When to Pick the Capital One Venture X Over the Chase Sapphire Reserve

Both cards are top-tier premium products, but the Venture X is preferable in some cases.
Lee Huffman
By Lee Huffman 
Updated
Edited by Kevin Berry

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Premium travel credit cards can offer tremendous value for frequent travelers with exclusive perks, higher earning potential and travel credits. While these cards come with higher annual fees, many travelers get significantly more value from the benefits than what they pay to be a cardholder. There are several premium travel cards to choose from.

If you're considering the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card or the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, here's how to tell which one is right for you.

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card vs. Chase Sapphire Reserve® benefits

Both premium travel credit cards offer attractive benefits, but there are differences that matter to travelers. This chart compares each card's details to help you decide which card to apply for based on your needs.

How the cards compare
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Chase Sapphire Reserve Credit Card
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
Apply now

on Chase's website

Annual Fee
$395
$550
Authorized users

$0 for up to four.

$75 each.

Welcome bonus

Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.

Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

Transfer partners

15+.

14.

Category bonuses

• 10 miles per $1 on hotels and rental cars through Capital One Travel.

• 5 miles per $1 on flights through Capital One Travel.

• 2 miles per $1 on everything else.

• 10 points per $1 on Chase Dining, hotel stays and car rentals purchased through Chase.

• 5 points per $1 on air travel purchased through Chase.

• 3 points per $1 on other travel and dining not booked with Chase.

• 1 point per $1 on other purchases.

When to choose Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

To save money on annual fees

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card has a significantly lower annual fee than the Chase Sapphire Reserve® card. Cardholders pay an annual fee of just $395 for the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card compared to $550 per year for the Chase Sapphire Reserve®.

Additionally, you'll receive 10,000 bonus miles each year that you renew your Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card card. The $100 value of these renewal points further reduces the net fee you pay each year.

Get up to 100,000 bonus points with our favorite Chase cards
Check out our nerdy picks for the best Chase credit cards and find the right card for you.

You want to add authorized users

Additionally, if you want to share benefits with others, Chase charges $75 for each authorized user on your account. The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card has the ability to add up to four authorized users for free. That's up to $300 in yearly savings compared to the Chase Sapphire Reserve®.

When you're over 5/24

If you've opened more than five new credit cards in the last two years, the Chase 5/24 Rule says that you won't get approved for the Chase Sapphire Reserve®. Being added as an authorized user also counts towards this total. Applicants for the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card are not subject to this rule, so it is a good alternative for people who are not eligible to apply for Chase credit cards.

To earn higher rewards on everyday purchases

Cardholders will earn more rewards on everyday purchases with the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card. It earns an unlimited 2 miles per dollar spent on all purchases. This is twice the amount of points earned from the Chase Sapphire Reserve® on non-category bonus spending.

If you already have the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Current holders of the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card cannot apply for the Chase Sapphire Reserve®. Additionally, if you've received a bonus from either the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or Chase Sapphire Reserve® card within the last 48 months, you're ineligible to apply for the Chase Sapphire Reserve®.

You want cell phone protection

When you pay your cell phone bill with the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, you're covered in case it is lost, stolen or damaged. Each claim covers up to $800 and there is a maximum of two claims per 12-month period. And there is a $50 deductible for each claim. While the Chase Sapphire Reserve® offers many attractive perks, none of them protect your cell phone. (Benefits may change over time.)

When to choose Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Chase Sapphire Reserve Credit Card
NerdWallet rating 

Ultimate Rewards® points are your preference

Chase Ultimate Rewards® are some of the most powerful points in the travel industry. They can be redeemed for cash, used to book travel, transferred to partners and more. Cardholders have 11 airline and three hotel partners to choose from, including the recent addition of Air Canada Aeroplan as a transfer option. Chase partners with some of the most well-known brands for Americans, such as Southwest Airlines, United Airlines, JetBlue, Marriott and Hyatt.

You want 1:1 transfer partners

One of the features that sets Ultimate Rewards® apart from the other flexible points programs is that they transfer on a 1:1 basis to every partner. Other programs may have transfer rates that move at a lower rate. For example, 1,000 Capital One miles converts to only 500 Accor Live Limitless points or 750 EVA Air miles. Additionally, Chase offers periodic transfer bonuses to select partners where you receive even more miles or points for your transfer.

You redeem points to book travel

While both the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card and Chase Sapphire Reserve® allow you to book travel with your points, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® offers much higher value on these redemptions.

Chase Sapphire Reserve® cardholders receive 1.5 cents per point in value when booking flights, hotels and more with their Ultimate Rewards® points. That's 50% more value than the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card.

When dining out

The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is the best choice to pay for meals when dining out. It offers 3 points per dollar on dining, delivery services and takeout. Plus, you can earn 10 points per dollar on Chase Dining purchases through Chase's portal. By comparison, the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card only earns 2 miles per dollar on dining purchases.

Which card is right for you?

The best premium travel card depends on how you travel and what you are looking for. While the Chase Sapphire Reserve® has been popular since its initial release several years ago, the new Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card offers a better deal at this time.

Cardholders can save money on annual fees and enjoy a bonus of 10,000 miles every year they renew the card. There is no charge to add up to four additional cardholders and you'll receive cell phone protection of up to $800. (Benefits may change over time.) Plus, Capital One is opening new lounges where Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card customers receive unlimited free visits to enjoy all-inclusive amenities.

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.


How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2024, including those best for:

Travel Cards from Our Partners
Chase Sapphire Preferred Credit Card

on Chase's website

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
5.0
NerdWallet Rating
Rewards rate

1x-5x

5x on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases.

Points

Intro offer

60,000

Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.

Points
Chase Freedom Unlimited Credit Card

on Chase's website

Chase Freedom Unlimited®
5.0
NerdWallet Rating
Rewards rate

1.5%-6.5%

Enjoy 6.5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel; 4.5% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 3% on all other purchases (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year). After your first year or $20,000 spent, enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.

Cashback

Intro offer

$300

Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back!

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

on Capital One's website

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
4.7
NerdWallet Rating
Rewards rate

2x-5x

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

Intro offer

75,000

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.

Miles
See more travel cards
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