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Lyle Daly is a personal finance writer who specializes in credit cards, travel rewards programs, and banking. He writes for The Ascent and The Motley Fool, and his work has appeared in USA Today and Yahoo! Finance. He was born in California but currently lives as a digital nomad with a home base in Colombia.
Eric McWhinnie has been writing and editing digital content since 2010. He specializes in personal finance and investing. He also holds a bachelor’s degree in Finance.
Many or all of the products here are from our partners that compensate us. It’s how we make money. But our editorial integrity ensures our experts’ opinions aren’t influenced by compensation. Terms may apply to offers listed on this page.
The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card (see rates and fees) is a long-time favorite for travelers. It has just about everything you could want from an affordable travel card. It earns an unlimited 2X miles per $1 on purchases, has a huge welcome offer, and gives you several ways to use your miles.
For the same annual fee, you could also get the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. One of Chase's top travel cards, it's also extremely popular, and has many similar benefits. They're both excellent cards, and you could probably be happy with either one. But they do have some differences that can help you find the best fit.
Capital One Venture Card vs. Chase Sapphire Preferred overview
5.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs. = Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs. = Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor
Credit Rating Requirement:
Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.
Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Good/Excellent (670-850)
Poor
Fair
Good
Excellent
300-579
580-669
670-739
740-850
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Credit Rating Requirement:
Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.
Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Good/Excellent (670-850)
Poor
Fair
Good
Excellent
300-579
580-669
670-739
740-850
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Welcome Offer:
75,000 Miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening
75,000 Miles
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 Travel℠.
60,000 bonus points
Rewards Program:
Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day. Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options.
2X-5X miles
Rewards Program:
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.
5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining and 2x on all other travel purchases
Intro APR:
Purchases: N/A
Balance Transfers: N/A
Intro APR:
N/A
Purchases: N/A
Balance Transfers: N/A
Regular APR:
19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)
Regular APR:
21.49%-28.49% Variable
Annual Fee:
$95
Annual Fee:
N/A
$95
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 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 $100 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
Enrich every hotel stay from the Lifestyle Collection with a suite of cardholder benefits, like a $50 experience credit, room upgrades, and more
Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
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.
Why the Capital One Venture Card might be the ideal choice
The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is great for earning miles, especially if you don't want to keep track of bonus categories. Most travel cards earn a base rate of 1 point/mile per $1 and have bonus categories where they earn more. This Capital One card earns a base rate of 2X miles per $1 on purchases. Over time, that can make a big difference in how much you earn.
For frequent flyers, this card also has a Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit. The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card doesn't. So if you want to sign up for an expedited security program to get through the airport more quickly, this Capital One card can cover the membership fee.
When the Chase Sapphire Preferred could be the better option
With the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, you have far more bonus opportunities. While Capital One's card offers a high rate on non-bonus spending, it has hardly any bonus categories. This Chase credit card has six of them. It could be the bigger earner if you mostly spend on travel, restaurants, or online groceries -- all places it earns bonus points.
Many travelers (myself included) also prefer Chase's rewards program. You can use points to book travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards at a rate of $0.0125 per point. That's 25% more value than with Capital One, where you get $0.01 per mile. This is an easy way to use travel rewards. If you want to transfer your points, Chase arguably has the better selection of airline and hotel partners.
Capital One Venture Card vs. Chase Sapphire Preferred comparison
Here's a detailed look at how these travel credit cards compare in the most important areas.
Capital One Venture Card vs. Chase Sapphire Preferred: Annual fee
Both of these cards have an identical $95 annual fee. The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card (see rates and fees) also has a Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit of up to $100 every four years. That comes out to $25 a year in savings, meaning the card effectively costs you $70 if you use that credit.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card has a spending credit of its own. You can earn up to $50 in statement credits every account year for hotel stays you book through Chase Ultimate Rewards. Assuming you use that every year, it brings the true cost of the card down to just $45.
Winner: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Capital One Venture Card vs. Chase Sapphire Preferred: Welcome offer
The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card has a welcome offer of 75,000 Miles after you spend $4,000 in the first 3 months. You can redeem miles toward cash travel purchases at a rate of $0.01 per mile. Based on that, we calculate this bonus to be worth at least $750 toward travel. Capital One Venture miles are also transferable to several airline and hotel partners.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card offers 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 in the first 3 months. They're worth $0.0125 per point on travel purchases made through Chase Ultimate Rewards. That means you could also get $750 in value from this welcome offer. Or, you could transfer points to Chase's airline and hotel partners.
Capital One comes out ahead here, since it offers more bonus miles. The value is the same if you use them for cash travel purchases, but not if you transfer them. I usually transfer my points and miles, because you can get more value this way.
Winner: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Credit card comparison
We recommend comparing options to ensure the card you're selecting is the best fit for you. To make your search easier, here's a short list of standout credit cards.
5.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs. = Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor
Best for cash back on rotating categories
Discover will match all the cash back you've earned at the end of your first year.
N/A
1% - 5% Cashback
Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases—automatically.
5.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs. = Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor
Best for cash back
Up to $300 cash back
Earn an extra 1.5% on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) — worth up to $300 cash back. That's 6.5% on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 4.5% on dining and drugstores, and 3% on all other purchases.
1.5% - 5% cash back
Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 1.5% on all other purchases
Intro:
0% Intro APR on Purchases and Balance Transfers for 15 months
Purchases: 0% Intro APR on Purchases, 15 months
Balance Transfers: 0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers, 15 months
5.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs. = Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor
Best for earning travel rewards
75,000 Miles
75,000 Miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening
2X-5X miles
Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day. Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options.
Capital One Venture Card vs. Chase Sapphire Preferred: Rewards
I've always loved how simple it is to earn miles on the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card. It earns an unlimited 2X miles per $1 on purchases, so you get a high rate everywhere. Plus, it earns 5X miles per $1 on hotels and car rentals booked through Capital One Travel.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is all about the bonus categories. It earns:
5X points per $1 on travel purchases made through Chase Ultimate Rewards (excluding hotel purchases qualifying for the $50 annual hotel credit)
5X points per $1 on Lyft rides through March 31, 2025
2X points per $1 on other travel purchases
3X points per $1 on dining, which includes eligible delivery services, takeout, and dining out
3X points per $1 on online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart, and wholesale clubs)
3X points per $1 on select streaming services
1X point per $1 on other purchases
This one's too close to call. It all depends on whether you prefer simplicity or bonus opportunities. The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card earns 1 point more on dining, online groceries, and select streaming services. The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card has a higher base rate.
Winner: Tie
Capital One Venture Card vs. Chase Sapphire Preferred: Redemption options
Capital One gives you a few ways to use your Venture miles for travel. You can redeem them toward travel purchases at a rate of $0.01 per mile. Every 10,000 miles are worth $100 this way. Capital One also lets you transfer miles to its travel partners, including Avianca LifeMiles, Air France/KLM Flying Blue, and Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles.
Chase offers similar, but better options. With the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, rewards are worth $0.0125 per point toward travel booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards. Every 10,000 Ultimate Rewards points are worth $125 this way. You can also transfer points to its travel partners, including Hyatt Hotels, United Airlines, and Air France/KLM Flying Blue.
While both have great rewards programs, Chase has some key advantages. It offers 25% more value: $0.0125 per point to $0.01 from Capital One. Plus, it lets you transfer rewards to more U.S. airlines and to Hyatt, where you don't need a lot of points to book award stays.
Winner: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Final take
You can't go wrong with either of these excellent credit cards. I've used both, I've gotten a lot of value out of each one, and to be honest, I found it impossible to choose either as the overall winner.
The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is ideal if you want to earn a competitive rate on all types of expenses. It also has the better welcome offer. The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card makes sense if you have high spending in its bonus categories. It also has more useful travel points. The right choice between these Chase and Capital One cards depends on what you value more and your spending habits.
5.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs. = Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs. = Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor
Credit Rating Requirement:
Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.
Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Good/Excellent (670-850)
Poor
Fair
Good
Excellent
300-579
580-669
670-739
740-850
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Credit Rating Requirement:
Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.
Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Good/Excellent (670-850)
Poor
Fair
Good
Excellent
300-579
580-669
670-739
740-850
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Welcome Offer:
75,000 Miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening
75,000 Miles
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 Travel℠.
60,000 bonus points
Rewards Program:
Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day. Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options.
2X-5X miles
Rewards Program:
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.
5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining and 2x on all other travel purchases
Intro APR:
Purchases: N/A
Balance Transfers: N/A
Intro APR:
N/A
Purchases: N/A
Balance Transfers: N/A
Regular APR:
19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)
Regular APR:
21.49%-28.49% Variable
Annual Fee:
$95
Annual Fee:
N/A
$95
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 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 $100 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
Enrich every hotel stay from the Lifestyle Collection with a suite of cardholder benefits, like a $50 experience credit, room upgrades, and more
Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
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.
We're firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. The Ascent, a Motley Fool service, does not cover all offers on the market. The Ascent has a dedicated team of editors and analysts focused on personal finance, and they follow the same set of publishing standards and editorial integrity while maintaining professional separation from the analysts and editors on other Motley Fool brands.
JPMorgan Chase is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. Lyle Daly has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends JPMorgan Chase, Target, and Walmart. The Motley Fool recommends Hyatt Hotels. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The Ascent is a Motley Fool service that rates and reviews essential products for your everyday money matters.
Fact Checked
Eric McWhinnie
