or 5% of the transfer amount (whichever is greater), and cash advances incur either $10 or 5% of the transaction amount (whichever is greater). The APR for purchases and balance transfers ranges from 19.99% - 28.24% Variable.
CardCritics™ Opinion
The annual fee difference between the two cards is significant, with the Venture X costing $300 more each year than the Sapphire Preferred Card. However, if you consider the Venture X’s $300 travel credit and the 10,000 anniversary miles (worth at least $100), the effective annual cost can be lower than that of the Sapphire Preferred Card for travelers who take full advantage of these benefits.
On the other hand, the Sapphire Preferred Card offers better value for those who won’t fully utilize these credits and don’t prioritize lounge access.
How To Choose Between Capital One Venture X Card vs. Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
Your decision between these cards should be based on several factors.
Choose the Capital One Venture X if you:
- Travel frequently enough to use the annual $300 travel credit
- Value airport lounge access
- Prefer a simpler rewards earning structure
- Can afford a higher upfront annual fee
- Prefer booking travel directly with providers
Choose the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card if you:
- Want a lower annual fee
- Spend heavily on dining, streaming services and online groceries
- Prefer Chase’s transfer partners (especially if you’re loyal to United, Southwest or Hyatt)
- Appreciate the up to 1.75 cents per point redemption rate through the Chase Travel
I’ve held both of these cards at one time or another and find a lot of use for both types of rewards.
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.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Venture X vs. Sapphire Preferred Card
Is the Capital One Venture X worth the annual fee?
The Venture X annual fee can be worth it, for frequent travelers who use the $300 annual travel credit, airport lounge access and 10,000 anniversary miles. If that’s you, the Venture X can provide value that exceeds its $395 annual fee.
Does the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card have foreign transaction fees?
No, the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card does not charge foreign transaction fees, making it an excellent choice for international travelers.
Which card offers better travel insurance, the Venture X or Sapphire Preferred Card?
While both cards offer robust travel protection, the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card provides superior trip cancellation/interruption insurance (up to $10,000 per person versus up to $2,000 for the Venture X). However, the Venture X offers trip delay coverage that kicks in after only six hours compared to the Sapphire Preferred Card’s 12-hour threshold.
Can you have both the Capital One Venture X and Chase Sapphire Preferred Card?
Yes, you can hold both cards as different banks issue them. Some travelers hold both cards to maximize benefits and earning opportunities across the two rewards programs.
Which card has better transfer partners?
It depends on your travel preferences. Chase partners with airlines like United and Southwest, and hotel programs such as Hyatt and Marriott, which are valuable for domestic and international travel. Capital One partners with airlines like Emirates, Air Canada and Singapore Airlines, which can provide value for business and/or first-class redemptions. Both programs have unique strengths depending on your travel habits and goals.
