Capital One Venture X vs. Chase Sapphire Reserve: Which premium card wins out?
If you’re looking for a premium travel rewards credit cardtwo popular options are likely to pop up in your search: the Chase Sapphire Reserve® and the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card.
These cards vary when it comes to annual fees, earning rates and benefits. And, of course, each earns points or miles in its own currency. You’ll collect Chase Ultimate Rewards points with the Sapphire Reserve, while you’ll earn Capital One miles with the Venture X.
Whether you’re weighing a switch from one option to the other or ready to apply for your first premium cardeither could be a solid choice, depending on your goals and spending habits.
Let’s analyze the pros and cons of each to help you decide whether the Capital One Venture X or the Chase Sapphire Reserve is the card for you.
Capital One Venture X vs. Chase Sapphire Reserve comparison
Here’s what to know about the cards at first glance:
| Feature | Capital One Venture X | Chase Sapphire Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $395 | $550 |
| Welcome bonus | Earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 in the first three months from account opening. | Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first three months from account opening. |
| Earning rates |
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| Statement credits |
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| Other card benefits |
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*Upon enrollment, accessible through the Capital One website or mobile app, eligible cardholders will remain at that status level through the duration of the offer. 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.
Capital One Venture X vs. Chase Sapphire Reserve welcome offer
New Venture X cardholders can earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 in the first three months from account opening.
Meanwhile, new Sapphire Reserve cardholders can earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first three months from account opening.
TPG’s March 2025 valuations put Chase Ultimate Rewards points at a slightly higher value than Capital One miles, due in part to Chase’s high-value transfer partners. Ultimate Rewards points are worth 2.05 cents each. In comparison, Capital One miles are worth 1.85 cents apiece.
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Still, these valuations value the Capital One Venture X‘s welcome bonus of 75,000 miles at about $1,388, and the Sapphire Reserve’s bonus of 60,000 points at $1,230.
Winner: Capital One Venture X. Though Capital One miles are valued less than Chase Ultimate Rewards points, the number of miles you’ll earn gives this card the edge.
Related: The best welcome offers currently available
Capital One Venture X vs. Chase Sapphire Reserve benefits
The benefits are what make these cards stand out above the rest.
There’s a $300 annual credit on both cards, but there are some key differences to consider. The travel credit on the Venture X isn’t flexible, as you have to book through Capital One Travel to be reimbursed.
The Chase Sapphire Reserve‘s credit is simpler to use, since it automatically applies to any travel purchase up to $300 and you don’t have to book directly with Chase. The credit on the Sapphire Reserve could cover everything from tolls to parking meters to international subways.
When it comes to lounge access, both cards offer a Priority Pass membership. This grants access to over 1,700 lounges for the cardholder and up to two guests.
Both issuers are also actively expanding their own lounge networks.
Capital One Lounges and one Capital One Landing are currently open at four airports across the U.S.:
Another Capital One Lounge is on the way at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), and another Landing is scheduled to open at New York’s LaGuardia Airport (LGA).
The Venture X includes access for the primary cardholder and authorized users.
Chase has its own growing network of airport loungeswith eight lounges and one terrace:
Chase also plans to open lounges at LAS and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) in the future.
Both cards also come with ancillary benefits that may not necessarily move the needle for prospective applicants, such as the Sapphire Reserve’s various DoorDash perks and the Venture X’s complimentary Hertz status. Still, these perks are all worth taking advantage of if you decide to apply for either card.
With the Venture X, you’ll get a 10,000-mile anniversary bonus each year of card membership renewal.
Additionally, both cards are Visa Infinite cards and provide high-level travel and purchase protections.
Winner: Tie. While the Chase Sapphire Reserve’s travel credit is easier to use, the Capital One Venture X offers bonus anniversary miles. Plus, since both Chase and Capital One are growing their lounge networks, the better option will likely be the one with lounges at airports you frequent.
Related: 5 ways to ensure you have lounge access before your next flight
Earning rewards with the Capital One Venture X vs. Chase Sapphire Reserve
The Venture X offers 10 miles per dollar on hotels and car rentals and 5 miles per dollar on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel. Meanwhile, the Chase Sapphire Reserve earns 10 points per dollar on hotels and car rentals and 5 points per dollar on flights booked through Chase Travel after the first $300 is spent on travel annually.
According to TPG’s March 2025 valuations, the Venture X offers an 18.5% return on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One’s portal, while the Sapphire Reserve returns 20.5% on hotels and car rentals booked through Chase Travel.
The Venture X offers simplicity with 2 miles per dollar on all other purchases. The Sapphire Reserve offers higher returns in certain categories, offering 3 points per dollar on all other travel (booked outside of Chase Travel) and dining purchases.
Frequent travelers will likely earn more with the Sapphire Reserve’s bonus categories than they will with the Venture X’s flat-rate earning structure.
Winner: Chase Sapphire Reserve. It offers bonus categories beyond travel portal bookings.
Related: The best rewards credit cards for each bonus category
Redeeming rewards with the Capital One Venture X vs. Chase Sapphire Reserve
The most valuable option for redeeming with either the Capital One Venture X or the Chase Sapphire Reserve is transferring points to travel partners. However, that’s not the only way to use your rewards on either card.
Capital One miles and Chase Ultimate Rewards points can both be used for flat-rate redemptions on each respective issuer’s travel portal.
With the Chase Sapphire Reserve, your points are worth 50% more toward any travel booked through Chase Travel. This makes your points worth 1.5 cents apiece. While this isn’t as rewarding as transferring your points to Chase’s transfer partners, this redemption option is useful if you have trouble finding award space.
Meanwhile, the Venture X offers fixed-rate travel redemptions at just 1 cent per mile — and while this can be applied to any travel purchase you charge to the card, it’s still notably lower.
Both the Venture X and Sapphire Reserve also offer less lucrative redemption options, such as gift cards and cash back.
Winner: Chase Sapphire Reserve. Redeeming your rewards for travel is 50% more lucrative than with the Venture X.
Related: How to strategize award redemptions
Transferring rewards with the Capital One Venture X vs. Chase Sapphire Reserve
Transferring rewards to travel partners is the best way to maximize those hard-earned points and miles.
Both Chase and Capital One offer an impressive list of transfer partners that make redeeming rewards the best option.
With the Chase Sapphire Reserveyou can transfer your Ultimate Rewards points at a simple 1:1 ratio. On the other hand, the Capital One miles program has partners that transfer at a 1:1 ratio for the most part, but there are a couple of exceptions that transfer at a less favorable ratio.
Chase offers 14 airline and hotel transfer partners, which include Air Canada Aeroplan, Air France-KLM Flying Blue and United MileagePlusto name a few.
Meanwhile, Capital One has 15-plus transfer partners. Some notable names include Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles, Avianca Lifemiles and Etihad Guest.
Danyal consistently transfers his Ultimate Rewards points to partners to redeem them for maximum value. He recently transferred points to Air Canada Aeroplan, taking advantage of a transfer bonus to book a business-class flight for 58,000 miles on Swiss to fly home from Zurich to Los Angeles.
Winner: Tie. Despite Capital One having more transfer partners, not all transfers occur at a 1:1 ratio.
Should I get the Capital One Venture X or Chase Sapphire Reserve?
If you value broader earning potential and a flexible travel credit, the Chase Sapphire Reserve is a good choice. On the other hand, if you prefer paying a lower annual fee and frequently travel out of an airport with a Capital One Lounge, the Capital One Venture X is perfect.
Bottom line
Both the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card and the Chase Sapphire Reserve have their own strengths and weaknesses, so it’s impossible to generalize which card comes out on top. However, for a much more manageable annual fee, the Venture X is a fantastic offering — if you don’t mind using the travel portal to unlock many of the benefits on the card.
For those who prefer to book directly with travel providers, the Chase Sapphire Reserve is likely the better option for you — but at the cost of a higher $550 annual fee.
To learn more, check out our full reviews of the Capital One Venture X and Chase Sapphire Reserve.
Learn more: Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Apply here: Chase Sapphire Reserve
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.
