Key takeaways
- The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is a premium travel credit card with a $395 annual fee. However, you can recoup the annual fee if you take advantage of card benefits — like the up to $300 in statement credits for booking travel through Capital One Travel and the 10,000 bonus miles earned each account anniversary, which carries a $100 value.
- If you don’t want to pay a high annual fee, the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card would be the better option. It comes with a lower $95 annual fee, plus travel rewards on eligible spending.
- Both cards offer boosted rewards for hotel and car rentals purchased through Capital One Travel, 2X miles on all other purchases and up to $100 in credits toward Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fees (every four years).
The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is a long-time favorite for consumers who value easy-to-manage travel rewards. At its heart, the Capital One Venture provides the best of two worlds: simplicity and value. The card offers simple earning and redemption options along with flexible transfer opportunities.
However, the Capital One Venture faces stiff competition from Capital One’s premium travel card: The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card. With strong rewards rates and a relatively affordable annual fee, the Venture X stacks up well against the competition in the premier travel card marketplace.
But which one of these Capital One credit cards should you apply for? Here are the main details you should consider to determine which option is better for you.
Main details
| Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card | Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card | |
|---|---|---|
| Welcome bonus | Earn 75,000 miles after spending $4,000 on purchases within 3 months of account opening (worth $750 in travel) | Earn 75,000 miles after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months of account opening, plus receive a one-time $250 Capital One Travel credit in your first cardholder year (worth $1,000 in travel) |
| Rewards rate |
|
|
| Intro APR | N/A | N/A |
| Annual fee | $395 | $95 |
Capital One Venture X vs. Capital One Venture highlights
While both the Capital One Venture and Capital One Venture X offer valuable travel perks and unlimited 2X miles on all purchases, they are not equal in value. The best card for you will depend on your spending habits and financial goals.
We have reviewed the benefits, bonuses, fees, and more of each card to help you make a decision. The Venture card, however, offers a one-time $250 Capital One Travel credit in your first year, increasing the card’s welcome offer value to $1,000 worth of travel.
The Capital One Venture Card earns:
- 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- 2X miles on all other purchases
The Capital One Venture X beats out the Capital One Venture in this category as it offers a higher rewards rate on travel purchases, including flights.