Editor’s be aware: This publish has been up to date with new info.
When the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card first launched in 2010, it regarded very totally different than the Venture we all know and love as we speak.
The now-familiar $95-annual-fee card earned 2 miles per greenback on all purchases, which may very well be redeemed for journey at 1 cent apiece. That formulation received accolades for simplicity and worth.
The Venture has solely improved over time — significantly inside the previous few years. First, it added a Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit score (Up to $100). In 2018, the issuer additionally launched journey switch companions to the Capital One miles program. And in 2021, Capital One improved its switch charges and opened its first airport lounge in Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW).
But essentially the most notable enhancement to the issuer’s portfolio hit the market in November 2021. To rival long-standing premium opponents from issuers like American Express and Chase, Capital One launched the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card.
As Capital One’s first actually premium journey bank card, the Venture X takes journey rewards and advantages to the following stage. With a $395 annual price, it’s extra reasonably priced than The Platinum Card® from American Express and the Chase Sapphire Reserve, but it gives an analogous cadre of advantages, which makes the Venture X among the best bank cards available on the market as we speak.
If you don’t carry both card — the Venture or the Venture X — it’s possible you’ll surprise: Should you apply for the well-established, crowd-pleasing Venture or shake issues up with the higher-priced Venture X?
Here, we’ll intently look at each playing cards to assist vacationers resolve which Capital One card is the best choice.
Comparing the Venture X and Venture
| Card | Capital One Venture X | Capital One Venture |
|---|---|---|
| Annual price | $395. | $95. |
| Sign-up bonus | Earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 within the first three months of account opening. | Earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 within the first three months of account opening. |
| Earning charges |
|
|
| Other advantages |
|
|
| Foreign transaction charges | None. | None. |
For an annual price distinction of $300, you’ll get quite a few perks — together with limitless lounge entry, extra assertion credit and extra.
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But are all of those perks value it? We’ll put these playing cards to the check within the following sections.
Welcome supply
In 2021, TPG raised its valuation of Capital One miles to 1.85 cents per mile due to many constructive adjustments to the issuer’s rewards program, together with the addition of recent switch companions and bettering the switch ratio with most to a 1:1 foundation. This means you will get unbelievable worth from the bonuses on each playing cards.
For each the Venture X and the Venture, you’ll earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 within the first three months of account opening. Those miles are value round $1,388, based mostly on TPG’s valuations, making now a good time to use for both card.
Winner: Tie.
Bonus classes
One of our favourite components of the Venture is its approachable incomes fee of two miles per greenback on all eligible purchases. And cardholders who e-book motels and rental vehicles by means of the Capital One Travel portal will get pleasure from an improved 5 miles per greenback on these purchases.
The Venture X takes that very same on a regular basis incomes fee that we love (2 miles per greenback) however layers in extra travel-geared bonus classes. You’ll earn 10 miles per greenback on motels and rental vehicles booked by means of the Capital One Travel portal and 5 miles per greenback on flights booked by means of the portal.
In addition, Capital One launched a brand new partnership with Turo in 2022, giving Venture X cardholders 10 miles per greenback and Venture cardholders 5 miles per greenback on vehicles booked by means of the Turo app or web site.
Winner: Venture X is the clear winner. However, it’s value mentioning that you could be need to keep away from reserving motels and rental vehicles by means of the portal if you happen to’re pursuing (or have already got) elite standing. The portal is taken into account a third-party platform, so that you possible received’t get any elite credit or advantages when reserving this manner (although Hertz is one necessary exception).
Redemption choices
Capital One at present has 18 whole airline and resort switch companions, although it did lose its solely home airline switch companion in 2021 (JetBlue’s TrueBlue).
With each the Venture and Venture X, your Capital One miles will switch to companions at a 1:1 fee — save for a few packages, famous beneath:
- Aeromexico Club Premier.
- Air Canada Aeroplan.
- Air France-KLM Flying Blue.
- ALL Accor Live Limitless (2:1).
- Avianca LifeMiles.
- British Airways Executive Club.
- Cathay Pacific Asia Miles.
- Choice Privileges.
- Emirates Skywards.
- Etihad Guest.
- EVA Air Infinity MileageLands (2:1.5).
- Finnair Plus.
- Qantas Frequent Flyer.
- Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer.
- TAP Portugal Miles & Go.
- Turkish Airlines Miles & Smiles.
- Virgin (Virgin Red).
- Wyndham Rewards.
Even if most of Capital One’s companions are worldwide airways, don’t low cost them, as there’s nonetheless super worth to be discovered if you happen to can leverage the assorted packages’ candy spots. Plus, getting access to extra switch companions solely helps present extra flexibility when it’s time to redeem your miles. Some of the notable packages embody Air Canada Aeroplan, British Airways Executive Club and Turkish Airlines Miles & Smiles.
If simplicity is your factor, you’ll be able to as a substitute redeem your miles for any travel-related purchases in your assertion at a fee of 1 cent every with both card. While that is beneath our valuation of 1.85 cents, this can be a nice strategy to cut back these different journey costs like group excursions, ride-hailing providers and extra.
Winner: Tie. Though the Venture X carries the next annual price, it gives the very same redemption choices because the Venture.
Card advantages
Perhaps the most important distinction between the 2 playing cards is the sheer variety of advantages that include the Venture X.
The Venture is a pared-down model of the Venture X, with solely two passes per yr to go to Capital One’s new airport lounges (the Dallas-Fort Worth location for now — however extra are deliberate). Like the Venture X, the Venture card additionally gives a Global Entry/TSA PreCheck reimbursement credit score.
On the opposite hand, with the Venture X, you’ll get pleasure from a number of extra perks:
From the 2 tangible advantages — the ten,000 bonus miles and $300 annual journey credit score — that’s $485 in worth alone. This covers your entire distinction between the annual charges on the 2 playing cards.
Winner: Venture X. The $300 annual price distinction will get you a gentle quantity of perks that may make an unlimited distinction in your journey expertise. With limitless entry to Capital One and Priority Pass lounges, as much as $300 in annual journey credit score by means of the Capital One portal and extra, the worth of the Venture X’s extra strong advantages turns into much more obvious.
Related: 6 issues to do if you get the Capital One Venture X
When must you get the Venture X?
The Venture X gives appreciable first-year worth, with the 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 within the first three months of account opening. Coupled with the opposite perks on the cardboard that aren’t discovered on the Venture, most vacationers shouldn’t have any hassle justifying the upper $395 annual price — although the sign-up bonuses are actually equivalent.
That stated, if you happen to want extra convincing, listed here are different the reason why it is best to apply for the Venture X as a substitute.
Generous approved person advantages
While the $395 annual price is steep, the advantages will be shared amongst as much as 4 approved customers. If you may have trusted members of the family or associates, you’ll be able to add them without cost and share limitless entry to Capital One, Priority Pass and Plaza Premium lounges (with the identical visitor entry because the cardholder). Authorized customers may also reap the benefits of the cardboard’s complete journey and buy protections, which will be actual money-savers when issues go fallacious on the street.
Cellphone safety
This is the primary Capital One card to return with cellphone safety, a fairly superb profit in case your telephone will get broken, stolen and even misplaced if it’s unrecoverable. To qualify, you’ll have to pay your month-to-month invoice with the Venture X for reimbursement of as much as $800 per declare and two claims ($1,600 most) per yr, with a $50 deductible per declare.
Related: Fantastic perks and a 75,000-mile bonus: A evaluation of the Capital One Venture X
When must you get the Venture?
Even although the Venture X wins in almost each class that we analyzed, that doesn’t imply the Venture ought to be out of the working fully. Here are some the reason why the unique Venture card generally is a strong decide for a lot of.
The Venture X’s advantages don’t work along with your life-style
If you journey too occasionally to maximise the total potential of the Venture X, then the Venture is probably going higher suited to you. Admittedly, the Venture X’s perks are designed for street warriors and frequent flyers. Capital One has just one lounge at present open at DFW, and whereas there are extra within the pipeline, it should undoubtedly take time for the total advantage of Capital One lounges to be realized.
While profitable, the credit on the Venture X are nonetheless extra restricted when in comparison with the $300 journey credit score on the Chase Sapphire Reserve, which is without doubt one of the most beneficiant credit we’ve seen on any card. As a end result, if you happen to all the time e-book immediately and don’t need to decide to reserving by means of the Capital One Travel portal, you would possibly discover it exhausting to take full benefit of the Venture X’s $300 annual journey credit score.
You have already got Priority Pass, Centurion Lounge or different lounge entry
For many vacationers, airport lounges are a saving grace to get work executed or seize a meal earlier than your flight departs. But if you have already got one other card that grants you Priority Pass or another kind of lounge entry, carrying the Venture X might not be obligatory for you.
For occasion, the Amex Platinum grants you entry to the American Express Global Lounge Collection, together with the issuer’s personal Centurion Lounges in addition to Delta Sky Clubs (when flying Delta) and Priority Pass (besides restaurant venues).
Related: 8 methods the Amex Centurion Lounge can fight overcrowding, enhance the expertise
You’re on the lookout for a fixed-rate rewards card for non-bonus bills
At the top of the day, the Venture nonetheless gives 2 miles on all different eligible purchases — the identical fee because the Venture X. If you’re merely wanting so as to add a flat-rate incomes card to your technique to maximise these purchases that are likely to fall outdoors of frequent buy classes, the Venture continues to be a improbable card to earn all these additional factors.
Related: Earn 75,000 bonus miles: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card evaluation
Bottom line
Capital One entered the premium card market with a splash in 2021, because the Venture X was among the many most enjoyable card launches we’d seen. For most vacationers, the Venture X is the uncontested winner. However, the Venture continues to face its floor with its personal set of advantages and a $95 annual price that’s way more approachable for award journey freshmen.
Related: Who ought to (and shouldn’t) get the Capital One Venture X card?
Official Application web page: Capital One Venture X.
Official Application web page: Capital One Venture.
Additional reporting by Ryan Wilcox and Christina Ly.
For Capital One merchandise listed on this web page, among the above advantages are offered by Visa® or Mastercard® and will range by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for particulars, as phrases and exclusions apply.
*Upon enrollment, accessible by means of the Capital One web site or cell app, eligible cardholders will stay at upgraded standing stage by means of Dec. 31, 2024. Please be aware, enrolling by means of the conventional Hertz Gold Plus Rewards enrollment course of (e.g. at Hertz.com) won’t routinely detect a cardholder as being eligible for this system and cardholders won’t be routinely upgraded to the relevant standing tier. Additional phrases apply.