Differences Between the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card and the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Contrary to popular belief, you can hold both the Capital One Venture X and its younger brother, the Capital One Venture Rewards, in your wallet… at the same time! However, it’s still important to know the differences between the two cards: especially if you’d rather only have one in your wallet. In this case, opt for the one that fits your spending and travel habits better!
If you’re curious what the differences between the two cards are and which one might be better suited for you, this post’s for you. This table summarizes what you need to know!
| Capital One Venture Rewards | Capital One Venture X | |
| Annual Fee | $95 | $395 |
| Welcome Offer | Limited-Time Offer: 75,000 miles after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening | 75,000 miles after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening |
| Bonus Earning | -5x miles per dollar spent on hotels, rental cars and vacation rentals booked through the Capital One Travel portal -2x miles per dollar spent on all other purchases | -10x miles per dollar spent on hotels and rental cars booked through the Capital One Travel portal -5x miles per dollar spent on flights and vacation rentals booked through the Capital One Travel portal -2x miles per dollar spent on all other purchases |
| Other Benefits | -Up to $100 credit towards TSA PreCheck / Global Entry-Two complimentary visits to Capital One Airport Lounges -Access to the Lifestyle Collection and its perks | -$300 annual Capital One Travel credit -10K bonus miles at every cardholder anniversary year -Unlimited access to Capital One Airport Lounges for you and up to 2 guests -Priority Pass membership for airport lounges -Up to $100 credit towards TSA PreCheck / Global Entry -Access to the Lifestyle Collection and Premier Collection, including all of their perks |
Our Thoughts
When it comes to premium personal credit cards, the Capital One Venture X stands out as our top choice, especially for frequent flyers who are looking for a more “premium” airport experience and staggering bonus earning on travel categories. Priced at $395 annually, it offers a more affordable option compared to its direct competitors, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® ($550) or The Platinum Card® by Ameeican Express ($695, See rates & fees). Despite the initial cost, the Venture X‘s unique benefits make the fee much easier to justify!
While $395 may seem steep, offsetting this cost is relatively straightforward. The $300 annual Capital One travel credit and 10,000 bonus miles at every cardholder anniversary year more than compensate for the fee. Additionally, cardholders enjoy a plethora of perks, including Priority Pass membership, access to Capital One’s expanding network of airport lounges, TSA PreCheck and Global Entry credits, and more – which are worth hundreds of dollars every single year.
One of the standout features of the Venture X is its policy on authorized users. Unlike competitor cards, which often charge extra for companion cards with similar benefits as the main cardholder, the Venture X offers free authorized users. The Venture X companion cards receive their own Priority Pass membership and TSA PreCheck/Global Entry credit, making it an excellent choice for sharing premium travel perks with family members.
All of these perks make the Venture X card an excellent choice for anyone who’s looking for a premium travel rewards card.
On the other hand, the Capital One Venture Rewards card is $300 cheaper than the Venture X card. While it doesn’t provide the same premium airport benefits, such as unlimited lounge access, it still offers up to $100 towards TSA PreCheck/Global Entry and up to two visits to Capital One Airport lounges. Its base earning rate of 2x miles per dollar spent on all purchases matches that of the Venture X. However, the Venture Rewards card earns 5x miles per dollar spent on hotels and rental cars booked through the Capital One Travel portal, compared to the Venture X‘s 10x in these categories. It also only earns 2x on flights, whether they’re booked directly with an airline or in the bank portal, compared to the Venture X, which earns 5x on flights booked through Capital One Travel.
If you already hold another premium travel card like the Chase Sapphire Reserve® or The Platinum Card® by Ameeican Express, the Capital One Venture X might be redundant due to overlapping perks. However, if you lack a card offering airport lounge access and high bonus earnings in travel categories such as hotels, flights, and rental cars, the Venture X is an ideal choice for you.
For those who prefer not to pay the $395 fee or don’t need the premium benefits of the Venture X, the Venture Rewards is a great alternative. It provides a straightforward earning structure with 2x miles across most categories and 5x on hotels and rental cars booked via the Capital One portal.
Note: Opinions expressed here are ours alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
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