Capital One Venture vs Chase Sapphire Preferred
An honest side-by-side comparison of two of our top credit cards picks — pricing, strengths, weaknesses, and who each one is really for.
Capital One Venture
Ranked #3 of 15 in this directory
Simple and flexible travel rewards card with 2x miles on every purchase
Chase Sapphire Preferred
Ranked #1 of 15 in this directory
The gold standard travel rewards card with flexible point redemptions
Our pick: Chase Sapphire Preferred. Our editors rank Chase Sapphire Preferred higher overall in Credit Cards — but Capital One Venture can be the better fit depending on your budget and use case below. How we review
Compare the details
| Capital One Venture | Chase Sapphire Preferred | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Paid | Paid |
| Starting price | See website | See website |
| Category | Travel Rewards | Travel Rewards |
| Editorial rank | #3 of 15 | #1 of 15 |
Strengths
Capital One Venture
- ✓Simple 2x miles on every purchase with no categories to track
- ✓Miles transfer to 15+ airline and hotel loyalty programs
- ✓Travel eraser feature allows redeeming miles against any travel purchase
- ✓Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application credit included
- ✓No foreign transaction fees on purchases abroad
Chase Sapphire Preferred
- ✓Excellent sign-up bonus worth $750+ in travel through Chase
- ✓1:1 point transfers to 14 airline and hotel loyalty programs
- ✓25% bonus value when redeeming points through Chase Travel portal
- ✓Primary car rental insurance saves money on rental car coverage
- ✓Reasonable $95 annual fee for the rewards delivered
Watch out for
Capital One Venture
- !$95 annual fee for what is essentially a flat-rate rewards card
- !2x earning rate is lower than category-specific cards in bonus areas
- !Transfer partner network is smaller than Chase or Amex
- !No premium travel benefits like lounge access or trip delay coverage
Chase Sapphire Preferred
- !3% foreign transaction fee is absent but annual fee still applies abroad
- !No airport lounge access included unlike premium tier cards
- !5x earning rate limited to travel booked through Chase portal only
- !Lower earning rates than category-specific cards in some spending areas
Best use cases
Capital One Venture
- →Traveler who wants simple, consistent rewards without tracking categories
- →International traveler seeking a card with no foreign transaction fees
- →Points beginner who wants an easy entry into travel rewards and transfers
Chase Sapphire Preferred
- →Frequent traveler wanting flexible points with multiple transfer partners
- →Dining enthusiast who eats out regularly and wants 3x earning
- →Travel hacker seeking a strong entry point into the Chase ecosystem
About each tool
Capital One Venture
The Capital One Venture card offers straightforward travel rewards with a flat 2x miles on every purchase and no category restrictions to track. Miles can be transferred to 15+ airline and hotel partners or used to erase any travel purchase from your statement at a rate of one cent per mile. The card includes a generous sign-up bonus, Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit, and no foreign transaction fees, making it an excellent choice for travelers who prefer simplicity over category optimization.
Chase Sapphire Preferred
The Chase Sapphire Preferred is widely considered the best all-around travel rewards credit card for its combination of a generous sign-up bonus, flexible Ultimate Rewards points, and a reasonable annual fee. Points transfer 1:1 to 14 airline and hotel loyalty programs, or can be redeemed for 25% more value when booked through Chase Travel. The card earns 5x on travel through Chase, 3x on dining and streaming, 2x on other travel, and 1x on everything else. With a $95 annual fee, it delivers premium travel rewards without the premium price tag.
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