Capital One Venture vs. Venture X
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EDITORIAL DISCLOSURE:
Opinions expressed here are the author's 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.
*For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the above benefits are provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.
Capital One offers two of my favorite travel rewards credit cards: the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card and the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card. And while they may sound fairly similar, they have some BIG differences, so let’s dive in to find out which one might be right for you!
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
This option is at the top of my list for the best credit cards for beginners, and it’s a card I recommend often for its low annual fee and excellent welcome offer. This card has a current offer of 75,000 Capital One Venture Miles after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months, which is worth at least $750 in travel, and has an annual fee of $95.
What I love about the Venture:
-2x on all purchases
-Up to $120 credit for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry
-Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals, and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
-Travel insurance and protections
-No foreign transaction fees
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
You’ll hear me talk about this one A LOT. The Venture X is without a doubt my favorite premium travel rewards credit card. Don’t let the $395 annual fee scare you away, because the benefits and generous welcome offer (75,000 Capital One Venture miles after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months) greatly outweigh that annual fee. This card is a keeper for me and is always in my wallet!
What I love about the Venture X:
-$300 annual travel credit for travel booked in the Capital One travel portal
-10,000 anniversary bonus miles on each card member anniversary
-Up to $120 credit for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry (renews every 4 years)
-2x on all purchases
-10x on hotels and rental cars booked in the Capital One travel portal and 5x on flights and vacation rentals
-Complimentary access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide, including Capital One Lounge locations and the Partner Lounge Network.
-Hertz President’s Circle status
*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.
-Travel insurance and protections
-No foreign transaction fees
In your first year alone, this card more than pays for itself. The $300 annual travel credit (which renews on each card member anniversary) and the $100 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit already cancel out the cost of the annual fee. And for each year after, the 10,000 anniversary miles (which also come on your card member anniversary), are worth at least $100 when used in the Capital One travel portal.
Which one is right for you?
Both cards would be a fantastic addition to your wallet. And don’t forget that you can hold both the Venture and Venture X cards, you just need to space out your applications at least 6 months apart. The Venture X is a great card to start with if you are a frequent traveler that would take advantage of airport lounge access and the additional travel perks and credits. The Venture card is your top choice if you’re looking to keep your annual fees low while still earning 2x on all purchases and a fantastic welcome offer.
EDITORIAL DISCLOSURE: Opinions expressed here are the author's 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.
