Capital One Venture Card Comparison: Which Should You Choose?

Article updated on Aug 26, 2024

The editorial content on this page is based solely on objective, independent assessments by our writers and is not influenced by advertising or partnerships. It has not been provided or commissioned by any third party. However, we may receive compensation when you click on links to products or services offered by our partners.

Capital One’s range of travel credit cards makes it easier to choose a card that fits your budget and lifestyle. There are three consumer cards that earn Capital One miles, the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card*, Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card* and Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card*, with annual fees from $0 to $395.  As the fee increases, so too do the card perks and features.

Which card is best for you will be determined by how often you travel, your budget when you do, and the kind of additional card features you’re looking for.

The Venture cards

While each of these Capital One credit cards has a different rewards structure, annual fee and list of benefits, all of them earn the same type of rewards. Capital One Miles earned with these cards can be redeemed for travel through Capital One, or for gift cards, statement credits or merchandise.

Miles also transfer to a range of Capital One airline and hotel partners, most of which come with a 1:1 transfer ratio. However, Capital One doesn’t have many domestic travel partners, which means their mile transfers are less useful unless you plan to travel internationally.

Comparing the card benefits

The chart below outlines each card’s major benefits and features, along with a comparison with their annual fees:

How much does each card earn?

How many miles you can earn with one of these cards will depend on how much you normally spend, as well as your willingness to book travel through Capital One. As an example of how rewards could work with each of these cards, consider the chart below.

For the purpose of this example, we used the following spending amounts:

• $1,000 per month on regular purchases ($12,000 per year)
• $300 per month on hotels and car rentals through Capital One ($3,600 per year)
• $300 per month on airfare through Capital One ($3,600 per year)

And as a reminder, the Venture cards all feature welcome bonuses:

• VentureOne: 20,000 miles once you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $200 in travel
• Venture: Receive $250 to use on Capital One Travel in your first cardholder year, plus earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening -- that’s equal to $1,000 in travel
• Venture X: 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel

How to choose the right card

Choosing from one of the Venture cards can be difficult since they all earn the same type of rewards with the same redemption options. Consider the following factors when making your decision:

Rewards

While rewards have the same redemption options with all three Venture cards, their earning rates stand in stark contrast. The VentureOne has the least lucrative rewards rate overall, but it also has the lowest annual fee. If a higher annual fee fits into your travel budget, either of the other Venture cards will be more rewarding.

Perks

The higher the annual fee you’re willing to pay, the more benefits you’ll typically receive. With the largest price tag, the Venture X offers the most perks, including a $300 annual travel credit, airport lounge membership benefits, 10,000 anniversary bonus miles and a fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck membership.

Annual fees

Consider your personal budget in terms of paying a credit card annual fee. You could get the VentureOne with a $0 annual fee if you’re willing to earn fewer miles for every purchase. On the other hand, the Venture or Venture X offer more benefits and rewards in exchange for paying a fee each year.

Travel budget

How much you actually spend on travel each year should play a big role in choosing which card is best for you, especially when it comes to travel you’re willing to book through the Capital One Travel portal. If you travel infrequently and won’t earn a lot of bonus miles by booking through Capital One, the VentureOne could be a better fit.

*All information about the Capital One VentureOne, Capital One Venture and Capital One Venture X Credit Card has been collected independently by CNET and has not been reviewed by the issuer.

**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.

***Upon enrollment, accessible through the Capital One website or mobile app, eligible cardholders will remain at upgraded status level through December 31, 2024. Please note, enrolling through the normal Hertz Gold Plus Rewards enrollment process (e.g. at Hertz.com) will not automatically detect a cardholder as being eligible for the program and cardholders will not be automatically upgraded to the applicable status tier. Additional terms apply.

The editorial content on this page is based solely on objective, independent assessments by our writers and is not influenced by advertising or partnerships. It has not been provided or commissioned by any third party. However, we may receive compensation when you click on links to products or services offered by our partners.