Capital One Venture X vs. Chase Sapphire Reserve

In the world of travel rewards credit cards, there are a few that stand above the rest in terms of benefits, perks and value. The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card * The information for the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. and the Chase Sapphire Reserve® both boast a bevy of benefits and travel protections, but carry higher-than-average annual fees in exchange. 

If you’re looking for a premium travel credit card, you can’t go wrong with either card. However, there are some slight variations between the two, which may play into your decision on which card will best serve your needs.

Chase Sapphire Reserve®

BLUEPRINT RATING

Our ratings are based on specific use cases for each card. We compared this card to others in the same category and developed our rankings based on this criteria, along with our editorial input. Note that although we chose this card as the best in its category, the right card for you will depend on your own financial circumstances.

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BLUEPRINT RATING

Our ratings are based on specific use cases for each card. We compared this card to others in the same category and developed our rankings based on this criteria, along with our editorial input. Note that although we chose this card as the best in its category, the right card for you will depend on your own financial circumstances.

Welcome bonus

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℠.

60,000 bonus points

Annual fee

$550

Regular APR

22.49%-29.49% Variable

Credit score

Credit Score ranges are based on FICO® credit scoring. This is just one scoring method and a credit card issuer may use another method when considering your application. These are provided as guidelines only and approval is not guaranteed.

(700 – 749) Good, Excellent

Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining. Earn 1x points on all other purchases.

Editor’s take

Pros

• Up to $300 annual travel credit and Priority Pass Select lounge access.
• Redeem points for 50% more value to book travel through Chase Travel℠.
• Transfer points 1:1 to partners such as United Airlines and World of Hyatt.

Cons

• High annual fee.
• Not ideal if you aren’t interested in transferring points.
• May not qualify if you’ve applied for 5 or more credit cards in the last 24 months.

Card details

• 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℠.
• $300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
• Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
• Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $900 toward travel.
• 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
• Access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select and up to $100 application fee credit every four years for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck®
• Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
• Member FDIC

Capital One Venture X vs. Chase Sapphire Reserve comparison

Here’s how the two cards compare in fees, reward-earning potential, credits and more.

CARD DETAILS	CAPITAL ONE VENTURE X	CHASE SAPPHIRE RESERVE
Annual fee	$395	$550
APR	19.99% to 29.99% variable APR on purchases and balance transfers	22.49% to 29.49% variable APR on purchases and balance transfers. A balance transfer fee of either $5 or 5% of each transfer, whichever is greater, applies
Welcome bonus	75,000 miles after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening	60,000 points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening
Rewards earning rate	2 miles per $1 on purchases, 5 miles per $1 on flights booked through Capital One Travel and on purchases through Capital One Entertainment and 10 miles per $1 on hotels and rental cars booked via Capital One Travel	5 points per $1 on flights and 10 points per $1 on hotels and car rentals purchased through Chase Travel℠ after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3 points per $1 on other travel and dining and 1 point per $1 on other purchases
Foreign transaction fees	None	$0
Credits	$300 annual travel credit for bookings through Capital One Travel Up to $100 Global Entry or TSA Precheck credit every four years	$300 annual statement credit toward travel purchases Up to $100 credit every four years for Global Entry, TSA Precheck or NEXUS applications
Card anniversary points bonus	10,000 miles every year starting on your first card anniversary	None

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Capital One Venture X vs. Chase Sapphire Reserve travel coverage and purchase protections

When choosing a high-end travel card, there’s a lot of value in the different types of benefits offered. Both the Capital One Venture X and the Chase Sapphire Reserve cards are Visa Infinite cards, meaning they come with similar travel protections and benefits. 

Here’s how the Capital One Venture X and Chase Sapphire Reserve’s travel benefits compare:

CARD BENEFITS	CAPITAL ONE VENTURE X	CHASE SAPPHIRE RESERVE
Airport lounge access	Unlimited Capital One lounge access up to two guests, plus Priority Pass and Plaza Premium Group access for up to two guests. Enrollment required	Unlimited Sapphire lounge access and Priority Pass Select membership for cardmembers and authorized users includes up to two guests per visit. Enrollment required.
Cellphone protection	Up to $800 for loss or damage when you use your card to pay your cell phone bill	None
Auto rental collision damage waiver	Primary coverage for up to $75,000 for theft and collision damage for rental cars in the U.S. and abroad	Primary coverage for up to $75,000 for theft and collision damage for rental cars in the U.S. and abroad
Car rental status	Hertz President’s Circle status	Enjoy upgrades from National Car Rental, Avis and Silvercard. Enrollment required
Hotel elite status benefits	Benefits when booking a stay with Premier Collection properties including a $100 experience credit, daily breakfast for two and Wi-Fi on every booking, plus other premium benefits	Benefits at hotels that are part of the Visa Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection including a best rate guarantee, room upgrade when available, complimentary continental breakfast for two, $25 food and beverage credit and more
Other complimentary memberships	Complimentary 6-month Enthusiast membership to The Cultivist$300 credit toward Gravity Haus social club Complimentary PRIOR subscription	One year Instacart+ membership, $5 monthly DoorDash DashPass subscription credit
Baggage delay insurance	Up to $100 a day for 5 days for baggage delays over six hours	Up to $100 a day for 5 days for baggage delays over six hours
Lost luggage reimbursement	Up to $3,000 for you or immediate family member’s lost or damaged carry-on or checked baggage	Up to $3,000 for you or immediate family member’s lost or damaged carry-on or checked baggage
Roadside dispatch	Covered up to $79.95 per incident	Covered up to $79.95 per incident
Trip delay reimbursement	Up to $500 when stuck more than six hours due to a covered hazard	Up to $500 when stuck more than six hours due to a covered hazard
Emergency assistance	Provides referrals for medical services and transportation. Costs are the cardholder’s responsibility	Up to $100,000 for medical services and transportation
Extended warranty and purchase protection	Extended warranty for an additional year on eligible warranties of three years or lessNew purchases covered for 90 days against damage or theft up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per year	Extended warranty for an additional year on eligible warranties of three years or less New purchases covered for 120 days against damage or theft up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per year

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About the Capital One Venture X card

With its lower annual fee and bigger sign-up bonus, the Capital One Venture X card may be a more affordable choice when deciding which card to apply for. However, it’s worth noting that the annual $300 travel credit will only apply when you book travel through the Capital One travel portal. 

Conversely, the Chase Sapphire Reserve’s annual travel credit can be applied to any travel-related purchase, whether made through the Chase Travel℠ portal or not.

One of the biggest draws of a luxury travel card is having the ability to transfer rewards to a credit card issuer’s travel partners.  

The value of the Capital One Venture X sign-up bonus is $750 as each mile is worth one cent when redeemed through the Capital One Travel portal. However, you may be able to boost the value of Capital One miles if you transfer them to one of its travel partners.

Capital One’s travel partners include the following (1 point = 1 mile unless otherwise stated): 

• Aeromexico Club Premier.
• Aeroplan®.
• ALL Accor Live Limitless (2:1 transfer ratio).
• Asia Miles.
• Avianca LifeMiles.
• British Airways Executive Club.
• Choice Privileges®.
• Emirates Skywards.
• Etihad Guest.
• EVA Air Infinity MileageLands (4:3 transfer ratio).
• Finnair Plus.
• Flying Blue.
• Qantas Frequent Flyer.
• Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer.
• TAP Miles&Go.
• Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles.
• Virgin Red.
• Wyndham Rewards.

In addition to the sign-up bonus, the Capital One Venture X offers an annual 10,000 anniversary bonus, which is worth about $100. Miles can be redeemed as statement credits against travel purchases made through the Capital One Travel portal or transferred to one of the above partners. 

To maximize your rewards-earning potential with this card, you’ll have to book all your travel through the Capital One Travel portal.

Pros and cons of the Capital One Venture X card

PROS	CONS
Generous welcome bonus	High annual fee
Anniversary bonus	Limited U.S. airline travel partners
Airport lounge access	No hotel elite status
$300 annual travel credit	Travel credit only applies to bookings through Capital One Travel
Generous travel protections and coverage	Capital One pulls your credit from all three bureaus
Cellphone protection coverage

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Who should choose the Capital One Venture X card?

If you’re not sure you’ll use all the benefits offered by the Chase Sapphire Reserve, then it can make more sense to go with the Capital One Venture X since it has a much lower annual fee.

You won’t earn as many miles for dining purchases and other travel expenditures as you would on the Chase Sapphire Reserve, but you’ll earn a higher rate on all other non-bonus spending. Plus, you’ll be somewhat restricted in booking all your travel through the Capital One Travel portal to earn and redeem your miles.

That said, since both cards boast enhanced travel protections, know that you can get many of those protections at a cheaper annual price on the Capital One Venture X than the Chase Sapphire Reserve.

About the Chase Sapphire Reserve card

The robust Chase Sapphire Reserve card has been touted as one of the most popular travel credit cards since it debuted in 2016. 

While it does have one of the highest annual fees among its competitors at $550, the up to $300 travel credit (which can be redeemed for both travel purchases made within the Chase Travel portal or those made directly with the travel provider), essentially knocks that fee down a few hundred dollars. Plus, points carry 50% more value when redeemed for travel purchases through Chase Travel.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve also has a long list of travel partners where you can transfer points on a 1:1 basis:

• Aer Lingus, AerClub.
• Air Canada Aeroplan.
• Air France/KLM Flying Blue.
• British Airways Executive Club.
• Emirates Skywards.
• IHG Rewards Club.
• Iberia Plus.
• JetBlue TrueBlue.
• Marriott Bonvoy.
• Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer.
• Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards.
• United MileagePlus.
• Virgin Atlantic Flying Club.
• World of Hyatt.

Note the three hotel partners (World of Hyatt, IHG Rewards Club, and Marriott Bonvoy) and the three U.S. airlines (JetBlue, Southwest, and United), which you may find more useful for domestic travel.

Also, Chase has a much broader definition of what qualifies as travel for points earning compared to the Capital One Venture X. For example, you can earn 5 points per $1 on flights and 10 points per $1 on hotels and car rentals purchased through Chase Travel℠ after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3 points per $1 on other travel and dining and 1 point per $1 on other purchases.

Pros and cons of the Chase Sapphire Reserve

PROS	CONS
Points are worth 50% more when redeemed through Chase Travel	High annual fee: $550
Generous rewards rate on travel and dining purchases	Subject to the Chase 5/24 rule, meaning you won’t qualify for the card if you’ve opened more than five new credit cards in the past two years
Up to $300 annual travel credit	No cellphone protection coverage
More U.S. travel partners than Capital One
Airport lounge access
Generous travel benefits and protections

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Who should choose the Chase Sapphire Reserve card?

The Chase Sapphire Reserve is best for big travel spenders who will take advantage of all the benefits the card offers in order to justify the $550 annual fee.

If you typically spend a lot on a wide variety of travel purchases, you may benefit more from having the Chase Sapphire Reserve in your wallet as those purchases have a higher earning rate than the Venture X. 

Plus, if you’re looking for more domestic travel partners to transfer your miles to, the Chase Sapphire Reserve has more options than the Capital One Venture X.

Which card wins?

While both the Capital One Venture X and the Chase Sapphire Reserve offer similar premium benefits, where they differ is the value of their points and annual fees. 

When looking for a premium travel card, it would be hard to beat the benefits and points-earning and points-redemption options associated with the Chase Sapphire Reserve.

Chase Sapphire Reserve points are worth 50% more when redeemed through Chase Travel, while the value of the Capital One Venture X miles are only valued at 1 point per mile when redeemed through Capital One Travel.  

To earn the best value for your miles on the Capital One Venture X, you’ll have to book your travel through the Capital One Travel portal. Meanwhile, you can earn bonus points for all kinds of travel and dining purchases made with the Chase Sapphire Reserve, not just through the Chase Travel portal.

When you factor in the very flexible up to $300 travel credit, that knocks the Chase Sapphire Reserve’s steep annual fee down.

That said, if the $550 annual fee is just too much for your budget, you could reap similar travel benefits for the Capital One Venture X, which has just a $395 annual fee.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

^{*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.}

^{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.}